On Sabaody Archipelago at night, in the corners hidden beneath the massive mangrove roots, a different kind of “liveliness” was just beginning.
At the fringes of the Lawless Zone, inside a building that looked like an abandoned warehouse from the outside, lights blazed.
The air was thick with cheap perfume, cigar smoke, and unpleasant body odor.
A small, private “auction” was underway.
Calling it an auction was generous.
It was more like a private internal sales showcase for the underground black market.
The proprietor was a lean middle-aged man standing on a stage, spittle flying as he ranted while introducing the “merchandise” locked in cages below to several dozen “customers”.
The customers were a mix: overfed, corrupt wealthy locals wearing gold chains; shady middlemen with predatory eyes who ran specialized businesses; and scantily dressed, heavily and garishly made-up brothel owner madams from the pleasure quarters.
“Gentlemen, please take a look!
This batch is top quality, especially Number Three!”
The proprietor tapped a cage with a thin stick.
Inside, a young woman with delicate features cowered, her eyes full of panic, hugging her knees and trembling.
“Look at this skin!
This figure!
With minimal conditioning, whether as a maid or for other services, she’ll be worth every penny!”
The madam’s eyes lit up.
She sashayed over to the cage and examined the girl closely, her long nails painted bright red nearly touching the girl’s face.
“Hmm~ The figure and face are nice…
Boss, what’s the price?”
A bald, wealthy man shuffled over, rubbing his chin lecherously.
“Mm, she looks fresh.
She’d be good for serving tea and water at home.
With minimal conditioning, there’s plenty of fun to be had.”
The madam immediately pressed herself against the wealthy man, her finger tracing circles on his chest.
“Oh, don’t be such a spoilsport~ Let me have this one, okay?
You have so many servants at home, you won’t miss one.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll condition her properly and let you be the first pick in the deal.
Deal?
I promise she’ll send you straight to heaven!”
The wealthy man’s eyes lit up, apparently won over by her proposal.
He’d get first pick in the deal anyway, and professional training would definitely make a difference.
With that thought, he put his arm around the madam’s waist, gave her backside a firm squeeze, and laughed.
“Fine, fine, she’s yours then.
Beautiful flowers should be enjoyed by all.
I’m not the jealous type.
Just be sure to call me first, hahaha!”
“Oh, of course, of course~ Absolutely!” The madam beamed.
Just as they happily reached a verbal agreement and the proprietor was all smiles, ready to set the price—
POP!
The lights in the warehouse went out without warning.
The entire interior instantly erupted and engulfed the entire space in total, impenetrable darkness.
“What’s going on?!”
“Who turned off the lights?”
“Backup lights!
Hurry!”
Shouts and curses erupted.
The sudden darkness left everyone disoriented.
SHING!
In the darkness, a blade flash swept across, followed by a sharp whistling sound.
“Ahhh!”
The madam’s voice cut off abruptly, replaced by a short, piercing scream.
Warm liquid sprayed over the wealthy man, who still had his arm around her waist.
He wiped his face instinctively.
The thick, coppery stench hit his nose, jolting him.
“Blood!
It’s blood!
Murder!!” The wealthy man was terrified out of his wits.
His crotch grew warm, and he collapsed to the floor.
“Damnit!
Guards!
Guards!” The proprietor’s furious roar echoed in the dark.
He fumbled for a flashlight and clicked it on.
The pale beam swept wildly, illuminating the madam’s body as she slowly sank to the floor, hands clutching her neck, and the terrified faces of the guests.
“There!
Stop him!” Several guards drew swords and guns, charging toward a fleeting shadow at the edge of the light.
But just as they moved, several inconspicuous stickers on the ground flickered faintly.
[Thick, Choking Smoke – Condition: Chili Powder + Quicklime, Modified Mixed Formula]
[Slick, Oily Grease – Condition: 6-Year Vintage Kitchen Grease]
[High-Pitched, Piercing Noise – Condition: An Audio Clip That Makes Your Scalp Tingle with Dread]
POOF!
HISS!
REEEE!
Dense gray-white smoke erupted and instantly engulfed the entire space.
It blinded them and choked them, making their eyes and noses run uncontrollably.
Almost simultaneously, the floor became slick and sticky as if coated in oil.
Several guards and customers cried out in alarm, slipping and crashing into each other.
The sudden piercing high-frequency noise made their scalp tingle with dread, and their thoughts became chaotic and disordered.
The triple-stacked negative conditions created brutal crowd control, throwing the entire scene into utter chaos.
In the smoky haze and grating noise, Moren—wearing a Black Cat Sheriff mask—moved like a ghost.
Shave!
He was still far from mastering this skill, only able to use it at a basic level.
But in this cramped, chaotic environment, more than enough against enemies who weren’t particularly strong.
His figure left blurred afterimages in the smoke.
Every time he paused, the longsword in his hand traced the simplest of arcs.
Horizontal slash.
Vertical chop.
Upward cut.
Forward thrust.
The swordsmanship Lyle had taught him had absolutely no flashy tricks whatsoever.
It was simple and direct, focused on ending the enemy in the shortest distance, with the fastest speed and maximum efficiency.
Now, paired with the explosive burst of speed from Shave, that simplicity reached terrifying heights.
In the smoke, the sounds of blades slicing open flesh and throats, the muffled death groans of guards, and desperate screams of customers intertwined.
Occasionally, bullets were fired wildly in every direction in complete chaos, but they only struck empty air or unlucky comrades.
“Come out!
You bastard!
Come out!”
The proprietor crouched behind an overturned table, sweeping his flashlight wildly and firing his short pistol in every direction that showed movement.
The BANG BANG echoed deafeningly.
But all he hit were corpses and drifting smoke.
Fear tightened around his heart, making it beat harder and faster.
He had been in shootouts before.
He had killed before.
But an enemy like this—elusive, precise, and ghostlike—was beyond his experience.
“Damn it!
Where did this bastard come from?
Was he hired?!” he muttered, eyes darting.
Then the smoke at the edge of his light shifted slightly.
A dark figure flickered—
“He’s coming!!”
He fired wildly.
But the bullets hit nothing.
Not even impact marks—just vanished into the haze.
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