Chapter 49 - M.D.B 49: Night Raid into Stark Industries (1/2)
Chapter 49: Night Raid into Stark Industries
Although Saint couldn't wait to rush into Stark Industries immediately, he had to be cautious. He decided to wait until it gets dark. After all, armed guards should be all over that area, and it would be almost impossible to avoid them in daylight.
After reaching Hell's Kitchen in the cab, Saint went straight to Colleen's dojo; he could head straight home. While the two practically talked daily on the phone, there were still some things that are must be done in person…
While he wanted to surprise her, Saint was the one to get startled; after he knocked on the Dojo's door, the one to open the door was actually Loran!
It wasn't just the fact that she was the one to open the door that ”shocked him. In fact, Lorna he found before him was drastically different from the one he left: Not only was the black hair dye washed off her hair now green hair, her usually plain outfit was also changed into a dark tone-dominated style. The moment Saint saw her, he even felt as if he had crossed space and time, with the 18-year old girl before him transforming into her future Polaris self! It was… a bit scary actually!
”Boss? You're back!”
Lorna also showed a surprised expression. After over 20 days, it seemed like her grudge against her boss had faded, and that things, at least on the surface, had gotten back to normal!
”I just arrived.” Saint said in a dull voice, pointing to Lorna's head: ”When did you stop dying your hair?”
Lorna unconsciously picked up a strand of her hair, looking at it and murmuring: ”Is it not good?”
”It is good; I just need to get used to it!” Saint shrugged as he walked into the door; ”Where's Colleen?”
”…”
Lorna remained silent, as if she had some bad thoughts, and then said as if trying not to: ”Bathroom.”
”…”
Saint remained silent, looking away from both the bathroom and from Lorna's eye-catching green hair. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't keep the image of what he accidentally saw that morning off his mind…
By the time the Dojo's door was locked, Colleen left the bathroom to save him from a rather awkward situation. After Lorna nodded to tell her she'll be going, she went to the locker leaving her alone with Saint.
Colleen nodded to Lorna, and went straight toward Saint. However, she didn't show the surprise that he expected. She just said to him coldly: ”You're back? I'm really busy right now; you should have called ahead of time!”
”It was to give you… a surprise….” Saint's weak voice was full of frustration. He looked at Colleen's white exercise wear and then back to her eyes and wondered: ”Are you teaching Lorna right now?”
Colleen nodded, almost laughing at herself: ”Now, she's the only one I'm teaching…”
”There's nothing wrong with your choice to close the Dojo! You want to protect your students, and that's the only way! Don't be discouraged; you can still get everyone back when you destroy 'The Hand'!” Saint reached for Colleen's hands to comfort her.
”Huh, you make it sound so easy…” Colleen put her head on Saint's ċhėst and sighed: ”The students I've taught before are now part of 'The Hand'; wouldn't that mean I'll have to destroy them as well?”
As Saint heard Colleen and shook his head: ”There's no need to go so far! Just kill the head, and the whole thing would no longer exist.”