Right after leaving Darren's base, Gegee ordered her driver to head straight for the industrial side of Okutama.

The truck rumbled down cracked roads, passing graffiti-covered buildings and piles of scrap. She didn't need directions. She knew exactly where the Scavengers' warehouse was.

As they pulled up, armed guards stepped forward immediately, rifles raised with sharp discipline. But the moment Gegee's boots hit the ground with a solid thud, their expressions froze.

They lowered their guns at once and dropped into bows. "Lady Geraldine!"

"Stay in the damn truck!" she barked over her shoulder to her comrades. Her heels echoed as she stormed forward to the guards. "Where's Akira?!"

"B-Boss is in his room, ma'am!" one of them stammered, his grip on his gun trembling.

Gegee clicked her tongue in disgust. The warehouse was a mess—dust-covered concrete, the air stale with the scent of latex. Boxes of condoms still sat stacked inside.

"AKIRA!!!" Her voice thundered through the building like a storm breaking in.

Inside his room, Akira jolted upright on a creaky old mattress. He knew that voice. Hell, anyone who'd crossed Gegee would never forget it. He fumbled into his patched-up jacket, tugged on mismatched boots, and adjusted the oversized goggles slipping off his nose.

As he stepped out, he met Gegee's glare head-on. Arms folded, lips curled in disgust.

"Tsk… You've been sleeping again, haven't you?" she hissed. "Some war vet you turned out to be. What a joke."

Akira forced a grin, tugging at the end of his wild mustache. "Ahh, Geraldine… Still as gorgeous as ever, I—"

"Cut the crap. Where are your men? The ones hunting my brother's killer?"

Akira's grin vanished. His shoulders slumped as he toyed nervously with his facial hair. "They… they haven't reported back. I think something went wrong."

Gegee took a threatening step closer. "And what? You just gave up?!"

"No, I—"

"Where is he?! The killer. What does he look like?"

"I don't know," Akira admitted, shame painting his voice. "Only the boys I sent would have seen him."

Gegee's fists clenched. Her rage simmered dangerously close to eruption. "How more useless can you be, old man?! People like you shouldn't even be alive. My brother shouldn't have....No. I should've never trusted you! You're full of shit!"

Akira winced, gripping his mustache tightly. "I'm sorry… But yesterday, one of the boys tried to call. I missed it. When I called back, no answer. He's name is Ado. A tough kid. If anyone is still alive, it's him. I was actually planning to gather a team to scout for him."

She narrowed her eyes. "And he might've seen the killer?"

"I'm sure of it."

"Then give me his number. Now."

Fumbling, Akira pulled out a battered phone and read off the digits. "050XXXXX."

Gegee turned without another word, heading straight back to the truck. "Tokyo," she ordered the driver.

At the rear, she called out, "Leonel. Track that number."

"Bet. Say less," said the man, already conjuring his Technomancer system interface. A flurry of holographic data bloomed around his hand. Within seconds, he had a lock.

"Got him."

And just like that—Gegee had a lead.

***

Present Day – The Scavengers Base

"Let's MOVE!!!" Gegee's voice exploded across the base.

Ado hobbled forward, leaning on a stick for balance, still recovering from the poison gas that nearly killed him. In his other hand, he clutched a small bottle of baby oil.

Gegee squinted. "What the hell is that for?"

"For my revenge," he replied coldly. "We agreed. I get to deal with him first. Then you can kill him however you want."

She waved him off. "Weirdo. Whatever. Get in the damn truck."

He climbed in, grimacing from the aftereffects of the poison gas, even after receiving the antidotes.

Gegee rolled down the window, smirking at Akira who stood outside, watching them leave. "Bye, useless old man! Cook us a nice meal, like the good little housewife you are!"

"Housewife?" Akira whispered bitterly, his fists clenched as the truck sped off, a cloud of dust rising behind them.

**

Meanwhile…

In the Safezone, Shin and the girls finally arrived covered in blood and sweat. As they stepped inside, all eyes turned toward them. Whispers followed.

"That's the boy… he came back alive?"

"No mistake… look at them. That's Bob's blood on their clothes!"

"They killed a beastmaster… What kind of monsters are they?"

"Don't cross him. You'll die before you blink."

People cleared the path like the Red Sea parting for something holy and terrifying. When Shin glanced sideways, people flinched as if struck. He said nothing. His aura alone screamed dominance. He looked like a silent mafia don who'd just won a war.

They finally reached their quarters. He unlocked the door and stepped in.

"Arghhh, I'm so done!" Lilian groaned dramatically, flinging her gauntlets to the floor. "These things weigh a damn ton!"

Sylvia leaned lazily against the wall, smirking. "You sure it's the gauntlets, not your arms that are weak despite having monstrous strength? I mean, hostess girl, the only muscle you've ever trained is probably your throat for sucking dicks."

Lilian's eye twitched. "I have not sucked any dicks, you insufferable gnome!! Master! Permission to dismember this pint-sized goblin!"

Shin dropped onto the bed with a sigh. "Just shut up and get the bath ready already…"

Lilian puffed out her cheeks, shooting Sylvia a death glare. Sylvia responded by dragging her finger down under one eye and sticking out her tongue mockingly.

Lilian hissed and stormed into the bathroom, muttering curses that sounded vaguely like "ugly bean sprout" and "gremlin with tits."

From the bed, Shin's stomach rumbled.

They'd need food soon. But first—the bath.

A few minutes passed before Lilian returned, already naked, standing proudly at the door. "Bath's ready, Master!" she said with a teasing bow.

"Good." He stood up, eyes on Sylvia. "Sweetheart, help me undress."

Sylvia's cheeks went bright red. "W-what!?"

"The water's getting cold. Help me, or I'll catch a cold."

Frozen like a deer in headlights, Sylvia hesitated, then slowly stepped toward him. She stopped right in front of him, breathing shallow.

"Start with the shorts," Shin murmured.

She swallowed hard, turned her head, and pulled them down with her hand in one swift motion.

Whap.

Something soft slapped her cheek.

She turned, then gasped, nearly choking on her own breath.

"Oh my… seems I already have a boner," Shin said with a casual smirk.

Sylvia's brain short-circuited.

TBC