Part 1.6

Part 1.6

In the months after the incident with Peakey, both Kennedy and Sandra warmed up to me.

By warming up, I mean that she would walk between Sandra and me.

Let me explain why that was the best-case scenario for me.

They trust me, and if anything happens, they would never suspect me.

That level of trust then spills over to their people.

Because Kennedy likes me, I have her daddy’s support whenever I need it.

My good mood was ruined when Kennedy and Marky wanted to go to The Hole in the Wall.

Last time, I did get a lot of information from the patrons and their bodyguards.

Too bad almost none of it was of any use to my plans.

I could, however, keep the data in reserve for the future.

The only part I didn’t like was the fitting.

That shit is annoying.

Why not just scan the guards and fit the übers?

I’m sorry, I got off topic there.

As I was saying, we were back at the Hole, and this place was just as ‘exotic’ as I remembered.

It was also one of the few places where bodyguards can roam freely.

Being off the leash is a good feeling.

Having a few minutes to myself would be a treat, but that treat was disrupted by Sandra.

She nodded to the bar, and I followed her.

When I sat down next to her, she had already ordered two drinks.

I held up my hand.

“I can’t, Sandra. I’m on duty.”

She chuckled and lit a cigarette.

“Don’t worry about it. Both are for me.”

With a half-smile, I ordered a latte with a lot of sugar.

At first, we both just sipped our drinks, but after a minute, she broke that silence.

“I have to say, you are a strange guy. You sounded noble in the beginning, and I waited for the mask to slip. So far, I am pleasantly surprised.”

I gave her a genuine smile.

“Thank you for the compliment, but I am not the great guy you think I am. I have done some bad things.”

She chuckled again and lightly punched me in the shoulder.

“That’s what I mean. Even though you say shit like that, I know I can trust you.”

For the duration of our drink, we shared stories.

Hers were more straightforward than mine.

Because hers were true, and mine were approximations, I had searched for what Milton’s unit did in the war.

Did you know that Milton’s unit managed to get behind enemy lines and cut the Tsingy de Bemaraha Suspension Bridge?

If that sounded too good to be true, it is, but Sandra ate that shit up.

As we were talking, Sandra put out her cigarette and motioned for me to follow.

Marky was yelling at another guy, and I couldn’t make out a word.

Behind the guy was none other than our sword-wielding friend.

Around that moment, I heard what the argument was about.

“My guy beat this asshole without breaking a sweat. Just accept it!”

Marky noticed me in his peripheral vision and pointed at me.

“Ask him yourself!”

I tried to scan the new guy, but he didn’t have any implants, except for the signal.

I can cut it, but I can't gain any info from it.

Normally, assholes like Marky have at least their ID implanted.

This new player had the only true security; colour me impressed.

As an alternative, I scanned Miyamoto again.

He had another upgrade.

In his other hand, he had a spike underneath the palm.

What a sneaky fucker, he was prepared for another fight.

I also managed to get some info about his new employer.

Winston Churchill Bush.

I had no idea who this clown was, and he was antagonising Marky.

Normally, I wouldn’t mind, but I had to fight his battles.

While I was working on a strategy, Marky walked to the arena.

I followed him, and I didn’t even listen to the announcer this time.

The new guy said that Miyamoto wouldn’t use his sword, and Marky was happy.

I wasn’t, because the dumbass had a fucking spike in his arm.

The only reprieve was that I could take some of my anger out on him.

I knew this was going to suck.

The first thing I did was deactivate the Chitin Armour’s ability to seal.

The second thing I did was keep my scanning on so I would know when he would lunge.

Upgrades have a short delay, and I could move accordingly.

I took up a boxing stance; there was a good reason for that.

Because as he lunged, I took a step back, and I ‘luckily’ raised my left arm.

The spike went right through my forearm, and half an inch of the spike penetrated my chest.

The force was enough to throw both of us out of the ring.

As he pulled out his weapon, I managed to grab his wrist and move out from underneath him.

With a small smile, I pinned his elbow to the ground with my knee and pulled up.

Before the snap, the greatest swordsman from New Edo was screaming and begging.

You don’t get that right when you try to kill me.

As my final act as his opponent, I grabbed his limp, spiked arm and stabbed him through the neck.

The pain in my arm and chest was really bad, but nothing I couldn’t handle.

To sell that it was bad, I took a few steps and stumbled.

I was pleasantly surprised when Sandra helped me stand.

What really surprised me was that Kennedy walked up to Bush.

“He couldn’t win even when you cheated. It seems that the dog was just as useless as his master.”

I would have just called him a cocksucker, but that seemed to have worked.

The new guy just stormed off, and after a brief glance my way, Kennedy left.

Marky, on the other hand, undeterred by my injuries, just did a small dance and yelled.

“My guy’s a fucking killer!”

At least Sandra took me outside to the car, where I could get patched up.

She kept a small medical station in the back of the car.

It had medication, bandages and a suturing kit.

Sandra started picking out needles and various drugs, and I needed her gone.

I didn’t want her to see that the skin was thicker than it should be.

I smiled as I took the needle from her.

“I got this, take care of the kids. Thanks for the help.”

I took the needle and sutured myself as she went back into the club.

She didn’t need to help me, but I appreciated it.

Sandra was alright.