"Boom, boom, boom..."
The sound of explosions, continuous in succession, came from outside the city.
The Klick Pirate Group had ignited the Scrap End Station, and he only had a few hours left for his main quest.
After setting things up for three days straight, the moment to reap had finally arrived.
Su Xiao moved through the descending night, beginning to approach the city gate.
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Outside the city, Scrap End Station.
The explosions here were already continuous, flames shooting into the sky, large piles of burning trash blasted high into the air.
The vagrants resting at the Scrap End Station were jolted awake by the sudden explosions, the fire beginning to spread over the mountain of trash.
By the time the vagrants reacted and tried to escape their shelters, the fire had already completely spread.
Wretched screams intertwined with the explosions, creating a scene of hell.
If there was indeed a hell, the current Scrap End Station was it.
The members of the Klick Pirate Group, witnessing the spreading inferno, began rapidly approaching the city gate.
They had previously discussed with Su Xiao that as soon as Scrap End Station was ignited, they would head to the city gates, and Su Xiao would send someone to open them.
This act of placing one's life in another's hands was something Klick naturally disagreed with.
So after their meeting, Su Xiao sent his confidant 'Hank' to accompany the Klick Pirate Group.
At this time, Hank was disguised as a pirate, following behind Klick.
"Quick, the fire is about to spread, and then we'll be in danger."
Klick shouted, and his subordinates quickened their pace.
Three minutes later, the Klick Pirate Group arrived outside the city gate.
Coming before the gate, the pirates' faces showed smiles; their task was done, and next, they only needed to enter the city to embrace a better life.
Especially Klick himself, already dreaming about life as a noble.
Luxurious accommodations, exquisite food, and a harem of supple women.
In that moment, Klick even contemplated completely abandoning his pirate identity.
"Bang, bang, bang~." Klick knocked on the gate.
"Open up, we are the Klick Pirate Group; Scrap End Station has been ignited by us."
After Klick knocked on the gate, there was dead silence; aside from the night wind fanning the flames, there was no sound from inside the city.
"Hey, open the gate quickly, the fire is about to spread over here."
Still silent, Klick felt a pang of panic.
Behind him lay the all-consuming fire, in front the solid city gate, they were trapped.
It wouldn't take long before they would be burned to death.
"What's going on, why isn't the gate opening?"
Klick's eyes flooded with blood streaks, glaring at Hank like an enraged beast.
Hank's lips were slightly white; he was sent by Su Xiao outside, and as just an ordinary guard, he was unaware of the King's refusal to honor his promise.
"No, no, it can't be, wait, wait for me, I'll try something."
Hank's words were stumbling as he vaguely guessed what might be happening.
"Bang, bang, bang~, open the gate, I am Hank of the Guard Team, Bai Ye, come out, come out!"
Hank began to roar, forgoing the formal address.
"Bai Ye, I will kill you!"
Klick had understood; he had been deceived by Su Xiao. They were merely chess pieces now, sacrifices.
The bloodshot eyes turned towards Hank.
"Burn, him, alive!"
After Klick stated this word by word, his subordinates immediately bound Hank, and together they threw him into the nearby sea of fire.
"Ah~, it's not my fault, Bai Ye, you won't die a good death!"
The flames started to 'kiss' Hank's skin, his shrill screams subsisted for over ten seconds before fading away.
Just as the Klick Pirate Group was on the brink of despair, a deep male voice echoed from the city wall.
"Hey, you down there, want to live?"
Everyone in front of the gate shuddered.
"Who is it, come out."
Klick was somewhat irrational, looking up to the wall aided by the firelight to see a slim middle-aged man.
Just as Klick was about to speak, barrels of explosives were successively tossed down from the wall.
Seeing the landed barrels, Klick's hair stood on end; behind him was an inferno, did they wish to blow them to pieces?
"Blow open the gate, and you might have a glimmer of hope."
After speaking, the middle-aged man on the wall retracted himself, melting into the darkness.
Within less than two seconds of hesitation, Ah Jin rushed to the barrels first, positioning them at the gate entrance.
Urgent voices emerged from inside the gate, indicating they've discovered the situation outside.
Klick tore off his black robe, revealing yellow armor, raised his arm, and fired a bullet at the barrels.
"Boom!"
The blast's shockwave pushed the members of the Klick Pirate Group back, some unfortunate pirates were pierced by the shattered debris and fell dead.
The hundreds-strong Pirate group lost at least a dozen members in this explosion.
But it was well worth it, for the city gate had been blown open.
Behind the shattered gate lay several broken bodies, all of them gatekeeper guards.
The Klick Pirate Group stepped over the splintered gate, entering the Royal Capital.
This was a band of enraged pirates set to plunder and kill within King City.
"Hey, stop right there."
Klick looked towards a dark corner, raising his arm, the muzzle on his shoulder pointing forward.
"Don't shoot, I'm the one who saved you."
The middle-aged man from before stepped out of the darkness, fear evident in his eyes.
"Why save me, I don't seem to know you."
Klick didn't lower his weapon.
"I have a grudge against Bai Ye, the enemy of my enemy is my friend."
Klick showed a cruel smile at the corner of his mouth.
"Where's Bai Ye?"
"In the Royal Palace, he's receiving a reward from the King, supposedly being awarded noble status."
Words like reward and noble status stung Klick, as they were meant to be his.
"Bang." A gunshot rang out, piercing the middle-aged man's chest, leaving a fist-sized bloody hole. Klick had actually shot his own savior.
"You bastard, you dared throw explosives at me, trying to kill me."
After saying this, Klick led his men towards the Royal Palace, intent on killing Bai Ye, killing the King, and ransacking the palace to make up for today's losses.
The middle-aged man fell to the ground, blood seeping from his mouth, his body convulsing uncontrollably.
Watching Klick's Pirate Group leave, the light faded from his eyes.
At that moment, a young man with a cigarette in his mouth emerged from the dark corner.
"Give ~, give my wife and daughter the money, I did as you asked."
Su Xiao squatted in front of the middle-aged man, exhaling a puff of smoke.
"Not bad, the money has already been given to them."
"That's wonderful, thank you, thank you~."
After speaking, the middle-aged man's eyes went completely dark, succumbing to Klick's gunfire.
This middle-aged man was a death row inmate Su Xiao saved from prison, the prior events were merely a transaction.
Su Xiao paid the money, the middle-aged man paid with his life, a deal both fair and unfair.
Watching the departing Klick Pirate Group, Su Xiao tossed his cigarette away, stamping it out.
"Klick Pirate Group, don't let me down."
Su Xiao disappeared into the night, rapidly heading toward the Royal Palace.