It Was Him! I Saw It with My Own Eyes!

"Randall, did something happen?"

"Nothing. Some prey just showed up."

"Prey?" Christa scrunched up her little face, unable to understand.

Randall hesitated, then said:

"Little Crystal, the person who's come might be that pirate from before."

At those words, all the color drained from Christa's rosy little face.

"M-Mom..."

Randall tenderly stroked her head. After a moment of silence, he said:

"He's the reason I came! I'll make sure he gets the punishment he deserves.

I swear!"

"You have ten seconds to hand that person over.

Otherwise, I won't bother. That person's among you anyway, so I'll just kill you all."

Texas spoke in an even tone.

That only made it sound less like a threat and more like a statement of fact.

Like water splashing into boiling oil, the crowd instantly erupted.

In less than five seconds...

(′д｀σ)σ

"It was him!"

"That's right! It was him!"

"I saw it with my own eyes!"

Someone was shoved and dragged out of the crowd, tumbling to the ground.

The middle-aged man who had brought the Marines was utterly bewildered.

Because the person they had shoved out wasn't him!

What was going on?

He had already made up his mind not to step forward, even if it killed him.

Even if those friends of his pushed him out, he would never admit it.

He was going to die anyway. Taking a whole crowd down with him would be worth it.

But to his surprise, the person pushed out wasn't him?!

He was bewildered, but the person they had shoved out was even more bewildered.

It was a boy in his teens—or perhaps calling him a child would have been more appropriate.

He lay sprawled on the ground, dazed, not knowing what had happened.

Somehow, after a dizzying whirl, he had ended up outside the crowd.

How had he ended up lying here?

What were these people shouting about?

What had he even done?

Texas narrowed his eyes at the farce unfolding before him.

He spoke to the little boy, who had yet to recover his senses:

"So you're the one who exposed my whereabouts? You called the Marines?"

Before the boy could speak, the people who had pushed him out eagerly piped up, one after another.

"That's right! It was him!"

"I saw it with my own eyes! I tried to stop him, but he was too quick. He vanished in the blink of an eye!"

"Exactly!"

"Stop playing dead and admit it! Are you trying to get all of us killed?"

They all chimed in, making their story sound utterly convincing.

Now, they were the ones who wanted the boy dead most of all.

They wished Texas would just get on with it.

Stop asking questions already!

Once he was dead, they would be safe!

"Shut up!" Texas roared in irritation.

The clamor instantly died.

Then he looked at the boy and said:

"So, is what they're saying true?"

By now, the boy had realized what was happening.

His little face pale, he climbed to his feet and stared at the crowd in disbelief.

They were all from the same town...

Noticing his gaze, everyone instinctively looked away.

But a moment later, they turned back and met his eyes.

They acted as though they were the ones in the right.

The boy gave a desolate smile, then lowered his head, seemingly admitting it.

He knew that one voice could never argue against an entire crowd.

Texas was no fool. He had seen every expression on their faces.

But the truth didn't matter.

Watching such a wonderful show had put him in a good mood.

Looking at the boy, Texas said:

"I should thank you for calling the Marines.

They gave me a great deal of entertainment.

That Marine... I really wish I could kill him again!"

At those words, the crowd froze once more.

So he actually wanted to thank the person who had brought the Marines?

For a moment, those who had pushed the boy out inwardly beat their chests in bitter regret.

You should've said so sooner!

If you'd said so sooner, I would've stepped forward!

At once, people began shooting accusatory looks at those around them.

This was your fault! Why had you been so quick to shove him out?

Others turned envious eyes on the boy.

Come to think of it, if this pirate wanted to thank him, would he give him Beli...?

They deserved some credit for this kid getting a reward, too!

It would only be fair for them to take a share!

But then Texas changed tack:

"As thanks, I'll give you an easy death.

Don't worry. I'm very experienced. I know how to kill someone with as little pain as possible."

In the gentlest of tones, Texas spoke words that chilled everyone to the bone.

For a moment, they felt an icy chill pressing in from every direction.

It was as if they had suddenly found themselves deep inside an ice cavern.

Their resentment toward each other and their envy of the boy instantly receded like the tide.

All they felt was relief.

Thank goodness they had pushed the boy out.

If someone had to die, better him.

One death in exchange for everyone else's lives.

At least his death would serve a purpose.

Hearing Texas's devilish whisper, the boy's legs immediately gave out.

He dropped onto his backside.

He felt as though cold mud had engulfed him, leaving him unable to move.

Then Texas took a step forward.

Seeing his boss about to act, an underling behind him, clearly a newcomer, eagerly volunteered:

"Boss, leave it to me!

There's no need for you to trouble yourself over some little brat!"

As he spoke, he started toward the boy.

At the same time, he silently mocked the others. What a bunch of idiots. They'd missed such a perfect chance to suck up to the boss!

Clearly, I was the boss's star underling!

What he failed to notice was that the veterans who had followed Texas for some time had all bowed their heads deeply.

What a rookie...

"Brat, you..."

Before the newcomer could finish, he suddenly realized he could no longer make a sound.

Then the whole world began to tilt and spin.

It spun until his vision blurred.

Perhaps a second later, perhaps much longer, he felt a jolt through his head, and his vision turned red.

Then he sank into endless darkness.

Excitement still lingered on his face.

The veterans looked as though they had expected this, while the newcomers were terrified.

"You actually dared to steal my kill. You really had a death wish!"

Texas spoke indifferently.

Everyone, veterans included, stared at him as though he were a demon.

No, even a demon would have this man's portrait tattooed on its back!

Having disposed of an underling, Texas's expression remained unchanged.

He raised his right hand, and his index finger transformed into a little chainsaw.

Bzzzt, bzzzt—

The piercing sound echoed in everyone's hearts like a chant calling them to their deaths.

"Don't worry. It'll be quick. Look at him. He didn't even feel any pain before he died."

Texas walked slowly up to the boy.

The boy grew even more terrified.

He stared at the spinning chainsaw, the thing that was about to take his life.

The next instant, Texas's hand swung down from above.

Against that madly spinning chainsaw, the child's slender neck would be little sturdier than paper.