It took a few moments for the soldiers to realize what was happening.

  Kawao spotted the communications device immediately and was already halfway there.

  Sordo, meanwhile, used a retractable spear to attack and take down a soldier.

  At that moment, all the soldiers readied themselves for combat.

  While most of them rushed toward Sordo, one of the soldiers on the raised platform noticed Kawao.

  Initially, neither of them saw him.

  The soldier glanced briefly at Sordo before standing up.

  He sighed lightly.

  With a massive leap, he jumped down toward Sordo, grabbing him by the neck with one hand.

  In a single motion, he slammed Sordo with full force against a table, which shattered upon impact.

  Bloodstains appeared on the broken remnants of the table.

  The soldier didn’t release his grip.

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  He swung Sordo like a rag doll and hurled him toward Kawao, catching him completely off guard and knocking him to the ground.

  As Kawao fell, he managed to topple the table holding the communications device with a wave of energy.

  The device hit the floor but didn’t break. Instead, it emitted a burst of static.

  “Commander! They’ve hit the ‘Fire Caller!’” one of the soldiers shouted.

  The device, known as the Fire Caller, was used to send flame messages.

  Wait... Commander?!

  Kawao quickly looked up.

  Towering above him was the imposing figure of an extremely fiery man.

  With an expression of utter annoyance and disdain, the man glared down at them.

  Sordo was motionless, lying next to Kawao.

  For a moment, neither of them moved.

  Then, the commander prepared to kick.

  Kawao quickly grabbed Sordo under one arm and narrowly dodged as the man’s foot slammed into the wall behind them, leaving a gaping hole.

  They were now surrounded by soldiers.

  Just as they were about to attack, the commander stopped them.

  “Wait!” he shouted.

  “I’ll handle these two! You, go outside and make sure they don’t escape!”

  “But Commander Feratu, we—”

  “I said GET OUT!”

  Immediately, the room fell silent, and the soldiers scrambled outside.

  Feratu.

  Wasn’t he the commander of the 1st Unit?

  How was Kawao supposed to stand a chance against someone like that?

  He assessed his situation:

  Sordo was unconscious.

  They were surrounded, and now he faced an opponent he likely couldn’t defeat.

  “So, you’re the one who caused all the chaos in Kurani?

  The Gray Demon?”

  “Gray Demon? Are you talking about me?”

  “Who else?

  ...

  You probably don’t know yet, but there’s a bounty on your head.”

  “A bounty? On me?”

  “Yes.

  You’re quite famous now, with a reward of 44,000 gold!”