[Gigante]
"Our location’s been compromised."
Florida’s expression turned grim as he looked back at the makeshift operating room, where Ransom was finishing the procedure with the granny. His shoulders tensed, one hand still pressed to the earpiece, before he slowly turned to the two townsfolk who had inford him of the situation.
"We have to move them," he added under his breath, still speaking through the earpiece. "But Ransom hasn’t finished with the last guy yet."
Florida was relieved that his earpiece started working at the exact sa ti he was inford about the developnts in Gigante. That only ant whatever Izu and Pika had done worked — and that the two of them were safe.
"We’ve got to move them," he continued. "We’ll be moving east, so don’t go to Gigante anymore. It’ll be too risky."
Izu remained quiet, absorbing the information. "You have to get out of there as fast as you can. Pika and I will et you there."
"Sure," Florida nodded. "Have you reached the Madam?"
Much to his surprise, Lola’s voice ca through the line.
"I’m here," she said. "I’m the first in this line."
It took Florida a mont to recover, but when he did, relief flooded his chest. He nodded in understanding. Now, they could focus since Lola sounded fine.
"Florida, what’s the exact situation in Gigante?"
Without delaying, Florida detailed what was happening.
Thanks to the granny, people were stationed near the town’s border, and several trusted contacts in nearby towns had already been reached. According to them, a group was speeding toward Gigante, and they were ard.
Moreover, based on their vehicles and formation, they were identified as what people called the governor’s rcenaries.
They were once a feared rcenary group in Ravah, before being absorbed into the governor’s forces under an undisclosed agreent.
What Florida had been warned about ti and ti again was that these n were dangerous. And with only Ransom and Florida having proper combat training, they couldn’t take them on — especially not at the cost of the townsfolk.
"Get out of there," Lola ordered, clearly familiar with the group he was describing. "Leave that place imdiately, and take the old woman with you."
"Yes, Madam."
Florida lowered his head, then turned to the two n before him. "Thank you," he said, nodding. "How much ti do we have before they reach Gigante?"
"Not much," one of the n replied. "But you still have ti if you start moving now."
Hearing that, Florida turned back toward the room. Thankfully, Ransom and the granny were already stepping out of the sterile area and joining him.
"What’s the situation?" Ransom asked, only speaking now since he had been fully focused on the procedure.
"Not good," Florida shook his head. "We have to move now. The governor’s rcenaries are already on their way here. We need to move both of them."
Ransom nodded in understanding and turned to the n. Before he could thank them — he hadn’t even planned to ask for help carrying the patients, only to borrow transportation — the granny spoke first.
"Both of you," she said, fixing her wrinkled gaze on the two n, "help these boys exit through the back of the hall."
She continued calmly, "Then tell everyone else to quietly return to their hos. Wake your families and gather them in one place. They are going to turn this town upside down."
She paused, letting out a shallow breath. "Better yet — if they barge into your hos, tell them to co here directly."
"Madam," Florida stepped forward, shaking his head when the granny looked at him. "You have to co with us. Our boss told us to take you along."
"Yes!" one of the n quickly added. "Old Ri, you should go with them."
Everyone in Gigante knew that whenever the governor personally sent people here, it was to devastate this old, stubborn woman. And with what had happened tonight, they instinctively understood why those n were coming.
It wasn’t ti for the monthly collection, after all.
But the granny only smiled and shook her head.
"No." Her voice, despite the exhaustion from assisting Ransom, remained gentle and calm. "Even if they co for now, what else can they do to an old woman counting the last of her days?"
A soft chuckle escaped her lips as she nodded at the two townsfolk, who frowned deeply at her words. Then she turned her gaze to Ransom and Florida.
"Don’t bother with anything else," she said warmly. "You boys should leave and take your friends sowhere safe."
"But—"
Before Florida could argue, the granny shook her head. She raised her wrinkled hand and tapped his muscular shoulder.
"Go," she murmured, nodding reassuringly. "Go now. I’ll hold them off, but not for long."
Florida wanted to lift her and carry her away. He knew that if he took her off guard, she wouldn’t be able to stop him. But looking into her eyes and understanding her resolve, he swallowed his impulse and nodded.
"We’ll co back for you," he said quietly, then turned to the n with her.
With that, they moved quickly, not bothering to clean the sterile room anymore. Ransom and Florida, together with a few n from the establishnt, carried the two patients wrapped in blankets to the transport vehicle prepared a few blocks away.
As the n left, the granny slowly made her way to her empty bedroom. She opened the closet and retrieved a small box before returning to the sterile room.
Dragging a chair with her, she sat down and opened the box.
Inside was a single old cigarette, stained with what looked like dried old blood, and a vintage lighter.
"How ti passed," she humd, chuckling softly as she slipped the cigarette between her thin lips. She flicked the lighter several tis before the fla finally caught.
Taking a drag, she lowered her hand and stared at the cigarette between her fingers. Her gaze softened as she looked at the cigarette that once belonged to her husband — the last thing she had of him.
She smiled faintly. "This one tastes... horrible."
Almost at the sa ti, a loud crash shattered the silence as n barged into the room to seize her.
When the few n stepped in, their eyes searched and quickly spotted the old woman seated beside this table that still had blood on it. Smoke curled from her lips as she gracefully looked back and smiled at them.
"It’s been a while since this brothel has been this packed," she quipped, blowing the remaining smoke before adding, "I am good at group activities too."
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