Chapter 222: The Rules of Self-Definition

The wail of sirens echoed in the air as multiple police cars screeched to a halt outside the arms warehouse, encircling the area in an impenetrable blockade. Chief Nagatani pushed open the car door and stepped out, his sharp gaze scanning the surroundings. At that moment, a tall, slender figure emerged slowly from the shadows of the warehouse.

Yuyou's stride was steady, each step seemingly in sync with an invisible rhythm. He lifted his head slightly, his eyes landing on a government vehicle parked not far away—a sleek, modified black GTA, understated yet powerfully built.

"It's over inside, Chief Nagatani," Yuyou said, his voice calm and assured, as if he had already orchestrated everything. "Mind if I borrow a car?"

Chief Nagatani raised an eyebrow, then gave a slight nod, his tone laced with trust and a hint of resignation. "If you're asking, Yuyou, take whichever you want."

Yuyou nodded in acknowledgment, opened the car door, and slid into the driver's seat with practiced ease. Gripping the steering wheel firmly, he started the engine, the low growl of the motor resonating like a beast awakening. With a swift shift of the gear, he floored the accelerator, launching the car forward with a screech of tires and a haze of smoke. As he executed a crisp 180-degree drift, the car turned sharply and sped off into the night, taillights slicing through the darkness.

Chief Nagatani watched Yuyou's retreating figure, then turned to his team. "Everyone, follow him immediately! Keep your distance—don't disrupt his rhythm!" He climbed into the passenger seat of another vehicle, gesturing for his subordinate to drive. The police cars roared to life and followed suit.

Inside his car, Yuyou's hands remained steady on the wheel, his focus unwavering. Clues from earlier flashed through his mind like puzzle pieces rapidly coming together—footprints in the warehouse, varying in depth, suggesting two individuals: one male, one female. The lingering scents in the air—one wild and untamed, the other subdued and calm—pointed clearly to Kanto and Lixy.

Narrowing his eyes, Yuyou tapped his fingers lightly against the steering wheel. His thoughts raced, mentally tracing the fugitives' route: a shattered back window in the alley, tire marks on an abandoned road… Their path was now evident.

"Got you," Yuyou murmured, shifting gears and pressing the pedal to the floor. The car surged forward, its taillights leaving a crimson streak in the night.

Back in Nagatani's car, a junior officer hesitated before speaking. "Chief, are we really just letting him take the lead? He seems... too confident."

Nagatani's eyes remained fixed ahead, his voice steady yet tinged with a complicated emotion. "Confident? No, this is Yuyou. He never acts without reason. Keep up, and don't lose sight of him."

The flashing lights of the police cars pierced the night, heralding the beginning of an uncertain chase.

The roar of a motorcycle engine shattered the silence of the deserted street, its taillights carving a fiery trail through the darkness. Kanto, perched on the bike, sped recklessly, his laughter wild and unrestrained—a beast of the night. Clinging tightly to his back, Lixy could feel the wind whipping past, mingled with his raucous laughter.

Lixy hesitated, her voice barely audible over the howling wind. "Boss, maybe... drink some water? Your throat's gotta be dry." Her words, however, remained unspoken, swallowed by the chaos.

Suddenly, the wail of sirens broke through the night, their rhythmic tone growing closer. Lixy's heart tightened as she instinctively tapped Kanto's shoulder.

Kanto frowned, glancing at the approaching lights in the rearview mirror. He scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. "Those idiots actually caught up?" Twisting the throttle, he pushed the bike to its limits, the speed climbing rapidly. "If they get too close, Lixy, shoot them down!"

Lixy froze, her fingers trembling around the grip of her weapon. Lowering her gaze, she muttered almost inaudibly, "I've... never done that before."

Kanto abruptly turned his head, his tone sharp and uncompromising. "They're trying to kill you—so kill them first! What's there to hesitate about? Listen, Lixy—" His voice dropped, becoming cold and cutting. "It's because you're always holding back, refusing to do what you think is 'wrong,' that your friends died such horrible deaths—"

His words struck like a dagger, causing Lixy to gasp. Her grip on Kanto's shoulders tightened instinctively, her mind reeling with the memories of those she couldn't save.

"How do you know..." Lixy whispered, her voice barely audible above the wind.

Kanto showed no mercy, his voice rising. "Living is about doing what makes you happy! Who told you killing in self-defense is wrong? Who decides what's right and wrong? Tell me—"

Lixy remained silent, her stillness heavy as stone.

Kanto snorted, seemingly unfazed by her lack of response. His voice grew hoarse but even more defiant. "I never said what I do is right! I don't need anyone's approval! I just want to live the way I want—nothing more."

Lixy, seated behind him, couldn't see the expression hidden beneath his helmet. All she could see was his slightly hunched back—a figure both rebellious and solitary against the night. She bit her lip as emotions long suppressed began to seep through, like a dam slowly cracking.

Was he right? Lixy couldn't say for sure. But one thing she knew: her friends hadn't done anything wrong, yet they were senselessly killed. The ones who took their lives claimed to be "eliminating threats," believing their actions justified. But in her eyes, they were the ones in the wrong. Right and wrong—who decides, and why should it be decided at all?

Lixy lifted her head, her gaze firming. She drew her sniper rifle, loading it with practiced precision. The barrel aligned with the distant police vehicles in pursuit. Pressing the stock against her shoulder, her fingers brushed the trigger.

From the corner of his eye, Kanto noticed her movement and smirked. His tone, uncharacteristically light, carried a hint of teasing. "Don't fall off the bike, Lixy."

Lixy didn't respond. Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself. Her target was moving—a challenge to her resolve and the line she was about to cross.

As her finger tightened on the trigger, the boundary between hesitation and decision blurred into a single, irrevocable moment.