Chapter 117: Advanced Payment (1/2)
The Cavaliers waved their goodbyes to the Wise One, Vincent, and then proceeded to exit his detached house.
The entire group was silent all the way, but when Calvin was about to enter the carriage.
He paused, and suddenly asked a question to Ron Samuel who was holding the handle and was about to hop onto the carriage, ”Sir, I still have a question...”
”What is it?”
”What happens when I fail to become one of you, and can I really join your ranks? As you can see, sir. I am nothing but a cripple. I may have survived that supernatural activity, but the person who possessed me might have just disdained from killing me when he saw how miserable I look...”
”My right arm is severely injured, and my right eye is missing... No matter how you look at it, I'm a disabled man that can't possibly be useful...”
The Cavaliers turned to look at Calvin in sympathy.
But they didn't say anything for they knew that there were a lot of benefits being a Cavalier.
Ron Samuel stared at him and said, ”Do you have an inferiority complex or something?”
Calvin almost keeled over upon hearing Ron Samuel's words, ”N-No... I'm just stating the facts, sir... I'm a realist.”
”Oh?” Ron Samuel faintly nodded, ”Then, in that case. You don't have to worry about anything. When one becomes a Predator, I don't think that they should be even called human anymore.”
”Wha... What do you mean, sir?” Calvin's face immediately paled. For him, abandoning humanity was the same as becoming a monster. Calvin didn't want to become a monster.
”Hehehe... Are you scared? It's not that scary, to be honest. What I mean is that your wounds would heal faster than an average human. Your reflexes and senses would be heightened. You'd gain a considerable amount of strength, and your stamina would also increase. Becoming a Predator is similar to becoming a superhuman...”
”Do you understand what I mean?” Ron Samuel asked.
Calvin nodded his head.
That wasn't so bad...
He thought.
But the very next words that came out of Ron Samuel's mouth made him rethink his next course of action.
”As for what will happen if you fail to become one of us and pass through the initiation ritual.”
”Heh...” Ron Samuel gave a foreboding laugh, ”Let's talk about that in the coffee shop. Come inside, it's so cold out here.” He gestured to the stunned Calvin and seeing that the Cavaliers were already hopping into the carriage...
He had no choice but to comply.
Inside the carriage.
Ashlynn once again stuck closer to Calvin and said, ”So the reason why you're not that attractive to me is that you already have a wife? Is she more beautiful than me?” Her tone of voice was inviting and coquettish enough that Bruce couldn't help but audibly comment.
”You homewrecker!”
He whispered and a sharp pain immediately assaulted his waist as Ashlynn slammed her elbow on his side.
He didn't dare to say anything anymore after having learned his lesson.
Calvin gave a bitter smile.
He really couldn't understand why Ashlynn was still going after him despite knowing that he had a family to take care of.
”I know what you are thinking... You must be thinking that I must be such a slut, right? But nope... I may be like this, but I'm still an innocent maiden. A land touched by no one, an island visited by no man...” Ashlynn winked at Calvin and the bitterness on his face intensified.
”Yes... You do look beautiful, Miss Ashlynn...” Calvin couldn't help but feel a sense of deja vu.
”Oh, really? Am I more beautiful than your wife?”
”O-Of course, not...”
”Oh...?” Ashlynn raised her eyebrow and a threatening aura came out of her body.
”I-I suppose...?” Calvin gave a pained reply.
”In that case, then it's all good...”
Ashlynn revealed a smile that looked as if she was a child that had her requests fulfilled.
”Sigh...” Calvin let out a sigh.
Fortunately, his suffering didn't continue anymore for the carriage had already arrived at the Center Borough.
The group alighted from the carriage and proceeded towards the Captivating Fragrance Coffee Shop. Calvin's jaw almost slammed onto the ground when he saw the prices listed on the signages outside.
”A cup of freshly-brewed coffee costs ten Joselian Pesos?” Calvin softly uttered.
”What? It does?!” Ashlynn exclaimed in shock.
She glanced at the signage and then turned to look at Ron Samuel, ”Did you change the prices again, Captain? How can we do any business if you keep on increasing the prices like this?”
Ron Samuel shrugged, ”Well, inflation exists, you know? We've got to keep our prices competitive.”
The Cavaliers and Calvin didn't know what to say hearing Ron Samuel's words.
It was obvious that he had no intention whatsoever in doing any business.
This Coffee Shop was just a front.
The important part was what lurked behind this front.
The group entered the Coffee Shop and James Branzuela immediately locked the doors and shut the curtains. Since it was currently high noon, the rays of the sun could still somehow penetrate the curtains. But it was still incredibly dark inside the house.