85 Concepcion Family (2/2)
”How can you say that?” Hayden questioned with narrowed eyes. ”I mean, I'm a stranger to you. You don't-”
Not finishing his sentence, the crunch of a hand snapping rang in his ears. Its origin? The psychopath not far from them. Succeeding that snap was the sound of electronics crackling. Hayden perceived through his supernatural sense of touch that the internal workings of the cameras were disabled alongside the door's sensor. There was no escape.
”Fucking hell.” Rotating his head to the side, the man was standing up. A gun was pointed right at him. The people who noticed this panicked and shrieked, including the men.
”Hayden Emperador.” The man spoke of his name. ”You shall die by my hands tonight and I shall get my money!”
'Another bounty hunter?' If Hayden wasn't that sure back when he had that encounter with those people on the road, now he was sure. 'Kamay ng Lagim…'
Sitting opposite to him, Ayesha was frozen. She gaped at Hayden with dread. What was happening with the world? First, her father, now…
The man shot Hayden. Reflexively, Hayden moved his head backwards. Following that, he rushed at the nearby coffee table, gripped it at the two legs, and utilized it as a shield.
At least that was what everyone around him saw. Hayden's actions were much calculated than that. First, when he dodged the bullet, he slowed down time in his perception.
He immediately gathered life force in his hands the second he slowed down time. Afterwards, he pre-programmed the life force prior to releasing it out of his skin. The 'program?' It was to increase the chemical bonds of the wooden table in front of him.
This was a technique that he unveiled from his research of Essence Manipulation Arts. That you can pre-program what life force would do even without releasing it or shaping it. The downside is that it was much harder.
He determined that it might come useful someday. And it did. In such a public space, he didn't want to attract attention. Although he grasped that it wouldn't matter as much since there was a man with a gun.
Rushing to the table, Hayden unleashed the life force that throttled on every chemical bonds that held the table together, increasing its strength. That was how the table held up when the man shot at it. Probably with Shojin Steel bullets. Shojin Steel was that common.
Hayden rammed the table on the man's face with enough force to not make him pass out, yet drive him down to the ground. With the force that Hayden inserted into it, the man fell down on his back, the gun flying away from his hands. Hayden held the table down for a while.
Hayden acted fast. Letting go of the table, Hayden flipped it gently with his left hand. Simultaneously, Hayden moved his right hand to choke the man. When the man stretched towards Hayden, he used his remaining hand to swoop both of his hands and restrain it.
”Call security.” Hayden shouted out to the petrified barista. ”Move it!”
Hayden's words woke the male barista up from his daze. You see, all stores in any mall had a button below its counter to call security. Much like olden convenience stores.
In reality, it was solely built for the purpose of a failsafe. The cameras in every shop was equipped with facial identification and AIs to detect threats. Plus, the resolution of current CCTVS were all absurdly high, about 64 megapixels. Yes, that ridiculously high.
Unexpectedly, the man's crazed eyes didn't dissipate. Instead, it became more demented. The sound of crackling electricity originated from the man's hands.
The sparkle of electricity was perceived by the nearby people. Their minds didn't process this due to the trepidation of seeing a gun up-close. Except Ayesha, whose eyes enlarged when she noticed this.
This didn't escape Hayden���s Divine Perception. A thought crossed into mind, 'Is she a wielder as well?'
”You are-” Not letting him finish, Hayden gave him a resounding slap that knocked him out. He wanted to obtain information from this man, but protecting the existence of wielders came first.
Standing up, Hayden ordered loudly, ”Do not panic. The threat has been neutralized. Nobody's in danger. The security has been alerted.”
The crowd recovered from their fear. Well, they were put in their stupor again at the realization of what transpired. They were thunderstruck by Hayden's inhuman reactions and that level of calmness in spite of being embroiled in a near-death situation.
Hayden nodded at the quietness of the surroundings prior to kneeling back to monitor the man. Nobody dared move under the watchful gaze of Hayden.
”The door is locked.” One of the men who wanted to get out informed.
A few seconds later, the sliding glass door opened when the barista activated the failsafe opening. He shouted, ”Please evacuate the premises orderly.”
His shouting roused the those who were still dazed, who all exited the shop upon order. Nobody would want to stay in a shop where a gunman was in.
Hayden turned to Ayesha, shooting her a stare that conveyed, 'What about you? Aren't you going out?'
”I-I…” Ayesha sat there listlessly, unmoving. ”H-how did you do that?”
”Strong instincts for danger.” Hayden had a straight face. ”Reflexes, all that. I train in Krav Maga and Boxing secretly.”
”O-oh.” Ayesha couldn't react. Training was one thing. Enjoying the benefits of fast reflexes was one thing. However, executing it was a whole another thing.
And to keep a serene mindset in such a situation. What kind of dangers has Hayden been in? Meekly, she said, ”A-about the help…”
”Hypothetically, I do help you.” Hayden seized the man's gun, sat back in his chair, and monitored the man in case he moved. ”What's in it for me? I'm a high-school student. I have my life ahead of me. I wouldn't risk my life for a friend, much less someone I just met.”
Ayesha was taken aback of Hayden's sentence. She understood that Hayden was implying that she gives him the land for the price of her father's savior. She was an idiot in studies, she was not stupid when it comes to socializing.
”I'll give you anything you want. I beg you help my dad.” Ayesha pleaded, her eyes watery. ”I'll pass you the land right now if you want. I'll also… Give you my hand in marriage if you want…”
Hayden squinted his eyes at Ayesha. His stare suggested, 'Are you an idiot? That is the worst deal I've heard in my life.'
”No?” Ayesha reddened with embarrassment. Of course such a handsome man wouldn't want me! ”T-then, in addition to the land… Name your price…”
”You're too trusting.” Hayden was disappointed. ”You don't even question how a high-school student will go against an entire mafia organization?”
”I…” Ayesha couldn't let out any words. Hayden was correct. Hayden's display of calmness in the face of death wouldn't be of any use against an entire family of criminals.
”Be thankful that I do have a way.” Hayden sighed. The naivety of this woman was immeasurable. ”And be thankful that I am the one you called. Not some schmuck that will con the hell out of you.”
Why was Hayden willing to save her father? There was free land! And there was the matter of one more reward. It was all worth it.
”How about this.” Hayden said. He ignored the possibility that she was a wielder. That was none of his concerns. ”Only after your father is rescued will you pass the land onto my name. Do we have a deal?”
Ayesha's eyes lit up. The passive confidence behind Hayden's tone was reassuring for her. ”Will you go personally?”
”Why do you ask?” Hayden raised his eyebrows, conveying the message: 'Why do you have to ask? You shouldn't.'
”I'd… Like to risk my life for my father as well!” Ayesha leaned in to Hayden and whispered, ”I have a special power that may be of use.”
”Are you crazy?” Hayden's face scrunched up into a frown. ”You don't talk about that here. Once we get out of this fiasco, let's go someplace private.”
…..
Earlier, 4:30PM. Back in Hayden's neighborhood entrance. Courtney was the first one there instead of Daniel.
She remained in her beautiful lady illusion form, wearing a white shirt that had Bulletproof Squad, the fandom name of TITANIUM, imprinted on the back in silver letters. In front was a big letter Z right on the chest and a picture of Z below that. She wore a pink A-line skirt and a flat peach open-toe sandals.
”Where is he?” Courtney scratched her head.
Soon, Courtney spotted Daniel not far away. He wore simple black jeans and a blue sweatshirt that had a growling tiger print in front.
Courtney waved. As a response, Daniel eyed his surroundings. As if confirming that there was no one around, his figure vanished and rematerialized in front of Courtney.
”Hello.” Daniel's reappearance made Courtney jump. ”That's one of the few basic powers that a wielder holds, superhuman speed. Well, in my case, I can teleport.”
Courtney distinguished that Daniel's irises were peach in color. ”Can I ask… What is your Ability?”
”God's Eyes.” Daniel shifted his eye color into blue and red at the same time. He then generated a water sphere on his right hand, and a ball of fire in his right. This amazed Courtney. ”Yeah, I can do all sorts of stuff. How about you?”
”Spectral Fantasy.” Courtney grinned. ”Basically, realistic illusions.”
Abruptly, their conversation was cut short as innumerous men with casual clothes intercepted them. One of them, a muscular man with a strong jaw and a five o'clock shadow said calmly, ”Today you die, Daniel Luntiang-Dahon!”