East Dock Area.
In an abandoned warehouse, Lex met his team members, with the exception of 'Mole'.
"Good evening, Boss Duke. Our operation was an unprecedented success. The Dock Area was bustling this afternoon, and the police arrested quite a few people."
"We really stirred up a hornet's nest for the Sea Serpent Gang this time!"
Grizzly, who wasn't even wearing a vest tonight and was bare-chested, looked excited. The burly man was rubbing his fists, as if he couldn't wait to start the operation right now.
Lex noticed that Grizzly was carrying a massive, off-white mechanical box on his back and a long, intricately constructed rifle in his hand. The rifle and the metal box were connected by a pipe, and both the box, the pipe, and the rifle showed signs of having other components assembled onto them.
"High-Pressure Steam Rifle?" A look of surprise flashed in Lex's eyes. He really hadn't expected Grizzly to be able to get his hands on such a military-controlled item.
Grizzly chuckled, "It's an old, discontinued model. I got it through my own channels, then repaired and modified it. Don't let its appearance fool you, this baby packs a punch."
Besides that, Lex also saw a bundle of dynamite hanging on each side of Grizzly's waist.
Good heavens, no wonder Mr. Parker said he was a man who advocated violence.
The others, however, seemed quite normal. Arbiter Cromwell was wearing a thin, long trench coat and a top hat. He looked like a dignified gentleman, and it was unclear where he kept his weapon.
The female warrior Nafi was dressed in practical attire for movement, with a dark cape reaching her waist. A sword hilt protruded from beneath the cape, indicating she had a longsword strapped to her back.
Thump, thump, thump.
Clear footsteps sounded from outside, and then the short, thin, and agile Mole returned.
"Boss Duke, I've found the Sea Serpent Gang's lair."
As he spoke, Mole's two larger, longer front teeth were exposed: "I followed your instructions and kept watch in the Dock Area this afternoon. I paid attention to a red-haired fellow among them; he was very cunning and didn't appear during the police raid."
"It wasn't until evening, until night fell and the police withdrew, that he slipped out. I hired some workers near the dock to keep an eye on his movements, and through that intelligence, I finally found the Sea Serpent Gang's headquarters!"
This was what was called outsourcing, but it was very clever, as he hadn't actively tailed them. Otherwise, he might have been discovered.
After all, the opponent was a Beyonder.
Lex nodded slightly: "Lead the way. It's our turn now."
The sea breeze gently stirred.
On the west side of the Dock Area, there was a two-story wooden building. A sign that read 'Shaun Shipping Company' hung on the front door.
"That's it, Boss," Mole whispered, pointing towards the shipping company from his hiding spot in the shadows.
Outside the small building, two men dressed as dock workers stood guard. Light spilled from the windows, and figures occasionally moved within.
Lex looked at Grizzly: "Want to say hello to them?"
"Alright!" Grizzly ripped off the dynamite from his waist. Mole beside him had already struck a match, igniting a small flame.
Grizzly used it to light the fuse, then strode out, aimed at the building's front door, and hurled the dynamite with force!
Inside the shipping company.
Under the Light from the gas lamps, several men gathered in a circle, reporting to a middle-aged man.
Even though Tingen's summer temperatures weren't high due to its geographical location, and it was even a bit cool at night.
However, the middle-aged man still wearing a long, fur-collared coat in this season seemed a bit exaggerated.
He had a handsome mustache, deep features, a large nose, and light blue eyes. He was none other than the leader of the Sea Serpent Gang, 'Stephen Shaun'.
Stephen's hand, resting on his knee, held a coin that deftly rolled between his fingers.
"That's the situation, Boss."
Red-haired Terros's voice was slightly hoarse, and a dim Light flickered in her eyes: "I had someone investigate in the city. The reason the police raided the Dock Area today and arrested so many of our members..."
"It's because of Pamela, that damned woman!"
The coin stopped in Stephen's hand: "Pamela? Isn't she an actress from the Red Maple Theater?"
"Yes!"
Terros's expression gradually became ferocious: "It was she who ran to the police station to report that our Sea Serpent Gang was going to kidnap her, which then led to the police department's massive deployment."
"If I find that woman, I will torment her severely!"
Stephen's face, however, changed: "Damn it, someone must be framing us. The purpose of them doing this..."
Before he could finish his sentence.
A flash of fire lit up in Stephen's eyes, followed by a violent explosion that made his ears ring. The shockwave from the explosion knocked him and Terros and the others off their feet.
But Stephen quickly got up, pushing Terros: "Hold them off!"
The Sea Serpent Gang leader hastily ran into his office.
The red-haired Terros ripped off his shirt and screamed: "Everyone, get your guns out, damn..."
Suddenly, a figure flew backward through the burning doorway, and then the dull thud of a gun echoed from outside the company building. Hearing this sound, Terros's face changed.
"High-Pressure Steam Rifle? Damn it!"
Before he finished shouting, the building's windows and the tables and chairs inside continuously exploded. Terros quickly dropped to the ground, not daring to show himself.
The bullets fired by the High-Pressure Steam Rifle possessed extremely high velocity. The bullets, propelled by air pressure, had astonishing destructive power. Even if he was a Beyonder, if he were hit by such a bullet, it would be enough to take his life.
Under such intense suppressive fire, the surviving Sea Serpent Gang members in the building could not organize an effective counterattack. When the gunfire outside stopped, the windows on both sides shattered, and figures leaped in through the windows.
"Shoot!" Terros cried out.
But at that moment, just as several Gang members raised their revolvers and rifles, a dignified voice rang out: "My judgment is, throw away your guns!"
Clang, clang, clang.
The members looked dazed and, without careful thought, dropped the firearms in their hands.
Terros gasped: "Arbiter!"
The golden-haired, grey-eyed Cromwell raised his pistol and fired a series of shots at Terros.
Mole and two other hunters took care of the other Gang members, while Cromwell locked onto his target, continuously firing.
Lex, who had entered the building, did not stop him. He glanced at the female warrior Nafi, who now held a silver-white one-handed sword, and gave her a look. The two rushed straight towards the office.
In Stephen's office, a self-portrait of Stephen hung on the wall behind the high-backed chair.
The Sea Serpent Gang leader was busy loading a large amount of gold coins, gold bars, and jewelry into a wooden box next to an open safe.
"So the leader of the Sea Serpent Gang is a coward. It seems I overestimated you."
At this moment, a soft sigh sounded. The sigh and the words made Stephen's temples twitch slightly.