Casper (Be Proud): Are you sure it's Reinhardt?
Lorth: Of course. I've been with him long enough to recognize him even among hundreds of people in a crowd.
Nila: Point taken.
William: So, according to your understanding, where do you think this person would be at this time after what he did?
Lorth: I guess he'll start preparing some crazy plan to cause chaos and exploit it in the best possible way for him.
William (angrily): Then where exactly, before he does that?
Lorth: Probably in an area with a large gathering.
William: Come on, quickly. Maria and Nila, go investigate this matter, and we'll catch up with you as soon as possible.
Casper: I haven't seen you this tense before, William, not in a long time.
William: You're talking about at least a second-tier mage. We don't even know if he's actually second-tier; he might even be first-tier.
Maria and Nila immediately leave the café and start combing the remote areas of the city.
Elsewhere:
Liner was walking in one of the city streets and noticed some people gathered around something.
Liner: Is there a show or something?
Liner approaches to see what's going on and finds people staring at an unconscious person. He quietly uses hidden hands to cast a healing spell and heals the person without anyone noticing, then leaves the crowd. Suddenly, someone points a weapon at his head.
The Person: This is a bad situation for you, I guess.
Liner: You really want to kill someone in a crowded place like this?
The Person: Don't misunderstand. I didn't come to kill you, fool. I just have some questions, so come with me somewhere quiet so we can talk.
Liner follows, the person still pointing at him, into an abandoned factory. The person pushes Liner slightly away while keeping the weapon aimed, and Liner turns to see the face of the person pointing at him.
Liner: I didn't expect pirates to come to this city.
The Pirate: Of course, we go wherever we want; after all, we're pirates.
Liner: Wait, are you even really pirates?
The Pirate: Of course we are pirates, and we own a ship.
Liner: The Desert Ship, you wild pirate.
The Pirate: You're really annoying with your words. Let's finish this. Tell me everything you know about the Snake-Eye owner.
Liner: I don't know what you're talking about.
The Pirate: What a pathetic lie. You work in the most information-rich place in the city, and you don't know who this person is? Don't make me laugh.
Liner: Do I look like someone who cares, even if I knew?
The Pirate: No.
Liner: Then why do you want me to say something I don't know?
The Pirate: I don't know. I just thought you might know.
Suddenly, some thieves break into the place. Dozens of them enter and spread out around the area.
Gang Leader: Hey, why are you two in our territory?
The Pirate: Hi, Liner. Can I ask one last favor?
Liner: What is it?
The Pirate: How about giving them a little show?
Liner: Not bad to me.
The two of them charge at a member in front of them, punching him with a double fist, knocking him to the ground. Another person tries to jump on the pirate, but suddenly a shiny golden rope appears tied to the pirate's hand and attached to one of the walls.
The Pirate: Sorry, but you won't hit me.
He pulls himself up the wall and delivers a punch to Liner's assailant, knocking him down.
The Pirate: Where's your weapon?
Liner: I thought you wanted a show with hands, so I obliged.
The Pirate: Are you a genie?
Liner: No, an assassination genie.
The Pirate: Then my first wish…
Someone attacks the pirate from the side, and he kicks them hard, sending them sticking to the wall and breaking their teeth.
The Pirate: Don't interrupt me while I'm speaking.
Liner: Haha, he doesn't want the genie to be disturbed.
The Pirate: My first wish…
A person attacks Liner, who grabs the second-level factory bars, drops down on the person, and throws them to the ground.
Liner: What were you saying? I wasn't focused.
The Pirate: My first wish…
Gang Leader: You can't get rid of some pests.
Liner: Handle that later.
The Pirate: Until we meet again.
Liner leaps at seven of them, sitting on them, then grabs a knife from one and throws it at old storage boxes full of wheels, which roll and block the path in front of Liner for some time. Then Liner attacks the gang members, knocking them out with powerful kicks, while the pirate upstairs handles the rest, throwing them down.
Liner: My second wish has been granted.
The Pirate: Hey, we didn't agree on that.
Liner: Supply and demand.
Liner jumps on the seven remaining and sits on them, then takes a knife from one and throws it on old storage boxes filled with wheels rolling everywhere and blocking the path for a while. Suddenly, Liner attacks the gang members and knocks them unconscious with strong kicks, while the pirate upstairs grabs and throws them down to take care of them.
Liner: My second wish has been fulfilled.
The Pirate: Hey, this isn't fair.
Liner: Here you go.
He kicks one of the gang members downstairs toward a group attacking the pirate, and they all fall.
Liner: My third wish has been granted.
The Pirate: You're supposed to call yourself the wish master.
After a while, only the gang leader remains, furious. He strengthens himself with magic to higher levels. Suddenly, the pirate stands on the edge of the second-level beams.
The Pirate: Let's give this the perfect ending.
He jumps on Liner's head, then leaps toward the gang leader, draws his sword, and cuts the gang leader in half, spreading blood everywhere.
Liner: A fine show.
The pirate jumps through the window on the second floor, breaking it.
The Pirate: Hopefully, we meet again, assassin.
Liner: Farewell, pirate.
The pirate leaves through the window while Liner exits through the main door.
Liner continues his city tour and notices suspicious movement inside an abandoned palace. He decides to follow and finds the place filled with dark green gas. He immediately casts poison resistance magic and starts searching for the mysterious person. He finds them panicking wildly; it's clear they are not in full control of their mind. The person grabs a knife nearby and tries to stab Liner, who dodges while analyzing the situation. Suddenly, the person's eyes bleed a black substance, and one eye completely turns black. They fall unconscious. Liner approaches to check if the person is dead when he hears the main door open. He goes to look and is shocked to see Nila entering.
Liner: Nila, quickly, cast poison resistance magic!
Nila: What…
Suddenly, Nila's eyes turn black, and black substance begins bleeding from them. She screams in severe pain and loses consciousness, leaving Liner in shock.