Capítulo 32: Thanks

'Surprisingly I only got 75 credits...' Jay said in his mind as he put the bills in one of his pockets.

He had searched the entire place to find money or something of value, but no matter how hard he searched, he couldn't find anything more than those 75 credits.

Jay thought that by being a guardian, Taylor would have a good salary, but apparently this wasn't the case...or maybe Jay was late and Taylor had already spent it all, either way, there was no money.

So, a little disappointed, he turned around to see if his partner was finished with his business.

[You're done?] Jay wrote on his smart watch before touching Noah's shoulder to get his attention.

Like Jay, Noah had also been entertained by something else...which involved Taylor, several ropes made from cut clothing, duct tape and a permanent marker.

[Almost, just a few more things to write down.]

While Jay had been searching the place, Noah had tied Taylor's feet, knees, thighs and arms with the ropes he had improvised, as well as taped his mouth, wrapping it several times around his head.

It was true that Taylor's ability allowed him to increase his strength considerably, but because he did not train his body, the increase in strength would only be enough to make him as strong as a well-trained bodybuilder.

However, that would be all, and in addition to the fact that he was currently weakened and Noah had made sure to tie him up multiple times...Taylor wouldn't be able to break free, at least not without help.

After doing that, he started writing on various visible parts of Taylor's body, things like "Die", " Bastard", "Excrement", " Waste of Space", among several other things, his body was so full of those words that it almost looked like a full-body tattoo.

As for the fact that he was half-naked... Noah didn't care about that at all, in fact, it almost benefited him, considering what he planned to do in the end.

Originally he had planned to make multiple cuts on his body, but Noah wasn't sure if that would wake him up or not, so, in order not to risk it, he planned something else just as satisfying for him.

[Done.] Wrote Noah on his smart watch after writing one last "Die." on Taylor's body.

*Pim*

At that moment, a notification came to Noah's smart watch.

[Just in time, his house it's a few blocks away, but first help me carry him to the first floor]. Noah wrote as he pointed to the now muzzled Taylor.

[Ok.]

Then, they both slowly carried Taylor up to the first floor.

Once on the first floor, Noah signaled Jay to go to the backyard, where Taylor was dropped off.

[Now what?] Jay asked, thinking it wasn't a good idea to just leave Taylor in the yard.

[I have to find something, so wait a little.]

After writing that, Noah left the grounds of the house and headed to the left, disappearing from Jay's sight and leaving him alone with Taylor's unconscious body.

'...I could ask him for another discount, maybe 5%?' Jay thought, trying to take advantage of the situation.

As for what he thought about what Noah had planned for Taylor...he didn't care, to him Taylor was a complete stranger whose well-being didn't affect Jay at all, so he had no reason to feel bad for him or anything like that.

Besides, it was obvious that Noah had a big grudge against Taylor, and judging by what Jay had observed the night he defeated Taylor...it was a very well justified grudge.

Maybe someone could say that that wasn't the right thing to do but...who told Taylor to mess with Noah?

Just then, Noah returned, writing something on his smart watch as he walked to Jay.

[I found it, it's a few houses away.]

[What did you find?]

[A garbage container.]

'Oh...'

Jay had been somewhat intrigued as to why Noah had gagged Taylor, but this resolved his doubts.

[Let's go then.]

With that last exchange of words, they both began to carry Taylor to the place where Noah had found the garbage container.

***

*Thud*

The sound of a heavy object falling on top of something soft and plastic could be heard.

[That's it.] Jay wrote after throwing Taylor's body into the garbage container, [Do you have anything else you need help with?]

Because he didn't want to risk spending any more time walking the streets of the South Zone, lest he encountered a guardian, Jay was in a bit of a hurry, so he asked Noah that question.

Noah seemed to be concentrated looking at the dumpster, but he still took a moment to write something on his smart watch before continuing to look at the dumpster.

*Pim*

Then Jay got a message, it was the location of Colt's house, along with a message that said [Go ahead.]

Feeling that the atmosphere had changed and not wanting to delay any longer than he should, Jay simply gave him a thumbs up and started to walk away, although he planned to make a stop at Taylor's house because they had left the metal bat there.

Now that he was alone, Noah just focused on seeing the man inside the dumpster.

"..."

How many times have he dreamed of this moment...?

The person who had made his life miserable in this place, one of the biggest reasons he wanted to move so badly, right now, was beaten, unconscious, and gagged in a dumpster, along with other garbage bags and the occasional cockroach.

Of course, that wasn't all, there was no way he was going to let him go just like that. What Noah wanted was to make Taylor feel the helplessness that he had felt every time he was a victim of Taylor's actions.

That no matter how hard he tries, how much he wants to try to get free, or how much he questions why this is happening to him, he can't do anything about it...and that no one is going to come and help him.

That's why Noah decided to lock him up in this dumpster so he could leave him there for a few days.

As a South Zone resident, he knew that there were large garbage dumps which were used by the vast majority of people living in the South Zone, these dumps were cleaned once a week and were in the areas with the most residents.

However, there were also these garbage containers, which served as an alternative for people who lived somewhat far from one of the large garbage dumps.

The difference was that these garbage containers were only cleaned once every 14 days because not many people used them, so the amount of garbage they accumulated was not as much.

And judging by the amount of trash in the container, Noah could tell that it wouldn't be that long before the trash collectors came...at most, it would be a matter of 3 or 4 days.

As for whether someone might come to dump his trash and find him before the trash collectors, Noah wasn't so worried.

Because there were 3 dangerous guardians living in this neighborhood, there were almost no people living here.

The only concern would be that the guardians who live with Taylor would come out to dump their trash and find it, but by checking the trash can at the house where they lived, Noah could see that it was empty, which meant that they had recently taken out the trash.

Meaning...no one would come in at least a few days.

'...Hehe.' Noah couldn't help but laugh a little, imagining the look on Taylor's face when he woke up in the dumpster.

There wasn't a shred of remorse in his actions, in fact, he even regretted not being able to physically hurt Taylor because he might wake up.

But for the moment, he knew he would have to settle for this.

"Haa...It looks like...I'll have to give him a good discount..." He thought after calming down a bit and letting out a sigh, feeling happy and grateful.

If someone had told him a week ago that he would be able to do something like this to Taylor in the future, Noah definitely wouldn't have believed it.

He knew his limits very well, so it was obvious that trying to rebel against Taylor was something that would only end up in him being savagely beaten, the other night had confirmed this fact.

He had tried to think of ways to deal with him before, such as ambushing him, or hiring someone to beat him up, but in the end he chose neither option.

To ambush him...it was very risky, he only had one chance, and if he failed or was discovered, then he was sure that things would not just end in a simple beating.

As for hiring someone...first of all, who would dare confront a Metal Body guardian?

And secondly, even if there was someone who was willing to take the job, Noah didn't have the money to hire such a person, plus there was also the risk that they would simply take the money and not complete the task or maybe even turn him in.

Therefore, Noah had resigned himself to endure the abuse until he could save enough to move out once and for all.

He had thought that he only had that one way, that he could only grit his teeth and endure everything that might happen...but today, against all expectations, one of his greatest wishes had come true!

Tonight, he was able to get even a little revenge on that despicable person named Taylor!

Of course, he knew he couldn't have done it alone, he wouldn't have had the strength or courage to accomplish something like this, but here he was, looking at Taylor inside the garbage container.

This small but wonderful feat for him was due to a person who had suddenly entered his life, a person who gave Noah the help he had longed for...and the help had not come from the police, from a friend, or from some hero...but from a complete stranger.

Perhaps to that person, this was not something important, but for Noah, it was something incredible.

So despite being a complete stranger to him, Noah could not help but think of a word directed at that person that perfectly expressed what he was feeling at that moment.

'...Thanks.'

Then, taking one last look at the garbage container, Noah closed it, turned around, and started walking in the same direction that Jay had left.