The trio continued to climb the narrow and steep stairs inside the Clock Tower.
Eventually, they reached the top. From that height, they could see an old bridge stretching fragilely towards another building with an altar inside.
"That's the way," Leon said, pointing at the building. "Ashley must have been taken there."
Luis, who was standing by Rian's side, chuckled and patted his shoulder. "Heh, I still can't believe we made it this far... but I'm glad you came with us."
Rian just nodded slowly, his smile calm, yet as if hiding something.
"Sir Tristan never leaves a teammate behind," Rian said confidently. "Even if it means dragging them from death's door."
Raising his butcher knife like a battlefield general, Rian pointed toward the bridge and called out loudly:
"Come on. For the sake of honor, love... and perfect skincare. Let's save the princess!"
Leon could only take a deep breath at the dramatic declaration. The three of them began to move forward.
Three modern knights without armor or holy swords, armed only with rifles, determination, and one with a butcher knife.
Leon was about to go first, but someone had already darted ahead.
He sighed again, then muttered, "That guy's too eager... How did he become a special agent, huh? But yeah, he's amazing."
"Who knows..." said Luis with an indifferent shrug.
With that, the two of them stepped onto the old bridge, following Rian who was already running ahead.
***
The altar building loomed silently at the end of the stone path, directly connected to the old dock behind it. Rian, Leon, and Luis' footsteps echoed in the large, high-ceilinged room, but the air inside was stale, as if harboring death.
They had arrived too late.
Under the glow of torches and the glow of moonlight coming through a crack in the roof, Krauser's silhouette could be seen moving away, carrying a helpless-looking Ashley.
Ashley's body was roughly picked up, carried towards the large gate that, Six Eyes estimated, led to the docks on the other side of this place.
And on a stone podium, stood a short man, dressed in a noble's coat. His skin was as pale as wax that had never touched the sun.
Dark purple veins ran down his face and neck, forming hideous patterns like an unfinished deformed painting.
He was Ramon Salazar.
"Finally here," he said, in a sickeningly gruff voice. His gaze dropped to Leon. "You're late, Mr. Kennedy." His mocking voice pierced like nails in a stone wall.
Ramon turned quickly to Luis and Rian, his eyes narrowing. "Ah... even the stage mice showed up. Really, my stage has gotten more crowded."
Luis sighed loudly, his hand already gripping the gun firmly, finger hovering over the trigger. His face showed a look of disgust.
Leon stood tall, silent. But his gaze was cold. He had no intention of hearing another word from that mouth.
But before either of them could raise their weapons, Rian moved.
In one quick leap like a slicing wind, he was already on the podium. The butcher knife moved in her hand, and without hesitation, she slashed straight at Salazar.
The sound of metal and flesh meeting was deafening. Salazar's hand was thrown away, followed by a leg that was cut clean off. Thick black blood sprayed to the ceiling.
The nobleman's face was frozen in a look of shock... before his neck was slashed, the head was thrown to the altar floor like a rotten fruit from a cursed tree.
Rian stood still, his breathing even, weapon still dripping blood.
"Sorry. This handsome man doesn't want a boss battle," Rian muttered softly. "If there is a shortcut. It's better to skip it right away."
Leon only blinked. Then stared at the mutilated body for a moment, before saying flatly, "...Okay. That's... effective."
Luis, still transfixed, finally called out softly, "Amigo... remind me not to piss you off."
Rian shrugged, as if nothing had happened, then jumped down from the podium and cleaned the helleberd spear on Salazar's now tattered robes.
"Let's go," Rian said, lightly. "Leon hasn't finished teaching the muscle guy who took our daughter a lesson yet."
"Why me?" Leon replied in surprise, sighing.
Their steps continued, down the podium, towards the dermagai. And this time, there would be no time to be late.
***
The old skeleton elevator creaked as it slowly descended. The roar of the old filling machine could be heard in the distance, while the three men searched for the origin of the roar.
But as they reached the middle, the sound of a speed boat's engine could be heard, and then slowly, the shadowy figure of Krauser could be seen disappearing in the distance, carrying Ashley with him, speeding over the dark water glimmering with moonlight.
"Damn it..." muttered Leon quietly, his jaw hardening.
"Seriously?" Luis hissed, his hand hitting the side of the elevator in frustration.
Meanwhile, Rian just stared at the elevator ceiling, sighing heavily. In a casual but sarcastic tone, he muttered, "This handsome man... expected it."
As soon as the elevator reached the bottom, they quickly got off and ran towards where Ashley had left, a dock hidden behind a cave, jutting out into the ocean.
There was a speed boat still moored at the end of the pier, their only hope of catching up with Krauser.
"Good." Leon said with a faint smile, "At least I don't want to swim."
"This handsome man is not a good swimmer," said Rian glancing at the speed boat.
"I'm just getting healthy," said Luis shrugging his shoulders. "Shoot the Ganado, I'll do it. But swimming that far... no way."
But as soon as he got closer, Leon checked the rudder and grunted in annoyance. "I don't have the key."
"Search." Leon said briefly, his tone full of urgency. "Let's not waste time!"
Luis immediately moved to the back, rummaging through the seat upholstery and small compartments. "Yes, yes, don't yell like a math lecturer."
"Agreed," Rian replied to Luis' comment and said calmly, "Leon, I think you're better suited to be a math lecturer than a Special Agent."
"That would probably happen if there were no BWOs in this world," Leon replied briefly.
Then, Rian walked away slightly, combing the area around the wooden boxes and port drums. He did not seem to be in a hurry, instead flashing a small smile.
From behind his black lensed glasses, his eyes glowed a soft blue, his Six Eyes having caught something earlier. The thermal of a familiar figure hiding in the shadows.
'Oh? Meeting Wong again, huh?' Rian thought, still smiling. 'She should be well...'
As if in response to that thought, Ada Wong stepped out of the darkness, her steps calm, her mysterious aura never fading. In her hand, she waved something, the speed boat key.
"Looking for something?" asked Ada, a faint smile spread across her red lips.
Leon immediately turned around. "Ada?"
Rian leaned casually against a large wooden crate, his arms crossed. "Oh, we meet again?" Rian said lightly. "Missed this handsome man's face, huh?"
Ada turned to Rian... then ignored him completely, like an insignificant breeze.
Instead, Ada's eyes were on Luis who was still unloading the back seat.
"Glad to see you're still alive," she said flatly, but there was a brief flash of relief in her gaze.
Luis froze for a moment, turning his head with a raised eyebrow. "You too," he replied curtly.
Leon was confused. But chose to put that aside.
Rian, Leon, and Luis soon boarded the speed boat on the passenger seats. Meanwhile, Ada became the driver. The key was inserted into the key contact hole and turned.
Vrrrrmm!
The engine roared, water splashed into the air, and their journey, towards the climax of all this chaos, finally began.
***
The last wave broke gently against the side of the reef as the boat finally docked. The island was dark and silent, lit only by the faint moonlight obscured by clouds.
They anchored on the side of a fairly steep but hidden rock, the best place to avoid surveillance.
Previously, Ada was the one driving the speed boat. However, a few minutes before docking, she stopped the boat near a high rock.
Without saying much, Ada hooked the grappling hook to the reef wall, and disappeared into the night.
However, just before Ada left, Rian managed to slip in a little tease and handed her a folded paper flower.
At first glance, it looked like ordinary origami, but of course, if it was Ada Wong, she would soon realize that the flower held more than just paper art.
It contained information, not just any information, but something interesting enough to make Ada interested in its contents.
Rian, Luis, and Leon got off the boat, their shoes carefully touching the wet rock surface.
No one spoke, their every step pregnant with caution. Although this part seemed safe, they knew very well that security on an island like this was only a brief illusion.
"This place... doesn't like guests," Luis muttered, scanning the surrounding area.
"And we're here without an invitation," Leon chimed in.
Rian nodded in agreement.
They moved along the edge of the reef in the direction of the main island, slipping through wild bushes and stone ruins to finally stop behind a boulder overlooking a large structure in the distance.
_____
Note: Have you read the Auxiliary Chapter? I updated it yesterday.