Chapter 506: Chapter 23 Abruptly Ends
A black SUV sped through the central district, ignoring all traffic signals and racing straight toward its destination. The air inside the vehicle was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe. The driver slammed the accelerator, wishing he could just crash into a wall to take the shortest route to the destination.
Skull sat in the backseat, silent, his mood extremely sour.
Finally, the entrance of Dome City No. 1 High School came into view, and the driver abruptly hit the brakes, causing the black SUV to come to a screeching halt as the tires squealed against the pavement.
Skull threw open the door and jumped out, just in time to hear the irritating voice of a superpower user.
“Now, who’s the clown?”
Budman erupted with a beastly roar, “I want to—”
“Stop!” Skull bellowed.
His deputy immediately ceased, gasping for breath and stepping aside. Wing of Death members uniformly cleared a path, at the end of which stood the dressed-up clown, Red Lion, and an unfamiliar girl.
Skull walked forward and positioned himself in front of all his members, beginning grimly, “What’s going on?”
“Ah… perhaps you should ask your good brother,” replied Red Lion, with a hint of distasteful sympathy in his voice, “ask him what he did last night.”
Budman opened his mouth, his face displaying his usual irritation and agitation.
Skull knew this expression all too well; it was typical Budman. He was cunning enough to reassure him during tasks, especially sharp and fearless in battle. But once things got convoluted, once matters exceeded his capabilities, Budman would become frustrated very quickly. That’s when he would ask anxiously, Boss, what should we do?
“Boss, what should we do?” Budman maintained his combative demeanor, “That bloody clown is holding a damn earring, claiming I killed our brothers!”
That habit had been with him since childhood; Budman wasn’t cut out to be a leader. He was smart, but not smart enough, and even with his strong force, he couldn’t make it to the top. He also liked to take matters into his own hands, often yielding positive outcomes, but sometimes messing things up.
Skull knew right away this was another such instance. His old pal had hidden some secrets he didn’t want everyone to know.
“Calm down,” Skull replied undisturbed, his answer as usual, “put away your power.”
Budman took a deep breath, reluctantly returning to his normal state. Skull eyed the unfamiliar girl, “So, you are the new one.”
She stood there, showing no hint of fear.
“I didn’t kill anyone.”
That was the truth. Skull had reviewed this girl’s combat data in the car; she was a typical martial artist from the Empire, of noble birth, knowing even at the brink of fury how to restrain her force in battle. A martial artist like her, even if she had killed, would have admitted it outright, as her heart of timidity couldn’t sustain such clear-cut martial prowess.
“It wasn’t you.” Skull nodded.
“I don’t want anyone to speak of today’s events, anyone,” Skull signaled, “that’s it, I’ll find the truth. Budman, take me to see Kova’s body; the rest of you return to headquarters by squad.”
“Understood!”
The members of Wing of Death responded in unison. Skull turned and walked with heavy steps towards his car.
First, three veterans died, followed by a newcomer, and now this disgraceful scene unfolded in broad daylight; his mood was absolutely rotten.
A familiar voice spoke from behind him, “John Garcia, you could simply ask any subordinate about the sequence of events, then you would know I’m correct. The motive for Budman’s actions lies in those three men’s origins; they all—”
“Enough!!”
Skull spun around, glaring daggers at the grey-haired clown, his anger fully unleashed.
“I showed respect to your brother, even though we were enemies!” John rasped, “But you, Gongsun Ce, you won’t even give my brother a hint of respect!”
The deceiver raised an eyebrow in surprise. Skull didn’t miss this detail; he knew Yuankai hadn’t told his henchmen about the morning’s events. That damn face-saving scoundrel!
“I… I’m sorry,” Gongsun Ce’s voice softened, further inflaming Skull’s anger, “I only meant to remind you not to turn a blind eye to the facts.”
“The fact is your friend has provoked my organization; you have slandered my brothers!” Skull waved angrily.
Gongsun Ce frowned, “You know what I mean. Those three men all came from Morton—”
“I’ve had enough of your nonsense.” Skull raised his right arm, “Skull scatters thirty feathers!”
Instantly, thirty feather-shaped black beams rose into the air, Skull launching his lethal curse. Everyone prepared for battle simultaneously, a fierce conflict imminent—
Then, a sheathed long sword was thrust between them.
The sword handle stood mid-air, the sheathed blade held by hand. No one noticed when the person arrived; he appeared suddenly, as if conjured from thin air.
“I think, everyone should calm down a bit,” Chi Zijing said leisurely.
Skull frowned at him, asking in a peculiar tone, “…what are you doing?”
The President of the Mutual Assistance Association adjusted the pot on his head, speaking with an especially lively tone, “It’s a gift from today’s event, what do you think? Does it make me look more handsome and dashing?”
Chi Zijing, still sporting that coffee pot and clad in his usual attire, created such a contrast that a thug nearly laughed out loud.