Outside the Shiranui Dojo, Qin Ming and Mary walked out with furrowed brows.
Qin Ming's thoughts were muddled, caught off guard by this unexpected situation. Not only had he triggered a hidden mission, but the dojo's elderly master, Hanzo Shiranui—a character he'd never heard of—had displayed startling strength that far exceeded his expectations.
Character: Hanzo Shiranui (Fatal Fury World)
Skills: Shiranui Ninjutsu (D~C Rank), Ultimate Move: Ninja Bee (B Rank), Super Phoenix Dance (B Rank), Shiranui's Final Secret: Nine-Tailed Fox (A Rank)
This skillset was impressive. It was the first time Qin Ming had seen an A-rank skill assigned to a supporting character, not to mention two B-rank skills alongside it. Given that Hanzo Shiranui's strength surpassed most standard story figures, Qin Ming was eager to tackle the hidden mission, as it hinted at the rare possibility of learning an A-rank skill himself.
Beside him, Mary frowned for a different reason: Qin Ming's choice to accept the mission.
After a few moments, Mary finally stopped, clutching her dalmatian tightly as she spoke up in a low voice. "You're not seriously going to kill someone just to learn some martial arts, are you?"
"Hmm?" Qin Ming paused, looking back at her. "What's this, you have something against killing?"
"Of course! I'm not some maniac who likes killing people for no reason. I mean, I'll do what I have to if there's no other choice, but this is clearly a grudge between the dojo and another school. If you butt in, you're risking your life!"
Mary looked around cautiously, then leaned closer. "That old man has a fierce look in his eye. I don't think he's as nice as he seems. You'd better be careful, or he'll just end up using you."
Qin Ming gave a half-grin, waving her off as he kept walking. "Whatever. Let's just get the job done."
"You're really going to go through with it? I'm telling you, I'm not helping with this!"
"Good. I don't need your help."
"Oh, sure, but what if you go through all that, and they teach you nothing? Or worse, report you to the authorities for murder!"
"Then I'll just kill him too."
"And if you can't beat him?"
"Then I'll run. What else?"
With one hand in his pocket, Qin Ming waved goodbye, striding away without another word. Mary stomped her foot in frustration as she watched him disappear down the path, her dog in her arms.
"One after the other—always so full of themselves! Keep it up, and one day you'll die in a back alley brawl!"
Both Mary's father and former boyfriend had been fighters who loved honing their skills through constant combat. It was that love of fighting that had eventually cost them their lives. After finally avenging them, Mary had tried to settle down, but her new companion seemed no less foolhardy. She ran her hands through her short hair in exasperation, messing it into a tangled mess.
Meanwhile, Qin Ming had barely stepped beyond the Shiranui Dojo when he encountered an unexpected sight. Two cars were parked across the path, and several figures emerged from them, staring him down.
Pushing up his sunglasses, Qin Ming muttered under his breath as one of the newcomers stepped forward.
"Hello there! My name is Long, and this is Hu. We're also disciples at the Shiranui Dojo. And you are?"
Noticing that his glasses couldn't analyze these individuals, Qin Ming instantly understood their true nature: adventurers.
The speaker extended his hand politely, and after a brief hesitation, Qin Ming accepted it.
"You can call me Mr. Qin."
"Mr. Qin?" Long glanced at the others, sharing a look of subtle understanding.
Could this man actually be from the Qin family? If so, he'd make sense as a capable fighter, given the Qin brothers' renowned techniques. The Qin family, known for their Emperor's Fist, were powerful enough to handle even the likes of Terry and Andy Bogard. Qin's preference for energy-based attacks might indicate he shared that legendary bloodline.
Long's mind worked quickly as he flashed a bright smile. With a fist over his chest in salute, he said, "Oh! So you're a master of the Qin family. May I ask where you're headed?"
"Where I go is none of your business, now is it?"
"Of course, of course. I was only hoping to offer our assistance." Long's tone was friendly as he continued, "You see, before we joined the dojo, we were mercenaries, well-versed in combat. Since we're all on the same side, we'd be glad to help out however we can. All we ask is that, should you be accepted into the dojo, you put in a good word for us."
Qin Ming blinked, eyes narrowing. Something about this felt off. These men weren't behaving like adventurers—they sounded more like...
Qin Ming lifted his sunglasses and grinned. "Well, that's very generous of you. So, you're saying you'd be willing to help with anything?"
"Oh? Even if it involves killing?"