The Vixen's Gambit: Tonight We Hunt

"Lee, are you serious…?"

Pardo's legs felt weak looking at the high-rise. This was the headquarters of Twilight Street's biggest gang. Even she was careful around here!

But Lee was talking about going in and… enforcing the law?!

"Let's go back. If you want to fight crime, start smaller!"

"Don't worry, Pardo. If you're making an example, you need a big example. And you brought me here. Why are you scared now?"

"Because I didn't know you were planning to attack them! Trust me, Lee, let's just go…"

"Fine, fine—but it'd be a waste to come all this way for nothing. Do me a favor, Pardo~"

Lee patted Pardo's head and gave her some cash. "Get us some ice cream. I want vanilla."

"Ice cream?" Pardo blinked. "What's that?"

Lee paused. "…It's… a treat. Get some milk and sugar. I'll make some for everyone back at the orphanage."

"Okay… but promise you won't go in there?" Pardo clutched Lee's sleeve, the money in her hand.

She'd only known Lee for two days, but she knew Lee was a good person. She didn't want her to die.

"Fine, I won't."

"Promise!"

"Okay, okay, I promise—I swear I won't set foot in that building. Happy, Pardo?"

"…Maybe you should hide somewhere safe until I get back?"

"Pardo, one more demand, and I'm going in. Besides, you could have bought the stuff by now."

After repeated assurances, Pardo finally ran off to the store, leaving Lee alone in front of the building.

Lee was a woman of her word. She wouldn't enter the building, but a little demonstration was necessary. This gang controlled half of Twilight Street; they were a perfect target.

They might be strong, but only by normal standards. To Lee, anyone weaker than a Herrscher was an ant.

"Pardo, do you have to touch someone to hit them?"

After waiting a bit, Lee stretched, a smile spreading across her face. She clenched her fist.

"Sky Shatterer!"

BOOM!!!

When Pardo rushed back, she saw the notorious gang leader cowering before Lee, his face pale with terror.

"So, yeah, tell the other gangs to keep their businesses clean and stay within their territories. We're building a harmonious Twilight Street; be civilized. Or I'll pay them a visit—and it won't be as pleasant as this." Lee smiled at Pardo, then turned and walked away.

Maintaining order was a tall order. Single-handedly fighting crime in an entire city was impossible, even for comic book superheroes, let alone in Twilight Street, a breeding ground for criminals.

Fire Moth's assignment was a lost cause, and Lee hadn't intended to take it seriously—but now, she needed a safe Twilight Street to farm goodwill from Pardo and Aponia.

Twilight Street had no laws, but it did have order, maintained by gangs.

And order meant leaders. A little… persuasion would encourage them to clean up their act. They wouldn't like it, but they liked getting punched even less.

Start at the top, and the pressure would trickle down.

Twilight Street was supposedly beyond Fire Moth's control, but that was because dealing with it was too much trouble for too little reward.

If she could handle Fire Moth's corrupt higher-ups, she could handle some small-time gangsters.

Of course, this forced order was just a temporary fix. Once Lee left, things would go back to normal… She couldn't solve the problem, just cover it up.

She wasn't a leader; her Worker Bee skillset didn't include management.

"Pardo, where's the milk and sugar? Why are you empty-handed?"

Pardo, too stunned to answer, pointed at the rubble. "L-Lee… did you do that?!"

"Yeah. The building seemed… structurally unsound."

"That's insane…" Pardo was speechless. She couldn't believe someone could punch a building into rubble.

"I didn't… make you mad, did I, Lee?"

Lee brushed some dust off Pardo's head, chuckling. "No, I like you, Pardo."

"That's good… That was… a lot…" Pardo sighed. "With you protecting me, I could steal right through the front door!"

"I can protect you, Pardo. You said you had a boss, right? Well, now you do—it's me~"

Lee pinched Pardo's cheek, grinning. "No more stealing, though. I'll handle helping people. As for you… how about I teach you to read?"

Before Lee could finish, Pardo's eyes welled up.

"Lee…!"

Pardo decided; she was Lee's loyal follower now!

[Target Pardofelis's favorability increased. Current favorability: 8]

[Current target charging efficiency: 720%]

Don't be so easily swayed, Pardo~

But Lee just smiled gently.