Chapter 680: Die for Me

"The North Star?"

Catherine, the Phantom Blade, stood calmly in the middle of the crowd, letting the Blood Bottle Gang members in the warehouse clamor around her.

"He's the one killing our people?"

"The second prince? That barbarian prince who came back from the north?"

"The guy who fucked both the King of the Northland and the Northland Princess?"

"How could that be? How did we get involved with such a big shot?"

"Didn't he become a duke? Shouldn't he be staying nicely in a palace, wearing fine clothes and eating fine food while eighteen maids massage him? Why mess with ordinary people like us?"

"Which blind bastard in the gang offended a death star like that?"

"No, then what revenge are we even taking?"

"This is Jade City. He's only a guest. He shouldn't dare do this, right?"

"He's the king's son, the future king. Even if he sent tens of thousands of troops into the city and wiped us out together with the Black Silks, no one would dare say a thing..."

"How are we supposed to fight a big shot like that?"

"Should we rebel?"

"Is it too late to quit the gang and stay safe?"

"Uh, excuse me, let me through. I need to go out for a bit. Urgent piss... oh, you too? Then together, together..."

For a time, the warehouse was full of discussion, and everyone was anxious.

Frango, Jaga, Gutierrez, Gamandia... the bosses of different trades and districts looked at one another, shocked, doubtful, and faintly afraid.

Damn it.

Behind Duro, Glover clenched his teeth tightly and observed the expressions of those present.

Why? Why did she say it was His Highness Thales?

Was there someone behind this, someone planning to use these gang forces against the prince?

Or was this madwoman speaking nonsense to gloss over the Blood Bottle Gang's losses?

"I knew it! I knew that dogshit prince wasn't anything good! Boss Duro was right. Titled nobles are all fucking bastards!"

Beside Zombie, Zimikas was furious.

"Fatty, I'm telling you, on the first day that North Star entered the city, I went to watch. Fuck, bodyguards in circles around him, three layers inside and three layers outside. I only poked my head out and got slapped by a guard! Fuck, what dogshit prince? Acting so damn high and mighty. So far above everyone. I haven't seen him benefit the country or the people, only throw his weight around! How is he anything like our duke, humble and friendly, considerate of the people's condition?"

Glover forced himself to nod and barely lifted the corners of his mouth.

"Right, his bodyguards are all vicious thugs too! I remember one fully armed big brute, super fierce, almost as sturdy as you, Fatty. You could tell at a glance he'd killed plenty of people! And there was another guy wearing a half mask, even covering his mouth. Fuck, unless he's ugly beyond belief, what normal person wears a mask? Looking at it now, ha, dogs take after their masters. This prince really is a villain!"

Behind Zimikas, Ralf clenched his fists and exhaled heavily.

Glover had no choice but to turn back, press down on his shoulder, and pull him away from the furious crowd.

"Silence!"

Fogg's voice overwhelmed the entire room, forcing the warehouse to quiet down.

This local Jade City boss turned around, his tone cautious.

"Catherine, is what you said true? Prince Thales made the move? But that's too..."

"Too unrealistic?"

Catherine loudly picked up his words. She snorted coldly and looked around.

"Yes. Perhaps you don't care or pay attention, but the truth is this: on Queen's Day, at the height of the Emerald Celebration, inside Emerald Palace, the great figures in the upper levels of the kingdom are fighting to the death for power and status. Even the airflow from their breathing can stir storms in the city's lower levels!"

The leaders present exchanged glances. Some were filled with righteous indignation, while others were deeply worried.

"Great figures fighting to the death? Pah! The ones really struggling in the mud, bleeding and losing their lives, are us! Us!"

In the crowd, "Dung Egg" Roger angrily slapped his own chest.

"The North Star? When they're sitting in palaces with their feet up drinking tea, fucking maids' asses in their studies, I don't see them losing so much as half a hair!"

His words drew a wave of agreement.

Tarimi, who managed the streets of Glory District, raised his hand through gritted teeth.

"Then let them see what our Blood Bottle Gang can do. Let them see what a hundred-year 'gang nobility' is!"

Frango spoke steadily.

"Big Sister, we're all here. Tell us what to do, and we'll do it."

The voices in the warehouse grew increasingly unified.

"This is bad. She definitely came prepared. Her goal is to point all hatred at His Highness."

In the corner, Glover whispered to Ralf,

"After the first two cases, we've already lost Jade City's upper society and middle-level officials. Now, if we even lose the streets and markets of the lower levels..."

Ralf did not respond. He only stared fixedly at Catherine while enduring the emotional turbulence in his chest and the faint pain beneath his knee.

"That's right. We, we are only roadside grass when the storm comes."

In the warehouse, Catherine's voice lowered, but her tone became colder and colder.

"Weak and humble, drifting with the wind. But don't forget, grass also roots deep and tough. It cannot be shaken."

The next second, the Phantom Blade raised her sleeve claws high.

"So, brothers, since the storm has already arrived, we have no time to accuse one another, no room to curse the heavens and blame others, and no chance to hug our heads and hide!"

She roared,

"We have only one choice: unite, or be destroyed!"

The warehouse erupted with heated, furious agreement.

Glover looked at this scene in disbelief.

Could it be that all of this was within the Iris Flower Duke's expectations and instructions? Was the goal to make Star Lake Castle unable to move an inch in Jade City from top to bottom?

What would they do next? Ruin Star Lake Castle's reputation? Or, with Jade City's tacit permission, directly attack the prince's group?

No matter what, this was terrible.

No. This would not do. The prince and Mallos had to know about this immediately. They would make the safest decision.

The more Glover thought about it, the more worried he became. He patted Ralf.

"We should go."

But Ralf shook his head. He narrowed his eyes, taking in the Phantom Blade and the other leaders as best he could, then used the simplest gestures to express himself.

[Wait. Something is wrong.]

Glover frowned. He did not understand the other man's signs. He only recognized that the mute was refusing.

"Hey, I know you have a connection to the Blood Bottle Gang."

Glover lowered his voice.

"Maybe there are even friends of yours in this warehouse."

Sure enough, Ralf's body stiffened.

"But don't forget your current identity."

Glover's tone cooled.

"And don't forget who you are loyal to."

Ralf instinctively pressed his knee. His gaze remained locked on Catherine.

Until the sound of strangely rhythmic applause rose from the crowd, especially piercing.

"Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap..."

The voices in the warehouse gradually grew quieter, and everyone turned their eyes toward the person clapping.

"Nice speech, Blade Bitch. As always."

In one corner of the warehouse, Nekra stood before his handful of subordinates and spoke lazily.

"I was almost moved."

Catherine narrowed her eyes.

"Nekra, Red Viper."

The Phantom Blade's voice was faint.

"What about you? Unity, or destruction?"

The Red Viper smiled faintly.

"Before that, I only have one question. One small question."

Nekra clicked his tongue.

"Blade Bitch, those big shots you just mentioned, whether it's the North Star, the Iris Flower Duke, or some little authority hiding in whatever corner... exactly how much money did they give you, and how many men did they promise you, to make you say this kind of bullshit inside the gang?"

As soon as he said this, the atmosphere in the warehouse stalled.

Fogg the Wanderer let out a sigh.

"Good one."

Catherine remained composed. She merely extended a hand and stopped several indignant subordinates.

"It seems someone is unwilling to unite."

Behind her, most people's gazes toward Nekra became increasingly hostile.

"Pah, stinking Blade Bitch!"

Nekra's expression changed, and he spat viciously.

"Every time, every time your incompetence creates some mess you can't clean up, you invent some excuse too big to see the edges of, drag out some imagined enemy high above everyone else, and fool everyone with 'they did it,' 'it's not my fault,' 'they should be responsible,' 'this is the overall situation.' Then you put on the act of someone devoted to the public good and force the brothers to 'unite as one' with you..."

The Red Viper swept his gaze over the people behind the Phantom Blade one by one and spoke hatefully.

"Then you throw out that grand line, 'unity or destruction,' find a few shills to shout along with you, and make it seem like the voices are loud..."

Behind Catherine, Tarimi, Frango, and the others frowned at the same time.

"Then you openly and secretly find people to 'talk' to, telling them to 'consider the big picture.' As for those who 'don't consider the big picture,' you seal their mouths, cover their lips, or simply make them disappear, until the people left, out of profit or fear, out of stupidity or malice, or because they're simply both stupid and malicious, no longer oppose you and start calling you the boss of the Blood Bottle Gang again..."

Nekra snorted angrily.

"Fuck. After so many years, you play the same game every time. Blade Bitch, aren't you fucking tired of it?"

He fiercely pulled open his signature dark red coat and pointed at the others.

"Do you really think the people below are all stupid fish in Fogg's tank, letting you pull the same crap over and over again, enjoying every position you force them into?"

After this speech, the warehouse fell completely silent.

The originally heated mood seemed to have been drenched with cold water. People no longer shouted in agreement, but looked at one another.

Catherine did not speak. Her expression was as gloomy as ice.

Until Fogg coughed, breaking the strange silence.

"Perhaps you were right, Fogg."

Catherine spoke slowly.

"Some people are not suitable for leniency."

"Red Viper."

Roger behind her glanced at everyone.

"With a great enemy before us, maybe you should clear your head..."

"No, you're the one who should clear your head!"

The Red Viper roared and interrupted him.

"You. You people. All you stupid fish should clear your heads! A great enemy before us? Who is the true great enemy of our Blood Bottle Gang? Who?"

Catherine looked at him coldly.

"Is that so, Little Red? Then I'll take that as your answer."

She waved her hand. The subordinates behind her received the signal and slowly moved, surrounding the Red Viper.

Though Nekra's people were few, they refused to show weakness and stepped to the front line one after another.

The atmosphere in the warehouse became tense once more.

"Oh, come on. Didn't they say no fighting? Fatty..."

Zimikas instinctively reached for Glover, but grabbed nothing.

"Fatty, where are you?"

"We really should go."

In another corner, Glover pressed down on Ralf's shoulder, his tone severe.

"You don't want to get dragged into this, do you?"

But Ralf took a deep breath and shook his head at him.

His past experience wandering among gangs made him instinctively feel that it was not yet time.

"Nekra, facing such a big figure, our situation is already terrible. We can't keep exhausting ourselves internally."

Seeing two groups about to fight in his own venue, Fogg sighed and had no choice but to step into the middle, separating the two sides.

"Don't be impulsive. Think before you speak."

"I have thought very fucking clearly!"

Nekra looked as if he had thrown everything away. Ignoring the terrible situation before him, he pointed at each person through gritted teeth.

"Seven or eight years ago, in Eternal Star City, Red Lane, the One Night War. We suffered heavy losses. Five of eight cadres died! I never understood. We were supposed to be the ones prepared to ambush the Brotherhood! You should know, Black Sword wasn't even there at the time..."

He spoke with hatred.

"So how did we, the Blood Bottle Gang, lose? How did we lose?"

These words left the gang members confused.

Nekra snorted.

"But later I understood. The question shouldn't be how we lost. It should be: why did we lose?"

Catherine and Fogg frowned at the same time. The latter asked,

"Isn't that the same question?"

The Red Viper smiled.

"Ah."

Nekra shook his head, his gaze sharp.

"Because we had to lose. We were required to lose."

He abruptly pointed at Catherine.

"Because if we didn't lose, if we didn't smash the powerful Blood Bottle Gang into a scattered mess, if we didn't hand over one top backbone figure after another, including 'Clown' Kess, 'War Wolf' Kalka, 'Chaos Soldier' Song, as well as bosses like 'Tailor Shears' Solo and 'Bandit' Lube, along with their people, to the Black Silks to be killed, erasing and burying every last one of them in Red Lane..."

As soon as he said this, Catherine's eyes flashed.

The Red Viper forced the most venomous tone out from between his teeth.

"Then how was a certain boss, who at the time had no qualifications, no strength, no reputation, and not even a few dicks to her name, supposed to rise to power?"

Glover, who had been silently searching for a way out, suddenly felt Ralf tremble slightly before him.

In the middle of the room, the Red Viper laughed loudly.

"Then how else could someone, just like today, use 'the enemy was too powerful' as an excuse, build connections with the big shots with great face, go negotiate with the Black Silks, and while she was at it, take over the territory of those fallen bosses, swallow the dead men's businesses, unify the entire gang, and transform the Blood Bottle Gang Boss Turnbull left behind into her Blood Bottle Gang?"

"Look, the Blood Bottle Gang suffered a crushing defeat, and the Phantom Blade Catherine turned the tide. Fucking sounds great, doesn't it?"

The whole warehouse exploded at once.

Catherine's people cursed loudly, and the Red Viper's people answered with filth. But more people did not dare speak and were at a loss.

"The Red Viper has gone mad."

Bad Shoemaker Jaga, who stood on Catherine's side, turned back and sighed.

"He's been suppressed by Big Sister for too long. He can't hold it in anymore and is going all out."

"I rather admire his courage."

Frango the Registrar clicked his tongue.

"I'm willing to add a coffin fee for him."

On the other side, Gutierrez and Sangare stared at the two of them with displeased gazes.

The scene was chaotic until someone could no longer resist making a move, and Fogg had no choice but to step out again and maintain order.

"No matter what you're implying, Red Viper..."

Catherine was not angry at all. Instead, she was strangely calm.

"Who? Who taught you this method of throwing dirty water?"

The Red Viper's expression stiffened.

"Dirty water?"

Nekra avoided her question. First, he laughed wildly, then his laughter suddenly stopped.

"Seven years ago, Catherine, you were the first to receive word that the Black Silks were going to seize Red Lane. So you had us prepare an ambush and prepare to strike the Black Silks hard."

His tone was spiteful.

"But you yourself didn't appear at such an opportunity to beat the Black Silks, make a name for yourself, and bask in glory?"

"I wasn't in the royal capital at the time."

Catherine smiled faintly.

"And don't forget, you weren't there either."

As she spoke unhurriedly, she carefully checked her sleeve claws and straps inch by inch. The fighters behind her did the same, their calm unsettling.

"So I sent my most capable people!"

Seeing the other side unmoved, Nekra grew more and more impatient.

"Including the Layton siblings, Golensky, Numeno, Spin, Dolno, more than half the people I had left in the capital! After the One Night War, I didn't even have enough men to escort goods and sweep streets!"

He said coldly,

"And you? Among the people you sent to the capital that night, was there anyone worth remembering by name?"

As soon as these words came out, Catherine's expression cooled.

"I was the same."

A cold glint flowed over her sleeve claws.

"That night, I also lost the subordinate I trusted most, the one with the greatest future. Right there in Red Lane."

That night...

The subordinate she trusted most, the one with the greatest future...

Red Lane...

In the corner, Ralf felt his breathing stop.

Nekra's eyes turned.

"Oh, right. That foul-mouthed kid. The one who played with wind using his ability. What did you call him again? Little Wind-Chaser?"

"It was 'Ghost of the Wind.'"

The Phantom Blade said faintly.

The guy with tattoos on his face who played with wind using his ability...

Hearing this, Glover finally understood, and his expression changed.

"Also, his name was Ralf. Midira Ralf."

Catherine lowered her head, her expression unreadable.

Glover could no longer hold back and instinctively looked at Ralf.

But the latter only turned his head away, refusing to face Zombie's incredulous gaze.

Only his shoulders trembled slightly.

"Is that so? So that's how it is. When everyone in the gang fell into the hands of the Black Silks, when everyone was badly damaged by that One Night War, when everyone had headaches over compensation for the dead men's families, you, Phantom Blade Catherine, lost some arrogant street punk who played with wind? Ha, what a heavy loss."

Nekra sneered disdainfully.

Catherine raised her head, her gaze colder and colder.

"Little Red, don't say I never gave you a chance."

But the Red Viper threw his head back and laughed.

"A chance? Hahaha! Tell me, Blade Bitch, did you give that wind-playing Ralf a chance?"

Ralf's gaze trembled.

The next second, Nekra spoke word by word.

"When you sent your so-called 'most trusted, most promising subordinate' away as an abandoned pawn, as a sacrifice, as bait to win the trust of the other bosses, sending him to the One Night War to die for nothing, sending him to Red Lane as a prearranged sacrifice so that you could rise inch by inch and step by step from the postwar mess between the Blood Bottle Gang and the Brotherhood..."

The Red Viper's words were casual, yet incomparably venomous.

"Did you give him a chance?"

At that instant, Ralf's whole body trembled, as if something had exploded beside his ears, buzzing and ringing.

[As an abandoned pawn.]

[As a sacrifice.]

[As bait to win the trust of the other bosses.]

What?

What?

Ralf breathed hard, and his breathing was as violent as a hurricane, ravaging back and forth beside his ears, covering all other sounds.

[To die for nothing.]

[A prearranged sacrifice.]

[Rise inch by inch, step by step...]

Smack!

Ralf shook violently.

He abruptly raised his head. Glover was tightly gripping his arm, stopping him from continuing to claw at his prosthetic limb.

Glover shook his head, his eyes full of indescribable meaning.

Ralf instinctively pulled his arm back.

Glover spoke in a low voice, his expression slightly anxious.

But Ralf could not hear what he was saying.

Not a single word. Not a single syllable. Not the slightest bit.

Right now, he could hear only the voice coming from one direction.

"What did you say to him, huh? Huh?"

The words of the Red Viper and the Phantom Blade continued, like an unavoidable hurricane scraping across his ears.

"Tell me, how did you trick that poor wind-playing wretch into going to Red Lane to die?"

Poor wind-playing wretch...

Ralf endured his body's trembling.

In the center, Catherine said nothing. She only stared coldly at the Red Viper, as if looking at a dead man.

Nekra sneered.

"What sweet words did you say to him, Blade Bitch? Was it, 'Little Wind-Chaser, Big Sister Catherine likes you best'? Or 'I don't trust anyone else. I only trust you'? Or maybe, 'You must become the strongest one'? Or perhaps, 'Go on. One of you is worth ten. You must show the might of my Phantom Blade'?"

Catherine stared at him and slowly furrowed her brows.

Ralf's breath stopped. Instinctively, he wanted to lower his head.

But there was no way. The memories from the past that had been deliberately forgotten still surged back into his mind, irreversible and unstoppable.

[This operation was arranged by the mystic. It's extremely important. The other bosses have all sent quite a few people... but I don't trust the others, Midira. I don't.]

[I only trust you.]

I only trust you.

And he, Ghost of the Wind, Midira Ralf, had nowhere to escape.

[I know they call you one of the Twelve Strongest among the young, but I want you to know that if you're satisfied with that and start getting smug, then you're fucking dead! No need for anyone else to do it. This old lady will fucking take you apart first!]

[In my eyes, that title is shit! You cannot stand side by side with the other eleven. You cannot! You have to become the strongest one! Do you understand? Because you're mine. Mine! Do you hear me, you damned Commas ability brat!]

[So go. Take my people and my name to Red Lane. Find the strongest opponent and bring back a few resounding heads! Even if you have to face Black Sword, you are not fucking allowed to step back! Because you are mine. You are the Ghost of the Wind who survived the edge of my Catherine's blade!]

Damn it!

Ralf dazedly supported himself against the wall beside him.

Why did that damned Red Viper have to speak?

Why did that bastard Nekra have a mouth?

Why did he have to be here and hear these things?

These things!

[When I return to the capital, I don't want to see the you of today! Instead, I want to see a man! When others speak of him, they will say, 'See that? That's him! That is the true edge of the Phantom Blade! That is the reason Catherine can dominate the Blood Bottle Gang!']

Ralf closed his eyes.

He swallowed hard, feeling the flesh in his throat that had no longer been smooth since his injury in Red Lane.

But Nekra's venomous words continued.

"Or was it, hehe, 'Go. As long as you win this battle and come back, this big sister will condescend to marry you'?"

In the warehouse, no one dared speak.

And Catherine observed the Red Viper before her. The disgust and hatred in her eyes gradually vanished, turning into pure killing intent.

"Just like that, after you sent out your most 'beloved' little pawn, along with my elite men, and the Clown, War Wolf, and the others, all to be killed by the Black Silks in the One Night War..."

Nekra seemed utterly unaware of the Phantom Blade's killing intent and continued to sneer maliciously.

"The person left in the Blood Bottle Gang with the greatest power and the best ability to clean up the mess was you, wasn't it, Big Sister Catherine?"

Big Sister.

In a daze, Ralf slowly opened his eyes.

[Listen carefully, you Commas brat who blocks roads and robs people. Today, you provoked the wrong person. My name is Catherine, the Phantom Blade of the Blood Bottle Gang.]

In his eyes, Big Sister Catherine standing in the middle of the room gradually overlapped with the image in his memories.

The two became hard to distinguish.

[Ha. Let me put it this way. If I spare your life today, kid, then from now on...]

[Are you willing to die for me?]