Just as Old White finished speaking, his right index finger had already flicked off the rifle's safety.
The more than twenty players from the Burning Corps beside him did the same.
The undisguised killing intent made the burly man called Iron Thorn's eyes narrow slightly.
"Hey, wait, is there some misunderstanding here?"
Cold sweat beaded on his forehead. He raised both hands and backed away, trying to ease the tense atmosphere. He had no idea how he had offended this guy, but his instincts told him this was an extremely dangerous situation.
"No."
This time, Iron Thorn finally understood what the man in front of him had said.
And deep terror completely filled his eyes.
"...The Alliance never negotiates with raiders, nor does it do business with raiders. Every penny you earn could become a bullet fired at civilized people."
Fang Chang took the Dawn Longbow from his back and drew an arrow onto the string.
"So the deal is off."
"Since you believe in fists, then let's settle this with fists!"
"You sure talk a lot of fucking nonsense!" Having retreated to a safe distance, Iron Thorn roared, vicious light flashing in his eyes. "Open fire! Kill them!"
However—
The symphony of machine guns never began.
Instead, a gunshot like thunder on level ground cut short his delight at striking first.
At a nearby window, the man lying behind a machine gun had his head instantly burst into a spray of blood before he crumpled to the floor.
At the same time, the assault rifles held across the players' chests had all turned their muzzles toward his side.
"Fire!"
Old White gave the order crisply and pulled his trigger at the same time.
Ratatat!
Long tongues of flame leaped from the muzzles, orange-yellow tracers bursting forth and completely tearing