Department Store Terror (5)
When Villain No. 13 stuffed the handkerchief into Club's mouth.
Just as he was about to brainwash her right then and there, turning her into one of his puppets.
Spade, who had been helping him pin Club down, felt a strange ripple stir in her mind.
Club's expression. A furrowed brow. A plea for help.
Seeing that face made Spade's eyes begin to waver.
A comrade. My comrade is in trouble. Right now, my comrade is in serious danger.
That realization sent waves crashing through her, igniting a bizarre spark in the mind that had been dominated by Villain No. 13.
"Hang in there just a bit longer. Time to give up now!"
With Spade's help, he subdued Club and forced her to inhale the brainwashing drug.
Club struggled and refused the drug's scent, but her resistance visibly weakened over time.
That's it—Club's done for now.
Villain No. 13 was brimming with that certainty when—
"Ah...."
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!"
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!
Suddenly.
Spade, who had been gripping Club's collar and holding her immobile, let out a powerful shout that echoed from her gut. She threw her head back dramatically, then slammed it forward into the pillar.
"Wha...?"
Caught off guard by the abrupt turn, Villain No. 13 stumbled back in shock.
The handkerchief pressed to Club's mouth fell away, and Club slipped from Spade's grasp, collapsing to the floor.
She gulped down the outside air, coughing and catching her breath.
What the hell just happened? Why did Spade suddenly smash her head into the pillar?
Thud! Thud! Boom!
Spade proceeded to bash her head into the pillar several more times.
Infused with mana, perhaps—the cracks spiderwebbing across the pillar were visible.
What the...? Has she lost her mind? A side effect of the brainwashing drug?
Villain No. 13 backed away a few more steps, watching the bizarre scene tensely.
A moment later, Spade stopped her antics and stood rigidly still.
Club, slumped at her feet and panting through tears, looked up at her with hazy eyes.
"Senpai...?"
Spade's gaze turned downward to Club.
Blood trickled from her split forehead, and her eyes held a deep guilt as she looked at Club.
Then that gaze shifted backward—to Villain No. 13 standing behind her.
"................Spade?"
This time, Villain No. 13 called her name.
Spade pulled her head away from the pillar, swaying unsteadily as she panted heavily, huff huff.
Eyes glowing red.
Seeing those eyes sent a chill down his spine.
He hurriedly shouted the keyword from moments ago—the one to subdue Spade.
"S... Spade Jack was hanged from the gallows!"
The keyword was correct, no doubt.
Yet Spade showed no reaction.
She just glared at him, as if hypnosis meant nothing.
"...!"
Through her disheveled bangs, a fierce red glow peeked out.
Those wild, beast-like eyes brimmed with savage killing intent, piercing straight to his heart.
Dangerous.
His instincts screamed it.
"I'll... kill you...!"
At Spade's declaration, the air grew heavy with terrifying malice. Villain No. 13's body hair stood on end.
"Club, you okay? Sorry... any injuries?"
"It hurt so much! Like, really super hurt!"
"Yeah, I know... Sorry, so sorry... What the hell was I thinking... I'm really, truly sorry..."
Spade tended to Club with eyes full of remorse.
No trace of that eerie vibe from before remained.
Club let out a sigh of relief, as if some possessing spirit had finally departed.
Though "tending" was a stretch—Club's injuries were just minor cuts from the shattered glass and a long, deep gash from charging at Villain No. 13.
Less because Club dodged well, and more because even under control, Spade had unconsciously held back lethal blows in her resistance.
"This is... insane. Laying hands on a comrade? I'm the worst..."
Spade berated herself, but what was done was done.
Club had no intention of blaming her for it.
If anything, the blood streaming from Spade's forehead looked more painful.
"Ow~ It hurts. Hurts so much."
Still, Club whined and threw a tantrum, making Spade hang her head like a guilty sinner.
Whatever had happened, that wasn't the priority now.
"Get up first, Club. I'll make it up to you later, promise."
"...For real?"
"...For real. I swear."
"Heehee."
After applying the special ointment from the Hero Association to the deep gash on her thigh and wrapping it in bandages, Club took Spade's offered hand and stood.
They were the only two left on this floor.
Villain No. 13 had bolted like a rabbit the moment Spade snapped out of it and threatened him.
Quick judgment, or pathetic cowardice?
They could have chased him, but Club's condition took precedence, so they let him go.
Plus, pursuing without knowing how the control worked was too risky.
So, what now? Chase the fleeing Villain No. 13, or wait for backup?
For some reason, comms with Apple weren't connecting, and they couldn't track his position.
Worst case, he might've already slipped out using that trick from last time.
Or they could end up controlled again mid-chase.
Letting him escape again stung, but considering the risks—
"Let's chase him, Senpai."
Club suggested from the side.
Her resolute gaze burned with fighting spirit, nothing like her earlier whining.
"No, Club."
"We gotta chase him, Senpai!"
"I said no. We don't know what's going on. Safety first right now."
"But...!"
Club was clearly ruled by emotion.
She'd let him slip away right in front of her last time—couldn't stomach another failure.
But she wasn't being reckless.
"You got controlled, but you broke free! You're good now! And if not, whatever he says to control you... we just plug our ears!"
Other conditions too—from his actions earlier, trying to press that drug-soaked handkerchief on her, it probably involved inhaling something.
Might not even be an ability.
Wouldn't know until they caught and interrogated him.
Just don't get close. Club could attack from range.
"We won't get another shot like this. That cowardly villain won't show his face again until he's got a sure win. We can't figure out what he did to you if we let him go now!"
Even after hearing her out, Spade looked unconvinced.
"You saw how he doesn't die no matter what we throw at him. We don't know the conditions, or what other powers he's hiding. Chasing blind like this is dangerous."
"If he could've handled us, he wouldn't have run. He wouldn't have used you either. Senpai! We've got the edge now!"
"Club! This is your senior talking! I don't know about the island, but 7th Squad puts safety first!"
"I don't care about that! They taught us to rip out the enemy's throat even if it costs our limbs—never let go!"
"This is the 7th Squad!"
Their heated gazes clashed amid surging emotions.
Spade's red eyes met Club's black ones.
"...Fine. I'll go alone then."
"Club!"
"You promised compensation! Let me do this instead—my way!"
Club stared at Spade with eyes blazing like fire.
Her raw, boiling fury leaked out uncontrollably.
"I can't forgive that bastard! For whatever shady crap he pulled on you, No. 13!"
"I won't stand by while he slips away from a hero twice, thrice right in front of us!"
"Heroes always win! A hero who doesn't win, who can't catch villains—there's no meaning to that! That's what they drilled into us!"
"Even if it kills me, I won't let a villain... escape!"
"Because we're heroes—heroes must win! There's no other ending! There can't be!"
Her desperate cry carried her heartfelt conviction.
Hard to call it wrong.
But Spade's stance wasn't wrong either.
Club's mindset was admirable, if precarious.
Letting a villain pull off this massive terror and escape would tarnish the 7th Squad's rep, if not make them a joke.
Yet Spade, with more experience and maturity than Club, knew sometimes you had to cut losses.
You strive for the best choice, but things don't always go 100% your way.
Spade, who'd tasted failure many times; Club, hailed as a prodigy with almost none.
That inevitable gap showed in their clash now.
No time to bridge it here.
"...Got it. You're set on going, huh."
After a brief internal debate, Spade sighed in resignation.
No bending this stubborn junior's will.
Separate from compensation—guiding and watching her back was a senior's duty.
"Fine... okay. Here's the plan: I'll help, but we prioritize safety."
"Senpai...!"
"If No. 13's still in the building. We scout first, confirm his presence. If anything feels off... you follow my orders, no arguments. That's an order from your senior and superior. Disobey, and it's by the book—punishment."
"Yes, ma'am!"
In the end, they settled on a compromise both could accept.
Spade immediately laid out a plan for safely tracking Villain No. 13.
...Even in this mess, external comms still wouldn't connect.