Everyone around Ryan was full of ambition. Not to mention Mobius, who aimed for infinite evolution, even Elysia had grand ideals. It could be said that he was often surrounded by heroes, but he wasn't used to the "smallness" and ordinariness of Pardofelis. After giving it some thought, though, he decided to resist the urge to lecture her.
Everyone has their own ambitions. Ryan didn't bring Pardo along to use her as cannon fodder. Besides, in critical moments, this little cat also had the heart to transform into a tiger and fight to the death.
"It's good to be a salted fish, but being a good salted fish in this world isn't easy."
"Yeah, so we need to work hard!" Pardo clenched her small fists, looking full of fighting spirit. Unfortunately, there was no light, so she had to laugh instead.
"Let's study hard starting tomorrow, and get some rest tonight."
Ryan looked around and patted the bed. "You sleep first."
"What about you?" she asked.
"I'm just thinking about something. It's too crowded here; I can't sleep with you."
Pardo thought about the strange sensation earlier, her face flushing. She quickly loosened her hands, lay down on the blanket, and wrapped herself up like a cat or a worm, leaving only her head exposed.
"Master, do you think we'll be okay this time?"
Ryan could see she was still a little scared, so he comforted her, "Don't worry. With your luck and mine, it's hard to die."
"What about Sundown Alley?" Pardo asked.
Sundown Alley? Ryan didn't want to make any promises, especially since his plan for the battle here was even bigger than Canghai, and many Herrscher-level combat forces would be involved.
"Pardo, you should get out and see for yourself. To be honest, Sundown Alley is not a good place. If you have any attachment to your hometown, even if it turns to ruins, you will come back sooner or later to take a look."
The girl didn't seem too nostalgic. She was just used to living cautiously and was hesitant about moving toward an unfamiliar future.
"Will it be better outside?" Pardo wondered. She had never thought about this before.
If Ryan hadn't shown up, she might have stayed in Sundown Alley until the end of time. But now, a strong man had appeared and dragged her into a big whirlwind.
Her instincts told her to follow the Master and step forward.
"At least, I found a solid leg to lean on this time. With someone protecting me, it's better to stick with you," Pardofelis thought. Her goal was simple—she just wanted to live and live comfortably.
Ryan heard a faint shout and shrugged. He leaned down, exposed Pardo's head, and looked closely at her little face in the quiet moonlight.
This cautious girl always made people want to protect her.
Ryan smiled to himself. In terms of value, Pardo was ordinary, but she was interesting enough. He had really enjoyed his time in Sundown Alley with her. "If I hadn't met her, I would never have thought that fighting in Sundown Alley would be this easy. Her luck is truly contagious."
He had spent 80% of his time with Pardo during this trip to Sundown Alley. Except for a bit of nervousness when he met Aponia, he had lived like a salted fish otherwise.
He didn't do much, but his goal was achieved. Most importantly, Pardo had discovered the core of Honkai energy, allowing Ryan to respond quickly and maintain control of the situation.
Apart from his good luck, Ryan couldn't explain it any other way.
Dinglingling—the bell rang again. Ryan immediately answered, not wanting to disturb Pardo. He heard a soft gasp on the other end.
"Ryan, I found the 'Black Dog.'"
In a luxury suite, the murals and furniture were covered with a thick layer of "ketchup," the door was sliced in half by a sharp blade, and several dismembered bodies lay scattered about.
Sakura leaned against a wall full of bullet holes, holding a knife in one hand, quietly watching the figure in the high-back chair nearby. The big boss of the peninsula was slumped, his eyes rolled back, saliva dripping from the corners of his mouth.
"I injected him with the 'truth serum,' but I couldn't get anything useful out of him, just a bunch of useless nonsense."
"Who owns the paradise? As a supplier, he should know." Ryan moved to the corner of the container and lowered his voice.
"The consignee is the Takeuchi brothers, and these two were his superiors, but they've already been killed by you."
Damn. These people were meticulous in hiding the clues.
Ryan rarely cursed but now understood that these people were terrible at scientific research and combat command, but when it came to conspiracy, no one was more experienced than them—especially with a mysterious strong figure who could manipulate memories.
They had done everything perfectly, burying falsehoods within the clues. It was a huge time-consuming task to fight against them. Thankfully, Ryan had chosen a more direct approach.
When the Black Dog's location was revealed, he knew the trail was worthless. These people weren't stupid—how could they let clues reach him?
"I get it. Now, we're at the third stage of the battle."
"Yes, this is the real test." Sakura looked out the window. Steel mechs rose from the sea, and helicopters roared in.
She had killed many people, but the enemy had let them go, which actually worked to their advantage.
If it had been Ryan, he would have been blamed for killing friendly forces, which would push the next phase of the plan forward. If it wasn't Ryan, the Herrscher would get the message and would refuse to appear, no matter what.
"Let's begin. Sakura, remember to prioritize your safety. I've arranged things, and from what Mei's messages say, the general manager has no intention of cleaning up the mess." Ryan's voice was calm, showing no panic.
Just like Mei wasn't willing to tear her face with them, the Fire Moth wasn't in the hands of those people. The factional struggles were a headache.
Hearing this, Sakura felt reassured and even smiled.
As an assassin who specialized in dirty work, she was always worried about being sacrificed in every mission. "Only the dead can keep secrets" had almost become a rule.
"I'm not worried about being abandoned when I work for you. So, don't worry—"
Zheng.
The long knife cut through the air and sliced a missile in half, creating a violent explosion. The black-clad assassin emerged from the flames, looking down on the war machines and fusion warriors below.
"They can't penetrate me. They can't stop me either!"
Ryan couldn't hear the rest of Sakura's words. He slowly lowered his phone, his eyes filled with relief.
He couldn't be the savior alone. He couldn't even change the Fire Moth by himself, but combined forces would give a slight chance to turn everything around.
"Sakura will definitely succeed, and this false conclusion will create an opportunity to resolve things early."
Ryan skipped the observation phase, quickly tapped the screen, and sent three emails to three different people. He didn't wait for responses, just placed the phone at his feet.
The fourth stage began. What they would gain depended on the next reaction.
He was confident in the outcome. Looking at Pardofelis, who was sleeping soundly, he left her a note and climbed out of the skylight. He stood on top of the container, scanning the surroundings.
The gunfire grew denser. The big players in Sundown Alley were desperately searching for him, and occasional skirmishes broke out.
Ryan watched in silence. He was waiting for Sakura's final result. He could almost see the girl in black charging forward, unstoppable.
"In the end, our fighting styles are similar. The lack of lightning power is compensated by the weapons that Vil-V secretly built. As long as we don't get caught in a fight, no one will recognize it."
The candidates for the 'Shadow Warrior' had considered all the details. Their speed was comparable, their swordsmanship slightly similar, and their combat power was formidable. When it came to killing, Sakura was among the best of all the fusion warriors.
The night breeze blew, and Ryan squinted his eyes, listening to the tide. After a moment, his eyes widened.
Boom—
There was a deafening explosion in the southern part of Sundown Alley. A light blue shockwave spread outward, smashing the houses in its path like toys.
This wasn't something humans could achieve. And there were at least three non-human beings in Sundown Alley.
"Finally, they made a move. It's only been half a day." Ryan wore the same mocking smile as Mobius. The reason for their haste was simple.
They had already determined that "I" was thousands of miles away, so there was no need to waste time. First, they would use "companions" as bait to lure out the "pseudo-herrschers."
The sea breeze howled, and the explosion echoed. From this moment on, Sundown Alley could truly be called a dragon's den and a tiger's lair. In this long, dark night, alongside the terrifying combat strength of the Fire Moth Hunting Team, a few pairs of hidden eyes were also watching.
"And I have no reinforcements this time, only a kitten and Kalpas, who is neither an enemy nor a friend."
Ryan's breathing quickened, and his eyes grew excited. He turned and saw Pardofelis peeking out of the skylight, looking nervous.
"Did you wake up? Read the note I left carefully, and follow its instructions. You'll be able to leave safely."
Pardo opened her mouth but couldn't say anything. She wanted to help, but on the one hand, she felt useless, and on the other, she was terrified.
"Is it starting so soon?"
"Opportunities always appear when you least expect them. When they do, you have to put aside all distractions and take that step forward," Ryan said, releasing the optical distortion device and revealing his true form.
"Watch closely. I'll show you how it's done."
Is this the true face of the Master?
Pardo's eyes widened, unable to say a word.
She had noticed it before, but when the truth was revealed, she just stared blankly at the man with black hair and gray eyes, watching him pull a long gun from nowhere, his figure cloaked in shadows.
On the quiet seashore, under the moonlight, the killing weapon slowly activated. His handsome face gradually disappeared, and his firm gray eyes were covered.
The man with the gun had nothing left but pure will, not a word of nonsense. He bent slightly, preparing to walk into a sea of fire and a mountain of swords.
"Let me give you some luck, Master—" Pardo snapped out of her daze, lowered her head, as though engraving the scene into her memory.
After a while, she showed her usual cheerful smile and gave a thumbs up.
"You are so handsome now!"