Chapter 22

Copperhand sat in his chair, a mix of impatience and intrigue on his face as he awaited the arrival of his potential assailants. Yesterday, he received the news that three of his associates had been killed. The way Charles died pointed to Ripper's handiwork, but Copperhand suspected he didn't act alone. Whoever helped Ripper was likely inexperienced.

Copperhand visited the place where his associates had met their demise, conducting a brief investigation. The scene offered him a clear mental picture of what had transpired. Ripper must have taken the initiative, shooting Dane first. Then, in a struggle, Charles and Jessika fought against Ripper, managing to overpower him momentarily. But someone, likely an accomplice, struck Jessika from behind, ending her life with a single stab. In the confusion, Charles, still recovering from the shock, was swiftly taken down by Ripper.

Copperhand deduced that the person who killed Jessika lacked experience in deadly encounters. The single stab wound indicated a lack of precision and knowledge of fatal points. An experienced assailant would have aimed for more vital areas or inflicted multiple stab wounds in a fight to the death.

Copperhand's instincts served him well. He knew that attacking him right after eliminating some of his associates would be an audacious move, so he decided to investigate further. Sending out his loyal mut, he gathered valuable information about Ripper and a boy from Aeruna planning an assault with a group in The Den to kill him.

Once he learned this, Copperhand met with the informant in person, and after extracting the necessary information, he ensured that the man would not live to divulge this knowledge to anyone else. Now, he sat in his chair, quietly waiting for his potential killers to make their move. Copperhand's mind was sharp, and he prepared himself for the inevitable confrontation, ready to defend his power and reputation at any cost.

Copperhand meticulously planned his defense strategy, setting up his remaining associates with fake pistols to create the illusion of a heavily armed force. He knew that a visible show of strength would likely deter the attackers and cause them to doubt their chances of success. Using real guns could escalate the situation beyond his control, attracting unwanted attention, even from the Ironhelm Guard.

Anticipating their move, Copperhand expected the attackers to strike early in the morning, believing they could catch him off guard while he was least prepared. But little did they know, he was ready for them.

He now sat in his warehouse just waiting, but they were late. They hadn't come yet, and it was past the time Copperhand had expected. His impatience grew, and he decided to take action. Turning to Sumber and Mut, he ordered, "Check around the outskirts. If you find anyone, kill them." The two henchmen smiled at the command, eager to carry out their leader's wishes, and swiftly departed to scour the area for any signs of the potential attackers.

As Copperhand continued to wait in the darkness, Viper approached him. "Things not going the way you expected, boss?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Copperhand nodded slightly and said, "No, they are late." Doubt gnawed at him; were his calculations wrong? He had been confident that Ripper and the boy from Aeruna would make their move. Copperhand's mind raced, considering all the possibilities. Perhaps they had caught wind of his preparations and decided to postpone the attack. Or maybe they had changed their plans altogether.

Viper's laughter echoed in the tense atmosphere as he exclaimed, "Don't worry, boss! No matter what they throw at us, I can take 'em!" Copperhand acknowledged Viper's confidence, but he knew better than to rely solely on bravado. Danger was lurking, and he needed to be prepared for anything.

Just then, a loud crash of shattering glass startled them all. Mut and Sumber's screams pierced the air, sending an immediate chill down everyone's spine. Tick looked towards Copperhand, awaiting his orders, but instead of instructing them to help, Copperhand swiftly commanded, "Don't, stay here."

He knew the chances of Mut and Sumber surviving were slim, judging by their panicked screams. There was no use risking more lives by investigating their fate. Instead, Copperhand chose to prioritize the safety of his remaining associates. If an ambush was underway, he wanted them to regroup and brace themselves for whatever was coming.

Tick, Viper, and the rest of the associates hesitated for a moment, torn between fear and loyalty, but they ultimately followed Copperhand's directive. They moved with caution and precision, making their way to a more defensible position within the warehouse, away from the potential danger that had befallen Mut and Sumber.

Copperhand's mind raced as he considered the possibilities. Could this be the long-awaited attack by Ripper and his allies, or was it something else entirely? He couldn't afford to underestimate his enemies, and he knew he had to remain vigilant to protect himself and his remaining associates from any threat that might be lurking in the shadows.

Then metal canisters clattered onto the floor thrown from the entry way, multiple fires ignited upon them, releasing a thick cloud of smoke that quickly engulfed the warehouse. The room became hazy, and the acrid smell of burning chemicals filled the air. Copperhand squinted through the smoke, trying to make sense of the situation. *Hand-made smoke bombs?* he pondered.

Whoever was orchestrating this attack was clever, well-prepared, and familiar with the warehouse's layout. Copperhand realized that the absence of ventilation in the building, apart from the front entry, had been taken into account. It was a strategic move to disorient and hinder their movements, and it showed a level of tactical expertise that he couldn't underestimate.

Through the chaos of the smoke, he could hear his remaining associates coughing and disoriented, but they were trained to remain vigilant even in the face of adversity. They spread out, ready to defend themselves if an assailant tried to take advantage of the momentary confusion.

Copperhand's mind raced, considering the options at his disposal. He needed to regain control of the situation and respond to this audacious attack swiftly. It was clear that his enemies had made a well-coordinated effort to catch him off guard. With the smoke shrouding their surroundings, he knew that a single wrong move could be fatal.

His copper hand tightened into a fist, and his eyes darted around, trying to catch any movement amid the smokescreen.

Copperhand's senses were heightened as he confronted the big man in the smoke-filled warehouse. He recognized that this intruder was not one of his associates – they were too big but not as massive as Hill. Without hesitation, Copperhand lunged forward, aiming to deliver a powerful blow to the intruder's temple with his copper hand. But just as he was about to strike, a voice cut through the haze, warning Dare of Copperhand's attack.

"Dare, to your right!" the voice called out.

Dare reacted swiftly, evading Copperhand's punch and attempting a counter-attack with a powerful blow of his own. Copperhand batted the attack away without much effort.

Before Copperhand could retaliate with a kick to the head, another assailant appeared – small, agile, and quick. The person rammed into Copperhand's side, not doing any damage, but effectively disrupting his attack. As Copperhand tried to regain his balance and retaliate, the nimble intruder swiftly retreated back into the smoky cover.

Copperhand's mind raced as he quickly assessed the situation in the smoky haze. His enemies were skilled, coordinated, and knew how to exploit his weaknesses. He needed to adapt and come up with a plan to regain control of the situation.

*If I stay in this smoke-filled environment, they'll continue to have the advantage,* Copperhand thought. *I need to lure them out, create some distance.*

As he considered his options, he heard a sudden movement behind him. Before he could react, Ripper lunged at him, attempting to catch him off guard with a surprise attack. Despite the element of surprise, Ripper's strike only grazed Copperhand's shoulder, failing to inflict any significant damage.

Copperhand quickly turned to face Ripper, his copper hand poised and ready for a counterattack.

Copperhand's ruthless determination surged as he locked his sights on Ripper. He had initially wanted to spare him for questioning, but the chaotic situation altered his decision. With deadly precision, he swung his copper hand toward Ripper's neck, aiming to end his life in a swift strike.

But just as he prepared to strike, a sense of peril gripped him from behind. At the same moment, Ripper launched another offensive, leaving him momentarily torn between two foes. *I need to avoid this double threat,* Copperhand's mind raced with calculation.

Faced with imminent danger, he made a quick decision. *Might as well attack one before I get hit,* Copperhand reasoned, swiveling to confront the assailant coming from the opposite direction. Before he could execute his countermove, however, another attacker lunged at him, forcing him to adjust his strategy.

Copperhand's copper hand lashed out, blocking the incoming blow with a swift, defensive maneuver. Yet, amid the chaotic skirmish, he couldn't prevent yet another assailant from exploiting an opening. A sharp pain pierced his liver as a well-placed stab found its mark, causing Copperhand to grimace with the impact.

Copperhand's vision blurred with dizziness from the stab wound, yet he managed to muster the strength to turn around and face his attacker. What he saw surprised him – a seemingly frail boy with lifeless eyes, devoid of fear or remorse. Copperhand's lips curved into a soft smile as he noticed a strange resemblance between them, like looking at a reflection of his past self. *Someone just like me,* he thought, momentarily intrigued by the paradoxical sight.

Feeling the knife still lodged in his side, Copperhand applied pressure to the wound to control the bleeding.

Ripper held Copperhand tightly, preventing him from making any sudden moves due to the injury he sustained. With Ripper restraining Copperhand, Genji's voice echoed through the warehouse, commanding authority. "We have your boss. Don't move if you want him to live!"

As the last of the smoke cleared, revealing the scene of chaos and desperation, Genji stood his ground, his hand steady despite the fatigue. It had taken a toll on him, but finally, after countless attempts, he had emerged victorious in this deadly confrontation. The warehouse fell silent, the air heavy with tension, as everyone awaited the next move.