Chapter 9:

Negan's Day Out

My Near-Death Is A Blessing!


(While Bai was out training, Negan currently is shopping for more food at the nearby grocery store while awaiting the moment he is called in by Jiia at the Mercenary Association. Negan then picks out fresh quality porkchops along with some vegetables, spices and some cooking ingredients for tonight's dinner.)

"Negan: I wonder, does the kids like porkchops? Hmm... Eh, if they don't, I'll whip up something else for them."

(Negan buys the porkchops and everything else he got as he then notices a female Mercenary entering the store during her day off. She then notices Negan quickly and walks towards him.)

"???: Hey... You're Commander Negan, aren't you?"
"Negan: Don't tell me... Auerbach?"
"Silke Auerbach (German Exchange Mercenary | Power: Radiation Blessing): Haha! Your memory never gets old, no?"
"Negan: Not even for a moment, what brings you to China?"
"Silke: Simple! I joined the Exchange Mercenary Program! I am now one of Hong Kong's Mercenaries for the next three months!"
"Negan: That's quite a surprise to me, I never heard of an exchange program."
"Silke: Pretty sure Commander Jiia emailed you, no?"
"Negan: I'll check it later."

(As the two the leaves the grocery store, they continue to chat.)

"Silke: So you've done some shopping, seems like a lot of food one one individual."
"Negan: Long story short, I'm babysitting two grownups who act like kids."
"Silke: Haha!! Babysitter Negan, on duty!"
"Negan: You're just a childish as the old days, huh?"

(Silke laughed with a blush as she was joyful as ever. Negan was then hit with a chilling reminder of her dark past and believed she could be faking a smile.)

"Negan: How's your sister in Munich?"
"Silke: She's... still doing better! Just.. still sick."
"Negan: I see. I do pray for her health."

(As three vans drifts in the street where Negan and Silke are, the doors slam open as flamethrowers were then fired at the two as one of the commanding attackers ceased their fire as the flame begins dissolving on a black shadowy shield protected by the two and the attackers suddenly noticed the changed attitude on Silke's face.)

"Silke: You pitiful apes plan to ruin my reunion with an old friend of mines?"
"Assailant: Your "friend" there is responsible for interfering in business he never should've heard! So he must die!"
"Negan: Die? Ha. As if it was easy. I'm a killable human yes, but name me one person who ever had the guts to kill me without a second to hesitate?"

(They all were then silent at the disrespectful fact Negan has thrown.)

"Negan: You douchebags genuinely believe one of you can put me down right here? I won't fight with action, I'll use my words instead. Whoever you guys are commanded under clearly must be a fan of the 1800's. I need your leader to understand, we're not in that era anymore and its completely fucked up that you people decided to target a kid."

(They all were suddenly confused.)

"Negan: Oh? Confused are we? Bai Zhen, and correct me if I'm wrong, but you ugly bastards are the Hell Clan that promised "to kill me and Bai." Too bad so sad you cringe Comic-Con virgin bastards won't touch me even in about fifty years by the time I'm on my deathbed."
"Assailant #2: ENOUGH, I'LL KILL YOU MYSELF! NEGAN ZHIHAO!"

(As Negan was then charged at, Silke's anger became far too unstable as she turned her anger into radiation and roasts the charging enemy into smoldered charcoal as the rest of the Hell Clan assailants were then a little terrified.)

"Silke: I'll get rid of them.."
"Negan: No. You sit back gorgeous, I'll give you a show."

(Silke then smiles as if her angered face suddenly vanished. As Negan walked towards the three vans, he'd let himself be circled as he then sheaths his bat and begins fighting bare handed with martial art and bone-crushing techniques as Silke was blushing at Negan's close combat as she was suddenly remembered of his Marine days.)

-Silke's Memory, 8 years ago-

(Silke scoffed at her wounds as she was in a corner and was ready to be killed by an invading party. Suddenly, all six armed solders were killed silently yet brutally as Negan walked to the injured Silke and held his hand out but slaps it away knowing they were enemies.)

"Silke: Reason why you're saving me...?"
"Negan: Is it a crime?"
"Silke: ...Tch. You'll turn me in if you save me."
"Negan: If I was going to turn you in, I would've let them kill you."

(Silke then jumped at Negan's truthful yet harsh words then took his hand for a moment before getting up.)

"Silke: Not a joke...? Right...?"
"Negan: Not a joke, there's your team's medical tent northwest from here, keep walking until you hit the smoldering tree branches."
"Silke: Why are you even helping an enemy..?"
"Negan: ...You're too young to die, for a sixteen year old."
"Silke: ..."
"Negan: Plus, no one's gonna tell me what to fucking do, I'll break any law I want because laws is nothing but a government's tool to further crime rates."

(Silke then blushed in inspiration at Negan as she then returns to reality and watched him finish the remaining clan members.)

-Now-

"Negan: Earth to Silke, you okay?"
"Silke (Lovestruck): Yes...~"
"Negan: Thought you passed on by watching me. Anyway, I can invite you for dinner if you wish to come over.-"
"Silke: PLEASE!"

(Silke quickly perked herself up as the two ignored the gruesome and bloody scene which will be left for the Mercenary Association to clean up. Meanwhile, Xu and Bai was training inside a hidden domain which disconnects from the outside world. Bai was tired and exhausted as he finally unlocked the Nichirin blades but Xu was swinging one of the blades as she mastered the use of the weapon.)

"Xu: Come on Bai, that's 2,950-0. I'm not letting you go until you land one slash with your blessing weapon."
"Bai: It feels like we've been here for days..."
"Xu: This domain we're in actually disconnects itself from time and reality. To tell the truth, you're chronologically old the second you step into this domain. In short, there are no logical restrictions inside this realm so you're practically immortal like me here. Explains why every time I slice and dice you, you regenerate like so."
"Bai: So wait, is regeneration one of my abilities?"
"Xu: It is. I can gift you it once you hit me."
"Bai: Okay, timeout!"
"Xu: Huh?"
"Bai: How long have you been wanting to toy with me?"
"Xu: Toy with you? Bai, you're the one who promised to get stronger. Toying with you is one of the common ways to motivate the protagonist."
"Bai: ...Well, I won't fight that logic."
"Xu: Plus, I believe getting stronger is the primary goal for you. Ghouls are about to strike again and they plan to do an infiltration operation."
"Bai: Huh?! When?!"
"Xu: I don't know, but it's all I can say at the moment. Alright, break's over, lets continue!"

(As Bai and Xu continued training, Silke and Negan was currently having dinner at Bai's house as no one else returned home still.)

"Silke: Whoa.. This is a really nice house...!"
"Negan: The two brats I'm watching had a wealthy mother and father, but they passed a long time ago."
"Silke: I... I'm sorry to hear that..."
"Negan: Yeah, it was upsetting."
"Silke: Was it Ghouls..?"
"Negan: Right on the money too, it was Ghouls."
"Silke: I see... Negan. I despise Ghouls."
"Negan: I know you do, Silke."
"Silke: No... Like, very much. About my sister's health... I lied."
"Negan: Huh?"
"Silke: She... Mein sister was turned into a Ghoul."
"Negan: ...She what..?"
"Silke: I was weak, I couldn't save her in time."
"Negan: ...Your parents...?"
"Silke: She slaughtered my dad, my mother is in a deep coma.."
"Negan: ..."

(Silke began to whimper silently as tears fell down her face.)

"Silke: Negan... From one friend to another, please... I beg of you to put my sister out of her misery.."
"Negan: ..."

(As another week goes by, Bai then returned to classes as his school reopened as Negan then storms to Jiia's office's with a pissed off expression as she expected Negan to arrive.)

"Jiia: Negan."
"Negan: Shut it. I have to talk to you, is it possible to convert a Ghoul back into a human?"
"Jiia: Easier said than done, scientists in China has worked ever since three years ago to try and find a cure for Ghoul infected humans. Still nothing."
"Negan: Tch, humans are just as damn useless as Mercenaries."
"Jiia: I'm sorry you're irritated, okay? I already have my hands full."
"Negan: What do you mean?"
"Jiia: We have four new exchanged Mercenaries from overseas, they are returning soon. And just understand Negan, they are Elite Classed Mercenaries."
"Negan: Is that so...? Whatever, call me when they're here. I'm getting a drink."
"Jiia: Actually, they've been dispatched to eliminate a Ghoul hideout, only Lower A Category Ghouls. Nothing to worry about."
"Negan: Hm... What's the location-"

(The doors suddenly open as the four then returned quicker than expected.)

"???: Yo! Lady Yueja, we're back!"
"Jiia: Ah, excellent work everyone. Negan, these are the four new exchanges."

(Negan turns around to see one female teen-sized Mercenary and three adult-sized male Mercenaries as Negan wasn't the least bit stunned by either. Negan was then approached by the cocky Japanese exchange Mercenary, Kyoi Iena then scoffs at Negan as she expected more from him by his looks.)

"Kyoi Iena (Japan Exchange Mercenary | Power: Psychic Blessing | E.C Mercenary): So. This is Negan Zhihao? Hmph, he looks nothing of what I heard from three years ago, the nerve of you to be in the presence of the strong."

(As Negan didn't bother to show a reaction, a kendo stick swinging, low haircut Jayson was already irritated at Kyoi's attitude.)

"Jayson Kennedy (U.S Exchange Mercenary | Power: Strength Blessing | E.C Mercenary): Give it a damn rest already, you say that to everyone you consider weaker than you!"
"Kyoi: YOU GOT SOMETHING TO SAY ME DILDOHEAD?!"
"Jayson: THE FUCK DID YOU JUST CALL ME?!"
"Kyoi: YOU HEARD ME-"

(As the two continues to argue, the Korean exchange Mercenary, Tan Ye-Jun apologizes to Negan for the commotion.)

"Tan Ye-Jun (Korean Exchange Mercenary | Power: Muscle Blessing | E.C Mercenary): Please excuse these two, they've been at each other's throats all day."
"Negan: I can tell... So those two are Kennedy and Iena, you must be Ye-Jun and... who's that?"

(Negan then points to a headphone wearing adult who radiates a dangerous source of power but is listening to music.)

"Tan Ye-Jun: That is Cailean Gallach, the Scottish Exchange Mercenary. He's not much of a talker but he's pretty strong... Apparently, he doesn't have a Blessing or a Curse, theory holds he's a Spirit user."
"Negan: Is that so...?"
"Jiia: Ahem...! Now that we're all acquainted, we have-"

(Alarms were going off as a Category SS Ghoul was in a nearby area. As Negan and the four Mercenaries hears the announcement, areas were shutdown as an erupting earthquake awakens the ground and destroys a large portion of a residential area in the southwest areas of Hong Kong.)

"P.A System: WARNING! A Category SS Ghoul has been located, destruction percentage to Hong Kong: 4% - High Class and higher Mercenaries are to be dispatched, please evacuate immediately!"

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