Catalyst of Enigma

"Another round!"

"Yeah!!!

Yeah!!!

Yeah!!"

Cheers and singing could be heard from a certain table in the back. The people there all looked clearly drunk, enjoying their time. Well, all of them except Mary. She was currently panicking in the depths of her mind.

[Oh no. Ah, now you've done it, Mary. How could you lose the young master's belongings? And after how he's been treating you this whole day. Ah, stupid, stupid, stupid!!]

After Mary entered the bar, she ordered a glass of water, trying to sober herself up as much as possible so she could think properly.

Unfortunately, she had drunk too much.

Having downed a few glasses of water, she hoped she would be sober enough when it came time to face the young master again.

[I just hope he doesn't punish me too harshly,] Mary thought, her face darkening slightly.

"Aye, miss, what's a girl like you doing on her own?" a man asked, approaching her from behind.

"Would you like me to buy you a drink?" The man's flushed face made it evident he had been drinking.

"Ah, no, thank you."

"Ah, come on, no need to refuse. It's on me."

"Thank you for the kind gesture, but I'll have to decline," Mary replied, subtly distancing herself from the intoxicated man.

"Hey, come on, why are you refusing? I said I would pay!" The man's voice grew slightly louder.

"Ugh, I already told you I'm not interested," Mary exclaimed, her voice tinged with annoyance.

"You damn bitch! Do you know who I am? Here I am, being nice to you, and all of a sudden, you start shouting. Did your parents not teach you any manners?"

The man angrily retorted, grabbing Mary by the arm.

"H-hey, let go of me!"

"Or what? What are you going to do?" the man sneered, pulling Mary closer.

"Don't touch me!" Mary exclaimed, using as much force as she could to free herself.

"Someone, help me, please.

"Anyone!"

"If you help me, I'll pay you with four silver coins!"

"Hahaha. Don't bother asking for help, little lady. I doubt anyone here would want to become an enemy of the Igis gang," he said as he glanced around. Unsurprisingly, the lively atmosphere that had once filled the room had vanished without a trace.

Everyone turned their heads, ignoring the scene to avoid being implicated. Even the owner, who had been serving customers, acted as if nothing was happening.

"Damn it, I can't stand any more of this," a man in the back whispered, trying to stand up before being stopped by his friends.

"Brian, what are you doing, you dumbass!? Do you want to get involved with the Igis gang?"

"Agh! I can't just sit here and watch this happen!" he grumbled, clenching his fist.

"None of us can, OK? But there's nothing we can do. The moment we step up for that girl, our lives are over, do you understand?"

"Tsk, fine," Brian replied, sitting back down in his chair. Luckily—or unluckily—for him, the man who was still grabbing Mary didn't notice Brian's momentary movement, leaving him and his group safe for the time being.

"Ahh, don't touch me, you crazy bastard!" Mary screamed, stomping her foot onto the man's boot.

[Ooh, you're feisty. Hehe, I'm going to enjoy my time with you tonight,] the man sneered, grabbing Mary by the face and bringing his own closer to hers.

[Alright, that's it,] Brian thought, standing up from his seat and preparing to intervene. However, before he could, he noticed a bloodied young boy, who appeared to be in his teens, slowly approach the two before tapping on the Igis gang member's shoulder.

"Hey, fatso, let go of my maid," the boy said nonchalantly, raising his hand to reveal a revolver, slightly coated in blood.

Hearing himself get insulted, the man's brow furrowed, and he turned around, shouting, "Who the fuck just said that?! Speak up now if you have the guts!"

As he turned his head to meet the gaze of the person who interrupted him, what he was met with instead was a revolver to his temple.

"I dare."

*Bang*