Chapter 18: Chapter 18: We're Friends
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"Um, excuse me, were you the ones who saved my daughter?" Robbins asked uncertainly as he served them juice.
Regardless of how it seemed, rescuing someone from those merciless beasts by two children barely older than Vera felt utterly improbable. Logically, Robbins believed his daughter had simply gotten lost and these kind strangers brought her home. But how did they know where to find him? Could it be that the safe house's location was already common knowledge in town, despite his belief that it was well-hidden?
The more he pondered, the more unsettling it became.
"Yes! It was definitely me!" Kiana proudly lifted her chin, patted her chest, and picked up her glass of juice.
"Dunk! Dunk! Dunk!"
Zeke glanced at the juice, silently noting how well-stocked this safe house was. Nonchalantly, he said, "What you really want to ask is how we knew you were here, right?"
Robbins' expression froze.
Zeke crossed one leg over the other, resting his cheek on one hand while tapping his fingers lightly on the table with the other.
"Robbins Crowe, male, 38 years old, height 187 cm, weight 167 lbs, born in... Your household consists of three main members; two of them are present here now, so there's no need to elaborate further. Three months ago, your net worth was $2 billion, and currently, you have $80 million left. The account number and password are..." Zeke continued, "You enjoy boxing and golf, with your strongest punch this year recorded at..."
"The most recent medical check-up was four months ago, overall good health, but slightly elevated blood pressure. The doctor advised you to get more sleep and consume more fruits and vegetables... Hmm, how should I put it? Instead of asking how I knew your whereabouts, you might as well ask me what there is about you that I don't already know."
"Just who are you?!"
In an instant, Robbins swiftly scooped up Vera with one arm while reaching under the table for his gun with the other hand, pointing it directly at Zeke.
This sudden turn of events startled both Kiana and Vera.
Vera shrank into her father's embrace, while Kiana tugged at Zeke's sleeve.
"Zeke, don't..."
"Adults are talking; children shouldn't interrupt," Zeke said mildly, his cold gaze compelling Kiana to obediently stay seated.
Unlike their scuffle last night, Zeke was now conducting serious business and couldn't be interrupted—Kiana keenly understood this, so she could only give Vera a discreet apologetic look.
As Robbins observed the bruises on Zeke's and Kiana's faces, it seemed to jog his memory. He suddenly exclaimed with realization:
"I remember now! I've indeed heard about a special unit within the national intelligence agency that recruits orphans for training! Those injuries on your faces, they must have been from such training, right? Are you here for my money? No, wait—you already know my account details and passwords, making it easy to transfer funds at will. What exactly do you want? Explain clearly... Could it be—for Vera? Absolutely not! I'll never let Vera become someone like you!"
Zeke remained silent, sighing internally at Robbins' wild imagination. It felt as though the script had slightly veered off course from what he had planned.
"It has nothing to do with what you're thinking. I'm acting solely on my own behalf. I approached you because I need a competent person to work for me, nothing more. If you agree, you can achieve vengeance, protect your daughter, and regain your former glory. Conversely, consider this: by boldly bringing this child here with us, do you really believe those pursuing hounds won't catch your scent?"
Robbins's pupils contracted.
Indeed, with his daughter appearing so conspicuously at the door, how could it escape the eyes of those pursuers? It's over—the safe house is completely exposed now. Next, where should he run with Vera?
No, the first issue to address was:
"Who exactly are you?" Robbins repeated the question once more.
The young boy before him seemed eerie no matter how Robbins looked at him, leading him to speculate about some dark secrets hidden behind Zeke's facade.
Zeke shrugged nonchalantly and replied, "Nobody. Just an insignificant nobody."
"What kind of joke is this?"
"Does my identity really matter? As you've said, I already know your account and password, allowing me to effortlessly access 8 billion dollars with a wave of my hand. But what's the point? How many times would I have to repeat such actions, and how much time and effort would it take to turn 8 billion into 80 billion, then 800 billion? However, having you changes everything. All I need to do is sit back, occasionally helping you resolve extraordinary issues, and billions will steadily flow into my hands. Recognize your value, Robbins. In the 21st century, talent is the most precious commodity!"
Zeke spoke calmly as the light cast upon him, creating a long shadow behind him. This scene resembled that of a mastermind villain manipulating hearts from the shadows.
Robbins felt his heart tighten.
Despite his lingering doubts, Zeke's composed demeanor, as if everything were under control, made him believe just a little bit.
"I..."
"Time is running out, and my patience has its limits. Remember, you're not the only one with your skills. You have approximately... three minutes left. If you don't respond by then, I'll be forced to watch helplessly as both you and your daughter perish under those hounds' claws."
"I accept your offer! As long as you can help us against those beasts, I'll do anything for you!" Robbins gritted his teeth, determined.
There was no time for alternative plans; just as Zeke had warned, the hounds were closing in. He had to either trust Zeke or face certain death.
Robbins chose to gamble, betting on his own perceived value and on Zeke possessing extraordinary abilities.
"Deal."
Zeke nodded, satisfied.
Of course, he didn't expect such a brief exchange to instantly secure a loyal subordinate. The next step would involve showcasing his power.
"Kiana, fancy demonstrating some of Kas...your Marksmanship Arts? Didn't you boast to me about being the world's best?"
"I...are we going to kill people?" Kia hesitated, asking cautiously.
Kiana hesitated, having grasped the gist of their conversation. She understood that they were about to confront the villains threatening Vera and her daughter.
Yet despite this, she believed killing was wrong. Kiana felt resistant, much like that night in Mondstadt when she only assisted Zeke without causing any actual harm to anyone's life.
Zeke silently regarded her for a moment before saying, "It's your choice."
Then, he walked out of the room.
Outside, morning sunlight illuminated the snow-covered white town, creating an ethereal, dreamlike atmosphere.
Zeke sighed softly.
Yes, he hoped Kiana would learn ruthlessness, even become somewhat wicked, just not remain as vulnerable as before, leaving herself open to being hurt.
Ultimately, though, it was Kiana's own life, and the choices had to be hers alone. What if she didn't want to change? What if, despite knowing the risks, she still preferred to be that kind-hearted, innocent Kiana loved by so many?
The hounds arrived swiftly.
In cities with stricter law enforcement, no criminal gang would dare commit such brazen acts of violence before nightfall.
But Uluru Town was different.
This region had complex political dynamics, and the legitimate government's control was extremely weak.
In this small town, even if someone witnessed a swift attack followed by a quick departure, who would dare investigate afterward? Who would be willing to probe further? And could they withstand the relentless suppression from the shadows?
Prosperity and stability have never been synonymous.
Take, for instance, the beacon nation known for its freedom: despite its advanced economy, people wouldn't casually venture out after dark, and even during daylight hours, fatal shootings were alarmingly common.
The attacking force comprised around ten to twenty individuals, armed only with ordinary handguns—no machine guns or rocket launchers in sight.
It made sense; their firepower was sufficient to deal with Vera and her father. Overequipping would not only waste money but also increase the risk of exposure.
However, against Zeke, now transformed fundamentally, these dozen-odd handguns were mere scrap metal.
Hidden in the shadow of a wall corner, Zeke cast a brief glance, instantly assessing all the data at hand. With unwavering precision, he drew his dual pistols.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
In the blink of an eye, seven or eight men in the front ranks collapsed.
Those behind swiftly returned fire amidst the cacophony of bullets.
To Zeke, invisible trajectories materialized before his eyes amid the dense barrage.
Though he couldn't yet clearly track individual bullets, pinpointing the muzzles and barrels' positions was effortless. With his brain's analytical capabilities, determining their trajectory and evading them became as simple as answering a multiple-choice test with all the correct answers memorized—it couldn't get any easier.
Zeke emerged from the shadows, taking just a few agile steps to effortlessly survive the retaliatory round without sustaining a scratch. Simultaneously, his dual pistols never ceased firing.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
A series of agonizing screams followed, and within another blink, the once formidable group had been reduced to a single survivor—his fingers broken, gun clattering to the ground. He cried out despairingly:
"Impossible! Devil! You're a devil!"
The last remaining figure broke down, fleeing frantically, having clearly lost his sanity during this brief encounter.
Zeke lowered his hands.
"Bang!"
Suddenly, the running silhouette crumpled to the ground.
It wasn't Zeke who fired that shot.
He turned around to see Kiana standing at the entrance, her lips tightly pursed, face pale as she lowered her pistol.
"They... they were all despicable scum who deserved it, right?" Kiana asked softly, her voice trembling slightly.
Zeke nodded. "Every single one."
"That's good." Kiana seemed relieved.
Intrigued, Zeke questioned her, "Why did you suddenly decide to act?"
Kiana managed a weak smile and rubbed her nose, saying, "We're friends; I couldn't just let you handle everything, could I?"
Though she didn't fully grasp the concept of sharing hardships and joys, instinctively, she realized that passively watching Zeke kill while staying untouched herself, enjoying the safety he provided, felt too cunning and utterly unfair to him.
Since Zeke chose to commit murder, Kiana decided to bear this burden alongside him—that's what true friendship demanded.
"You don't need to force yourself. Kia, just do what you truly feel is right," Zeke reassured her.
Of course, with the exception of secretly watching porn or engaging in indecent acts towards minors—those aren't exactly commendable, Zeke refrained from adding aloud.
They exchanged smiles.
Then, Zeke added, "Actually, I intentionally left that one as bait, which you spoiled now."
"Oops!" Kiana exclaimed, wide-eyed.
"But it's fine, not significant anyway. I forgive you."
Zeke casually holstered his pistol.
Inside the room, Robbins emerged cautiously with Vera in his arms.
Seeing Robbins' stunned expression upon facing the corpses, Zeke knew that he had successfully secured his first pawn.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone