Split Up

In the pitch-black night, a small cluster of light rose from the ground.

It sped and danced through the deep night, adding a tiny glimmer of light to the night sky.

But this light did not bring warmth; instead, it sent chills down the spines of everyone on board the helicopter.

Of course, the missile alone was not enough to intimidate these soldiers who had endured so many hardships.

What they fear is the even greater crisis lurking behind this danger:

"How so?"

"The fact that the enemy could even prepare portable surface-to-air missiles in advance, doesn't that mean..."

As Bucciarati methodically put on his parachute backpack, he said with a serious expression:

"Diavolo knew from the beginning that we would be traveling by helicopter, and even knew from the start where we would be staying in Rome—"

"He's been monitoring us all along!"

"That's right."

Li Qing's expression was also not very good.

He sprinted the helicopter away, trying to buy his comrades more time to prepare to parachute before the missiles struck.

"The situation is quite clear: either Thomas has run into trouble, or Diavolo has other intelligence channels."

"What is certain now is that he definitely knew our whereabouts."

"And we've been in Rome for so long, and this attack just happened at the crucial moment when we had arranged to meet that mysterious man and were about to set off for the meeting."

Li Qing suddenly had a very bad premonition:

"At first I thought that mysterious person might be a trap, but now it seems not—"

"If it really was a trap set by Diavolo, then he would definitely wait until we arrived at the Colosseum and jumped into the trap before making his move."

"And now."

"I'm afraid we're not the only ones in danger right now."

"You mean everything that mysterious person said is true?"

"But Diavolo is really eyeing now is that mysterious man waiting in the Colosseum?"

"That's why he waited until now to make his move—he wanted to find out the mysterious man's exact location in Rome by monitoring us!"

Bucciarati had already put on his parachute backpack and opened the hatch.

The night wind howled in from high above outside the cabin door, sending a chill through everyone inside who were facing the crisis.

Since Diavolo was able to monitor their movements, he must also know the purpose of their trip to Rome.

And now they have been attacked.

If Diavolo manages to find the mysterious man before them and seizes the supposed power to reverse the situation from him, the consequences would be unimaginable.

We must get to the Colosseum as soon as possible.

"We absolutely must meet that mysterious man before Diavolo arrives!"

Bucciarati said this so decisively.

He had realized that he had been drawn into a race that would determine the fate of countless people.

"Everyone."

"Every minute and every second is precious now, and we must make the most of it."

Bucciarati looked out at the endless night sky and the tiny, dense cluster of buildings below, high in the sky:

"After we parachute down, we'll definitely be scattered on the ground."

"When the time comes, everyone should try to meet up if possible, but if we can't find any nearby companions, then we don't need to look for them."

Skydiving is a technical skill.

Apart from Li Qing, who had experience with a parachute jump, most of the rest of the team had never even been on a plane.

They jumped down so hastily that they absolutely couldn't have landed in the same place.

The strong winds high in the sky that night could very well blow them to different locations, hundreds of meters or even kilometers apart.

"Our destination is the Colosseum of Rome."

"After landing, everyone should head directly towards the Colosseum, and try to meet up on the way or at the finish line."

"In short, we must hurry and not let Diavolo find the target before us."

Bucciarati made such a bold decision.

"Alright, then see you at the Colosseum."

The missile is getting closer and closer.

The faint flame gradually grew brighter, making one clearly feel the approaching aura of death.

Without a second thought, his companions nodded in agreement to this dangerous tactic, which meant they would have to fight each other on their own.

"Alright, everyone."

"Be careful, everyone!"

With that, Bucciarati took the lead and jumped out of the cabin, leaping down from the high altitude.

Soon

White umbrellas bloomed in the night sky.

They were hidden in the deep darkness, drifting in the night wind above the city.

As these umbrellas blossomed, a muffled boom echoed through the sky.

The roar originated from a burst of fire, followed by a storm of flames, fuel, and metal fragments that sprayed in all directions.

"Boss."

Diavolo drove his car along the bustling streets of Rome at night.

After he accelerated to three times the speed limit and ran what seemed like the umpteenth red light, he received a phone call from his subordinate:

"The helicopter has been blown up."

"However, it seems that everyone on the plane is fine; they all parachuted into the city."

"Are you alright?"

Diavolo was somewhat unhappy with the result.

But he didn't initially expect to defeat the enemy with just such a simple trick.

Such tactics are sufficient to delay him, and all he needs now is a little more time to get ahead of the finish line.

"Find them."

"Keep them all here at all costs!"

Diavolo said through gritted teeth.

"Clear!"

The loyal subordinate on the other end of the phone responded without hesitation.

He and his companions were completely unaware that they were merely cannon fodder thrown out by Diavolo to buy time.

Amidst a chorus of loyal responses, Diavolo's last remaining subordinate hung up the phone, carrying Diavolo's final orders.

"Very good."

"This time, I'm sure I'll win!"

Diavolo's expression remained calm and composed, but his inner emotions were surging, and he pressed the accelerator harder and harder.

He knew he had already taken a commanding lead in this race:

Li Qing's helicopter had been destroyed, and even if he wasn't dead, his progress was greatly slowed down.

Once these guys get rid of those cannon fodder and find a means of transportation to start again, they probably won't be able to catch up with me, who has already gotten ahead for a long time.

He will surely arrive at the Colosseum before everyone else.

Then, under Polnareff's horrified gaze, he will make up for his past "deficiencies" and obtain the so-called power to "change the world" from this mortal enemy.

"Ha ha ha ha."

"I, Diavolo, am still the emperor—that has never changed!"

Diavolo felt he had victory within his grasp.

The accelerator was pressed harder and harder, and the car was going so fast that Diavolo, who wasn't wearing a seatbelt, almost bounced off his seat.

He couldn't wait to see Polnareff and win the championship trophy in this race.

"No one can stop me now."

"Fate is still on my side!"

He was thinking this.

Suddenly, the troublesome guy appeared:

"Drip~woo~~Drip~woo~~Drip~woo~~"

A piercing siren blared from all directions.

Unbeknownst to him, Diavolo, speeding down the road to success, had been surrounded by several police cars flashing red and blue lights.

"Rome police!"

"You are speeding—please pull over for inspection!"

One update today. Writing this stuff is too brain-draining; daily updates are killing me (╯‵□′)╯┻━┻