Chapter 330: Restricted Area

"Are you sure there are people living here?" Yohan asked as he continued driving down the lonely road.

Thick trees lined both sides, their branches stretching overhead and casting long shadows across the road.

"I thought you said we were heading to a town? This looks like the kind of place where bodies are buried..."

"Just keep going. I’m sure it’s up ahead," Jenna said.

They continued for a little while until they finally came across a building. But instead of a town, it was a warehouse with two trucks parked in front of it.

"At this point, I’m even more concerned about Izumi’s safety." Yohan slowed the car to a stop.

It was the first building they’d seen for miles, and there wasn’t a single sign of life around it.

"There’s a parking lot behind," Jenna said confidently.

’Why are we parking when there’s no one here?’

The words almost left his mouth, but instead, he simply looked ahead and pressed his foot against the gas.

Sure enough, when he reached the back, there was actually a parking lot. It was large enough to hold at least twenty cars, even with three long buses parked along the side.

"This place feels sketchy," he said as he parked and turned off the car.

He looked back the way they had come as he got out.

"How come there are no streetlights on the road?"

"Stop acting like a child." Jenna walked past him, shaking her head.

"I’m not acting like a child. I’m just worried. What if a bear jumps out from these trees?"

"Honestly, I’d like to see that happen. Maybe I might finally get to watch you lose a fight." She cracked a smile.

’Was that a joke?’

It was messed up to imagine him going against a bear, but there was no mistaking it. Jenna had actually made a joke.

He followed behind her, too stunned to think of a comeback. He wasn’t even sure she had an actual sense of humor until now.

’Also, I don’t think I’d lose to a bear... How strong could those things even be?’

He prepared himself for the worst as he pushed a branch aside and followed after her.

They took a footpath that sloped downward like a hill, leading straight to a wooden tall gate with a log fence.

It took Yohan a few seconds to notice the man sitting on the ground beside it.

"Sorry, this is a restricted area."

The man quickly got to his feet.

Sweat ran from beneath his straw hat and down his face. It was clear he hadn’t been expecting any visitors.

He reached beneath his shirt but didn’t pull anything out.

Yohan caught only a glimpse of the gun, but he could tell what it was.

’In that case, I have to be careful.’

He stepped in front of Jenna.

"Don’t take another step," the man commanded.

Just then, another man emerged from the bushes with a rifle—the kind that normally required military access.

He pointed it directly at Yohan’s chest.

’A submachine gun... That’s going to be trouble.’

Dodging bullets fired from a handgun was possible if he timed it right, moving out of the way at the last second before the trigger was pulled. The shooter would then have to adjust his aim before firing again.

He could exploit the limitations of human reaction speed.

But against a fully automatic weapon, that would be much more difficult.

’Maybe even impossible... And if I move out of the way, it’ll hit Jenna.’

His eyes narrowed.

’I have no choice. I’d have to use the healing elixir. If I time it right, I might be able to take a bullet—’

"My name is Jenna."

Her voice cut through his thoughts.

"I used to work for Hatoru."

She stepped out from behind him with both hands raised.

"How do we verify your claim?" the man with the handgun asked while the other kept his rifle pointed at Yohan.

"You can ask Lady Izumi. She’s here, isn’t she?"

"Who said she is?" he replied. "Even if she is, I doubt she’d tell anyone she was here. So what makes you so sure?"

Yohan looked at Jenna, wondering if she had an answer for that one.

"That’s because I’ve been here before with her and Hatoru. Just tell her Jenna is here to see her."

She took a small step forward.

"Hey! I said don’t fucking move!"

The man raised his gun toward her face, his eyes filled with hostility.

It looked like Jenna’s attempt at diplomacy was actually going to get them killed.

Yohan knew he had to take action before things got any worse.

"Why isn’t your finger on the trigger?"

He pointed at the rifle.

He’d only noticed it by accident, but after calling it out, the man’s grip suddenly seemed suspicious.

"W-what do you mean?" the rifleman asked.

"I mean... is this some kind of trap? Are you anticipating that I’ll rush you?"

"Shut up or I’ll blow your face off," the man snarled.

His voice cracked like that of a seasoned smoker.

He stepped closer, but his movements were strange. His weight shifted awkwardly, almost as if the gun barely had any weight to it.

"Is it fake?" Yohan raised an eyebrow.

"W-why would it be fake?" the man stuttered.

A hint of panic flashed across his face.

Yohan didn’t need any more confirmation.

Without giving it much thought, he took a quick step forward and grabbed the rifle.

He yanked it from the man’s hands.

The weapon immediately bent slightly in his grip.

Plastic.

Yohan stared at it for a moment before looking back at the man with a confused expression.

The man gritted his teeth and threw a punch.

Yohan easily caught his fist.

He pulled him forward and slammed his forehead into the man’s nose.

"Ahh!"

Blood sprayed from the man’s nose as he crumpled to the ground.

Yohan’s gaze shifted toward the man with the pistol.

A bead of sweat rolled down his temple.

The man grabbed the gun with both hands.

"This one isn’t fake! I’m really going to shoot you!"

Based on his reaction alone, Yohan knew that was most likely another lie.

Still, he took a moment to prepare himself before taking a step forward.

"Why don’t you go ahead and try?"