MEMELAND

Smoke drifted through the shattered room.

The remaining cabinet members slowly turned toward the doorway.

One body collapsed.

Then another.

Neither had even seen who fired.

Only the smell of burnt gunpowder lingered.

A figure stepped through the doorway.

Tall.

Broad-shouldered.

Draped in a long black coat that reached almost to the floor.

Beneath it rested a crimson suit, immaculate despite the battle outside.

White gloves.

Black boots.

A wide-brimmed black hat cast a shadow over his eyes.

Only a calm smile was visible.

In each hand—

A large pistol.

Elegant.

Deadly.

The remaining cabinet members immediately fired.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

The stranger moved.

Not fast.

Simply...

Enough.

Each bullet missed by mere centimeters.

One pistol barked.

Bang.

A cabinet member collapsed.

The second pistol answered.

Bang.

Another body hit the floor.

One survivor rushed him with a sword.

The stranger sidestepped.

Placed one pistol beneath the man's chin.

Bang.

Silence.

Another tried escaping through the window.

Bang.

A single shot struck the back of his knee.

The man collapsed screaming.

The stranger calmly walked over.

Bang.

The screaming stopped.

Click.

Both pistols emptied.

Without even looking—

His hands moved.

The magazines dropped simultaneously.

Before they touched the ground—

Fresh magazines appeared between his fingers.

Click.

Click.

Both were inserted in one fluid motion.

Slides racked.

Metal snapped into place.

The empty magazines finally struck the floor.

Clink.

Not a single movement had been wasted.

The final cabinet member stumbled backward.

Terrified.

"N-No—"

Bang.

The room fell silent.

Only one man remained alive.

He lay against the wall.

Barely breathing.

The stranger slowly approached.

His gaze dropped.

Something beneath the official's torn robes caught his eye.

A tattoo.

An eye surrounded by twisting tendrils.

Azathoth.

The stranger looked at it for several quiet seconds.

Then sighed.

"...Pesky insects."

Bang.

The tattooed man's body slumped lifelessly.

Silence returned.

Taai stared.

"...Wait."

The stranger stopped.

But never turned around.

His voice was calm.

"Backup is on the way."

A pause.

"...The Order is coming."

He reached into his coat.

Pulled out a tightly rolled bandage.

Without looking—

He tossed it behind him.

Taai caught it instinctively.

By the time he looked up—

The stranger had already reached the doorway.

Another few gunshots echoed from downstairs.

Bang.

Bang.

Bang.

Then more.

Bang.

Bang.

Bang.

Then...

Nothing.

The footsteps disappeared.

Moments later—

The building doors burst open.

Several guards rushed upstairs.

"Chief!"

They froze.

The room resembled a slaughterhouse.

Cabinet members lay scattered everywhere.

Blood painted the walls.

Taai remained standing only through sheer will.

One guard rushed over.

"Chief!"

"What happened?!"

Taai lowered himself against the wall.

"...Prioritize Kai."

The soldiers immediately moved.

Two medics rushed to the unconscious drifter.

Another wrapped fresh bandages around Kai.

Only after confirming he would live did they turn toward Taai.

One soldier knelt.

"...Chief..."

Taai looked toward the doorway.

"...Did you see the man who helped us?"

The soldier nodded.

"...Yes."

"We thought he was one of the evacuees."

"He stood up..."

"...walked upstairs..."

"Then we heard the first few gunshots."

"We thought they were warning shots."

He swallowed.

"...Then more followed."

"...And more."

"When we reached the stairs..."

"...he simply walked out."

"And disappeared."

Taai remained silent.

"...The Order..."

He chuckled weakly.

"...I always thought they were just gossip."

He looked down at the blood soaking through his clothes.

"...Guess not."

The medics finally began wrapping his wounds.

One of them pleaded,

"Chief..."

"You've lost too much blood."

"You need to rest."

Taai slowly stood.

His legs trembled.

But he stood.

"The city needs a leader."

"They need me."

He adjusted the fresh bandages around his torso.

Then looked toward the guards.

"You stay."

"Protect the civilians."

"If there are still traitors..."

"They'll strike again."

The guards saluted.

"Yes, Chief!"

Taai nodded once.

Then—

Ignoring every protest—

He turned.

And slowly...

Yet still astonishingly fast...

Ran back toward the battlefield.

The war was far from over.