Chapter 12: Surprise Guest #12
In the small office on the warehouse's second floor, I paced back and forth, my heart pounding in my chest. The dim light from the single flickering bulb overhead cast long, unsettling shadows on the walls. My mind was a whirlwind of panic and confusion.
I couldn't shake the image of Carlo's terrified face as I yanked the arrow from his shoulder and twisted his finger until he cracked. The reality of what I'd done weighed heavily on me.
Vito appeared, leaning casually against the wall, his presence as unnervingly calm as ever. "I didn't think you had it in you," he said with a chuckle. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were one of those ruthless mafiosos from the old country."
I stopped pacing and took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. Vito's banter, oddly enough, had a calming effect on me. "I've watched a few movies," I replied, my voice shaky but regaining some composure. "Even took some acting classes."
Vito raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. "Acting classes? Really?" he mocked. "And here I thought you were all about living the thug life."
I snapped at him, my frustration boiling over. "We can't all be psycho thugs like you, Vito. Some of us have simple dreams and ambitions, such as making a lot of money and being famous."
Vito's expression softened slightly, a rare moment of almost genuine curiosity. "What happened to that dream of yours?" he asked.
I sighed, slumping into the worn-out office chair behind the desk. "I grew out of it," I said quietly. "Unlike you."
Vito shrugged, his smirk returning. "Fair enough," he said. "But you did pretty well back there. Carlo's scared out of his mind."
"Yeah, well it's a good thing I did. As it turns out Carlo's wife wasn't the only one who knew he was coming to the warehouse," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. "After seeing the Nitehawk, Carlo came clean and called his wife and everyone else who knew. He told them something urgent came up and he had to leave town."
Vito's eyes gleamed with amusement. "Good. Less loose ends to worry about."
I couldn't help but chuckle, despite the tension. "You're twisted, you know that?"
Vito laughed, the sound echoing in the small office. "I'm as much a part of you as that arm you used to break Carlo's finger, John. You're every bit as twisted... well, you will be sooner or later..."
I leaned back in the chair with a sigh, the weight of the situation settling over me. Vito's presence, for all its quirks and annoyances, was starting to feel almost... reassuring. It was strange, but in this chaotic new reality, his humor and almost certainly unfounded confidence were something to hold onto.
"Alright... we're definitely not discussing that. Not now." I said, taking another deep breath. "Time to get to work..."
...
After a few hours, the transformation of the warehouse was nothing short of miraculous. The exterior still bore the marks of neglect—cracked windows, rusted metal, and faded paint—but inside, it was a hive of activity, a bustling microcosm of industry and life.
Using the wristwatch's advanced technology, I had constructed a Pal Box, linking it seamlessly to the one in my original base on Palbagos Island. This connection allowed for the transportation of essential resources, which I used to erect a variety of structures.
Simple furniture now adorned what had been an empty space, crafting stations were set up for various projects, small berry plantations sprang to life, and even a ranch appeared for livestock.
The logging site and the stone pit were marvels in themselves. These constructs provided an endless supply of wood and stone, essential materials for our operations. Pal creatures—loyal, hard-working beings from Palbagos—worked tirelessly, some tending to the plantations, others mining stone or logging trees.
Occasionally, they would take a break to soak in the hot spring, a simple yet luxurious circular bath tub with steaming water.
Watching these structures and creatures appear from seemingly thin air was a surreal experience. Carlo was beside himself, eyes wide and mouth agape as he observed the strange happenings. His earlier bravado had vanished, replaced by a mix of awe and disbelief.
"What... what the hell is all this?" Carlo finally managed to ask, his voice trembling.
I smiled, feeling a sense of pride at the transformation. "This, Carlo, is the future. My future."
He shook his head, trying to make sense of it all. "How is this even possible? What are those things?"
"Those 'things' are Pals," I explained, my tone patient. "They're from a place Palbagos Islands, and they help me with everything I need. Consider them my workforce."
Carlo blinked, clearly struggling to process what he was seeing. "And all of this... it came from that box?"
I shrugged my shoulders at him. "More or less..." I said. "Look, I'd love to stay and chat, but I've got somewhere I need to be..." I went on, turning toward the Pal Box.
Carlo called out, unable to contain his curiosity as he shot a barrage of questions at me, but I simply ignored him as I touched the Pal Box, navigating to the fast travel function.
Vito appeared beside me with a strange expression on his face. "You know that running away from reality won't help you, right?"
I sighed, giving him an exasperated look. "I'm not running away from reality. I just need to check on my base since I've been away for some time now... besides, that world is a reality of his own..."
Vito shook his head, giving me a disapproving look. "Magically appearing structures that generate infinite materials, weird little creatures that can cut stone with their hands... yeah, that reality doesn't scream real scream real." He trailed off with a grimace.
"I understand that the other world seems more alluring with its game-like and beautiful scenery where you don't have to worry about much of anything, but you shouldn't let yourself get swept by it...."
I scoffed at him. "Come off it, will you? I'm just checking on my base!"
...
As I appeared back in my base on Palbagos Island, the first rays of the rising sun bathed the landscape in a golden hue. I took a deep breath, savoring the crisp, fresh air that stood in stark contrast to the stale, polluted atmosphere of the city. The base looked the same as always, a testament to the enduring stability of this place.
Yet, it felt different—quieter, less lively. I had allocated a significant number of Pals to the new base in Marvel World, leaving just enough here to keep things operational and the remaining Pals fed.
Vito materialized beside me, his presence as familiar as ever. "Looks a bit empty, doesn't it?" he muttered. "You should catch a few more Pals to get things rolling again."
I nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I'll need to grab a few things from my chest in the house to make some Pal Spheres before heading out."
With a sense of purpose, I walked towards the simple log cabin I had built when I first arrived on the island.
The wooden structure stood sturdy and welcoming, a symbol of my hard work and survival. I pushed open the door and stepped inside, heading straight for the wooden chest at the base of my bed. But as I approached, I froze.
There, soundly sleeping in my bed, was a woman. Her presence was unexpected and startling. I took a closer look and recognized her immediately—the same expedition survivor I had met near the great eagle statue. She was still clad in her strange metallic armor, looking oddly peaceful amidst the rustic surroundings.
Vito appeared beside me, his eyes fixed on the woman. "Well, I definitely didn't see this one coming," he remarked, his tone a mix of surprise and amusement.
I sighed, a mix of frustration and curiosity bubbling within me. Carefully, I took out my gun and nudged the woman with its barrel to wake her up. Her eyes fluttered open, and she smiled at the sight of the gun pointed at her face, completely unfazed.
"Took you long enough to get back," she said, her voice calm and steady.
"What are you doing here, lady?" I demanded, lowering the gun but keeping it ready just in case.
She stretched lazily, sitting up in the bed. "Name's Elena, not lady," she replied. "I came to have a few words with you, but you were gone. Thought this was as good a place as any to wait... Vito, right?"
...
Want more chapters? Then consider subscribing to my pat rēon. You can read ahead for as little as $1 and it helps me a lot!
-> (pat rēon..com / wicked132)
You can also always come and say hi on my discord server
-> (disc ord..gg / sEtqmRs5y7)- or hit me up at - Wicked132#5511 - and I'll add you myself)
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone