Chapter 126: Doomed 1

The three criminals finally left the building after successfully loading the stolen valuables into their escape vehicle. The vehicle stood a short distance from the facility, parked in a spot where they could leave without attracting unnecessary attention. Its dark windows reflected the dim streetlights, while the trunk had been packed with the loot they had risked everything to obtain. For the moment, their escape route remained clear, and nothing suggested that their carefully planned operation had gone wrong.

The items they had stolen were far from ordinary. Some were rare materials recovered from dungeons, while others were valuable objects containing concentrated mana. Even from inside their protective containers, the objects emitted faint glimmers of coloured brilliance that occasionally slipped through the gaps in the packaging. Their worth was enough to make wealthy collectors compete for them, and the right buyers would pay a fortune to obtain such rare materials. To the criminals, the stolen goods represented more than a successful job. They were an opportunity to secure a substantial reward, improve their standing with their employer, and perhaps gain access to even more profitable missions.

Despite everything going according to plan, none of them could completely shake off their disbelief. They had entered a secured facility, bypassed its security measures, avoided the workers, and gathered the valuables without raising an alarm that could stop them. Even now, as they stood beside their vehicle, the success of the operation seemed almost too convenient. They had expected difficulties, perhaps even a confrontation with the facility’s guards, but the actual mission had been surprisingly smooth.

The credit belonged largely to their boss, whose preparation and training had equipped them with the knowledge needed to carry out the operation. He had made them study the facility, understand its security arrangements, and coordinate their movements instead of acting independently. Every stage had been planned carefully, from entering the building to transporting the stolen goods outside. Although Rita was reluctant to admit it, their employer’s instructions had made a considerable difference.

Bronx moved to the back of the vehicle and opened the trunk. He glanced inside to make sure the packages were arranged securely before signalling for the others to bring the remaining items forward. His broad shoulders and sturdy build made the work look effortless, but he handled the loot with greater care than his appearance suggested. The last thing he wanted was for a valuable container to break because somebody had been too careless to pack it properly.

Rita, however, seemed far less interested in the practical details. She stood a short distance away, turning a crystal ring between her fingers as its surface caught the surrounding light. A faint shimmer travelled across the stone embedded in it, revealing the concentrated mana stored within. The ring was small enough to fit comfortably in her palm, yet its value was considerable.

She had been admiring it ever since they found it inside the facility. The ring’s design was simple, but the crystal at its centre possessed a brilliance that made it difficult to ignore. Rita could already imagine how much she might earn if she sold it privately. Better still, she could keep it and find a use for the mana contained within the crystal.

Unfortunately for her, Bronx had already made it clear that none of the stolen items belonged to them until their boss had divided the rewards.

"Rita, put the ring away with the rest of the loot," Bronx reminded her as he arranged another package inside the trunk. "We’ve already discussed this."

Rita gave him an irritated look without immediately obeying. "I’ve heard you the first ten times, you know."

"Then you shouldn’t need an eleventh reminder."

"You’re becoming a real pain in the neck."

"And you’re becoming a real problem."

Rico, the shortest and stockiest member of their group, watched the exchange with a tired expression. He had been standing beside the vehicle with his arms folded, waiting for them to finish arguing so they could leave. Unlike Rita, he had no particular attachment to the ring. Unlike Bronx, he had no interest in policing every decision she made unless it threatened their mission.

"Can both of you save the family argument for later?" Rico asked. "I’d rather be somewhere else before the people inside realise their valuables are missing."

Rita rolled her eyes before finally dropping the crystal ring into its protective container. She did so reluctantly, accompanying the movement with a drawn-out groan that made it clear she was not happy about surrendering it.

"There. Happy now?"

Bronx closed the container and placed it securely among the other packages. "Very."

"Good. Because I’m not doing that again."

"Then don’t try to steal from our own share before we’ve even received it."

Rita opened her mouth to respond, but Rico raised one hand between them.

"Enough. The loot is packed, the trunk is ready, and the road is clear. Let’s get moving."

Bronx shut the trunk firmly and checked the lock. After a final glance at their surroundings, he stepped away from the vehicle. The street appeared quiet, with only the distant sound of traffic and the occasional flicker of light from buildings farther down the road. There were no approaching sirens, no hurried footsteps, and no visible sign that anyone had discovered the break-in.

For the first time since leaving the facility, the three criminals could begin to relax.

Rita, however, had other plans.

She produced the vehicle’s key and began spinning it around one of her slender fingers like a child’s toy. The small metallic object flashed under the streetlights as it revolved, and she wore the self-satisfied smile of someone who had just thought of a particularly entertaining way to irritate her companions.

"I guess I’m the one who’s driving both of your asses out of here."

Bronx blinked.

For a moment, he simply stared at her, as though he suspected that he had misunderstood what she had said. He had been responsible for driving during the mission, and their arrangement had been agreed upon before they entered the facility. Rita’s sudden announcement was not part of their plan.

Then she opened the driver’s door and slipped into the seat with a confidence that only made his suspicion grow.

"Hold on," Bronx said, approaching the vehicle. "What exactly are you doing?"

Rita settled against the seat and adjusted her position behind the wheel. "What does it look like? I’m getting ready to drive."

"You’re not driving."

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me."

Rita looked at him as if he had personally insulted her. "Since when did you become the owner of this vehicle?"

"Since I became the person responsible for getting all of us out of here in one piece."

"That’s a very dramatic way of saying you want to control everything."

"It’s a very simple way of saying that we agreed I would drive."

"Plans change, Bronx."

"Not when we’re in the middle of a getaway!"

Rico remained beside the rear passenger door, watching the argument develop with folded arms. He had seen the two of them clash over decisions before, but their disagreements always seemed to become worse whenever Rita believed she had been denied something she wanted. She could be resourceful, clever, and surprisingly effective when a mission required someone to take a risk. Unfortunately, she also had a talent for turning even the simplest arrangements into a contest of pride.

Bronx, for his part, was hardly innocent. He preferred order, preparation, and strict coordination. He disliked surprises, especially when they involved a vehicle full of stolen goods and the possibility of being arrested. Rita’s habit of ignoring instructions tested his patience more than almost anything else.

Under normal circumstances, he might have tolerated another round of their usual bickering. This was not a normal circumstance.

"Rita, listen to me," he said, keeping his voice firm. "We’ve had a clean run so far. That doesn’t mean we’re safe. We don’t know when the facility’s security team will discover what happened, and we don’t know how quickly they’ll contact the authorities. We need to leave now, not waste time arguing about who’s sitting behind the wheel."

Rita gave a small chuckle and leaned back comfortably.

"You guys shouldn’t worry. I got my driver’s licence last week, and I’m really good at it. Cars, vans, automatic, manual, whatever you want. I’m practically a professional."

Bronx stared at her.

"You got your licence last week?"

"That’s what I just said."

"And you think that makes you the best choice to drive a vehicle full of stolen dungeon materials while we’re being hunted?"

"Nobody is hunting us yet."

"Yet is the important word!"

Rita waved a hand dismissively. "You’re acting like my driving is going to make the entire vehicle explode."

"I would prefer not to find out."

"Then stop looking at me like that."

"Like what?"

"Like you’re waiting for me to crash into a wall."

"At this point, I’m considering the possibility."

Rita’s expression sharpened. She turned towards him fully, her fingers tightening around the steering wheel.

"First of all, my performance during that mission was over eighty-five percent of the reason we succeeded. I was the one who slipped past the security arrangements while you two stood around waiting for the right moment. If anyone deserves a little appreciation, it’s me."

Bronx frowned. "We followed the plan."

"Exactly. You followed it. I actually did something."

"You were supposed to do that."

"And I did it brilliantly. You’re welcome."

Rico rubbed his forehead. "I can feel a headache coming on."

Rita ignored him and continued. "Besides, I’m tired of being treated like I can’t do anything without one of you watching over me. I can handle a steering wheel. I can handle a mission. I can handle myself."

Bronx exhaled slowly through his nose. "Nobody said you couldn’t handle yourself. I’m saying this isn’t the right time to experiment."

"Experiment? You make it sound like I’ve never seen a car before."

"Have you driven this particular vehicle before?"

Rita hesitated for a fraction of a second.

Bronx noticed immediately.

"That’s what I thought."

"Oh, shut up! A vehicle is a vehicle."

"That is not how vehicles work."

"Are you going to keep talking, or are you going to get in?"

"We need to return to the boss. He’ll want to know the mission is complete, and there’s no reason to delay that."

Rita’s eyes narrowed. "Fuck that lazy twat. He can wait a few minutes. And since he’s not here, there’s no leader standing beside this vehicle to decide who gets to drive."

Bronx’s jaw tightened. He had heard Rita insult their employer before, usually when she thought his orders were inconvenient. He was not particularly fond of the man himself, but he understood the importance of keeping their relationship professional. Their boss had resources, connections, and plans that none of them could easily manage alone. Disrespecting him in private was one thing. Allowing Rita’s impulsiveness to interfere with a mission was another.

"Whether you like him or not, he’s the one who hired us," Bronx replied. "We agreed to follow his instructions."

"And we completed the job, didn’t we?"

"That doesn’t mean you can change every other arrangement whenever you feel like it."

"Watch me."

Rico finally pushed himself away from the side of the vehicle and stepped between them, deciding that someone had to end the argument before they attracted unnecessary attention.

"Okay, enough. We’ve got the loot, we’ve got the vehicle, and we’ve got no reason to stand around making noise. If we keep wasting time, the facility’s security team might come looking for us before we even get out of this area."

He looked at Bronx first, then turned towards Rita.

"Let her drive. We’re all set, and she’s clearly determined to prove herself. If she’s as good as she claims, we’ll reach the next destination without a problem. If she isn’t, we’ll find out soon enough."

Bronx’s eyebrows rose. "That’s your brilliant solution?"

"It’s better than watching you two argue until sunrise."

"Rico, this is a serious matter."

"I know. That’s why I’m trying to get us moving."

Rico opened the front passenger door and glanced at Rita. "You take the wheel. Bronx can sit beside you and keep an eye on the road. I’ll stay in the back and watch our surroundings. That way, if anything looks suspicious, we’ll all know about it."

Rita smiled triumphantly. "See? At least one person here has some sense."

"Don’t celebrate yet," Rico warned. "If you drive like a maniac, I’ll be the first one to tell you to pull over."

"Fine by me."

Bronx stood still for another moment, his expression caught between irritation and reluctant acceptance. He wanted to reject the arrangement outright, but doing so would only restart the argument. Besides, Rico’s suggestion had a certain practical logic. If he sat beside Rita, he could observe her driving and intervene if necessary.

At last, he unfolded his arms and let out a heavy sigh.

"All right. But you follow the road, obey the signals, and don’t try anything reckless."

Rita tilted her head. "Anything else, Mother?"

"Yes. Keep your eyes on the road."

"You’re already making me regret this."

"Good. Maybe you’ll remember it."

Rico climbed into the rear seat before either of them could continue. Bronx reluctantly settled into the front passenger seat, pulling the door shut behind him. Rita adjusted the mirrors, placed the key in the ignition, and checked the dashboard with an exaggerated show of concentration.

"Everyone comfortable?" she asked.

"No," Bronx replied.

"Wonderful. Then we’re ready."

She turned the ignition, and the engine came to life with a low rumble. The headlights illuminated the road ahead, revealing the empty stretch of asphalt and the faint outlines of buildings on either side. Rita checked the mirrors one last time before releasing the brake and guiding the vehicle away from the facility.

For the first few moments, her driving was surprisingly smooth. She accelerated gradually, kept the vehicle within its lane, and turned onto the main road without any obvious difficulty. The stolen goods remained secure in the trunk, and the engine maintained a steady rhythm as they moved farther away from the scene of the crime.

Bronx watched her hands on the steering wheel, then glanced at the road ahead. His expression did not relax.

Rita noticed.

"Seriously? You’re still watching me?"

"I’m observing."

"You’re staring."

"I’m checking that everything is under control."

"Everything is under control."

"Then you shouldn’t mind me checking."

She clicked her tongue. "Ugh, stop acting like my mother. It’s annoying! My actual mother doesn’t even watch me this closely. My driving instructor wasn’t half as strict as you are, and you aren’t even the owner of this vehicle."

Bronx turned towards her. "I’m responsible for it during this mission. If something goes wrong, I need to be able to respond."

"Respond to what? A perfectly normal turn?"

"To whatever happens."

"Well, if you keep distracting me, something might happen."

"Then concentrate on driving instead of arguing."

Rita shot him an irritated glance before returning her attention to the road. "You’re the one who started talking."

"And you’re the one who asked me to get in."

"Only because Rico insisted."

From the back seat, Rico let out a short laugh.

"You two sound like you’ve been married for twenty years."

"Shut up, Rico," they answered almost simultaneously.

Rico raised both hands in surrender. "All right, all right. I’ll keep my mouth shut. Just don’t kill each other before we get to the next destination."