Hearing the faint screams coming from the tavern, the White-Haired Old Man couldn't help wincing. The people who had gone inside weren't top-tier members of his organization, but they were still first-rate. On their dozens of missions, they might not lose a single person—and yet, in this campaign against a violent outsider, they'd suffered a crushing defeat. Nearly everyone was dead or wounded. The whole force had been wiped out.
At the thought, a flash of anger crossed Stare Chief's eyes. His voice no longer carried its earlier cheer. He glowered at the chiefs of Greenwood and Bili, who wore equally grave expressions but made no move, then snorted. His face darkened further as he turned to his own squad.
"Second team, move out!"
Hearing their chief's merciless, even cold-blooded order, the members of Stare exchanged uneasy glances. In the end, their chief's usual authority won out. Clinging to the hope that surviving would earn them his favor, they gritted their teeth and let out a low growl to steel themselves before charging inside without hesitation. For a moment, the mood was almost tragic.
Watching his subordinates rush inside without changing expression, the Old Man gave it some thought, then turned with a gloomy look to the small, slender figure in black standing beside him. His voice was much gentler than before.
"Heizi, follow behind them. Be careful not to expose yourself. Once you've observed that thug's movements, come straight back out. Above all, make sure you stay safe. Understood?"
The black-clad man didn't reply. He merely nodded in silence, then his figure blurred and vanished into the darkness.
Seeing the black-clad man disappear in the blink of an eye, the chiefs of Greenwood and Bili looked astonished. They'd never known Stare had anyone so skilled at stealth. After a