097 SHOPPING FOR PROTECTION
The ground splintered beneath its force, sending shockwaves rippling outward. Shadow scorpions disintegrated instantly, their dark forms vaporized in the proud magical light. The assassins, who had moments before been merciless in their assault, screamed as the brilliance seared their eyes, leaving them blind and writhing in agony.
"Who is this bitch?!" Madoug roared, his face twisted in fury and fear.
But the fear was spreading among his ranks, and his men began to falter.
Lorelei raised her hammer once more, and this time, dozens of glowing hammers materialized in the air, each one shimmering with divine energy.
With a flick of her wrist, they hurtled toward the enemy like falling stars.
"The Hammer of Truth purifies the World."
The battlefield erupted in bursts of radiant destruction as the spectral hammers struck, crushing gangsters and assassins alike. Those that remained were either shattered or sent fleeing in terror.
"Retreat! We have to run!" Madoug screamed, his earlier bravado gone.
He scrambled back, pushing his own men aside in his panic. He and his brothers managed to escape, but barely. Most of the goons who had dared to attack Court la Mood lay dead, obliterated by the fury of Lorelei's pride.
As the last of the gangsters fled into the darkness, Grangya's divine aura faded. The transformation had taken everything from her. She collapsed to her knees, her breath ragged and shallow.
Bara, despite her injuries, dragged herself to her wife's side, cradling Grangya's head in her lap. "You came for me?" she whispered, tears mingling with the blood on her cheeks.
Grangya, now herself once more, looked up at her with tired eyes. "I... had to," she said, her voice barely more than a whisper. "I couldn't lose you too."
In the end, the defenders of Court la Mood stood victorious. But the cost of that victory was heavy.
-----
"What in hell happened here?" Yun-Yun gasped, her eyes wide as she took in the devastation that had torn through Court la Mood.
The air was still thick with the stench of blood and ash.
"We were only gone for a short while to get provisions."
"Who did this?" Leo demanded, his voice tight with barely contained fury.
"They call themselves the Koresh Guild of Brothers," Mr. Cicada said, shaking his head grimly. "They used to shake us down for protection money."
"How did some local gang pull this off?" Leo growled.
"It's our fault," General Kasshyek admitted, his tone heavy with regret. "We were unprepared to face powerful mages."
"Mages?" Yun-Yun's eyes narrowed. "You mean they had spellcasters with them?"
"Yes," Kasshyek confirmed. "There were three: a summoner, an assassin, and a control mage. They were relentless and powerful."
Leo's fists clenched. "How does a fucking street gang have that many mages on their payroll?"
Mr. Cicada nodded grimly. "They're not just any gang. The Koresh Guild of Brothers—they're the most powerful syndicate in Sodom. Those three were not all of them. They've got more mages in their ranks."
"KGB, huh?" Leo spat. "Damn it. Fucking KGB."
Yun-Yun's expression softened slightly as she turned to Princess Bara. "How's Grangya?"
"She'll recover," Bara replied, exhaustion lining her face. "But if it weren't for her awakening Lorelei, we'd all be dead right now."
Yun-Yun's eyes darkened, her lips pressing into a thin line.
"So, she finally summoned the Battle Angel again, did she?" There was an undercurrent of unease in her voice.
Leo noticed it. "Is something wrong?" he asked.
Yun-Yun hesitated, her gaze distant. "Nothing we can't handle. If we can with Lust, we can handle Pride."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Leo pressed.
"Pride is a far more insidious sin," Yun-Yun explained, her voice low and serious. "Lust is self-destructive, but Pride? It corrupts everything it touches, causing pain and chaos for everyone nearby."
"Grangya would never hurt us," Bara interjected defensively.
"Of course she wouldn't," Yun-Yun reassured her. "But it's not Grangya herself—it's the influence of Pride that comes with awakening of Lorelei."
A tense silence hung in the air as the implications sank in.
"So, what's our next move?" Kasshyek asked, breaking the silence.
"We shut down Court la Mood in the meantime," Yun-Yun decided, her voice firm.
"What should we do in the meantime?" Mr. Cicada asked.
"We'll need to make repairs and hire magic contractors to install new protective wards. If they want to attack us again, they'll have to break through reinforced defenses first," Yun-Yun explained.
Mr. Cicada nodded in agreement. "Yes. That's the best course."
As the others spoke, Leo remained deep in thought, his jaw clenched. Finally, he broke his silence. "Tell me more about this KGB," he said, his eyes cold and calculating.
-----
"This quotation is outrageous! Who can afford magic protection at these fucking prices?" Grangya muttered, her brows furrowed as she scanned the parchment.
"These fuckers are trying to drain us dry."
"Magic wards and protections are luxuries reserved for the noble houses," Madam Butterfly said, shaking her head. "Ordinary businesses like ours can rarely afford such extravagance."
"These thugs are nothing but cockroaches," Grangya grumbled, tossing the document onto the table.
"Why should we waste a fortune on defenses just to keep them out?" she asked.
Yun-Yun stepped forward, her voice gentle but firm. "Grangya, you know as well as I do, if we don't invest in proper protection, we may have to call on your pride again. And I know that's the last thing you want."
Grangya's expression softened, a flicker of pain in her eyes. "I get it... I really do. But this price is fucking ridiculous."
"What about more affordable options?" Leo asked, glancing between Yun-Yun and Mr. Cicada.
Yun-Yun sighed, crossing her arms. "The cheaper alternatives are, well... cheap for a reason. They're riddled with gaps that experienced mages could exploit in seconds."
"There is... one last option," Mr. Cicada interjected, hesitating as he looked through the scrolls.
"This one has all the high-end features of the most expensive systems. Quite rigorous."
Leo's eyes narrowed. "What's the catch?"