Chapter 117: Boss Black Rabbit

Cunning Rabbit, Mad Rabbit, and Pinocchio departed the hotel for the amusement park to begin their search for the special puppet, the "Parade Master."

Their movements disturbed Sophia. In a lounge off to the side of the lobby, the blue-haired woman furrowed her brows and asked, "Mr. Black Rabbit, the two members of the Black Rabbit Brotherhood seem to be searching near the amusement park, while the puppet P has left the hotel in the opposite direction... What are you planning?"

At this moment, only Li Nanke and Sophia were in the lounge.

He did not answer her question, but instead countered: "Ms. Sophia, you are of noble birth and possess great wealth. At the onset of the puppet riots, if you had been determined to escape, you could have left by ship with the other nobles and officials..."

"So, why did you choose to stay in the city of Krat?"

Sophia stirred her coffee in a white porcelain cup, lifted it elegantly to take a sip, and replied candidly: "I could not bear to part with my assets in Krat, so I spent some time consolidating them and failed to board the escape ships in time."

"Now only a few small boats remain at the harbor, and the chances of surviving a sea crossing are slim. My only chance to survive is to organize the remaining Stalkers to quell the puppet uprising."

Li Nanke remained noncommittal and continued: "You have gathered over a dozen Stalkers. Half are out gathering intelligence, but the others seem unwilling to take orders?"

Sophia set down her coffee cup and offered a helpless smile: "My relationship with the Stalkers is one of cooperation, not hierarchy. Just like with you, Mr. Black Rabbit, I can only request that you complete a contract through collaborative means."

"If they are unwilling to go out and gather information, I cannot force them to accept assignments."

Li Nanke stated, "I intend to consolidate these Stalkers and make them follow orders obediently. Will you cooperate with me?"

Sophia was clearly taken aback. She did not answer immediately, but instead said: "Mr. Black Rabbit, I know you are powerful, but force alone only makes people submit; it does not make them truly follow orders. The same applies to money or even Ergo crystals."

As a high noble, Sophia had hired many Stalkers and understood their ways well. Simply put, they were mercenaries with extraordinary power who only worked when the stakes were high enough. Getting them to disregard everything—even their own lives—to follow orders was an extremely difficult task.

"Then, Ms. Sophia, where does your confidence come from that you can make the Stalkers fight desperately against the puppet army?"

"You cannot force them to submit with violence. And when faced with the price of death, money and profit have little effect."

Sophia remained silent, then asked, "Mr. Black Rabbit, what exactly are you trying to say?"

Li Nanke gave a cold smile: "You have the means to make the Stalkers resolve themselves to resist the puppet army, but you haven't done so because that is your only retreat."

His gaze was icy, devoid of any emotion: "Since there are things you dare not do, then I will do them."

"I have already sent Pinocchio to sink the remaining small boats in the harbor, completely cutting off everyone's retreat, forcing them to take up their weapons and fight with all their might—to make it a desperate last stand."

"Are you insane?!"

*Clack.* The coffee cup fell to the floor and shattered. Dark liquid stained her snow-white gown. Sophia stood up abruptly, her face flushed with shock and anger.

Li Nanke’s act of scuttling the ships was akin to burning the bridges behind them. If they could not defeat the puppet army, they could no longer flee Krat. While the survival rate of crossing the ocean was low, it had at least been a shred of hope.

She had not expected Li Nanke to be so ruthless, eliminating that last line of hope and forcing everyone remaining in Krat to fight—if they did not give their all against the King of Puppets, they would surely die.

The lounge door opened silently. A woman wearing a green snake mask held a dagger, standing behind Sophia without a word. If her master gave the command, the Green Snake would tear through the enemy's throat, whether they were puppet or human.

Li Nanke stared fixedly at the blue-haired woman, not regarding the Green Snake as a threat at all.

Sophia’s chest heaved with anger. She took two deep breaths to calm herself: "Stand down. You are no match for him."

The veins on the fair hand gripping the dagger stood out. Beneath the green snake mask, cold eyes glared at Li Nanke. A few seconds later, the Green Snake relaxed her hand and, under Sophia’s gaze, reluctantly turned and left.

Sophia took out a silk handkerchief and gently wiped the stains from her gown, saying: "Mr. Black Rabbit, you leave yourself no path of retreat. Aren't you afraid I will tell the Stalkers this news? If they find out you sank the ships, they will drag you to hell with them, even if it kills them."

Li Nanke shook his head: "You are a smart woman. You won't do something so foolish. To survive, the only hope now is to bind the Stalkers together into a single force. If we fall into infighting, no one will leave Krat alive."

"Well, have you considered it?"

Sophia picked up the coffee-stained handkerchief, threw it in front of Li Nanke as if venting her frustration, and turned to open the lounge door: "Do I have a choice!"

"Mr. Black Rabbit, you had better defeat the King of Puppets, or I will certainly share this secret with the Stalkers."

Cunning Rabbit and Mad Rabbit searched until dusk without finding the "Parade Master," suspecting the giant special puppet had already left the amusement park area.

Through several battles, Pinocchio’s strength had grown rapidly. As long as he didn't encounter a giant special puppet, he could hold his own and act independently. After he returned from sinking the boats and heard the search had been fruitless, he volunteered to head to the amusement park.

Unexpectedly, the Parade Master, which the others hadn't found, was discovered by Pinocchio.

"Assemble!"

A piercing alarm echoed through the hotel. The Stalkers who had been out gathering intelligence returned. Including the three from the Black Rabbit Brotherhood, fifteen Stalkers had gathered in the hotel lobby.

The butler puppet, Albert, stood behind the main entrance. Through the open doors, a massive shadow could be clearly seen wandering the nearby garden plaza.

It was a giant puppet wearing a clown suit, with a bloated body, a stiff, chalk-white face twisted into a grotesque, frozen laugh, a red ball for a nose, and two heavy iron balls at the ends of its arms.

The originally comical parade puppet now had eyes flashing with a harsh red light, which, combined with that eerie, rigid expression, induced a sense of chilling terror.

This was a puppet no less powerful than the "Watchman." The fact that it had survived multiple sieges by numerous Stalkers proved its strength.

Several heavy machine guns on the hotel roof were aimed at the "Parade Master," yet they dared not fire. Gunpowder bullets could damage ordinary puppets, but against a giant special puppet, they would do little more than enrage it.

Sophia operated the astrolabe, the strange device emitting dots of azure light, yet it could not drive away the giant puppet now approaching the hotel.

Her gaze swept over the Stalkers: "Everyone, the situation is critical. The 'Parade Master' has closed in on the hotel. We must take action, or the consequences will be unimaginable."

"The Parade Master is formidable. I hope you will all join forces to eliminate this threat."

Most Stalkers gripped their weapons, prepared to surround the enemy, but a few remained motionless.

A man wearing a hyena mask stood with his arms crossed: "Sophia, we can work, but how is the pay calculated?"

Sophia frowned. The hotel served as a safe haven, providing food and lodging, and protecting the hotel was the basic condition of their stay. This Mr. Hyena was refusing to follow orders, had been unwilling to gather information, and was now demanding extra pay to protect the hotel.

"Mr. Hyena, please abide by our prior agreement."

The hyena shook his head, pulling back two steps along with the White Bear, Gray Donkey, and Rooster. He sneered: "Sophia, are you trying to brush off a beggar? The rule of the Stalkers is equivalent exchange. You want us to risk our lives for a room and a bit of food? That is far from enough!"

These words caused the Stalkers who had intended to head out to pause, waiting to see how Sophia would resolve this. If Sophia was willing to pay, then they deserved pay too. But if she refused and let the hyena opt out, did that mean they could all opt out?

If the Parade Master truly threatened the hotel, would Sophia pay to ensure the facility’s safety?

The man wearing a lion mask frowned and couldn't help but speak up: "Hyena, that's enough."

"If the hotel falls, you’ll have nowhere to go but back to your doghouse. The giant puppet outside is strong, but there are so many of us—are we really afraid we can't take it down?"

The hyena would not budge, showing no respect for the Lion: "None of your business. I am fighting for my own interests. If you want to work for free, no one is stopping you."

Sophia hesitated. The Green Snake had already stepped in front of her with her dagger drawn, her gaze icy.

The hyena hoisted his three-headed flail: "Hey, Green Snake, I’m not afraid of you. Are you sure you want to fight us?"

The atmosphere in the room turned stagnant. The Parade Master was still wandering the garden plaza, and inside the hotel, the Stalkers were on the verge of internal conflict.

Li Nanke, carrying his blood-stained war hammer, struck it against the floor with a loud *thud*. Once he had attracted everyone's attention, he spoke slowly:

"I, Black Rabbit, may not be a good man, but I know how to keep a promise. I will not break an agreement."

He looked toward the White Bear and grinned: "White Bear, are you going to stand with the Hyena, or with me?"

Many Stalkers had heard of the Black Rabbit leader's astonishing feats. Seeing him openly take a stand for Sophia, their expressions shifted.

The White Bear looked conflicted, seemingly about to move, when the Hyena shouted: "Black Rabbit, you don't have to take payment, but don't get in the way of our equivalent exchange!"

Li Nanke ignored him, staring intensely at the White Bear: "I won't extend an invitation a second time. White Bear, are you sure you've thought it through?"

Under the gaze of those emotionless eyes, the burly White Bear couldn't help but swallow hard. He took several quick strides to stand beside Li Nanke.

The Hyena, burning with rage, pointed at the White Bear and cursed: "Damn it, did Black Rabbit scare you into acting like a teddy bear with just two sentences?!"

Li Nanke still ignored the Hyena, instead addressing the Rooster, Gray Donkey, and Leopard beside him: "Are the three of you staying with the Hyena because you’ve decided, or are you waiting for my invitation?"

The three looked complex. The Rooster and Leopard stepped out and joined Li Nanke, leaving only the Gray Donkey and the Hyena.

The Hyena clenched his fists, his body trembling with rage. Were it not for Li Nanke’s reputation, he would likely have lunged into a bloody battle. But fortunately, he still had the Gray Donkey on his side. Yet, the Gray Donkey spoke up:

"Black Rabbit, I am stubborn by nature. I don't listen to what others say; I only believe what my own eyes see."

"They say you defeated the King of Flames, but I don't believe it. If you are truly that strong, I am willing to follow you. But if it is just a rumor, I would rather demand payment."

Li Nanke nodded: "Both of you, come at me. I will only use one move."

"What?"

The Hyena laughed in a rage, as if he had been greatly insulted: "Black Rabbit, we are all Stalkers. Defeat me in one move? You have a big mouth! Besides having a lot of people, your own strength isn't that impressive."

"You defeated the King of Flames—that only came from Venigni's mouth. No one saw it. Not only does the Gray Donkey not believe it, but neither do I!"

The facts were indeed as the Hyena said: Li Nanke's victory over the King of Flames was known only through Venigni. Perhaps Venigni had simply been hiding in a corner of the puppet factory, and Li Nanke had never faced the King of Flames at all, just having the luck to rescue Venigni and letting him exaggerate the facts.

However, the skepticism the others had felt was largely replaced by belief after Li Nanke made such an arrogant claim. Without the strength to defeat the King of Flames, why would anyone be so brazen?

Stalkers varied in strength, but even the strongest among them wouldn't claim to defeat the Hyena in one move, let alone fight both him and the Gray Donkey simultaneously. Only one move was simply too much arrogance.

The Hyena and the Gray Donkey exchanged a glance, roared, and lunged at him together!

Suddenly, flames roared into the sky. A massive war hammer, like a giant’s weapon, swept out. The surging heat wave made their faces burn, forcing them to retreat involuntarily.

The Gray Donkey was terrified. Facing such a powerful attack, he raised his serrated machete to block, feeling pure despair, for he knew he couldn't stop it!

*BOOM!*

A loud crash shook the hotel floor. The two figures who had lunged forward were sent flying as if hit by a baseball.

When they landed, one figure had been reduced to a charred corpse, while the other could only stand with the support of his serrated machete.

The Gray Donkey stared in horror at the charred corpse of the Hyena. In just one move, Li Nanke had killed him!

The scorching flames and the ferocious, massive hammer had left him heart-stricken and unable to muster any resistance. Had the opponent not held back, he would be a charred corpse on the ground just like the Hyena.

After Li Nanke defeated the King of Flames, his Tier 2 trait "Flamefall" had reached maximum level. Its power was terrifying; even the King of Flames would be heavily wounded by a direct hit, let alone two Stalkers.

The Stalkers were silent. Black Rabbit had said he would defeat them in one move, and he had truly done it. One hammer strike—one dead, one injured, no chance of resistance.

They were all Stalkers; how could the gap be so large?

The Gray Donkey, face pale, limped over to Li Nanke, leaning on his machete, and whispered: "Boss Black Rabbit, just now... thank you for your mercy."

The Stalkers were in an uproar. If what the Gray Donkey said was true, Li Nanke had held back; otherwise, there would be two charred corpses on the ground.

Li Nanke ignored the Gray Donkey, hoisted his blood-stained hammer, and said to the others:

"Usually, we Stalkers fight on our own, like scattered sand, unable to exert our full strength. Now that there is an external enemy, we should choose a leader to command everyone to fight together."

"I, Black Rabbit, have some strength, so I will brazenly recommend myself as this leader. Who is in favor, and who is against?"

His gaze swept over them.

"I am in favor."

Sophia was the first to speak, representing the hotel, the safe haven, and the employer.

This was the nature of control: with Sophia's support, they would receive payment for outside contracts, and Li Nanke had the absolute strength to enforce the order—if you earned it, you got it; if he didn't let you have it and you tried to take it, you’d pay with your life.

So, Black Rabbit’s public support for Sophia had been a secret agreement all along. Black Rabbit would provide the force, and Sophia would provide the money, ensuring the Stalker group became an iron-clad unit.

In such a situation, who would dare say "against"?

Cunning Rabbit, Mad Rabbit, and Pinocchio raised their hands in favor, followed by the Lion, White Bear, Gray Donkey, and Green Snake. Eventually, every Stalker agreed to let Li Nanke be the leader.

Li Nanke smiled slightly, pointing his hammer at the "Parade Master" approaching the hotel gates.

"This is the first battle of our united Stalkers... Advance!"

He strode out with his hammer hoisted, and the Stalkers raised their weapons and followed him to surround the Parade Master.

Poor Parade Master—it had been quite strong, but under the siege of the Stalkers, it couldn't even manage to run away, as its only path of retreat had been blocked by Li Nanke.

Li Nanke didn't exert much effort during the fight, only delivering one final hammer blow to finish off the battered Parade Master.

The Stalkers couldn't withstand his full-strength "Flamefall," but that didn't mean they were weak. Fifteen—now fourteen—Stalkers combined their efforts; even someone as formidable as the Parade Master could only die on the spot.

After the battle, Sophia gave each Stalker a bonus, which brought joy to them all. She and Li Nanke tacitly avoided revealing the secret of the sunken ships. Once he was firmly established as the leader and gained the people's support, they would be trapped on Li Nanke’s ship—unable to leave even if they discovered that their only retreat was gone.