Oswald braced himself on the umbrella handle and stood up.
His face still bore injuries, but his eyes seemed coated in dark gray rust.
Breathing hard, he pointed the umbrella at the three of them and rasped, "Stay back."
The two remaining black-robed men exchanged a glance, and one lunged at him with a furious roar.
Then more punches and kicks rained down.
The black-robed men's boots stomped on his curled back and kicked the arms shielding his head.
Oswald curled up, both hands clamped tightly over the two chocolates he had retrieved and tucked against his chest.
He gritted his teeth without a word, only letting out a muffled grunt from deep in his throat each time a heel struck his ribs.
Ririko watched as Oswald was kicked into a corner, covered in dust and boot prints, and lay curled on the ground without moving.
Her hand was already on the car door handle, and she was about to push it open-
Jeremiah slipped an arm around her shoulders and drew her back a little.
His chin rested beside her ear, his voice utterly calm. "What's the rush? Didn't you want to deal with Black Monk? This is your chance."
"Oswald has lost his memory..." She was still worried they would beat Dumb Penguin to death.
"I noticed. He never used to be this pathetic," Jeremiah drawled. "They'll take that penguin back to claim the credit. Don't worry."
Ririko paused.
She looked out the window again.
Oswald had been shoved over beside a trash can.
One of the black-robed men grabbed his hair and hauled him up, dragging him toward a dim alley nearby.
Once they were farther away, Jeremiah got out of the car with a satisfied smile, straightened his suit collar, and offered Ririko his hand.