「......どういうこと? 私達を殺しにきたんじゃないの?」
「違う。私は坂下重工の者だ。向こうのやつはクガマヤマ都市の人間だ。賞金首討伐とは無関係なことで、少し用がある。それだけだ。だから余計なことはするな。死にたくないだろうし、死なせたくないだろう? 分かったな?」
ハーマーズはそれだけ言ってキャロルから手を離し、背を向けて車両の方へ戻っていく。
キャロルは銃を下ろし、立ち尽くすことしか出来なかった。ハーマーズの無防備な背中は、この状態からでもいつでも殺せると、キャロルにしっかりと伝えていた。
ヤナギサワが倒れたアキラに銃を突き付けながら愛想良く笑う。
「シロウ君。知っているよね? 実は彼を探しているんだ。どこにいるか教えてもらえないかな?」
アキラはあっさりとそう答えた。そのアキラの態度にアルファが隣で慌てているが、ヤナギサワには見えない。
「......じゃあ、こうしよう。銃を下ろしても暴れずに大人しく交渉してくれるのなら、銃を下ろそう。どうかな?」
アキラは返事をせずに、黙ってヤナギサワに厳しい視線を向けていた。
するとヤナギサワが笑顔を消す。その無表情には、相手を人間どころか知性の有る存在と
答えなければ殺すという脅しではなく、人でないのであれば駆除するという基準を単に伝えるその言葉が、自身の生死すら度外視して意地を張っていたアキラを動かした。人間扱いされたいかどうか。その選択を委ねられれば、アキラには提案を受けるしかなかった。
ヤナギサワが顔に笑顔を戻し、銃を
まずに自分で立ち上がった。苦笑を浮かべるヤナギサワの前で回復薬を取り出し、たっぷり服用してから、大きく息を吐く。
「......それで、何なんだお前は。俺を殺しに来たんじゃないのか?」
「いやいや、とんでもない。先程も言った通り、少しお話を聞かせてもらいたいだけだよ。で、シロウ君だけど、知ってるよね?」
「どこにいるのか教えてほしいんだけどなー」
ヤナギサワが笑い、アキラが不機嫌な顔を浮かべ、その隣でアルファが慌てていた。
「そんなに不機嫌にならなくても良いじゃないか。ちょっと強引だったのは悪かったよ。でも、ほら、君は賞金首だからさ。ああでもしないと、お話を聞かせてもらえないかなーってさ」
「知るか。それに俺があいつを知ってることと、あいつの居場所を知ってることは別だろう」
に会ったことはある。そうだろう?」
「ああ。都市間輸送車両の護衛をやっていた時に会ったよ」
「いやいや、他の機会でも会ってるんじゃないかな?」
「ああ。ミハゾノ街遺跡で会った。あの騒ぎに巻き込まれて良い迷惑だったよ」
「......いやいやいや、それだけかな?」
「交渉に応じるってのは、そっちの質問に何でも何度でも答えるって意味じゃない。3度答えた。そっちが銃を下ろした義理の分は答えたぞ。帰れ」
に驚きを隠せなかった。思わず目を丸くしてヤナギサワを見る。
その反応にヤナギサワも手応えを感じた。だがすぐに懐疑の目が返ってくる。
「出来る。実は、私は、こう見えても、都市で結構高い役職に就いてるんだ。君ほどのハンターなら知っていても不思議は無いと思うんだけど、知らないかな? ヤナギサワ、ヤナギサワ、ヤナギサワです!」
ヤナギサワはそう言って、少しポーズを取って自分を指差した。
「ヤナギサワ......、あっ! 前にキバヤシが言ってたやつか! もうこのクガマヤマ都市であいつに逆らえるやつはいねえとか言ってたけど......」
「そう! そのヤナギサワです! モンスター認定解除の件、信じてもらえたかな?」
ヤナギサワにそれが可能であることはアキラも信じた。だが答える気にはならない。
「じゃあ、解除されたらまた交渉に来てくれ」
「えー。今じゃ駄目?」
仕方無く、ヤナギサワが譲歩を見せる。
「じゃあこうしよう。要は都市に戻れない所為で野宿なのが嫌なんだろう? モンスター認定の解除はすぐには出来ないが、スラム街への立ち入りを黙認させるぐらいなら私の権限で可能だ。スラム街には君が支援している徒党の拠点があるだろう? そこで寝泊まりすれば良い。これでどうかな?」
「......ちょっと待ってろ」
アキラは少し悩んでからそう言って情報端末を取り出すと、イナベに連絡を取った。
「アキラか。無事なようで何よりだが、通常の回線で
み切れないのだが、彼の権限であれば可能なのは事実だ。私としてはその提案を受け入れてほしい。一応理由を補足しておく」
アキラほどの実力者でモンスター認定を受けた者が都市内に入れば、都市防衛隊も
だ。むしろ私には話さないでくれ。坂下重工まで関わっているのだろう? 残念だが、私には手に余る」
アキラへの砲撃が止まったのは、ハンター達がアキラを殺すのを諦めたからではなかった。ヤナギサワが止めていた。ハーマーズを同行させることで坂下重工が交渉中であるとして、その旨を広域汎用通信で通知したのだ。
クガマヤマ都市との交渉中に武力で割り込んだハンター達も、坂下重工との交渉中に割り込むことは
通話が切れる。アキラが視線をヤナギサワに戻すと、調子の良い笑顔が返ってきた。
「先程の提案、私には可能だって理解してもらえたかな? じゃあ、改めて聞こう。シロウ君の居場所は?」
その返事に、ヤナギサワも
「どうして言えないんだい?」
「俺もハンターだ。そういう情報はペラペラ話せない。だから......」
アキラはそう言って情報端末を操作すると、その表示面をヤナギサワに向けた。
「本人に聞いてくれ」
『お前が持ち込んだ厄介事だろうが。少しは自分で何とかしろ』
ヤナギサワはアキラの予想外の行動に驚きながらも、好都合だと判断した。手を伸ばし、情報端末を取ると、画面の中のシロウへ笑いかける。
「初めまして。私はヤナギサワだ。シロウ君とは都市間輸送車両の中で会えると思ってたんだけど、
「あー、いや、ごめん。急に外の空気が吸いたくなってさ」
緊張をごまかして笑うシロウの硬い表情は自然なもので、ヤナギサワは画面越しのシロウを本物だと判断した。背景は加工されていて真っ白であり、後ろの映像から居場所の推測は出来ないようになっているが、問題無いとすぐに逆探知を開始する。
「そう? 分かる! そういうことってあるよねー。でも、そろそろ帰ってきても良いんじゃないかな? こっちの都合で悪いんだけど、ちょっと手伝ってもらいたいことがあって、早めに帰ってきてほしいんだ」
ヤナギサワはシロウの居場所の捜索をオーラム圏内全域から始めて範囲を絞り、クガマヤマ都市周辺まで更に絞り、今自分達がいる荒野の辺りまで絞り込むことに成功した。やはり近くにいるとほくそ笑む。
「そうなの? 人手がいるなら手を貸すよ? よくは知らないけど、坂下重工の人員は駄目なんだろう? 私の人員ならどうかな?」
ヤナギサワが、まだ行けると、逆探知の範囲を更に絞っていく。
「じゃあ、資金提供ならどうかな? こっちの事情で悪いんだけどさ、私も急いでるんだ。だから君には用事を早く済ませて帰ってきてほしいんだ。2000万コロンぐらいなら出すよ?」
「どうかな?」
シロウは僅かに迷いを見せたが、それだけだった。
「............、遠慮しとくよ。そんな大金を融通してもらえるほど、仲が良いとは思ってない」
「遠慮しなくて良いのに」
に位置をミリ単位で絞りきった。同時に、ヤナギサワの顔が僅かに険しくなる。その位置は、目の前にいるアキラが立っている場所だった。
「......今、シロウ君はどこにいるのかな?」
「ミハゾノ街遺跡にいた俺を見付けたのはあんただろ? 同じ手は食わねえよ」
「どうせハーマーズもそこにいるんだろう? 無駄足を踏ませて悪かったと言っときな」
に確認できる状況ではないと判断する。
「あと、そこにいるアキラってハンターと
のエージェントであるというシロウの勘違いを、ヤナギサワも共有した。思わずアキラに視線を向ける。
(こいつ、旧領域接続者だとは思っていたが、
(やはり、いないか......。いたとしても、ここで車内を調べる意味は無い)
シロウが車内にいた場合、ハーマーズはそれを知った上で
状況は、シロウがここにいる可能性は低いと示している。その僅かな可能性に賭けてキャンピングカーを調べて実際にシロウがいたとしても、その後に坂下重工と敵対してハーマーズと交戦することになる。それは今は割に合わない。ヤナギサワはそう判断して、調査を打ち切った。情報端末のシロウに向けて笑い掛ける。
「そうか。じゃあ、シロウ君と長話が出来る状況でもないし、今日はこれぐらいにしておくよ。気が変わったらいつでも連絡してくれ。連絡、待ってるよ?」
「それにしても、君もシロウ君の居場所を知らなかったのなら、嫌だね、なんて意味深に言わずに、知らない、と答えれば良かったんじゃないか?」
そう問われたアキラは、非常に不機嫌そうな顔をヤナギサワに向けた。
「俺から力尽くで何かを聞き出そうとするやつに教えることは何もねえよ」
「そうか。それじゃあ、帰る。あ、君のスラム街への立ち入りは、シロウ君と話せる機会を作ってくれたからやっておこう。だがモンスター認定解除の方は無しだ。シロウ君の居場所を教えてくれなかったことに違いは無いからね」
「もし、居場所が分かったら、連絡してくれ。出来れば身柄も欲しい。そうしてくれたら、モンスター認定の解除だけではなく、君に懸かっている賞金の方も私が何とかしよう。じゃあね。連絡待ってるよ」
ヤナギサワはそう言い残すと笑って立ち去っていった。
アキラが大きく息を吐く。そしてごまかすように顔を
アルファが苦笑を浮かべる。
『まあ、助かったのだから良いわ。前にも言ったけれど、アキラのその辺の性格は今更だからね。気にせず、気を切り替えて、敵の砲撃が再開する前に早めに移動しましょう』
本当に気にしていないというようにアルファが笑う。それでアキラも気を楽にした。
ヤナギサワから帰還の連絡を受けたハーマーズは軽く息を吐いた。
「何事も無く終わったか」
そして自分で横転させたキャンピングカーを元に戻してから、キャロルに軽く声を掛ける。
「俺達はこれで帰る。邪魔したな」
「......邪魔をしたと思ってるのなら、
「悪いな。手ぶらで来たんだ。まあ、何か手配しとくよ」
相手の姿が見えなくなったところで、キャロルが緊張を解いて大きく息を吐く。
あれほどの相手なのだ。帰ると言うのであれば、黙って帰らせれば良かった。それにも
「何とかね。アキラも無事で何よりよ。さあ、さっさと離れましょう」
アキラ達がキャンピングカーに乗り込む。横転したこともあって車内は
『キャロルがいるんだ。余計なことは言うな』
『分かったよ。お前にあのヤナギサワを
シロウの居場所をアキラの位置に偽装したのは、シロウではなかった。裏でアキラに頼まれたアルファがやったのだ。シロウはそれに口裏を合わせただけだった。
アキラ達はそのままキャンピングカーで場から離脱しようとする。ハンター達の砲撃が再開する前にとにかく急ごうとしたのだが、砲撃は一向に再開されなかった。それをアキラが疑問に思う。
「変だな。あいつら、やっぱり俺を狩るのを諦めたのか?」
シロウが不思議そうにする。
「何言ってるんだ? お前がヤナギサワと交渉したんだろう?」
「えっ? いや、俺の賞金は取り消されてないぞ?」
「そうじゃない。坂下重工との交渉は表向き今も続いてる。そういう通信が飛んできてる。だからあいつらは俺達を今も砲撃できないんだよ。そうしてもらうように頼んだんじゃないのか?」
ヤナギサワ達との戦力差は絶望的であり、交戦すれば終わっていた状況だった。アキラ達はその状況から、各自の努力と意地、そして幸運によって何とか抜け出した。
アキラを狙うハンター達による砲撃が再開されなかったのは、ハーマーズの手配だけが理由ではなかった。
「おい、質問がある。この状況でアキラへの攻撃を続行した場合、リオンズテイル社の力で俺達を坂下重工の支配区域の外へ逃がすことは可能か? 可能であれば、それを俺達への報酬に付け加えることは出来るか?」
その要求はタクト自身の保身の
そしてタクトが全部隊に攻撃続行を指示しようとした時、警報が鳴り響いた。更に車内通信が割り込んでくる。
「何だと!? 相手は? どこの連中だ!」
いはゲルグスの死亡に乗じて襲ってきた。そう考えたタクトだったが、返事は予想外のものだった。
「リオンズテイル社だ!」
タクトが思わずラティス達を見る。だが同じく驚いているラティス達の反応から無関係だと理解した。
その時、車両の機器が室内に拡張粒子気体を一気に散布した。強力な高速フィルター効果を持つもので、室内での銃撃戦をほぼ無効化する性能がある。車内の重要人物を銃撃から守る
だがそれは同時に、場の者に至近距離戦闘を強いる機能でもある。そして次の瞬間、高速フィルター効果が充満した室内に至近距離戦闘に秀でた二人の女性が飛び込んできた。
その片方は刀を勢い良く振りながらラティスに、もう片方は拳を振るってパメラに、一瞬で距離を詰めて襲いかかる。真剣な顔に忠義と殺意を乗せて、楽しげに笑う顔にやる気と同じく殺意を乗せて、怨敵に一撃を入れようとする。
「お久しぶりです」
相手の一撃をパメラが防いで
「また会ったっすね!」
その襲撃者達はシオリとカナエだった。
はお嬢様を害しようとしました。理由など、それで十分では?」
「......なるほど。愚問だったな!」
ラティスのナイフの刀身が伸びていく。刃の長さによる有利不利が無くなったところで、シオリとラティスが一度互いを
シオリとラティスの攻防はほぼ互角だったが、パメラはカナエに押されていた。部隊の指揮やメイド型の遠隔操作端末を使用して戦うのを基本としていることもあり、1対1でカナエと互角に渡り合うのは難しかった。
「部屋に遠隔操作端末を持ち込まなかったのは失敗だったっすね?」
「とっとと死ね」
笑顔を消したカナエの一撃がパメラの防御を貫き、その体を吹き飛ばした。
"...What do you mean? You're not here for our lives?"
"No, I am from Sakashita Heavy Industry. And the other one is from Kugamayama city. We are here for something different. Not for the bounty. So, I'll warn you not to do anything unnecessary. You don't want to die, right? And you don't want to get others killed, right?"
Hammerz then released Carol. He turned and walked toward the camping vehicle.
Carol lowered her rifle. She could do nothing but stand and watch. Although Hammerz was showing his back to her, she knew that he could kill her anytime he wanted.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Yanagisawa was smiling politely at Akira with his rifle still pointed at that youth.
"Shirou-kun, you know this name, right? I'm actually looking for this guy, can you tell me where he is?"
Akira replied instantly, rejecting him. Beside Akira, was Alpha, who was completely flustered. However, Yanagisawa could not see her.
"...Let's do this instead then. If you promise not to try anything after I lower my rifle, I will lower my rifle. So?"
Akira did not reply. He simply glared at Yanagisawa in silence.
Yanagisawa immediately stopped smiling. He was gazing coldly at Akira. It was as if he was not looking at a human but an animal.
It was not a threat to murder him if he did not reply. Instead, it was a threat to kill him if he was not willing to behave like a human. It was not so much the threat by the meaning behind it that finally moved Akira. If he asked himself, 'do I want to be treated like a human', then, as expected, Akira had only one answer.
Yanagisawa's smile returned and he finally lowered his rifle. He then offered Akira a hand.
Akira did not even bother to reach for that hand. He pushed himself back up. He took out his medicine and gulped down a huge dose of it. Yanagisawa was only watching him with a wry smile. Akira then sighed and asked.
"...So then, what is it with you? You're not here to kill me, huh?"
"No no no, it's not at all. Like I said before, I just want to ask you some questions. So, Shirou-kun, you know him, right?"
"It would be great if you can tell me where he is..."
Yanagisawa laughed. Akira sulked. Meanwhile, Alpha was still as flustered as before.
"There's no need to be that annoyed, you know? I'm sorry for being a bit violent there. But like, you know, you're a bounty target now. If I don't do that, I don't think you would even listen to what I have to say, right?"
"Not my problem. And also, just because I know him, that doesn't mean I also know where he is."
"But you did meet him recently, right?"
"Yeah, back then during the intercity escort mission."
"Not that one, you must have met him on another occasion, no?"
"Yeah, back in Mihazono ruin. That incident was really troublesome."
"...No no no, there must be more, no?"
"This isn't a negotiation if I'm just answering all your questions. I've answered 3 of your questions, I've repaid what I owe since you lowered your rifle. Now leave."
Akira could not hide his surprise. He raised his eyebrows and looked straight at Yanagisawa.
Yanagisawa realized he finally found something that interested Akira once he saw his reaction. However, Akira's eyes were quickly filled with doubt.
"Of course. As a matter of fact, although I look like this, I'm a high-ranking officer in City Management. Though, it should be a given that Hunters of your calibre already know of me. I am Yanagisawa, the Yanagisawa, you know!?"
Yanagisawa said so and made some boisterous poses while pointing at himself.
"Yanagisawa, huh... Ah! So, you're the guy that Kibayashi was talking about! He said something like no one in Kugamayama city can go against you or something like that..."
"Yep! That's me! Do you believe me now? That I can cancel your monster designation?"
Akira was convinced that Yanagisawa was indeed able to do something like that. But for some reason, he still did not want to say anything.
"In that case, you can come back to me once you have done that."
"What? Now is not ok?"
Therefore, Yanagisawa showed an attitude as if he was backing down.
"How about this then? You basically don't like to live out here in the wasteland. That's because you can't go back to the city, right? Although I can't cancel your monster designation right away, I can at least let you get into the slums of the city right now. You have a gang down in the slums that you're supporting, right? You can sleep there for now. So, what do you think?"
"...Wait a second."
Akira evaluated his options before finally pulling out his information terminal and calling Inabe.
"Akira, huh? I'm glad to see you're okay. But if you call me from a public line like this, people will be able to track your location. It might even leak the contents of this conversation. Call me again through the encrypted line."
"...I don't really fully understand what is going on over there. Especially if you only explain this little. But it's true that Yanagisawa can do that. Personally speaking, I hope you would accept his offer, I will tell you why."
Even if it was someone as powerful as Akira, if someone with monster designation entered the city, the defence squad would have no other choice but to remove them from the premise. This was one thing that even Yanagisawa could not stop. However, if it was only until somewhere close to the city, he could do that. Technically speaking, the slums were located outside of the inner wall and City Management also treated it the same as the wasteland.
"Of course. Or more like, don't tell me anything. It has something to do with Sakashita Heavy Industry, right? Unfortunately, I have no desire to get involved with them."
The reason why the Hunters, who were attacking Akira suddenly stopped, was not because they had given up. It was because Yanagisawa stopped them. As he came here accompanied by Hammerz, he broadcasted through the general frequency that Akira was in the middle of negotiations with Sakashita Heavy Industry.
Although those Hunters ambushed Akira while he was in the middle of negotiating with Kugamayama City Management, they did not dare do so with Sakashita Heavy Industry. If they did that, Sakashita would perceive them as hostile. For the Hunter in that area, it was nothing short of suicide.
Inabe then closed the call. Akira glanced back at Yanagisawa, who was smiling at him.
"I hope you believe me now. That I can do that much. So, let me ask you again, where is Shirou-kun?"
That answer caused Yanagisawa's smile to vanish. But, at the very least, the answer changed from a simple 'no' to 'can't say'. This showed that there was some room for negotiations.
"Why can't you tell me?"
"I'm a Hunter. So, I can't just freely give information to everyone who asks me. That's why, instead of that..."
Akira then operated his information terminal and turned it to face Yanagisawa.
"Go ahead and ask him yourself."
"It's originally your problem, so at least try to do something about it yourself."
Even Yanagisawa was surprised by Akira's action. However, it did not change the fact that it was still beneficial for him. He extended his hand and took that information terminal from Akira and smiled at Shirou.
"Nice to meet you. I am Yanagisawa. I was hoping to meet you inside that inter-city transport vehicle. Still, I'm glad that we can finally meet each other albeit not directly."
"Ahh, yeah, right, sorry about that. I suddenly wanted to get some fresh air; you see."
As Shirou was laughing awkwardly, he could not help but to make a stern expression. Seeing that, Yanagisawa was certain that the on the call was really Shirou. Although the background was set to complete white, which prevented Yanagisawa from guessing where Shirou might be, he believed that would not pose an issue. He quickly tried to retrace the call.
"Is that so? I can totally understand that! I sometimes feel like that too, you know? But wouldn't it be fine for you to return back already? I'm sorry to trouble you, but I actually have something that requires your help. It would be great if you return back sometime soon."
Yanagisawa's tracing had already narrowed down from the whole Aurum economical area, to around Kugamayama city, to the wasteland around where he was right now. He smiled, as he thought [As expected, he's close by].
"I see. If you need extra help, I can send someone, you know? Though I don't know what you're working on, it seems like you can't ask Sakashita for help. In that case, how about I help you instead?"
Yanagisawa thought that he could go further and continued tracing Shirou's location.
"How about money then? I'm sorry if I sound rushed here, but I'm in a bit of a hurry, you see. That's why I hope you can help me out soon. I can give you up to 20 billion Chrome, you know?"
"So, what do you think?"
Shirou seemed to hesitate, but he still did not accept the offer.
"...Thank you but I have to refuse. I don't think we're that close that you would just lend me that much money."
"There's no need to be modest, you know?"
As it finally narrowed down to the millimeters, Yanagisawa frowned and looked a bit confused. The location of the backtracking pointed right to where Akira was standing.
"...Shirou-kun, where might you be right now?"
"You're the one who found me in Mihazono ruin, right? Like hell I would fall for the same trick again."
"I bet Hammerz is over there too, right? Tell him that I apologize for wasting his time."
This indicated he was guessing. Therefore, Shirou was not in a position where he could confirm if Hammerz was really there or not.
"And also, I don't recommend picking a fight with that Hunter, Akira. You might have Sakashita Heavy Industry behind you, but it is still a bad idea to pick a fight with Tsukisada Construction, right?"
Seeing Shirou stated with such a level of smugness, Yanagisawa believed his words. With this, both Yanagisawa and Shirou misunderstood Akira as an agent from Tsukisada Construction. Yanagisawa inadvertently turned toward Akira.
[And here I thought he is an old-world connector. So, he is an agent from Tsukisada Construction, huh? No wonder his story doesn't make sense. That is unless he had their support. And right now, Shirou is using him as a proxy. Is Shirou using him to intervene with the Hunters...?]
[So, he's really not around, huh... Even if he is, searching the inside of that vehicle is meaningless at this point.]
If Shirou was inside the vehicle, then it meant Hammerz was lying. That would mean Sakashita Heavy Industry had no wish to let Yanagisawa have Shirou. At least, not here and not now.
Everything led to one conclusion. Shirou was unlikely to be around here. Even if Yanagisawa bet on that small possibility, went to search the vehicle, and found Shirou there, he might have to fight Hammerz afterwards. Even if he survives, he might need to take on the whole Sakashita Heavy Industry later. It was not worth the trouble. Therefore, Yanagisawa had no other choice but to stop his search. He then turned back to Shirou.
"I see. Well, it's not like I have that much time to chat with you. I guess I will end the call here. Feel free to call me if you change your mind. Ah, you have my number, right?"
"But still, if you don't know where Shirou-kun is, you could have answered with 'I don't know' instead of a 'no', right?"
Akira looked at Yanagisawa with contempt and mocked.
"There's nothing I have to say to someone using the threat of force just to ask me something."
"Is that so? If that's really the case, I guess I will just leave then. Ah, as thanks for giving me a chance to talk with Shirou-kun, I'll arrange for you to be able to enter the slums of the city. Though, I won't cancel the monster designation. After all, you basically told me nothing about Shirou-kun whereabouts."
"Also, if you know where he is, do call me. If possible, please turn him over to me. If you do that for me, not only will I cancel your monster designation, but I will also do something about your bounty as well. Later then. I will be waiting for your call."
Yanagisawa smiled at him and left.
Akira heaved a huge sigh and frowned.
Alpha smiled wryly.
"You're safe now and that is all that matters. Moreover, it is way too late to be complaining about that side of your personality. Let's just change gears and get ready before those Hunters start their bombardment again."
Seeing Alpha's smile, as if she really did not mind, Akira lowered his tense shoulders.
Hammerz, who received a long-range message from Yanagisawa, lightly sighed and mumbled.
"So, it ends up with nothing, huh?"
He then turned the camping vehicle, which he had laid on its side, back on its wheels. He casually apologized to Carol.
"We're leaving now, sorry for the trouble."
"...If you really feel bad about it, how about leaving something behind as compensation?"
"I'm sorry, I came here empty-handed. But well, I will try to arrange something for you later."
After Hammerz was too far to be seen with the naked eye, Carol sighed in relief.
Hammerz was a powerful opponent. It was for the best if he would just leave without causing anymore trouble. Once she calmed down, she smiled wryly. [I should not have said that... I gave him a reason to come back to look for me....]
"Yeah, somehow. I'm glad to see that you're also okay. Now then, let's immediately leave this place."
Akira and Carol returned to the camping vehicle. Since it was lying on its side just now. The insides were a huge mess. Shiro, who was there, also looked like a mess.
"Carol is here, so don't say anything unnecessary."
"I know I know. I didn't expect you would even be able to fool someone like Yanagisawa. Was that some kind of secret technique from Tsukisada Construction?"
Shirou was not the one who changed his location to where Akira was. That was Alpha's doing. Alpha only did that because Akira asked her to do so. He also asked Shirou to collaborate with his story.
Akira and Carol then hurried off from that location. They were rushing to leave before the Hunters started shooting at them again. However, even after some time, no bombardment came. Akira found that to be very strange.
"Hmm, this is strange. Have they really given up on us?"
Shirou sulked for some reason.
"What are you talking about? You just made some kind of deal with Yanagisawa, you know? The Yanagisawa."
"Eh? He said he won't help retract the bounty though?"
"That's not it. Even right now, the broadcast is still saying that you are negotiating. That's why they haven't started firing again. Didn't you ask them to do that?"
Their difference in power was simply overwhelming. If they had fought, the ending was obvious. Akira and Carol somehow managed to get through that situation with their pride, hard work and a pinch of good luck.
However, the reason why those Hunters stopped attacking Akira was not because of Hammerz.
"I have a question. If we keep attacking Akira in this situation, can you use the influence of Lion Steel to evacuate us out of the territory under Sakashita Heavy Industry? If yes, can you add that as an extra reward on top of the bounty?"
That request was not solely for Takt's sake. It was also to acquire help from the other Hunters. Latis could understand that from Takt's gaze as he lightly nodded.
But when Takt was about to give the command to restart the bombardment, the alarm suddenly blared. It was followed by a voice that echoed through the vehicle.
"What!? Who are they and where are they from!?"
Takt immediately suspected it to be another team who were also after Akira's bounty. After Gelgus' death, they found an opportunity to take down their competitor. However, the scream took him by surprise. His enemy was not the one he had imagined it to be.
"They're from the Lion Steel company!"
Takt immediately turned toward Latis and Pamela, but seeing that they were equally surprised, Takt understood that they had nothing to do with this attack.
Suddenly, a canister exploded that filled the room with nanoparticles. These particles had a powerful speed filter effect. Now, rifles were useless inside that room. From another point of view, it also protected the people inside the room from bullets.
At the same time, it forced anyone inside that room to only resort to close combat. Two women who specialized in close-range combat quickly jumped inside the room.
One of them swung her blade at Latis while the other one launched a powerful punch at Pamela. They rapidly closed the distance between them in a blink of an eye. The face of the one with the blade was filled with killing intent and a sense of loyalty. Meanwhile, the other one had a similar face. One filled with the same killing intent but with insanity in her smile.
"Long time no see!"
Pamela blocked the punch, deflecting it to the side and frowned.
"We meet again!"
It was Shiori and Kanae.
"Scheming? You endangered my master's life. Isn't that enough of a reason?"
"...I see. Then, it was indeed stupid of me to ask!"
Latis extended the blade of his knife, negating the advantage of Shiori's reach. As they jumped backwards, opening space between them, they swung at each other. They released a flurry of strikes before they even landed. The floor and wall in between them were filled with countless slash marks.
Although Latis and Shiori were mostly even, Kanae was pushing Pamela back. Since her speciality was commanding a group of maids using long-range control, she was unable to match Kanae's ferocity.
"It was a mistake not to take your beloved long-range control terminal with you here."
"Just die."
As her usual smile vanished, Kanae's single strike broke through Pamela's defence and blew her body away like a rag doll.
Rebuild World (WN)
リビルドワールド
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/rebuild-world/
Action Adventure Drama Harem Mecha Mystery Sci-fi Seinen
Abandoned Children Adapted to Manga Adventurers Alternate World Anti-social Protagonist Apocalypse Artificial Intelligence Beautiful Female Lead Cautious Protagonist Child Protagonist Dense Protagonist Determined Protagonist Distrustful Protagonist Futuristic Setting Gangs Gunfighters Harsh Training Lack of Common Sense Male Protagonist Manipulative Characters Monsters Near-Death Experience Older Love Interests Poor Protagonist Poor to Rich Ruthless Protagonist Shota Sudden Strength Gain Survival Twisted Personality Unlucky Protagonist Weak to Strong
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n9736dt/
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