Chapter 103 Taking a Call
"Whoosh!"
Hellish Blizzard opened her delicate palm, twisted it, and then clenched it into a fist. Inside the train car, the tables, chairs, benches, packages, and water bottles all began to levitate, rising and falling as if submerged in water.
"Hellish Blizzard, you're a hero! How dare you disregard the life of an ordinary citizen! Do you even deserve the title of 'hero'?"
Seeing that Hellish Blizzard was about to make a move, the Short Blade Robber was horrified, panic flashing in his eyes. If he were facing any other B-Class hero, he wouldn't be afraid at all. However, though Hellish Blizzard was ranked first among B-Class heroes, her true power was rumored to be comparable to top A-Class heroes, and she was one of the few esper users in the Hero Association.
In a direct confrontation, he was no match for Hellish Blizzard.
He had to think of another way!
He pressed the nail clipper blade in his hand against King's neck and shouted threateningly at Hellish Blizzard, "Hellish Blizzard, I'm warning you! If you don't stop right now, I'll kill him immediately."
"Seriously, to think you could threaten the Hero Association's largest hero faction—the Fubuki Group—with a human life. Short Blade Robber... did you get your head caught in a door?" Hellish Blizzard's beautiful eyes narrowed as she said, "A wanted criminal targeted by my Fubuki Group has absolutely no chance of escape. You... accept your fate!"
A brawny, double-chinned man who looked like a large gorilla sneered, "How foolish. Why would our Fubuki Group ever yield to your threats? Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you have a citizen as a hostage! We heroes are here to protect the majority. When necessary, it's only right to sacrifice the few."
His code name was Mountain Ape, B-Class Rank 3. He was a veteran of the Fubuki Group and one of Hellish Blizzard's most trusted aides.
Another man with long hair, a small goatee, and elegant eyelashes threw up his hands and smiled. "Just give yourself up obediently. It'll save us some effort. You should know, we're very busy people. We don't have time to waste on you."
He was called Eyelash, B-Class Rank 2, and was also one of Hellish Blizzard's right-hand men.
Among the crowd of burly men in the Fubuki Group, a pretty girl with a lily in her hair and a streak of light blue in her bangs shouted, "Lady Fubuki has come personally! There's no way we'll let you escape. Release the hostage at once and accept the judgment of justice!"
She was Nunchaku Lily, B-Class Rank 74. Her rank was a bit on the lower side, but as the only girl in the Fubuki Group, coupled with her pretty looks, she held a special status within the group, second only to Hellish Blizzard, Eyelash, and Mountain Ape.
"That's right, you can't escape."
"Surrendering is your only way out."
The men of the Fubuki Group shouted boisterously.
The Short Blade Robber's heart sank. Dammit! He never expected to run into a crazy woman who didn't play by the rules. To take his life, she was willing to betray her duties as a hero. Hellish Blizzard... you're ruthless! But if you're ruthless, I'm even more so.
A vicious look flashed in his eyes as he resolved to take King with him to the grave.
"Hmph, the most venomous heart belongs to a woman. Hellish Blizzard, you forced my hand."
He gritted his teeth, ready to pull the nail clipper blade across King's neck and reap his life before his own was lost. At least he'd have company on the road to hell.
"Wait."
Among the Fubuki Group's muscular men, a young man with delicate features, glasses, and the appearance of an ordinary youth shouted, stopping the Short Blade Robber's action.
His fists were clenched tightly as he stared at the Short Blade Robber, saying through gritted teeth, "Let him go. Let me be your hostage."
"Glasses, get back here."
"This idiot who just got promoted to B-Class is going to ruin Lady Fubuki's rescue plan."
"Damned hot-headed youth, to hell with your passion and justice! Don't you know that reckless actions without thinking will only provoke the enemy further, you idiot?"
Eyelash and the others turned pale with shock. Hellish Blizzard's brow furrowed slightly, a trace of displeasure flashing in her eyes. A rookie in B-Class? He doesn't know the rules. I, Lady Fubuki, haven't spoken, so who are you to show off? Do you even have any respect for me as your boss?
"You? Heh, no need. The man I'm holding is just an ordinary, defenseless citizen. I can take someone down with me before I die. But if I were to swap this ordinary citizen for a B-Class hero, I might have to go to hell all by my lonesome. Sorry, but I'm afraid of being lonely, so I'll just have him keep me company!"
The Short Blade Robber cackled sinisterly and suddenly applied force to the nail clipper blade in his hand.
Glasses cried out in horror, "Don't—!"
Ring, ring, ring!
Just then, the sound of a phone ringing echoed through the narrow train car.
Hellish Blizzard scoffed, "Whose phone is that? Didn't I warn you all? When heading into battle, turn off your phones to avoid getting distracted and defeated!"
Mountain Ape and the other Fubuki Group members looked at each other, all shaking their heads to indicate the ringing wasn't coming from their phones.
Just as the Fubuki Group members were denying the phone was theirs, King spoke up weakly, "Um... excuse me, I think that's my phone. May I... answer it? Short Blade Robber?"
"Huh? Hahaha, I didn't think anyone would still be thinking of you at the brink of death. You're quite lucky, aren't you? Fine. Seeing as we might be traveling the same road together soon, I'll allow you to leave a few last words before you go. Answer the phone!"
The Short Blade Robber was slightly stunned, then laughed maniacally and agreed to King's request.
"Thank you."
King said his thanks and pulled his phone from his pocket. Just as he was about to answer, he heard the Short Blade Robber shout, "Wait a minute."
"What is it?"
King's hand paused.
The Short Blade Robber said viciously, "Put it on speaker. Hmph, who the hell knows who's calling you. If I find out the person calling you is a hero, I'll make sure you die instantly."
"What a cautious fellow," King complained inwardly as he pressed the speakerphone button.
"Hello, may I ask who this is?"
"Hello, is this Uncle King? This is Child Emperor. Where are you right now? Hurry back to the Research Institute. I want to thank you properly. The gift you gave me is amazing."
Child Emperor's innocent voice came from the other end of the phone.
"King?!"
Hellish Blizzard, the Short Blade Robber, Eyelash, Mountain Ape, Lily—everyone present, without exception, froze when they heard the name "King." They all turned in unison to look at King, who was wearing a white sweatshirt and a duck-billed cap that completely obscured his face.
"Hiss~ He's King?"
Everyone's pupils constricted as they gasped in unison, their faces filled with shock.
"I took King hostage?"
The Short Blade Robber's teeth began to chatter, and his legs went soft. He suddenly felt the urge to urinate. His whole body trembled uncontrollably, and the hand holding the nail clipper blade shook nonstop as if he were having a Parkinson's flare-up.
Oh god, right before I die, it seems I did something incredibly badass!
I held the Strongest Man on Earth—King—hostage!
(end of chapter)