Gand recognized Liza''s voice and darted over.


    Debra followed closely behind. As they entered, they saw Liza being approached by a group of sleazy middle-aged men.


    Liza stood out like a beacon in her blue-and-white id skirt, the schoolgirl aesthetic shing sharply with her golden curls that tumbled down her back. She looked every bit like the spoiled princess from a wealthy family. She was utterly out of ce. Debra groaned inwardly, ''Dressing so conspicuously in a ce like this is practically an invitation for trouble. Forget the low-key investigation.''


    "Get lost!" Gand''s voice boomed as he reached Liza.


    Liza spun around, fury shing in her eyes. "They got their hands on me. Chop off their hands. Feed them to the dogs."


    But Gand froze mid-breath, whatever fiery remarks he''d prepared dying in his throat. He noticed how the men''s expressions shifted from slimy to menacing. Liza''s threats might have worked overseas, but in Seamar City, such bold words were a surefire way to provoke a beating or worse.


    Debra stepped forward, trying to defuse the tension. "We''re all here to have fun. It''s not right to bully a girl here."


    The leader of the group nced at her and was immediately attracted to her looks. Though she wore only casual clothes and no makeup, her beauty was undeniable.


    His grin widened into something vile. "Trying to stand up for your friend? Well, if you two keep uspany tonight, we''ll let the matter drop. How does that sound?" Liza''s fury erupted. "Bah! Who do you think you are?"


    Debra''s keen eyes noticed the tattoos on their arms, and sheughed, "So, which one of you touched Liza?"


    A scrawny blond stepped forward. "It was me. What about it?"


    Some other men in the arcade,


    seemingly part of the gang, began to


    rise from their games. The other customers, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, quietly slipped away.


    en


    The employees stood frozen, unwilling to intervene.


    IMS


    Debra swept a nce around the arcade. At least a dozen gang


    members were now involved


    A


    smile deepened as the fish had taken the bait.


    The leader of the group, with a cigarette dangling from his mouth, said, "You must be new here.


    Everyone in Seamar City knows who we are. Mess with us, and the men


    lose their lives. The women entertain us.


    Liza was enraged and intended to p him, but Debra stopped her. "So, you''re kind of a big deal around here, huh?"


    "Damn right," the man chuckled, his gaze dropping to Debra''s lips. "If you make me happy tonight, I might even throw you some cash."


    He reached out to grab her arm, but the doors suddenly burst open.


    A flood of men swarmed in, each carrying an electric baton. Marion emerged, brushing the smoke in front of him.


    "Take them down."


    "Yes, sir."


    The Houston family''s men moved with military precision, quickly overpowering the gang.