Sigil roared furiously. He tried to swing his blade down, but the soldiers surrounding him defended the merchant against the attack, clashing against Sigil’s sword. The leader of the Scarlet Wind, however, was a man who’d braved through difficult dungeons and ruins, fighting against monsters even when they ambushed him. Every blow he dealt was heavy, and the soldier who blocked the attack was blown back by the sheer impact. Compared to dueling monsters, overpowering humans away was a simple feat, and one by one, he flung the soldiers away as he cut a path toward the merchant.
“You lied to us about the cure... Tried to steal money from us... And now you dare degrade my precious family?! I swear I’ll make you pay, Gillan!” Sigil bellowed.
“W-Wait...” Gillan said as he sank to the floor, his face pale.
But Sigil didn’t care—his rage had no concept of mercy. He swung his blade down.
But right before his weapon could reach the merchant, it was blown out of his hands. The blade formed an arc in the air and plunged right into the floor.
“What the...” Sigil started.
What in the world just happened? Confused, Sigil gazed around, but a moment later, the world turned upside down as he felt someone push him to the ground. Someone was on top of his back and pinning him down; his upper arm and joint were locked in place, preventing him from budging an inch.
When he managed to turn his gaze toward his assailant, he saw a man in an old, dark crimson coat, his skin as pale as death. The man wore a wide-brimmed hat, its dark red hue appearing more like layers of bloodstains. Sigil recognized these features all too well.
“That hat... Are you...Red Cap?” Sigil asked, invoking the name of the notorious assassin.
The pale man gazed at Sigil—even his eyes reminiscent of spilled blood—and flashed a faint smile.
“Oh, you know of me?” he asked. “Honestly, I don’t care for that name. I’m not fond of blood either—haven’t touched it in a good while. And my hat’s always been this color.”
His tone was calm, like he was talking to a friend, but the force he exerted to restrain Sigil remained firm and unrelenting. This hit man went by many names: the Wizard Killer, the Phantom, the Greatest Hit Man. He was a renowned assassin who had operated in the shadows since ancient times; according to rumor, he’d been in the business for over three centuries. Whether this man came from a family of skilled killers who passed down the position or was simply an immortal monster was unclear—he was shrouded in mystery. Some even said that he was nothing more than a legend. But...
“So, you do exist...” Sigil muttered, fear clear in his eyes.
While Sigil was overwhelmed by an intense, almost crushing wave of mana when he’d met Lofus, the terrifying presence that Red Cap emitted was entirely different. Simply locking eyes with this killer made Sigil feel like a knife was gently gliding across his throat. This aura of pure death was petrifying. With a single glance, Sigil was absolutely certain that this man was the real deal.
“Why is a man of your caliber working under him?” Sigil asked.
“He was the highest bidder,” Red Cap replied casually.
All the while, Gillan stood up and approached Sigil, who was now pinned on the floor.
“That gave me a good scare,” Gillan grumbled. “You were a bit late to jump in and help, Phantom.”
Red Cap shrugged. “This man’s quite strong, you know. I suggest you not provoke people, especially when it’s unnecessary. I might not make it next time you do. I’m good at killing, but I’m terrible at protecting others.”
When Gillan locked eyes with Red Cap’s bloodred gaze, the merchant gulped nervously.
“H-Hmph,” Gillan stammered. “I’m paying good money for your services, so you’d better be worth it. You are the greatest hit man, aren’t you?”
“I don’t remember calling myself that...but yeah, I’ll work what I’m paid for,” Red Cap replied.
Gillan stomped on Sigil’s head.
“Gah!” Sigil grunted.
“You’ve done it now,” Gillan accused. “Your reckless actions hurt my hips. I’ll have you pay with your life, your airship, and of course, your women.”
“I won’t let you— Agh!”
Sigil tried to move, but Red Cap tightened his grip, hurting the Scarlet Wind’s leader. Gillan stroked his chin for a while before he cracked a wicked grin.
“Sigil...” he said, approaching the man. “Lick my shoes.”
“What?!” Sigil growled.
“You know, I was once in the same position you are now, many years ago. I was forced to crawl on the ground, and he told me to lick his shoes as a show of my submission.”
Gillan outstretched his arms and went on. “I licked his shoes. And I followed his orders and handed him my beloved wife and daughter. He toyed with them, then sold them off. And still, I remained by his side obediently. For the next twenty years I endured it all—every...last...unreasonable request. I made it happen. I displayed my loyalty to him, until finally, I managed to earn his absolute trust. And then...” Gillan smiled as he used his finger to trace a line across his neck. “I killed him. I took everything he had—his wealth, the association, and everything he owned. I played with his wife and daughter, just as he’d done to mine, before I tossed them aside in turn. I killed or blackmailed anyone who opposed me. The moment I’d take their family hostage, they’d swear their loyalty to me like a dog. After everything that I’ve done, I’ve finally been granted the title of Wealthy Merchant.”
Once Gillan stopped his spiel, he turned to Sigil. “Now, when I see you like this, it reminds me a lot of myself. I, too, once held an overwhelming sense of justice and loved my family dearly. And so, I’ll give you another chance.”
The merchant placed his foot in front of Sigil.
“Go on. Be a bootlicker. Lick it,” Gillan ordered. “Swear your obedience to me, and offer me your family. I’ve licked a boot before, surely you can do the same.”
Gillan pushed his shoes against Sigil’s mouth.
“Abandon your family,” the merchant encouraged. “Cast it all aside. Become my subordinate. And then, just like me, you can—”
Sigil slowly opened his mouth, then snapped his jaws around Gillan’s ankle.
“Gyaaah?!” the merchant screamed.
Gillan tried to pry Sigil away and flailed about, but the Scarlet Wind’s leader refused to let the pudgy man out of his bite. As Sigil stubbornly bit down, Red Cap sighed at this pathetic scene, stuck a finger in Sigil’s mouth, and peeled the man away from Gillan’s ankle. The merchant rolled on the floor in pain, blood dripping down his leg, while Sigil spat the blood out.
“You’re nothing but a greedy bastard!” he bellowed. “The moment you sold out your family, you stopped being human. Don’t you get that, you ass?! There’s no coming back from that! You should’ve protected your family, even if it cost you your life! Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do?! Huh?! Answer me, pig!”
“Silence!” Gillan roared angrily. “Don’t act like you’re above me, you damn pirate!”
The angry merchant kicked Sigil’s face again and again and again. His foot came down, unrelenting, for minutes on end. Only after Sigil had fallen unconscious, Red Cap motioned for him to stop.
“He’s already knocked out,” Red Cap said. “Or are you gonna kill him?”
“Hm?” Gillan replied, stopping his foot. He took deep breaths to calm himself down, then ordered his soldiers. “Hmph! Take him to the underground cell!”
“Are you going to let him live?” Red Cap asked.
Gillan huffed loudly. “How dare he treat me with such disdain and insolence! A quick death is too good for him. I’ll kill the men in his group first, then place their heads beside me while I rape the women right in front of his eyes. And then...I’ll ask him again. I’ll ask him to lick my boot.”
Gillan let out another vulgar laugh as he left. Red Cap pushed his hat down to cover his eyes.
“Real winning personality you’ve got there, Gillan,” he muttered wryly.