Chapter 24: jack.
I sat on the ground, taking a breath.
"If you had a technique, you could finish this fight with half the energy," Reve reminded.
"Yeah, I know, Reve. I just felt like finishing this chapter of my life quickly before starting my training."
I looked around the building. I found some documents and some cash. I took everything.
I also found a very interesting document.
Of a girl that they keep making money from.
I took my phone and dialed the number.
"Hello."
A general voice answered. "Hey, who are you?" she inquired.
"That's not important; what's important is that I had a fight with a gang, I killed everyone, and while looking around, I found a bunch of documents about you, your family, and even the one who made you go through all this," I explained.
She remained silent for a little over a minute. "Wha—what can I do to get them back?" She sobbed.
I sighed, "Nothing; I'm not that kind of guy; just come get them in Windhaven City or tell me where to send them over."
"Thank you, sir. I really appreciate your help. Please, tomorrow I will come to Windhaven City to get them. Can I call the same number, right?" She inquired.
"Yeah, but call me 5 hours before; I'm not that free," I reminded.
"Of course, sir, thank you, thank you," she beamed.
I hung up and took all the documents.
Her name was Hiba Zine; her mother, Latifa Zine, ran from the Maghrebian Empire after offending a big family.
I closed the file after that. I had no interest in knowing more than I needed.
I took everything and headed to the hotel I checked into this morning.
After my shower, I took a pill called "Tempering Forge" that cost me 1 million. It uses the pain you feel to temper the body and make it stronger. When I woke up later that night, I had broken through to the peak of rank 2 with 427 power.
I set up a table in front of the window in my hotel room, placed my sniper, "Dead Eye," on it, and sat down. I observed the people coming in and enjoying themselves at the party. My eyes were scanning the crowd, searching for a big Latino guy - Jack.
He appeared in a fine-quality black suit with a purple shirt and a black tie, mingling with his company while his guards were scattered around.
I waited for the perfect moment. Everyone was having fun, eating, and drinking. Jack was hugging a girl and talking with a friend.
Then it happened - BAM. A hole appeared in the middle of his forehead.
The sudden shot silenced everything but the music. No one knew how or what had happened. In the midst of the chaos, I put on my mask, knowing they wouldn't be able to find my hotel, which was 4 kilometers away from the scene, let alone identify a sniper rifle, a weapon not yet invented in this world.
The fear of the unknown was my weapon, and I intended to use it to my advantage. I ran at full speed toward the party location, with a gun in my belt and my mask on. I stopped 100 meters away, placed a note in an easily discoverable spot, pointed to it for the cameras, and gave a wide smile. Then, I ran, moving from corner to corner, alley to alley, making sure I avoided all the cameras.
Changing my clothes and burning the old ones, I walked to a clothing shop and bought a beautiful casual suit. Finally, I took a taxi back to my hotel.
I called Margaret to update her on the situation. "Hello," she answered.
"Hey, how's everything going?" She add.
"Boss Noah from now on," I teased.
There was a brief silence before she responded, "Alright, boss Noah."
----
Margaret hung up the phone, her hand trembling, and her eyes welled up with tears. She felt a whirlwind of emotions swirling inside her: worry, anger, relief, and deep sadness. The weight of her daughter's safety had hung heavily over her, and now, knowing that this dangerous chapter might finally be closed, the tears flowed uncontrollably.
With trembling steps, she walked out of her room and into her daughter Sofia's. The young girl had been through so much, and now, as a mother, Margaret wanted nothing more than to protect her from the harsh world she had been thrust into.
"Babe, everything went well," Margaret whispered, her voice choked with emotion.
Sofia let out a sigh of relief, but then, as if a dam had broken, she began to sob. Tears streamed down her face as she clutched onto her mother, releasing the pent-up anguish of years of torment.
Margaret's heart ached as she held her daughter tightly, her own tears falling freely. "Please don't hate me, Sofia. I never intended for all of this to happen," she pleaded, her voice filled with desperation and regret.
Sofia remained silent for a moment, her emotions in turmoil. Resentment had built up inside her toward her mother's past recklessness, but seeing Margaret cry like this, Sofia's heart softened.
"It's okay, Mom. I don't hate you," Sofia finally managed to say, her voice trembling with a mix of emotions.
Margaret continued crying, and Sofia hugged her even tighter. Her tears were different now, a mixture of relief and happiness, a release from the pain that had plagued her for so long.
"Big brother is the best thing that happened to us, Mom," Sofia said with a genuine smile, her voice filled with gratitude.
Margaret nodded through her tears. "In just a few days, he managed to change our lives like this. I wish I could repay him."
"I'm his sister. There's no need to repay him. He's like your son," Sofia replied, her voice filled with understanding and affection.
Margaret struggled to process her feelings, her gaze distant. "I still don't know how to feel about it. I can't see him as my child. The more I try, the harder it becomes."
Sofia pondered for a moment before teasing gently, "Maybe when he surpasses you and beats you in a fight, you'll accept the role."
Margaret's expression shifted from a smile to something more serious, a complex mix of emotions. "How can you say that? Are you rooting for him or me?"
Sofia hugged her mother tightly and whispered, her voice soft but filled with unwavering determination, "How can you even ask that, Mother? Of course, I'm rooting for him."
Margaret's initial surprise turned into a mixture of laughter and exasperation. She ruffled Sofia's hair gently. "You little..."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone