Chapter 31: Captain Barnes
Captain Barnes watched grimly, his gaze fixed on the lone figure standing atop the rooftop across from the building. He recognized him instantly—a man who had once fought alongside the General in the tournament, a warrior who could have quickly taken the helm as General of any other city had he chosen to. But instead, he had walked a different path. A rogue’s path.
"I-Is that... Coco?" the President murmured, his voice unusually tense. He knew precisely what it meant to see that man standing before them. "I suppose he has finally decided to make his move."
The Rangers on the third floor, assigned to guard the President, felt a heavy weight settle over them. They knew Coco’s name well. Although he rarely acted alone, his mere presence spoke volumes. He was powerful—dangerous. The kind of man who didn’t need an army to change the tide of battle.
"It’s him... What the hell are we supposed to do now?" one Ranger muttered, gripping his weapon tighter.
"We’re already short on staff up here," another whispered in panic. "If he’s here, that means-"
"That means we’re screwed," a third Ranger interrupted, "He took down our damn chopper. We’re totally cut off!"
The weight of their situation felt suffocating. They had managed to keep the President safe so far, thanks in part to Captain Barnes’ leadership. But even Dex—a loose cannon who would do whatever it took to achieve his goals—was on the enemy side. The odds were stacked against them.
They had been so close to getting the President to safety. But now, Coco stood in their way.
And with him, their final hope for ground support was fading fast.
"Why so serious?" Dex cackled, coughing and clutching his ribs. The earlier punch had taken a toll on him. "You look like you’ve seen a ghost."
Laughter erupted from the gathered rogues as they watched their leader make his grand entrance. With the sheer number of reinforcements on their side, confidence surged through them. Victory felt inevitable for them.