The Blade's Edge (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders x Male O/C)

Chapter 9: Clash in Calcutta!

Gladius POV

The city of Calcutta, India. A bustling civilisation to put it lightly. I had to constantly get past people just to explore the place. This in itself served as both a strength AND a weakness. The huge crowds would help me in travelling undetected, both the Joestar group and J.Geil were here after all.

On the other hand though, I still wished to observe from afar and take-out whoever was left standing when the dust settled. I had no intention of killing Hol Horse, however as I'd said before, if the Joestar group didn't kill J.Geil, I would! My point being, with the huge crowds, it could take me ages to find them!

And ages it took, hours of wandering the city aimlessly in the pouring rain, shuffling my way through busy crowds until suddenly I happened to overhear a random conversation from a pair of passer-by's, over the noise of the street, I was able to barely make-out what they were saying.

"Hey, there's two foreigners having some sort of stand-off!"

I easily connected the dots, I grabbed one of the men and asked them bluntly "Where?!" The man pointed to one of the streets off shooting from the one I was on. "There! One with weird hair and an American cowboy!" I nodded, saying "Thank you." Before making a beeline for the street in question, along the way, the rain finally began to break-up allowing the sun to shine through.

And it was here that my suspicions were confirmed. This street was far less crowded than the others and I got a clear view of the situation, two men stood opposite one another in a traditional Western-style showdown. 

The first of these I knew was Polnareff, the user of Silver Chariot that I briefly encountered back in Singapore. If I'm not mistaken, his Stand was as fast as mine. The other was Hol Horse, wearing an arrogant smirk across his face. There was no sign of J.Geil anywhere though so I was yet to see his identity.

Keeping to my plan of discretion and stealth, I stuck to the shadows. Inching closer toward the stand-off I quickly ducked into a narrow alley nearby. Far enough to not draw attention, but close enough to overhear their exact conversation. And it started with Hol Horse saying something that for a moment, confused me. However I quickly understood the meaning.

"The gun is mightier than the sword."

Polnareff just gave the cowboy a confused glance as he continued "Not bad, if I do say so myself." Polnareff instantly asked "Huh? Who the hell are you?" And it was here that Hol Horse finally introduced himself. 

"Hol Horse, that's what they call me. I'm a Stand user and my card is the Emperor. I've been paid good money by DIO to rub you guys out." Polnareff gave him a bored expression as he said. "Look here cowboy. I don't give a rat's ass who you say you are. Where's the man with two right hands?" 

Hol Horse feigned hurt as he said "That was rude. You asked who I was so I answered. Well, whatever." Lighting a cigarette and putting it in his mouth, he simply replied. "I came here with that guy. He's nearby." My eyes narrowed for a moment, so he was here. But where? I still couldn't see him.

This caught Polnareff's attention, making him stammer out "W-what?! Where is he?!" Hol Horse just smirked smugly as he said "There's no point in you asking that. I, Hol Horse will have the pleasure of snuffing you out." 

Polnareff regained his composure as he boasted. "Morons like you always talk trash. And it always ends up the other way around. Even that guy in Singapore ran once he was outnumbered." 

This only made Hol Horse laugh as he said "Lord DIO had you pegged. 'Polnareff has the fatal habit of underestimating his opponents. Beating him into a corpse won't be any trouble for you'. He was exactly right so I couldn't help but laugh."