When thunderous shouts and the rumble of countless footsteps, enough to shake the high-rises, rose in the distance, the marching crowd at the intersection had already shrunk dramatically!
In less than a minute, over half of them had quietly backed away and fled.
Other than William's trusted men and the people he had hired, who were still hesitating, scarcely anyone else remained.
And now, they finally heard Huai Shi's final words.
The judgment of the King of Tanba.
"Until now, I have always told you that everyone who came to Tanba was my friend."
Sitting in that crude folding chair as though he were seated upon a solemn throne, Huai Shi bestowed one final measure of pity upon the rebels before him:
"From this moment onward, you are no longer my friends."
You would no longer be under my protection.
You had to learn to grow up, and to be strong.
Face the storms outside on your own.
Come to understand this cruel world.
But before that...
You would first receive the fate of traitors!
As his words spread, thunder erupted with a deafening roar.
From behind Huai Shi.
Like a towering tidal wave surging forth, making everyone stare in stunned disbelief.
They were not vicious-looking guards, nor were they ruthless Gokudō.
Those emerging from behind Huai Shi were furious Hybrids, beast-featured citizens who usually wore smiles and immersed themselves in peaceful lives.
Some still wore department store uniforms. Others seemed to have just come from ramen stalls, ladles still in hand. There was no distinction of gender, age, poverty, or wealth.
When faced with thugs who wanted to destroy their peaceful lives, the violence and ferocity buried in their souls flared like fire, ready to burst from their eyes.
"Kill these fucking idiots!!!"
Anyone with eyes could see it,