"...Who are you calling monkey? I don't even know you," P said, genuinely offended.
199Please respect copyright.PENANANWydEaoRVQ
*...I shouldn't cause a scene here. I'll avoid him for now and snuff him out later,* Arthur thought, forcing his composure back.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAGlLvq8nuxH
Arthur stood upright on the steps, holding Hanabi's phone securely in his left hand.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAtyMqxAxTR3
"Oh—I am sorry... My mind was elsewhere!" Arthur said, his voice dripping with insincerity.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAdkR1X1Z8yN
"Okay, then hand over the phone," P said, looking down at Arthur from the landing.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAvB8BYUdCo0
*How dare this monkey...* Arthur fumed internally.
199Please respect copyright.PENANArUukLcP1nN
"I'm afraid I can't do that," Arthur replied smoothly. "This phone belongs to a friend of mine."
199Please respect copyright.PENANA7wk70zJpRc
P stared at him in silence.
199Please respect copyright.PENANATcKrqso8x2
*STEP. STEP.*
199Please respect copyright.PENANAxmBoeFWOE0
A couple, arms intertwined, brushed past P's right side as they made their way down the stairs.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAzcSjgyfrPD
"...Friend...?" P repeated softly.
199Please respect copyright.PENANADLhh9vVVYk
"Perhaps you know her? I was actually making my way upstairs when I noticed her drop it..." Arthur explained.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAF4nEH9EKk3
*STEP.*
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*STEP.*
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Arthur began ascending the stairs directly toward P.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAOk4Bf94kF9
"So if you'll excuse me, I have to go find her," Arthur said, stopping just three steps below P.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAhlGY7e8tnk
"...What's your friend's name?" P asked coldly.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAMsaDwPOhGp
*STEP.*
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Arthur stepped onto the second stair below P, looking dead into his eyes.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAJjfIIox45K
"Hanabi..."
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He shifted his weight to walk past P, planting his right foot on the upper floor while his left remained on the step behind him—
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*GRAB!*
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P's hand clamped down around Arthur's left forearm like a steel vice.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAINJ7yeuLUL
"...Where does she live?" P asked, a menacing, pitch-black stare locking onto Arthur's eyes.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAWsfxO8qQWP
*STEP. STEP.*
199Please respect copyright.PENANAxkwpHsHcOi
A casino guest hurried past them down the stairs. Arthur’s eyes widened in sheer, skin-crawling horror as the reality set in.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAvfJ4j6NsiR
*...The— The Monkey... touched me...* Arthur thought, overcome with violent disgust.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAX8QCaV1kk7
"Answer me," P commanded, his voice dropping an octave into a low rumble.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAhIWUWNLqyE
Arthur tried to wrench his arm back, but P's grip was an absolute wall. He couldn't budge an inch.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAebs2wyzQji
He yanked a third time with all his strength, barely freeing his arm from P's grasp.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAdJqPwb9ihD
"Don't you *dare* touch me... you fool!" Arthur spat, stepping fully onto the upper floor and striding away into the crowd.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAatKKyFsDs9
P stood in total silence, his void-like eyes watching Arthur's back as the man walked off.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAtwsJnmNs1j
*STEP. STEP.*
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*SPLANG.....!*
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The entire casino seemed to freeze as a loud, metallic ring echoed across the upper floor.
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*RWAN... RWAN...*
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*RWAN... RWAN...*
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A metal server tray was rolling across the polished floor.
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*RWAN... RWAN...*
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Arthur froze, his eyes wide with desperate shock. The surrounding crowd melted into a blur of muted murmurs around him.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAuOWPW81u08
*MURMUR MURMUR...*
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The patrons whispered in hushed, terrified tones as the room fell quiet.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAmgeBeW0Ava
*RWAN... RWAN...*
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The tray continued to spin out.
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*STEP. STEP.*
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As the blurry crowd parted, P was revealed standing a short distance behind Arthur... having just pelted the heavy metal tray directly into the back of Arthur's head.
199Please respect copyright.PENANA2pftX4j86Z
*STEP.*
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*STEP.*
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*SPLANG!*
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The tray finally fell flat against the floor.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAJ4QmIAsqt9
"Where do you think you're going?" P asked coldly.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAcauXxbzvOT
*STEP.*
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"You've still got to give me an answer," P said, giving a short tilt of his head to the right—a clear, universal sign: *Come on then.*
199Please respect copyright.PENANAdpTPWNNIlh
Arthur exploded in pure rage.
199Please respect copyright.PENANADWGO9XqHRg
He whipped his left hand inside his suit jacket as he spun around, revealing the dark metallic sheen of a black pistol.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAlDb6UqzufX
*SHFF!*
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*CLICK!*
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P's instincts flared instantly as Arthur drew the weapon in a single fluid motion.
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*BANG...!*
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*PEW...!*
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A flash of fire erupted from the muzzle.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAG7EdQ5Taw1
In slow motion, the bullet cut through the air, heading straight for P's chest before the crowd could even react. P threw his body to the left in mid-air, dipping his frame just enough for the round to graze past his back and slam into the iron railing behind him.
199Please respect copyright.PENANArQXVNR1DkW
*SPANG!*
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*THUD!*
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P hit the floor, rolling smoothly behind the cover of a dining chair and a heavy round table.
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The entire floor immediately erupted into total pandemonium. People screamed, ducked, and trampled over one another, sprinting wildly for the exits.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAz1E8CzqvX6
*STEP. STEP.*
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*BANG! BANG!*
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*BANG! BANG!*
199Please respect copyright.PENANAtaw5D6flJ4
Arthur advanced down the corridor, firing rhythmically at P, who scrambled and rolled between tables and chairs on the upper level.
199Please respect copyright.PENANA6VwqTmf0Hn
However, the fleeing crowd kept cutting into Arthur's line of sight, blocking his shots.
199Please respect copyright.PENANArcwSd1YIeB
"Damn it...!" Arthur growled, frustrated.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAeAU4K21NoT
*BANG!*
199Please respect copyright.PENANAi1gYl5ze0V
Arthur pulled the trigger again, but an Asian woman with dyed blonde hair ran straight into his line of fire.
199Please respect copyright.PENANA1r5gqI51DU
*SPLAT!*
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*THUD!*
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The woman collapsed lifeless to the carpet.
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Arthur didn't even blink, continuing his cold march forward.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAznGMuvESGa
"YAAAH......!" a massive casino security guard bellowed, charging at Arthur from the side.
199Please respect copyright.PENANATD82uDsZYI
*BANG!*
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Arthur put a bullet directly through the guard's forehead without breaking stride. As the body hit the floor, Arthur pivoted to face a second guard positioned near the staircase, who was raising his firearm to shoot.
199Please respect copyright.PENANA8AYxwsY2Yz
Arthur swayed his head and upper body back, effortlessly dodging three incoming rounds that whizzed past his nose in slow motion.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAfPTFHiOZXr
As the fourth bullet zipped toward his face, Arthur caught the projectile clean between his front teeth. In the same breath, he snapped his head around and put a round through the guard's skull.
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*BANG!*
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The security guard collapsed, tumbling backward down the stairs.
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The stray rounds from the guard's gun hit two nearby guards, but a third managed to close the distance to Arthur.
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The guard threw a heavy right hook straight at Arthur's face. Arthur ducked inside the strike, grabbed the guard's wrist, twisted it brutally, and brought his boot down hard on the man's left kneecap, snapping the joint backward.
199Please respect copyright.PENANA6lLBw9MMlr
"AARRHHHGG...!"
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The guard screamed in agony, reaching down for his shattered knee—
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*BANG...!*
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*SPLURT!*
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Arthur placed a round straight into the side of the guard's head, shoving the lifeless body to the ground.
199Please respect copyright.PENANArXjgPjb6FQ
*THUD!*
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Terrified patrons continued scrambling for cover as Arthur scanned the wreckage for P.
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Suddenly—
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Arthur felt his feet leave the floor. Before he could process what was happening, he looked down to see two powerful arms wrapped tightly around his torso from behind.
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P had used the chaos to vanish and stalk directly behind him.
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*SLAM!*
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P executed a brutal German suplex, driving Arthur headfirst into the floorboards. But Arthur's reflexes were monstrous—he absorbed the impact, rolling off his shoulders and popping up onto one knee to raise his gun at P's face.
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P was already in motion. His left leg whipped out in a lightning-fast Taekwondo kick aimed straight at Arthur's gun hand.
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*CLI—*
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*TMPK!*
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P's kick struck with terrifying force, kicking the pistol cleanly out of Arthur's grip. He followed up instantly with a spinning back-kick toward Arthur's jaw, which Arthur barely managed to block with his left forearm.
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*CACK! CACK!*
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The gun bounced over the balcony edge, falling all the way to the casino floor below.
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Using the sheer momentum of P's kick against his arm, Arthur dropped his right hand to the floor, planted his weight, and executed a fluid backflip, resetting his distance before P's follow-up leg strike could connect.
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*TMP. TMP.*
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Breathing heavily, Arthur stepped back, casually brushing the dust off his suit jacket.
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P dropped his leg back, sliding his foot into a grounded, balanced fighting stance.
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"So you just kill innocent people in public, huh... Who sent you? Kalbē Mōṯ?" P asked, his eyes cold and assessing.
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Arthur glared back at him with pure, unadulterated lethal intent.
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"Have you ever eaten monkey soup before...?" Arthur asked menacingly, his voice smooth and terrifying.
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P stared back at him with a completely blank, deadpan expression.
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*What the f**k is this guy even talking about...?* P thought, trying and failing to make any sense of the line.
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*I am going to kill him so painfully...* Arthur thought, his icy blue eyes narrowing into slits.199Please respect copyright.PENANAWJV8MAN8oK


