There was no direct path from the west to the Freeman Organization’s hideout because of the central autonomous region inhabited by natives.
Instead of passing through the autonomous region, Falcoa’s subordinates, who had kidnapped Yuna, took a detour around Mount Toa and entered through the northern cliffs.
By the time they reached the hideout, dawn was breaking.
In a shabby warehouse, Falcoa sat waiting for his subordinates with a single chair.
At his feet lay the chewed remains of loop shells, his pupils dilated.
Subordinate: "Boss, we’ve brought her."
The subordinates greeted Falcoa and threw the sack containing Yuna onto the floor.
There was a thud, but no scream. However, the sack was trembling violently.
At Falcoa’s gesture, a subordinate cut open the sack with a knife.
Like a silkworm emerging from its cocoon, Yuna, drenched in tears and sweat, revealed her terrified face.
Yuna: "P-please, spare me."
Falcoa leaned in close.
Falcoa: "Blood really is blood. The way you tremble in fear is just like your brother."
Yuna: "Brother... Jis..."
It had been a day since she’d seen him. Even in her kidnapped state, she was worried about Jis.
Yuna felt as if her heart had stopped. She reacted to the murderous intent in Falcoa’s voice.
Falcoa: "Do you know why you’re here?"
Yuna: "N-no... Please, just let me go home."
Falcoa: "You want to go home, don’t you? But you can’t. Your brother is working very hard right now. You should hope he succeeds. If he fails, your head will roll."
Yuna: "What are you making my brother do?"
Yuna knew. She had seen the exhausted and gloomy expression on Jis’s face every night.
She hadn’t been able to help, so she hadn’t said anything, but the moment she saw Falcoa, everything became clear.
Yuna: "You’re the one tormenting my brother! You’re a bad person!"
Falcoa: "Puhaha! Yeah, I’m definitely not a good guy. You’re pretty sharp, huh? But it seems you didn’t know this."
Falcoa suddenly stood up and twisted Yuna’s arm.
Falcoa: "If you call a bad guy a bad guy, you’ll really get hurt. Got it, you little brat?"
Yuna: "It hurts! It hurts!"
Falcoa: "I’m already pissed off, and you dare provoke me? Should I break something like I did with your brother...?"
At the cold voice, Falcoa shut his mouth.
However, as if to make a silent protest, he didn’t release the grip on Yuna’s arm.
Freeman: "Falcoa, harming civilians is against the rules."
Falcoa’s temple twitched, and he finally turned his head with a vicious expression.
The current leader of the Freeman Organization and the second-in-command during the Parrot Mercenary Group’s heyday.
Standing over 190 centimeters tall and dressed in a white long coat, his appearance was the epitome of pallor.
His eyebrows were completely shaved off, and his lips were as pale as a sick person’s.
Falcoa’s expression burned with anger.
Unlike Deputy Leader Lucas, who was at least reasonable, Freeman was his polar opposite.
Yet, Falcoa had followed his orders until now because Freeman was the officially recognized second-in-command by the leader.
Falcoa: "Long time no see, boss. You haven’t shown your face in ages, and now you’re here? Did you run out of money?"
The subordinates didn’t take sides.
Their superior was Freeman, but Falcoa was also an action captain with full authority granted by the leader.
Mentally, they were more on Falcoa’s side.
After the leader went into hiding, the remaining members of the Parrot Mercenary Group had come to Galliant Island.
Freeman had advocated lying low until the leader resolved things, but Falcoa had other ideas.
He had taken control of the island’s commerce and used the profits from loop to bribe the Galliant autonomous government.
Of course, many had become addicted to the drug in the process.
The conflict had started here.
Freeman had imposed sanctions on Falcoa’s actions, which would become a major obstacle to the mercenary group’s return, but most of the subordinates had sided with Falcoa.
They preferred the immediate wealth and pleasure over waiting for a leader who might never return.
Thus, Freeman had retreated into internal affairs, but this time, he couldn’t let it slide.
There were lines that couldn’t be crossed if they were to uphold the Parrot’s reputation.
Freeman: "Are you so drunk on drugs that you don’t even know what you’re doing? You’ve tarnished the Parrot’s image."
Falcoa: "The Parrot? Since when have we been living off past glories? Look at us now. Do you think the organization would have survived this long without the money I’ve been making?"
Freeman’s eyes hardened.
Freeman: "You’ve gone mad, Falcoa. No matter what you do, I’m still the one leading this organization."
Falcoa: "I don’t care about that. I don’t acknowledge you. If you’re going to act like a boss, at least take care of your subordinates. It’s annoying now that things are finally livable."
A clicking sound echoed.
A revolver loaded with magic bullets had somehow appeared in Freeman’s hand.
Freeman: "Choose your words carefully. I’m the acting leader."
Freeman was also a master of Schema.
A powerful aura emanated from his eyes, strong enough to kill weaker creatures just by being exposed to it.
Falcoa endured the cold energy as if it were a blade piercing his body.
It was agonizing, but he didn’t change his expression and continued to speak.
Falcoa: "Oh, I’m so scared."
Freeman also knew that for someone with an extreme thirst for battle, pain was a source of vitality.
’He’s turned back into a wild dog.’