Following Gilgamesh through the streets, Bai Ye noticed that vehicles and pedestrians were still abundant. Fuyuki City was more prosperous than he had imagined, otherwise the streets wouldn't be so lively at this hour.
"When do we arrive?" Gilgamesh asked.
Bai Ye pointed to a towering hotel in the distance. "How about over there?"
Gilgamesh nodded. "Not bad, let's pick up the pace."
"Perhaps not so fast," Bai Ye replied. "I need to take care of something first."
Gilgamesh looked at Bai Ye with a hint of confusion.
"I have to do a little robbing," Bai Ye explained. "Did you think staying in such a luxurious hotel was free? And you want fine wine and exquisite food – do you think I can conjure them out of thin air?"
As he spoke, Bai Ye grabbed a man in a suit carrying a briefcase.
"Hey, hand over your valuables!" Bai Ye conjured his named blade, Bloodthirst, and held it to the man's throat. "Your IC, IP, and IQ card numbers, tell me all the passwords."
Seeing the gleaming blade tip, the man frantically fumbled through his bag, producing cash, bank cards, and credit cards. He stammered, "M-m-master, what's an IQ card?"
"Intelligence quotient, you fool," Bai Ye said, taking the items. "And the passwords?"
Before the man could respond, Gilgamesh snatched everything away and then thrust it back into the man's hands.
"Go," Gilgamesh said to the man. "He was just joking."
The man, uncertain, glanced at the blade in Bai Ye's hand. After cautiously backing away a few steps and seeing that Bai Ye wasn't pursuing, he quickly turned and fled.
Bai Ye looked at Gilgamesh. "What was that about?"
"My greatest pleasure is discovering the world's treasures," Gilgamesh stated, hands clasped behind his back. "However, a King must possess the dignity of a King, therefore, I never plunder the wealth of commoners."
"He wasn't your subject," Bai Ye countered, shrugging. "And this isn't your kingdom."
"I was a King long before the King of this country became one," Gilgamesh declared. "Thus, I should demonstrate my magnanimity even more."
"Fine, you're noble, you're impressive," Bai Ye said, rubbing his fingers together in a money-counting gesture. "Since you're so magnanimous, you wouldn't want to stay at the hotel for free or dine and dash without paying. And without money, none of this is possible."
Gilgamesh gave Bai Ye a look of disdain, then casually reached out. His arm seemed to pierce through the void, and moments later, he produced a gold ingot weighing at least three pounds and tossed it to Bai Ye.
"Never have I encountered such impoverished individuals," Gilgamesh remarked. "How could someone like you have summoned me?"
Bai Ye wanted to retort, but looking at the gold ingot in his hand...
Damn it, he really couldn't argue.
With gold, anything could be handled. It was a hard currency, and as long as one was willing to sell it at a discount, it could be exchanged for money anywhere.
Soon, the gold in Bai Ye's hand transformed into a whole box of banknotes.
Gilgamesh nodded with satisfaction. "This is why I love gold. Whenever one has resplendent gold, there is nothing that cannot be bought."
"Since you like gold so much, why don't you change your name to 'Golden Flash'?" Bai Ye suggested.
"Insolence! My royal name..."
Before Gilgamesh could finish, he suddenly looked up at the sky.
Bai Ye sensed something as well, quickly putting distance between them. "They're here!"
At that very moment...
From the deep shadows behind Bai Ye, a figure suddenly materialized. The dim streetlights illuminated their outline.
Bai Ye's heart leaped. It wasn't from above, but from behind him?
In the next instant, a short sword appeared in the figure's hand, sweeping towards Bai Ye's throat.
Just as the blade was about to strike...
Suddenly, Bai Ye's figure vanished.
Teleportation!
When Bai Ye reappeared, he was behind the assailant and immediately kicked out towards them.
However, the opponent was more agile than Bai Ye had anticipated. Sensing Bai Ye's presence behind them, they lunged forward. Upon landing, they braced themselves with one hand and executed a series of somersaults, creating distance.
Bai Ye looked at the figure. "A ninja?"
The assailant was clearly dressed in traditional Japanese ninja attire, hunched over, with a short sword held in a reverse grip.
The figure slowly straightened up and addressed Bai Ye, "Servant, Assassin, Fuuma Kotarou. Though I may be unworthy, I ask for your guidance!"
As Fuuma Kotarou spoke, he glanced towards Gilgamesh.
Gilgamesh chuckled and leaned against a lamppost, folding his arms.
"Hey, what's going on?" Bai Ye asked. "Someone's trying to kill your Master!"
Gilgamesh shrugged, adopting a posture of detached amusement.
Master-servant discord?
Fuuma Kotarou considered retreating. As an assassin-type Servant, direct confrontation was not his strong suit. Therefore, the best course of action after a failed assassination was to withdraw and wait for another opportunity. But if there was discord...
Perhaps this was an opportunity!
Fuuma Kotarou began to sprint rapidly, circling Bai Ye at high speed. Strangely, as he ran, his form seemed to completely meld into the surrounding shadows.
*Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap...*
Only the crisp sound of footsteps echoed around Bai Ye.
Bai Ye muttered under his breath. With Gilgamesh striking, Bai Ye was left to handle this himself.
Suddenly, the sound of rushing wind filled the air. Bai Ye looked to his side as three shuriken flew towards him. He quickly retreated, intending to summon his blade, but found that the Steel Slime was unresponsive.
"Damn it!"
He'd forgotten that the Rainbow of Seven Colors had been destroyed when fighting the Ancient Mechanical Giant. Fortunately, Bai Ye reacted quickly. Remembering this, he immediately drew his named blade, Bloodthirst, and swept it forward forcefully, deflecting the three shuriken.
*Clang, clang, clang...*
The three shuriken were sent flying, but at the moment they bounced away...
Another sound erupted from behind Bai Ye. As he turned, three more shuriken hurtled towards him. He sharply turned his head, and the three blades grazed his cheeks as they flew past.
A faint scent of blood!
Bai Ye reached up and touched his cheek, finding a trace of blood on his fingertips.
Fuuma Kotarou retreated rapidly, quickly disappearing back into the shadows, his footsteps no longer audible. Then, the sound of his steps began again, circling Bai Ye. The movements were swift, fast, and varied with an eerie rhythm, making it impossible to pinpoint his location by sound alone.
Suddenly...
Another gust of wind!