Chapter 041: Gunshot everywhere

The one who concealed himself so deeply yet acted so boldly was none other than Akashi.

As soon as he made his move, he seized Gin's weak point and shot him without hesitation.

Earlier, Akashi had gone to Akemi's residence and taken a spare car key. When Akemi returned home to retrieve his gun, Akashi used the spare key to unlock the car's trunk and hide inside. From there, he covertly followed Akemi's car to this abandoned warehouse.

While several people were conversing outside, Akashi quietly slipped out of the trunk and set up an ambush. His 『Quick Draw (Lv.1)』 skill proved invaluable—allowing him to draw and fire faster than most. Unfortunately, he had come in a rush and carried only two pocket pistols. 

"It's a pity," Akashi thought. "Shota is too small. Carrying a Beretta pistol would have risked detection by Ran. These smaller weapons will have to do."

---

Gin, now with a gunshot wound in his shoulder, rolled behind a wall and fired back with his uninjured arm. His snake-like eyes narrowed as he glared at Vodka.

"Why was there an ambush here, at the place you said was clear!?" he demanded.

Vodka was visibly shaken. "Brother, I swear, there was no one here earlier!"

Suddenly, a familiar male voice cut through the chaos, and the expressions of everyone present shifted instantly.

Akemi's gray eyes lit up. Her once-lifeless demeanor transformed into one of alertness. Following the voice's command, she quickly took cover behind a pillar.

Gin and Vodka, however, looked on in disbelief.

Gin lost his usual composure. "Bacardi!? you're alive!?"

Vodka stammered, "Impossible! I saw you fall into Tokyo Bay with my own eyes!"

Akashi sneered. Using his Voice-Changing Technique (Lv.1) , he had altered his tone to mimic the voice he used as an adult.

"Idiot, you two haven't gone to hell yet? How could I possibly die before sending you there first?" His voice dripped with venom. "Allow me to help you on your way!"

With that, gunfire erupted, covering Akemi's movements. Akashi activated his『Rapid Fire Shot』skill, unleashing a barrage of bullets.

---

The sound of bullets ricocheting off the walls was deafening. Gin, clutching his injured shoulder, assessed the situation. The power of the shot wasn't as devastating as he'd initially feared. Testing his arm, he found it still functional. 

"It's a pocket pistol," Gin concluded. As a professional killer, he quickly determined Bacardi's weapon was far less powerful than a standard pistol. "When he runs out of bullets, I'll still have a chance to retaliate."

Smirking, Gin shouted, "Bacardi, I've killed you once! I can do it again!"

But just as the words left his mouth, something felt off. The relentless gunfire wasn't just suppressive—it was strategic. The wall behind Gin began to tremble under the barrage. Another shot rang out, and the wall cracked open.

"Not good!" Gin realized too late.

The collapsing wall sent debris flying, striking both Gin and Vodka. They instinctively leapt to opposite sides to avoid further injury. The sheer force of the attack rivaled that of a sniper rifle.

"Damn him!" Gin cursed inwardly. "He's using a sniper weapon as well!?"

Akashi's arsenal seemed to include a wide variety of weapons, making him an exceptionally challenging adversary. Weighing his options, Gin decided retreat was the wisest course of action.

---

From start to finish, Akashi hadn't used a second firearm. All the bullets fired came from his two pocket pistols. However, his 『Rapid Fire Shot』skill had been stacking up with every shot. 

 『Rapid Fire Shot』 Lv.1: Each shot is stronger than the last, up to seven consecutive shots! Adapts to any weapon that fires projectiles! 』 

Each successive bullet packed more power than the one before. By the third shot, the bullets from his pocket pistol had the strength of a standard handgun. By the fifth, they rivaled the power of a sniper rifle!

This was why Akashi relentlessly rained fire on Gin's hiding spot—his goal was clear: punch through the wall and eliminate the two targets.

Akashi understood one principle well: strike hard while the enemy is vulnerable. Without hesitation, he pulled the trigger and fired the sixth shot.

Gin and Vodka, seasoned killers who had lived their lives on the edge, felt an ominous chill down their spines. Their battle-hardened instincts screamed at them to act. Without even glancing back, the two dove in opposite directions with all their strength.

The next moment, a deafening explosion shook the air. A massive crater appeared where the two men had been moments ago. Dirt and debris flew in every direction, and a thick cloud of dust billowed into the air. The sheer force of the blast hurled both men several meters away.

The impact was equivalent to a shoulder-mounted rocket launcher. Coughing up blood, Gin spat out in fury, "Bacardi, you coward! You're using rockets now!?"

---

Hidden in the shadows, Akashi's eyes gleamed with excitement. He hadn't anticipated that his skill, which he had considered a mere novelty, would prove so devastating in real combat. Though a wave of dizziness began to wash over him, he gritted his teeth and continued to pull the trigger. 

Unfortunately, his pocket pistol was now empty. Its six rounds had been spent. Undeterred, he immediately drew his second pocket pistol and opened fire, allowing the 『Rapid Fire Shot』 skill to stack up once again. 

This situation was too advantageous to let go. 

In a booming adult voice altered by his Voice-Changing Technique (Lv.1), Akashi shouted, "Akemi! They're outside! Detonate the bomb!" 

The sound of his command sent a chill through Gin and Vodka. 

"This bastard is insane!" Vodka's face was pale. "He's already used pistols, rifles, sniper-level firepower, and rockets… and now bombs? Is he trying to move an entire arsenal here?!"

The two men exchanged a glance, their expressions those of terrified prey. Without hesitation, they scrambled to their feet and fled. 

The once-dominant killers now ran with desperate urgency, their fear overshadowing any sense of pride.

---

Unbeknownst to Gin and Vodka, the "bomb" Akashi mentioned wasn't planted by him—it was Akemi's doing. Inside the trunk of the red Mazda, she had concealed dozens of kilograms of high explosives. 

Akemi had made up her mind long ago. After hearing of Bacardi's (Akashi's) supposed death, she devised a plan for revenge. Robbing the 1 billion yen and replacing her sister Shiho had only been part of her goal. Her ultimate intention was to die taking Gin and Vodka with her. 

The explosives in the Mazda were rigged to detonate through a remote control in Akemi's possession. If she were killed before she could press the button, the explosives would still detonate if Gin and Vodka searched the vehicle and opened the door. 

Akashi had discovered the explosives when he hid in the trunk earlier. The realization had shocked him, as he hadn't expected Akemi—a peripheral member of the organization—to take such drastic measures. 

Logically, it shouldn't have been possible. Even Shiho hadn't heard from Akemi. But after overhearing Gin and Vodka's conversation with her, Akashi pieced it together. Gin had deliberately told Akemi about his death to manipulate her into taking a stance—and possibly force her into robbing the bank prematurely. 

"Gin…" Akashi thought grimly. "That lunatic is capable of anything."

---

Despite Akashi's loud command, no explosion followed. Instead, the sound of a Porsche engine roared to life, tires screeching as the car sped away. 

The two black organization members had been so rattled by the threat of a bomb that they abandoned their position and fled.

Akashi darted outside, catching only a glimpse of the Porsche's taillights disappearing into the distance. He clenched his fists in frustration but chose not to give chase. 

"They got away this time…" he muttered. A lack of preparation and several miscalculations had limited his options.

Akashi turned back toward the warehouse. The silence inside was ominous. 

When he rounded a pillar, his breath caught. Akemi lay slumped on the ground, her pale face contorted in pain. Her beautiful gray eyes were half-closed, and her trembling hand clutched her abdomen. 

Blood pooled beneath her, staining the floor. 

One of Gin's stray bullets had struck her during his retaliatory fire, leaving her critically wounded and unable to detonate the explosives. 

Akashi's vision blurred with rage. His eyes turned bloodshot as he ran toward her, his heart pounding with fear and fury.