Outside the Black Market.

Lighter staggered to his feet, grimacing as he glanced back at the black market with a mix of pain and frustration.

He really hadn't expected this. He'd just gone out to buy some equipment—and somehow got dragged into that mess.

And now? His boss and all his teammates were gone.

He wasn't some monk ready to split up the party and the luggage just like that!

"Think, think… there's gotta be a way to save them."

Rubbing his still-aching chest, Lighter resolved to rescue Caesar and the others.

Technically, he was only a hired gun for the Sons of Calydon, so he didn't have to care this much.

But Caesar still hadn't paid him this month's salary—and he wasn't about to let his paycheck disappear along with the team.

Then he thought of a place. Before joining the Sons of Calydon, he'd spent time somewhere else—a den of outlaws who fought for money and hollow glory. Dangerous people, sure, but strong ones.

Even if none of them were as strong as him individually, together they formed a formidable force.

If he went back there and used the Sons of Calydon's money to hire them, there was still a chance to save Caesar and the others.

Once the idea took root, Lighter made up his mind.

He walked over to where Billy Kid was still lying flat on the ground and gave him a couple of light slaps across the face. "Wake up, Senior Billy."

Before he could get another slap in, a mechanical hand caught his wrist. Billy's bulbous eyes flickered to life with a warm yellow glow. "No need to slap me, kid. I'm already awake."

"Good. Then let's think of a way to get Caesar and Lucy out of there together."

Lighter retracted his hand without embarrassment.

"No need," Billy said, rubbing his metallic head with a sigh. "Boss Caesar and the others will be fine. That 'Pantalone' you saw—that's my boss, Sol Mercer. The one in the black suit next to him is my teammate, Anby Demara. They're probably on some secret mission and didn't want to blow their cover, that's why they attacked us."

The moment Billy woke up after being knocked out, he'd realized something was off.

When he'd instinctively dodged the first revolver throw and took the second one to the head, he'd only pretended to faint to help Sol with his act.

"Huh?" Lighter said in disbelief. "That guy with the god-tier aim—the one in the leather trench coat—that's your Sol Mercer?"

"Yep! I told you before—my boss is unbeatable," Billy said proudly, patting Lighter on the shoulder. "If he really wanted to take us out, we wouldn't be standing here talking about it."

Lighter nodded in reluctant agreement. "Yeah… he's terrifying."

"See? My boss is invincible!" Billy said with a self-satisfied grin. "And he's got a kind heart. Boss Caesar and the others will be fine."

"…"

Lighter didn't respond. He was already piecing things together in his head.

So, Sol and Anby were undercover, and the attack was just for show to protect their secret.

But wait—before today, they'd never even met Sol or Anby.

Then suddenly, a realization hit him. It had all started with Billy—this guy had nearly shouted Sol's name before getting knocked out.

Lighter turned sharply toward him, eyes narrowing behind his tea-tinted shades. "Billy… this whole fight started because of you, didn't it? Sol and Anby were about to walk away, but you had to yell their names. If you hadn't done that, they probably would've just ignored us, right?"

Billy froze mid-brag, his voice faltering. "W-well, that… um…"

After a long pause under Lighter's withering stare, Billy finally slumped his shoulders in defeat. "Alright, alright, it's my fault."

"Forget it. Things could've gone worse."

Lighter sighed, too tired to stay angry. Relief and resignation mixed in his chest.

At least Caesar and the others were safe—that was a comfort.

But getting dragged into all this for no reason and taking a beating for it? That part was less fun.

"You're a real pal, I knew you'd understand," Billy said cheerfully, clapping Lighter's shoulder. "Come on, let's head back to the Cunning Hares. You can bunk with me while we wait for Boss Sol to finish his mission."

"Guess that's all we can do."

Lighter nodded.

He had no more plans to recruit outside help. After all, the one who'd captured Caesar and the others was Sol Mercer himself—an ACE-level investigator.

And everyone knew: only a strong man could face another strong man. A pile of weaklings wouldn't make a difference.

Soon enough, Billy led Lighter back to the Cunning Hares and explained everything to Nicole, who'd been worrying about Sol and Anby.

"So, you're saying Sol and Anby are on a mission—not sneaking off to a hotel?"

Nicole rubbed her chin, visibly relieved.

After spending so much time with Sol recently, she no longer worried about him running off—only about Anby stealing her house keys while she was gone.

"Exactly. They're undercover in a weapons organization—looks like they're pretty high up, too," Billy said honestly.

"Wonderful. My Sol and Anby are as capable as ever!"

A flash of pride crossed Nicole's face.

Since the two were on an undercover assignment, that meant they were clean and trustworthy—and she could finally relax.

…

Meanwhile, in Sol's perfectly "clean and innocent" room, six women of very different but equally stunning styles barely fit in the space.

The four members of the Sons of Calydon, plus Anby and Jane—exactly six.

Sol sat on the edge of the bed, calmly and curiously observing the four captured women.

"Villain! Scoundrel! Degenerate!"

Lucy glared daggers at him. If her hands weren't tied behind her back, she'd already have lunged at his throat.

Her helmet lay discarded to the side, a single golden cowlick sticking up proudly from her flowing blonde hair.

She looked every bit the unyielding warrior—beautiful and fierce.

Only now, bound by ropes, even her modest figure took on a striking allure.

Sol shook his head, smirking. "My beautiful lady, you do know that a bit of resistance only fuels a man's desire to conquer, right?"

"Pah!"

Lucy spat in his direction, but quickly turned her head away, clearly unwilling to provoke him further.

"Wicked man! Come at me, leave the others out of this!"

Caesar thrust her chest forward, glaring defiantly at him.

Bound as she was, her curvaceous form only drew more attention.

"Caesar, you're so brave!" Burnice said, eyes shining with admiration.

"That's what it means to be an adult!" Piper added, puffing out her very flat chest as she pointed at Sol. "Open fire on this man! It's time this real adult steps into the grown-up world!"

"…"

Sol's mouth twitched. He almost lost it right there.

What's wrong with this washboard?

'Open fire'? Seriously? Where would that even fit?

"Caesar…"

Lucy whispered, her voice trembling as her nose stung. For a moment, she nearly cried.

At this crucial time, the lioness had unexpectedly proven… reliable.