--MANGA TRANSLATIONS--
--TRIGUN MAXIMUM CHAPTER 40--

Printed in Young King Ours, May 2001
Translation by sumire

Page 151

Legato narrates his flashbacks.

Legato (thinks): At first, I thought I'd simply torture and kill him for fun.
I made a game of it.
That was to be his punishment for blowing away half of my master's body.
But...

Vash (in flashback): From this moment on... You are my target!

Legato (thinks): ...something was very wrong.
It was the first time anyone had ever said such a thing to me.
After all, no one had ever survived that long.

Page 152

Knives squishes Legato.

Knives (in flashback): Who said you could kill him!? Scum...

Legato (thinks): That presence, standing in between Master Knives and myself.
That coin case--a gimmick I had added just for fun--began to take on meaning.
No--it may already have been fated.
If he gathers all the coins... Just if...

Page 153

Legato has a new box. He hangs suspended before Elendira.

Elendira: Honestly...
It's amazing that you're still alive.
　
Elendira: You know, the Gung-Ho-Guns were originally Master Knives' army.
To use them for your own self-satisfied little display...

Legato is silent.

Elendira: Your eyes are saying that you alone are enough to serve him.
In both body and mind?
　

Page 154

Elendira: ...However, I can't deny it.
The fact that you alone haven't been given a number... is proof enough.

Elendira throws his drink in Legato's face.

Elendira: Sorry about that.
But if I don't do something, I think I really might try to kill you.

Legato drips.

Legato: You... are lacking in every way.
He needs something more overwhelming.
All the obstacles that flow with the swells of fate--

Page 155

Legato: --they anger me! To no end!
Everything is dwarfed by the magnitude of my devotion.

His eye stares wide.

Elendira: All right, all right, I get it.
Anyway, those poor homicidal maniacs you're going to give your coins to so they can go make the inevitable for you--just what are their names?
Since someone is hanging from the ceiling, I'm the one who has to go meet them.

Legato: The "Eye of Michael" is sending two of them. "Double Fang." And "Trip of Death."

Page 156

A compound stands carved out of the rock beneath a towering wreck of a ship.

Boy: Wow... It really exists.

Page 157

A boy rides on a motorcycle behind a hulking giant with two huge tusks.

Boy: The three towers... A fallen ship reaching into the sky like a castle.
That's got to be it.
So. What's that?

Page 158

Dozens of armed men stand guard over the gate to the compound, their guns pointed at the visitors.

Old man: Go back!
As you can see, we will not let you pass.

Page 159

Boy: What's up, Gramps? You the gatekeepers?

Old man: ...No... We are just those who have cast off the world to follow Him.
He does not deign to acknowledge our presence, but...
We live here in the hope that we might somehow be of use to him.
Boy: Heh. How pathetic.
The words of the small fry.
I may weep.
It's just that you can't stand letting anyone even weaker than yourselves meet him, isn't it?

He removes a tube from his bandolier and injects it into his collar.

Page 160

Suddenly, the boy blows up to the size of his partner, who draws two huge guns.

Boy: I've got plenty of references.
I'll show you. So give me all you've got.

Meanwhile, inside.

Elendira: The Eye of Michael, huh.
They sure are late.

Page 161

Legato: Apparently, there's been some internal conflict within the organization.
There's probably been a change in leadership.
They're a special case...
Instead of individuals,
they hold the equivalent of three slots within the Gung-Ho-Guns.

We see a shadowy assembly of cross-toting, dangerous-looking types.

Legato: The organization was founded by one of the higher-ups in the church of Plant-worshipers.
They have always provided Knives with top-class contract killers.
I hear these two are the best.

Page 162

The front gate stands demolished, all Knives' hangers-on apparently dead.

?: Honestly, what a spectacle.
Killing like there's no such thing as moderation.

The motorcycle speeds on over the bridge towards the towers.

Page 163

Boy: There's no getting losing this smell of blood, is there.
If we were in town, people would probably be fainting left and right.
What a place. It's oozing with evil.

They enter a dark hall.

Page 164

Giant: ....?

Boy: Ah, nothing.
I just got a feeling like someone was watching us.
Maybe there are still some survivors.

Giant: .....

Boy: "Concentrate on what's ahead of us instead?" I know, I know.
Those guys outside were nothing compared to the folks who live here.
Anything could hap--

Page 166

Boy: --pen...

The giant suddenly vanishes.

Boy: Huh?

Page 167

The driverless bike goes crashing. The boy jumps clear.

Boy: The enemy!?
It can't be--!
How could they get him on a speeding bike!?
He--Joe Tooth--
He weighs over 150 kilograms!
This is... This could only be the work of...

Page 168

Boy: OGRE!

A cross-wielding, skull-faced demon looms behind him.

Page 169

Splatter.

Elendira, touching up his lipstick, turns from the mirror.

Elendira: Looks like I don't need to go meet them.

Legato: Ah, it's you.
"Double Fang." "Trip of Death."

Page 170

It is a middle-aged? man in a wheelchair. He and his three masked, hunchbacked henchmen all carry wrapped crosses like Wolfwood's.

Trip of Death: I apologize for my late arrival, Master Legato.

Page 171

Legato: I hadn't heard that you'd be bringing an entourage.

Trip of Death: Forgive me for my presumptuousness.

Legato: We have so many visitors today.
It seems a few rats crept in with you.
Trip of Death: Yes...
It's hardly a worthy display of our ability,
but Double Fang caught them.

Someone approaches from behind him.

Pages 172-173

Double Fang has a shock of white(?) hair, a demonic skull half-mask, and two large crosses mounted on his arms. He is dragging the bodies of the boy and Joe Tooth.

Trip of Death: Does it meet with your favor?

Page 174

Legato: A halfhearted display of skill...
...sometimes leads to terribly unfortunate results.
I'm afraid I must have all witnesses leave here.
Now... Thank you for coming such a great distance.

Legato opens his mouth wide.

Legato: You two are the last.

He extends his abnormally long, tapered tongue, offering two coin halves.

Legato: ...Take them. And seize your destiny.

To be continued next issue...

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