A Worthy Enemy (HunterxHunter)

Chapter 17: Tainted Blue

"Red and Illumi said there was water in the barrels, I think."

Corrin searched her head for ideas from Nobunaga. "Understood. And prepare for Darnell's and Machi's arrival."

Corrin sank in the shadows to hide her position. Her gun fitted her hand like a glove. The parking lot was now full of cars, forcing her to relocate to multiple buildings. She could only afford to kill a few Mafia men at the moment, but after the event, perhaps she could finish the job.

Her eyes kept darting back to Feral, making sure he was still huddling in the same spot. She just needed him alive so she could be alive and her Troupe would succeed.

She finished her area and returned to him. "There's water in the barrels."

"Water?" Feral stood with the gun slumped in his hands.

"I haven't the slightest clue what it means but I'll have to predict the Raven's moves from here on out. There's a chance it'll be too late once she arrives if we're not properly prepared. I have to figure out why there's a lot of water being imported."

Feral curled his fingers in. "You think there's a fish monster? I've seen one as big as a mountain before."

Corrin rubbed her temple. "Stop with the monster stuff. Plus they can be killed more easily than the Raven so let's not worry about that." She peered over the ledge spotting a few workers outside in the alleyway, assuming the rest were inside. "The singers have been going through this side entrance. Nobunaga said her name was Sage Waters, and will be coming within the hour."

Feral nodded. "Okay. I can watch until she comes."

"If you want to be useful that bad then fine. I'll be right back."

She leaped down and snatched up one of the workers, throwing him onto the roof's floor. "Hey! What the hell–"

Corrin pressed the gun to his temple. "No one will hear your cries, I promise you that. Answer my questions." He was a dark-skinned man with deep amber eyes. A chiseled jaw and flawless skin, she noted. "Why is there water in the barrels? Who do you work for? Any word that comes out of your mouth that doesn't answer will be your death."

The man chuckled. "Relax. I don't mind preparing an answer. You'll all be dead anyways." Corrin unlatched the safety pin. She didn't expect such an upright statement on their deaths. "Alright, alright." His accent was not from here either. "We are from the coast, did you not hear? Water is essential. And I work for my Queen."

Corrin wrinkled her nose. "Queen? Do you mean Sage Waters?"

He laughed. "That is her, no? A precious gem she is. Let me continue my work and I will speak highly of you before her. You may as well be one of us. She likes pretty things..." His grin widened.

"So you are not a part of the Mafia," she said, disappointed. But her brain racked with suspicion. How many of them were regular security and how many were like him? She messed up somewhere.

"Heavens no. Do you not see my beauty? I am–"

"Hey!" Another man appeared on the roof. A pale skinned male with another set of amber eyes. Then another. Then another. Not all of them were in suits, some fitted in normal clothes. And one of them was the driver of the truck.

"Oh my, this girl is very pretty."

"The Queen would want her."

"Do we kill her or...you know?"

Feral raised his gun with shaking arms. "C-Corrin?" He backed up closer to her as they surrounded her.

How did they find us?