Crimson Overlord

"Miss Katherina sure is straightforward. I'll be honest then. I hope Miss Katherina can surrender her gang to us. Don't worry; I guarantee that your position in the Vermilion gang will not be lower than mine. After all, miss Katherina is a powerful origin master. Of course, it's the same for your sisters and brother."

''That is no way in hell that is happening.'' Stella refused immediately, making Rufus chuckle.

''Well, I knew you'd say that but have you forgotten that your brother's life is in my hands? Do you think either of you can rescue him before I kill him?" Rufus threatened while putting pressure on his leg, squeezing Katherina's biological brother's face against the ground; the latter ground his teeth, trying not to make a sound.

Seeing this, Stella's expression darkened.

"Despicable!"

"Thanks for the compliment. I'm a gang member; what do you expect?" Rufus said to Stella before shifting his gaze onto Katherina.

''Think about it, miss Katherina. I already called my leader over, and I'm sure it will not take long for him to come."

Katherina fell silent. As Rufus said, it would be hard to rescue her brother from their hands. Moreover, she knew that other people were as strong as Rufus nearby. Although she could not see him, she knew he was waiting for an opportunity to attack.

She looked at Orpheus briefly to gauge his reaction, but when she saw all he did was look back at her without any expression, she frowned. She could not understand what this man was thinking.

"You know Rufus; if something happens to my brother, I'll make sure of destroying the Vermilion gang! Even if this would be the last thing, I'd ever do."

"Yeah, but I also know that you will not risk your brother's life if there is a possibility of saving him. So, what is your choice?"

Katherina fell silent again. She looked at Orpheus, whose face remained expressionless, then at Lilith as if she wanted her to do something. For example, talking to her master; however, Lilith didn't even look at her making Katherina feel dejected.

Suddenly, she remembered something, and her eyes shone.

''I would like to decide right away, but I'm not in charge anymore.''

''What?" Rufus was shocked by the sudden news and wondered if Katherina had gone nuts because of the current situation; however, his face darkened when he saw her looking at the handsome young man he was trying to ignore because of how superior his face was to his. Rufus thought it was Katherina's new boy toy, but he misjudged.

''This is our new boss.'' Katherina declared, pointing at Orpheus. Stella immediately understood what her sister was trying to do, and she was overjoyed until the following sentence.

''Young Master, please. I accept your proposal.''

Katherina declared with her head bowed.

As if he had been waiting for this, Orpheus smiled; it was a smile that sent chill down to the members of the Vermilion gang.

Rufus felt an extremely chill run down his back. He didn't know exactly why either, but his fine hairs were standing on end.

''You are stepping on something that's is mine. I will say it once let them go, and your death will be less painful.'' Orpheus declared with an expressionless face.

Rufus wrinkled his brows. "Who are you? Kid, I advise you not to poke your nose into our business. We are part of the Vermilion gang. Messing with us is not something you can afford."

"Oh? How scary!" Orpheus was amused and walked forward.

"However, I want to. Furthermore, I think I can afford to deal with your little gang."

Rufus frowned. He could not help but feel uneasy when he saw Orpheus's confidence. Moreover, when he saw Katherina and Stella bowing to him, he knew that this young man accompanied by two beauties he just took notice of was not simple.

After all, Katherina they knew was not a fool. With her prideful personality, she hardly would bow to anyone. So, bowing to the young man meant that the latter identity was not simple and that he had the means to rescue her brother.

"Rufus, what I hate the most is to repeat myself.''

Ralph's expression fell. He tried to use his senses to determine Orpheus's strength, but he saw that this man couldn't be more normal than an ordinary commoner. Such a result made Rufus warier as he would never believe that a man capable of making Katherina submit would be ordinary; it doesn't make any sense.

"… Sir, are you sure you want to make an enemy of the Vermilion gang?"

"Guess," Orpheus replied half-heartedly.

Rufus looked at me and closed his eyes. An instant later, his eyes opened again, this time with a determined expression.

"I see. However, I can't give you the hostages. I'm sorry, but they determine the future of our gang. Even if you are stronger than me, I'll not betray the leader's expectations."

''I see. I commend your dedication. Too bad you happened to be on the other side.'' Orpheus declared, feeling admiration for this man. He knew things weren't looking good for them, but he was still stubborn.

Rufus looked at Orpheus and bowed. "Then, I apologize for being impolite. Men, attack!"

With his shout as the signal, all the men surrounding him charged toward Orpheus.

Lilith and Amber would have liked to help, but their master had ordered them to stay behind and watch. He must have his fun as well.

Orpheus narrowed his eyes with a teasing smile. Before they could take more than two steps forward, he waved his hand.

"Fall." He whispered. But his voice strangely resounded through the place.

The men froze the next instant; then, they fell to the ground one by one like dominos.

Rufus's expression changed. He could not understand what happened neither could the member of the Black Snake gang, not even Lilith and Amber understood what just happened.

Besides seeing Orpheus wave his hand, they failed to notice anything else. However, all the attacking men fell unconscious with their eyes bleeding as if they had seen their worse nightmare before losing consciousness.

Orpheus stopped paying attention to the men as he knew they were incapacitated entirely by the previous move. Instead, he looked at a dark corner near him with a mysterious smile.

The shadow hidden in the darkness was startled. Before it could escape, Orpheus snapped his fingers. Instantly, the shadow felt the space around him becoming incredibly heavy. In less than one second, his bones and muscles could not endure the pressure.

The shadow vomited a mouthful of blood, dying on the spot. The sudden spike in gravity had caused his brain to stop receiving blood and stop working.

"Gerald!" Rufus exclaimed in horror; he didn't know if his friend and guardian were still alive. He then stared at Orpheus in fear. How could someone be this powerful?

He had seen how Orpheus defeated someone as strong as himself instantly, without the slightest effort. How he knocked out more than fifteen men effortlessly, not even their leader, a level 4 origin master, could be able to do this.

Moreover, even now, he could not understand how Orpheus did it.

"Stop!" He shouted and pressed his foot against Katherina's brother's head. "I'll kill him if you don't stop!"

Orpheus's face became colder than ice. "I hate to be threatened the most.''

Rufus paled because, in the next instant, Orpheus was already before him. He instantly tried to put strength on his foot, but for some reason, his body felt strangely light.

The next second, he realized he was flying through the air.

Then, he felt a strong impact against his back.

"Ugh!" Rufus felt his bones breaking from the impact. His internal organs shook due to the extreme pain, and his mouth spat blood.

Then, his consciousness faded away.

"Lucien!" Katherina shouted and rushed towards her brother one second after seeing Orpheus effortlessly take care of the Vermilion gang people.

"Oh my goodness, what happened to you!?"

"… Sister… Don't worry... I-I'm fine, cough, cough."

"Don't move. How could you say that when you keep vomiting blood!" Katherina stopped Lucien from standing up with tears in her eyes and touched his body.

"Oh, goddess of life, please be merciful. Damn Vermilion gang trash! How ruthless!"

Stella, who had followed after Orpheus, looked at Lucien and paled. She could not help but bring her hands to her mouth when she saw how serious his injuries were.

"Brother, brother! Quickly, help us take Lucien to the doctor!" She yelled to the last person that accompanied the group here.

Amber looked at them and sighed; even she could tell this much by looking at him. Lucien's injuries were truly serious, enough to make him a disabled person. Rufus was probably planning to leave him in that state so they could control Katherina and the others more easily by later offering to heal him completely. It was a pretty clever plan. Orpheus thought.

"Let me." Lilith walked towards Lucien and stopped Katherina and the others from moving him. She then put her hand on his chest and closed her eyes.

Stella wanted to say something, but a glance from Katherina silenced her. Although she also was anxious, she was more level-headed than her sister. She knew that if there was a hope of healing her brother completely, it was Orpheus; even if it was Lilith that was trying, it didn't matter because if she were not good, Orpheus wouldn't have let her come forward.

Well, they had no idea that Orpheus was just lazy to act.