Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 013
Chapter Title: Sponsorship
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Meanwhile.
The floor had collapsed under a barrage of lightning, sending Alex plummeting below. He was struggling against Ron Dito's overwhelming magic.
'Damn it...! I need to get back up there!'
Gerald Hudson, the Bearwolf, was a notorious monster even among fugitives.
There was no doubt that prisoner had something special about him—enough to withstand even lightning magic, just as he'd claimed.
But that didn't mean Alex could hold his own against a werewolf like that.
'Shit, no way to contact HQ...!'
His gear was completely fried from the lightning magic—far stronger than anticipated—and showed no signs of recovering.
'Moonlit Path's executives are this powerful? These terrorists have more firepower than we ever imagined...!'
Suddenly, a chilling presence made him snap his eyes wide open.
"Still got time to think, huh?"
"What the—...!"
He raised his insulated shield, but it was too late.
The mage had flanked him in an instant, and a bolt of lightning pierced straight through his body.
"Gaaahhh!"
"Don't worry. I won't kill you."
Ron Dito smirked as he grabbed the collapsing officer by the scruff of his neck.
"I've got plenty of questions for you."
A faint smile curled on his lips as he glanced up at the now-silent ceiling.
"Looks like things are wrapped up above too."
The failed rendezvous with the mafia was disappointing, but it didn't matter.
They had a new partner now: the Baal Cult.
Dragging the limp cop behind him, Ron Dito climbed back up—only to be met with a scene that shattered all his expectations.
He'd naturally assumed the Bearwolf had torn the prisoner to shreds.
"Pl-please...!"
But standing in the wreckage of the factory was a single human.
And the werewolf he'd trusted was kneeling before him, trembling in fear.
"What the hell...?"
Ron Dito's eyes nearly bulged out of his skull.
*
I let out a small groan at the Bearwolf's sudden change in demeanor.
'So that's how it is...'
I couldn't fully grasp the situation, but whatever it was, I was clearly benefiting from some massive misunderstanding.
'...How do I play this?'
Correcting whatever misconception this was would probably be easy enough.
But then I'd have to fight this werewolf all over again.
'No guarantee backup will arrive on time.'
That would likely mean letting Ron Dito slip away.
'Unless that shield cop can take him down.'
But that didn't seem likely.
That's when it happened.
A faint presence made me turn—and sure enough, Ron Dito had emerged from below, gripping the shield cop's scruff in one hand as he stared me down.
'Just as I feared...!'
Alex or whatever his name was must've gotten wrecked.
The mage's eyes trembled in utter confusion at the scene before him.
"What the hell...?"
That was exactly what I wanted to say.
Then, Gerald, who had been kowtowing, murmured softly.
"It-it must be some profound reason that you're cooperating with the police in that form, right?"
"...Huh?"
"I-I'm in no position to presume to understand your intentions, but at least give me a chance to atone for my sins by helping in whatever small way I can...!"
"Uh... um."
I was racking my brain for how to respond when Gerald's gaze suddenly shifted to Ron Dito.
"Come to think of it, you came here to capture that man."
"!?"
That's when our eyes met—mine and Ron Dito's.
Something burst from the mage's shadow, coiling around his neck and knocking him out in an instant.
"Gurk?!"
Ron Dito crumpled like a marionette with cut strings.
'A curse?'
At that moment, crunch! Two of Gerald's fingers exploded.
"Guhh! With this... I beg your forgiveness...!"
'Whoa.'
The werewolf had apparently paid with his own fingers to knock out Ron Dito.
'He didn't even wait for me to say anything before blowing off his own fingers to apologize?'
That confirmed it for me.
I didn't know exactly what the Baal Cult was about, but they sure as hell weren't right in the head.
They were raving fanatics.
"Soon... Moonlit Path's mages will swarm this place! You must escape before then!"
"......"
No matter how I turned it over in my mind, following his advice seemed like the smart move for now.
'No point getting chatty with these lunatics.'
I spun on my heel, hoisted the unconscious Alex and Ron Dito over my shoulders, and activated Baal's Minor Curse.
"Ooh...!"
Gerald's eyes sparkled with awe, like he was witnessing a miracle all over again.
Ignoring that intense stare, I bolted out of the abandoned factory.
*
How long had I been running?
Having burned through my life force with curses, I finally made it back to the original rendezvous point.
I dumped the two unconscious men on the ground and started rummaging through Officer Alex's belt.
"Got it."
Anti-mage handcuffs, specially made for heretics like him.
I slapped them on Ron Dito, and Alex coughed violently—cough!
"Wh-where...?"
"You awake?"
He rolled his eyes with effort, then widened them in shock.
"Wh-what's the sitrep...? Cough!"
"Mission's over. You're safe."
"Over? Mission over?"
He clutched his aching chest and stared at me in disbelief.
Spotting the cuffed man, Alex stammered.
"R-Ron Dito?!"
"Yeah, well. Haha."
"How the hell...? No, what—cough! What happened? What about that Bearwolf?"
"Uh..."
How was I supposed to answer that?
I decided to change the subject.
"More importantly, shouldn't we head back? Things could get messy if this guy wakes up."
"R-right, yeah. There should be something around here..."
He rummaged through nearby bushes and pulled out a battered bag.
Where'd he even hide that?
"In case of emergencies... whew... we were supposed to regroup at this rendezvous point."
He pulled out a working communicator.
"This is Rabbit. Rabbit to Turtle, respond."
"Reporting all clear. Cough. Current position: rendezvous point. Holding with Pebble, and we've got the..."
Alex glanced at Ron Dito.
"...package secured."
I could feel the shock from the other end.
"Roger."
He cut the comms and let out a deep sigh.
"I have no idea what the hell happened..."
Alex expressed his gratitude to me.
"But I do know one thing: you saved my life. Thank you."
"Haha..."
That's when a message appeared before me.
Special Mission Accomplished Flawlessly
📍 Thwarted Moonlit Path-Bruno Family Rendezvous(★★★★★)
📍 Involved in Subduing Ron Dito(★★★★)
🎁 Mission Evaluation - A+ Rank
But something was different this time.
+ All Stats Additional Increase (High Achievement Rank)
'S Rank?'
Then a new message I'd never seen before popped up.
'Reinforcement Skill Point? What's that?'
'An enhanced version?'
But it didn't end there.
"!!"
*
"You serious?"
After securing Ron Dito, Delta Team Leader William Madison returned swiftly with his unit—and promptly scowled in disbelief.
"You don't know how it happened?"
"Yes... that's right, sir."
William shot him an incredulous look.
"So you're telling me you blacked out early on and have zero clue how you captured Ron Dito? Or escaped that Bearwolf? Not even a little?"
Officer Alex nodded.
"Yes, exactly."
He could've grilled Kyle for details, but he didn't.
Something told him the guy didn't want to talk about it.
Alex had no desire to put his lifesaver in an awkward spot.
"This is ridiculous..."
William turned to Joseph with a look of exasperation.
"Hey, what the hell is that guy's deal?"
"I told you. Just trust me."
"Hah...!"
Joseph puffed on his cigarette, deep in thought.
'The Baal Cult getting involved was definitely unexpected.'
And Gerald Hudson, no less.
Who could've predicted that monster showing up personally?
'But Kyle Clark survived anyway.'
Not just him—he'd brought back an officer and the target to boot.
'Drove them off? Or just escaped? No idea...'
A mage from the veiled towers.
Whatever power he was hiding far exceeded Joseph's imagination.
Otherwise, he couldn't have returned unscathed after facing that werewolf.
'With skills like that, he could break out of the penal unit anytime.'
Whatever his reasons, he seemed genuinely serious about earning citizenship.
Joseph's eyes narrowed.
'...Must be desperate for a new identity, a fresh start.'
"Shouldn't we drag that 43471 in for questioning right now? Guy's suspicious as hell."
William's words made him frown.
'Don't go screwing this up for us.'
"Suspicious my ass. He's got his reasons. Just roll with it."
Now that he realized Kyle could walk away from the unit whenever he wanted, Joseph had even less interest in pissing him off.
"What reasons?!"
"Dude, what's your problem? We got Ron Dito! He saved your guy! That's a win! He did everything!"
"That's—!"
William shut his mouth, speechless.
"Just leave Kyle Clark alone. Got it?!"
Alex, gauging the mood, spoke up.
"If it's alright, sir, may I go rest? Treatment's not finished yet."
"......"
William glared at Joseph in annoyance for a moment before sighing and nodding.
"Fine. Dismissed."
"Yes, sir."
Alex saluted and left the room, exhaling softly.
He soon started walking somewhere.
But not toward the infirmary.
After exiting the office and traveling two blocks, he climbed into the back seat of a luxury sedan parked in an alley.
Thud. The door shut, and the elderly driver glanced at him in the rearview mirror.
"Young master."
"...Drive."
The sedan pulled away smoothly.
After a silent stretch, the old man spoke.
"Shouldn't you stop this now? I heard it was nearly disastrous this time."
"......"
"You're the one destined to lead the Marshall Family as city councilor someday. If something happens to you..."
"Enough."
Alex cut him off.
"I'll handle my own affairs."
"Young master...!"
"Anyway, I have a favor to ask."
"Yes?"
Alex paused, then gazed out the window.
"Someone personally saved my life. I want to help him."
"Help... someone, you say?"
"Yeah. But he's currently with the 141 Unit."
"141? You don't mean the Security Stabilization Unit, do you?"
Alex nodded, and the old man paled.
"Isn't 141 a penal unit for serious offenders and death row inmates? What are you—!"
"Alfred. Think I'd ask if I didn't know that?"
"But young master!"
"I owe him my life."
"...!!"
Alfred swallowed hard.
Alex continued.
"And that guy... he's a criminal, sure, but he's not like the other monsters. I've seen it with my own eyes."
"If you put it that way..."
The man cleared his throat, pondered briefly, then spoke.
"As you know, the 141 is a sub-project of the Second 8th Special District Development Plan, pushed by Mayor Luther. Our family can't directly intervene to reduce sentences or anything. However..."
"However?"
"...Even as a penal unit, 141 tacitly allows priestly gear for its members. If needed, we could 'donate' something to him through the family—in the form of a unit gift."
"Hmm, sponsorship, huh..."
Alex stroked his chin, then smirked.
"Not a bad idea."