The Captured Sayomaru

"You really didn't prepare at all, huh? I even specially gave you one of my masks."

Lyna looked at Zuke, who was following her. His face was still bare, completely exposed as he followed her to the transaction location.

"Never mind... I guess that Sayomaru has probably already set up an ambush nearby. Even if you put on a mask now, it's probably too late. Your face must have already been seen by her."

Since she didn't know Zuke's true strength, Lyna felt like she was dragging along a deadweight teammate. If it weren't for Ki-sikil and Lil-la's request, she really wouldn't have wanted to bring Zuke along.

Pushing open the warehouse door, Lyna and Zuke stepped inside. Several people were already seated in the warehouse, with the leader wearing a black top hat and a half-mask.

As soon as Zuke saw this person, he recognized him—wasn't this the Card Trader!?

In the Yu-Gi-Oh! card game, this guy wearing a black top hat and cloak was known as the "Card Trader," and he also made appearances in the Yu-Gi-Oh! spin-off mobile game "Duel Links."

In the game's lore, he was, of course, a card seller, but in this world, he was clearly more than just a simple card merchant.

"The information you wanted about the Traptrix."

Lyna pulled out a chip from her pocket and placed it on the warehouse table, addressing the Card Trader.

The Traptrix—creatures that dwell in forests, luring passersby into the woods by taking on the appearance of human girls, only to devour them.

But the human girl appearance was merely bait. The true forms of the Traptrix were massive predatory plants or insects, capable of dissolving or shredding their victims' bodies in an instant, turning them into nourishment for their true forms.

Although there had been numerous news reports about the Traptrix recently, there were still plenty of reckless people who wanted to see them for themselves.

Perhaps they thought they could enjoy the bait without paying the ultimate price—but so far, no one had succeeded, which was why information about the Traptrix was strictly prohibited.

Only through the black market could one obtain any information about the Traptrix, and Lyna was one of the few who could provide such intel.

"What are you looking at? You're not thinking of going after the Traptrix, are you?"

Noticing Zuke's somewhat peculiar gaze, Lyna turned to him with a puzzled expression and warned, "You'd better not be thinking about anything crazy. Don't you already have Ki-sikil and Lil-la? Don't go cheating on them."

"I don't have that kind of relationship with them, so stop spreading rumors."

Zuke gave Lyna a helpless look. It seemed she really thought he had something going on with the Evil Twin sisters.

Probably because Ki-sikil and Lil-la had never brought a man into their home before, Zuke, as the first, had been misunderstood by Lyna.

"Heh, is this young man also interested in the Traptrix? Although this information isn't for sale, I know a team that's planning to go after the Traptrix."

After taking the chip, the Card Trader pulled out a box and handed it to Lyna—that must have been the item he was trading with her.

However, after handing over the item, the Card Trader turned to Zuke and, in a dry voice, tempted him, "If you're interested, I have connections that can get you in. Consider it a way to make friends with you and the 'Transporter.'"

"No need. Don't corrupt this guy."

Lyna shot a glance at the Card Trader, clearly displeased with his attempt to lure Zuke.

Opening the box to check its contents, Lyna nodded, then turned to Zuke.

"What I came for is all in order... which means the deal is done. Now, you better be ready."

Zuke understood what Lyna meant—and he didn't need her reminder. Using his "Ki" to sense the surroundings, he had already noticed a presence above the warehouse.

The next moment, an explosion rang out from the warehouse ceiling, and shattered metal pieces rained down, crashing onto the floor with a deafening roar.

Along with the broken ceiling, a young female ninja dropped down, holding a massive metal shuriken that looked larger than a person. She shouted at Zuke and Lyna:

"Alright! Transporter! And you, the unknown man! Surrender now!"

The newcomer was a member of the Security Force Police—code-named "Ranpa Sayomaru." She wore a confident smile, as if certain she would capture her targets this time.

"She's here, just as expected!"

Lyna's face showed a hint of "I knew it" as she glanced at Zuke.

"Hey, the person you're looking for is here. You'll protect me, right? After all, the Evil Twins have so much faith in you. You're not some weakling who'll collapse at the first sign of trouble, are you?"

Since Sayomaru was right in front of them, Lyna didn't call out Zuke or the twins by their real names, to avoid giving the Security Force Police any information.

Meanwhile, the Card Trader had already fled—Sayomaru didn't even glance at him, her focus entirely on Lyna and Zuke.

"Don't even think about running!"

Seeing Lyna take a step back, Sayomaru, who had chased her several times before, immediately realized her intent to escape and lunged forward.

With a single step, she shot toward Zuke and Lyna like a cheetah.

As a member of the Security Force Police, Sayomaru hadn't yet achieved any major accomplishments, but her combat skills were still top-notch.

Lyna had only managed to escape her before through sheer luck, and this time, to ensure success, Sayomaru had even prepared a special restraint device. As long as she could get close to Lyna...

The next moment, Sayomaru felt her body go light, as if she were floating in mid-air, and a force pressed down on her back.

"Huh?"

Sayomaru was stunned, and then she felt her body slam hard onto the ground—while Zuke, who had been in front of her, had somehow vanished and reappeared on her back.

Even the special restraint device she had prepared was now inexplicably bound around her own hands, pinning them behind her back and leaving her in a humiliating position, face down on the floor.

"Wh-what just happened!? What did you do!?"

Sayomaru cried out in panic. One second ago, she had been charging at Zuke and Lyna, and the next, she was bound by her own restraints and pinned to the ground?

She had thought Lyna would be the tougher opponent, but now it seemed... Zuke was the real threat!

"I just stopped time for a moment."

Zuke sat on Sayomaru's back, keeping her pressed to the ground and unable to get up, as he smiled.

"Now, there's something I need to discuss with you."

To be continued…

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