The kids were huddled together outside. Goeun had told them the adults had some business to wrap up, so they should step out for a bit.

The “business” she mentioned was Pin’s punishment. She probably couldn’t let the children see that.

So Ban led the kids out of the Hundred-Fold Sect Branch. Filthy water splashed up to their ankles.

The reluctant little ones kept glancing back at the door. At five to ten years old, they were at the peak of curiosity. But their attention spans were short, too.

The kids quickly turned their interest elsewhere.

“Whoa…”

It wasn’t long before one let out a gasp of awe. Her front tooth was missing, leaving a gap in her grin.

“S-Sunset!”

“I’ve never seen a sunset before!”

“Right! Hey, brother Ban, have you ever seen one?”

The clouds parted, revealing a clear sky.

Dark clouds shredded by the sunlight turned into contrails, decorating the sunset. The twilight smeared across the sky like paint on canvas was busily sweeping away the gray.

A dragon-shaped cloud rising straight up made it look like a scene straight out of myth.

It was magical. Ban had never properly watched a sunset before.

The lowest district was always cut off from sunlight, after all.

Ban even thought it might be a gift from the Founding Patriarch for the kids who’d been through so much.

For a moment, he wondered if he was overthinking it and chuckled. Or maybe it was just the sight of the kids bouncing around that made him smile.

Whoooosh.

The wind nudged the rainwater pooled at the eaves’ edge. A single drop, condensed with the western glow, fell right onto the crown of his head.

“Damn it.”

Angela covered her crown. She’d been brooding alone when the deluge hit.

“I’m already pissed that the Founding Patriarch is in there with those slutty bitches, and now this bad omen with the rain.”

Even after her pink hair shed the droplet, she grumbled on for a while.

She’s been through a lot, too.

As Ban gazed at her with a warm smile, Angela shot him a look. She glared for a few seconds before pouting her lower lip.

“What’re you staring at, you creep?”

“Cr-Creep?”

Hearing that from her of all people made his hackles rise. She was as creepy as any Ten Wings. Pretty face aside!

X, she’s getting under my skin.

Ban was so flabbergasted he was speechless. Angela snorted.

“Anyway, you know you’re hot. But keep your eyes off me. To me, any guy who’s not the Founding Patriarch is just a bug.”

“I have zero interest in psychos like you… Wait, no. I don’t wanna waste more energy here.”

“He did all the hard work, so why are you taking credit, Ban?”

Ban replied in half-resigned tones.

“Fine, my bad. Sorry for looking, sorry for talking. I’m sorry for everything, so cool it, friend.”

“Ugh, your tone. Total dad vibe.”

“Angela, talking to you turns me into a swear machine.”

“Mix? Mix what? You nuts?!”

“X hair.”

Ban sighed and leaned against the wall.

He stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Angela for a bit, watching the kids splash in puddles. Then he asked,

“Why do you like the Founding Patriarch so much? You used to have zero interest in guys. You’d call eye contact impure.”

“Why do you think?”

Angela replied primly.

“He’s handsome, responsible, strong. Finding a girl who wouldn’t like a guy like the Founding Patriarch would be harder. He’s perfection incarnate.”

“…Fair enough.”

It sounded simplistic at first. But it was just stating facts.

Face? He wondered what it felt like living with a mug like that. Responsibility? He’d given sewer-life kids a reason to live.

And strength. No explanation needed. They’d just seen it.

Strong. That word said it all.

Founding Patriarch.

Was he truly a god?

His chest swelled with grandeur.

Ever since the branch was designated a Save Point, the kids’ faith had skyrocketed.

Believers inside the branch suffered an itch they couldn’t ignore without worship.

Aah, almost got swept up in the faith. Ban shook his head and got to the point.

“I get crushing on the Founding Patriarch. But can you tone down that look you give Goeun unnie? Even giving you the benefit of the doubt on her looks, the cyanide chocolate crossed the line. You some Russian mob boss? Trying to poison her?”

“…”

“…”

“…Did you say that?”

“Sh-X!!”

Just as Ban spun to bolt, a scream echoed from beyond the wall.

-Kaaaaaaaagh!

The death cry pierced the air sharply.

The puddle-splashing kids turned puzzled eyes toward the door.

“Ah!”

One kid’s eyes sparkled. He smirked meaningfully and scampered over.

He dove into Angela’s arms and peeked up. Ban got a bad feeling.

“Sis, I think I know what the grown-ups are doing in there!”

“Huh?”

His instincts rang alarms.

Something a fresh-faced kid shouldn’t say.

Especially not in front of that pink psycho…

“St-Stop-!”

Ban reached out. The kid ignored him and declared boldly.

“They’re practicing making babies, right?!”

Shadows blackened around Angela’s eyes in an instant. Her passion boiled over into ice-cold fury.

The kid tilted his head and toddled back to his friends.

“Hey.”

Hold up.

“Hey!!”

You little punk, you knew and passed the bomb!

Zzt-

His cheek stung. Ban froze in place.

And now it was Angela’s hysteria showtime. Ban was the sole audience. No special reason. Guilty of being closest, maybe.

“Haha. Hahaha.”

Even the heavens were heartless.

Cowardly, it showered warm sunlight. As if saying it wasn’t his fault.

Ban quietly stared at distant mountains. He lacked the courage to meet Angela’s eyes.

“…Hundred-Fold…”

Thud.

Pin’s head lolled forward.

He didn’t fully collapse, rigor mortis setting in. He died in an awkward half-slump, forehead nearly kissing the floor.

“Whew.”

Tang Jihye blew a breath, flipping her bangs back. The aftertaste of torture pooled thick on the floor.

Tang Jihye extracted the long needle from under Pin’s nose. Lee Taebaek watched, arms crossed.

Tang Clan poisons are infamous for their viciousness.

Paralysis was basic. Their flame poison, raising body temp near boiling, was legendary.

It induced agony beyond pain thresholds internally. Just hearing it made his gut burn.

Fitting the malatang homeland.

Lee Taebaek coveted it. Coating his Para Blade would drop foes in one slash. Tempting, especially for his poison arts specialty.

Of course, it’d be useless against peak [Life] or [Faith] masters.

They’d be immune to ten thousand poisons by then. But perfect for trash mobs.

I want it.

What good was wanting? It was pie in the sky. Poison arts were top-secret among Tang manuals.

Rumor had it they told a megacorp eyeing their poisons to X off.

Guts, at least, I respect.

The Sichuan Tang Clan’s gall, tempered in malatang, was Lake City’s finest.

Lost in thought, a soft presence settled beside him. Tang Jihye crossed her legs, wiping the needle clean with a handkerchief.

“Impressive.”

Even praise didn’t faze her.

“First time hearing torture praised. It’s routine. Torturing clan sinners was daily life since childhood.”

“Tang Clan a psycho factory?”

“Heard that a lot. And they still call us orthodox?”

“Bit off.”

“Not clan bias, but at least we don’t spew hypocrisy like other White Path sects. We’re transparent front to back.”

Why the Tang Clan had a good image with Lee Taebaek. Plus, Nangong Se-in from the Red-Light District provided unwitting contrast.

“That’s extreme, tanking their image. Explains why they’re tops in market cap among the Five Great Families.”

He’d thought she’d hate clan talk as an ex-member. Surprisingly detached.

“That market cap includes the poison you just used, right?”

“Yup. Flame poison’s the real deal. Once hooked, they spill everything, even stuff you don’t wanna know.”

“Interrogation optimized. Very 3rd Battalion.”

“Not good. Reality hits hearing it. Pin spilled his first time before dying. X, gross.”

“Not curious.”

“You think I was?”

Tang Jihye stabbed the clean needle into her bun. It was a hairpin. Classic.

“Anyway, why’s that witch sucking seriousness alone?”

She eyed Goeun. Goeun propped her interlaced hands on her chin, lost in thought.

Hummmmm.

She looked gravely serious. Lee Taebaek shook his head watching.

“She’s been like that awhile.”

“…Makes sense now. Nailed Ice Skill on first energy circulation. Life’s X fickle. Some slave lifetimes for one spell.”

Even muttering to herself, she gave hollow laughs.

“Talent for turning praise sour.”

“Your problem.”

Her snort was sharp.

“Anyway, worth the effort. Scored big. Two things.”

“What?”

“Gang Alliance invasion timing. And how they got Resistance intel. Traitor inside. Figures for that outfit.”

For such news, she was calm.

Betrayal was daily bread in dystopia. In this world, what sustained shallow human relationships was ultimately money.

Would the Resistance be any different? Even if they were bound by the cause of liberation, its members were not robots. They were human.

Means no surprise betraying the organization for money. But that’s no reason to leave potential threats alone.

Remove tumors ASAP.

“ID the traitor?”

Lee Taebaek asked.

“No. But rank, yeah. Or only one fits.”

“No way.”

“Yup. Traitor’s a ‘Battalion Commander’.”

Huh, such a twist. Felt like the universe’s gears jammed.

“Explains the fast intel relay. Should’ve known when gangs hit right after commanders’ meeting…”

“Any suspects?”

“Sure. But no duty to tell you.”

Timing. Push now. Lee Taebaek struck.

“Traitor’s Battalion Commander? Puts 3rd Battalion Commander, you, on the list. That’s why.”

Tang Jihye flinched. Her parted lips twitched into a smile.

“How long you been in Lake City?”

“Dodging ain’t smart.”

“Not dodging…”

She shrugged.

“You sound like a local now.”

Lee Taebaek shut his mouth. Tang thorns included tongue-piercers. No comeback. Damn.