ã€ŠHero of Arkbaikiã€‹


 Wang Yong

    The world is full of a special gift called Power. Most people have Power that helps them do everyday things, like making their toys move or changing the color of their hair. But not many people have Power that is strong enough to do really cool things. Only a few lucky ones are born with super powerful abilities, like being able to fly or talk to animals.

    Those with such amazing Power usually work with the government to make their country a better place. And that''s exactly what happened in Arkbaiki, a country known for having the best technology and security in the world.

    They have a popular group called ACP, short for Arkbaiki Country Police. This group consists of the country''s most powerful people, who use their remarkable abilities to protect Arkbaiki from harm. To the people of Arkbaiki, they are heroes.

    As a result, some of the heroes have huge fan bases, especially among kids and teens. Everyone has their favorite hero, and they love to chat about them. Some kids get pumped up, saying, "You won''t believe what Lisa did last week! She stopped a whole tsunami into ice! She saved my entire family. She''s incredible!" Others boast, "I met the Ice Queen once! She even made me a tiny ice sculpture. Check out my selfie with her!" Aiman, the hero who''s also a top leader in the ACP, was also popular. "Aiman is the best," one kid says. "He''s saved so many lives with his shields. He even gave me a wave once!"

    Some fans were super obsessed with Lisa. They collected all sorts of things related to Lisa, including special figures of her naked. Some fans even had naked drawings and manga that feature Lisa as well and spread it on dark websites. "Here lies the big booby from the Ice Queen herself. I wish she could freeze my long, hot sausage." Said one fat guy as he jerked off in his phone, showing a drawing featuring Lisa being naked.

    But regardless, these members of ACP are well regarded as heroes, which inspired Wang Yong to become a hero as well.

    Wang Yong is a 14 years old boy with messy black hair. He wore simple clothes with some rips and patches and wore sandals everywhere. He had the dream to become a hero. He couldn''t help but daydream about being one of those famous heroes everyone looked up to. A big smile spread across his face as he pictured his future.

    "Someday," Wang Yong imagined, "there will be a huge statue of me in the town square. It will be made of shiny metal, and I''ll stand proud and strong with my hands on my hips." He pictured people cheering and starting fan clubs in his honor. "Wang Yong is awesome!" they''d shout. "He looked right at me!" "No, he looked my way first!" he heard them say. He even pictured girls wanting to be his wife! This made him laugh, but he loved the idea of everyone knowing his name one day

    <figure></figure>

    But the problem is Wang Yong''s life was terrible. His dad left before he was born, so Wang Yong never knew his father. He lived with his mom and older brother, Wang Liang, in a small, messy home in a not-so-great area called Lotus District.

    Lotus District was a busy and crowded place with old buildings that looked like they might crumble. The streets were narrow and dirty, with puddles everywhere because the pipes leaked. It smelled bad, like trash and smoke, and there was lots of noise like people shouting. Kids played barefoot in the alleys, and stray animals roamed for food. The shops had old signs, and at night, the streets were spooky with dark shadows and weird noises.

    Wang Yong''s apartment was in one of those old buildings. It was small and untidy. The walls had cracks, and the paint was peeling off, showing the old bricks. The floors were bumpy, with scratches and broken spots. The kitchen was tiny, with a rusty sink and just enough room for a wobbly table and chairs. Their furniture was old and worn, with torn cushions and a squeaky couch. In the corner was a thin newspaper and an old blanket that served as the family''s bed.

    Wang Yong''s mom was 35, but she looked like she was in her 50. Her dark, messy hair was tied back in a bun, but some strands always managed to escape, proving her exhausted face. Her skin was pale and rough, with dark circles under her eyes. She worked hard at a job she didn''t like, a brothel, just to make ends meet and put food on the table for her family.

    When she came home, she was always upset and tired, her shoulders slumped in defeat as she passed through the door. "I''m home," she''d say with a low voice, she didn''t have the energy to speak any louder.

    So being dutiful as he was, Wang Yong tried his best to make his mom happy. He cleaned, did chores, and even worked around the street to earn money. But no matter how hard he tried, his mom would get mad at him for small things. She''d shout, "Why can''t you be more helpful?" even if he just got in her way by accident.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    Wang Yong''s mom had a clear favorite in the family, and that was his older brother, Wang Liang. The reason was simple: Wang Liang had a Power, a water Power that allowed him to conjure water balls out of thin air. It wasn''t a very big deal, just small water balls, but to their mom, it was everything.

    Their mom would say things like, "Oh, Liang''er, you''re so talented! Your Power is going to take you further!" or "Liang''er, you must be hungry after using your Power, let me get you some more food." She would even let Wang Liang stay up late to watch TV or play with his friends. Wang Yong, on the other hand, was not so lucky. Wang Yong had to go out to earn money and let his brother use it. Sometimes, he would often get leftovers or smaller portions and not even get to taste the delicious roasted pork at all. He would sit at the table, watching as his mom and Wang Liang enjoyed their meal.

    It wasn''t fair, but Wang Yong tried not to let it bother him. He would just smile and say, "That''s okay, Mom, I''m not hungry," even when his stomach was growling.

    Wang Liang noticed that. But instead of offering food, he just laughed and said, "You are weak. An insignificant person such as you is not fit for the feast of the king, such as I. Do you think I should share my food with the peasant who DOESN''T even have Power, to begin with? Go away, coward. And remember to give me money. You didn''t give me last week''s salary.

    His mother also said harsh words, adding salt to the wound in Wang Yong''s heart, "Oh yes, Yong''er. This month''s electrical fee is around 50 asro. You know I don''t have money because I have to buy you food, despite my busy time. You should be grateful and pay the fee."

    Wang Yong, feeling dejected, just stood up and walked away from their home. He can hear some mock laughs from his mother and Wang Liang behind Wang Yong''s back. "If only I had a Power¡­"

    <figure></figure>

    Wang Yong didn¡¯t understand why he didn¡¯t have Power, and the only thing Wang Yong could do was clench his fists, holding back tears, wishing he could stand up for himself. So, when he was alone, he often went to the streets of the Lotus District to meet his best friend and his long-time crush, Shi Ying.

    Shi Ying was the same age as Wang Yong, but she was smart, quick, fearless, and more confident than anyone else. She was petite and smaller than most kids her age. She had long, curly hair and always wore black jackets, ripped jeans, and black boots.

    ¡°Hey, idiot, do you ever brush your hair?¡± Shi Ying teased, flicking one of her long, curly locks over her shoulder. Her hair bounced as she walked beside him, her black boots clicking on the road.

    Wang Yong rolled his eyes. ¡°Not everyone has time to look perfect like you, A Ying.¡±

    ¡°I know, right?¡± She laughed and adjusted her bright jacket. ¡°I was born perfect.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, perfect. Right,¡± Wang Yong smirked. ¡°You spend hours fixing your hair, don¡¯t you?¡±

    Shi Ying blew out a puff of strawberry-scented vapor in Wang Yong¡¯s face, making him cough a little from the sweet smell. She grinned. ¡°So what if I do? Gotta look good out here. It¡¯s called confidence, Wang Yong. You should try it sometime.¡±

    Wang Yong shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t have money to buy the jacket and ripped jeans that you are wearing.¡±

    Shi Ying gave him a playful nudge. ¡°It¡¯s not the clothes, dummy. It¡¯s the attitude. And I thought I gave you more money yesterday to buy some clothes. Where are that money, huh?¡±

    Wang Yong gave a sad look. Which made Shi Ying took a easy guess.

    "Your brother took it?"

    ¡°Yeah, He said the youngest should respect and provide whatever the oldest needs.¡±

    Shi Ying looked at Wang Yong with wide eyes. ¡°Omg, Idiot! I didn¡¯t teach you to be this dumb, dumbass. Is that why he has money for stylish clothes?¡±

    Wang Yong nodded. ¡°Yeah, he threatened me using his Power.¡±

    Shi Ying then leaned in close, looking straight into Wang Yong¡¯s eyes. ¡°Oh man.." Feeling frustated in her face, she look Wang Yong in a pity. And continue with a iritated voice "Let me teach you how to get back at him. You just need the courage to do it. Just f*cking watch.¡±

    She taught Wang Yong everything she knew about surviving in the streets, including stealing, scamming, and anything that seemed illegal. Together, they became a team, and every day, they grabbed food, coins, and shiny gadgets from many civilians quietly and fast. Wang Yong got faster and better with every job they pulled, and Shi Ying made sure he always got a fair share.

    And today, they spotted one man carrying a suitcase.

    ¡°Alright, dumbass,¡± Shi Ying whispered, leaning casually against a wall and blowing out a puff of strawberry-scented vapor. She nodded toward a man walking nearby, carrying a suitcase. ¡°See that guy? That¡¯s our target for today.¡±

    Wang Yong followed her gaze. ¡°The guy with the suitcase? What do you think is in there?¡±

    Shi Ying shrugged, adjusting her black jacket. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. The client pay a lot of money on it. I bet it¡¯s something important.¡±

    Wang Yong frowned. ¡°Yeah, but he looks like he¡¯s holding onto it pretty tight. What if he notices?¡±

    Shi Ying rolled her eyes. ¡°You sound like we don¡¯t know each other.¡± While pointing her finger to Wang Yong

    Wang Yong smiled while showing his hand in the air. ¡°Whoa¡­ Easy there, girl. Don''t show off your Power here. I just want to strike up a conversation.¡±

    ¡°And a conversation you get. Come on, don¡¯t mess up.¡± While giving him a playful shove

    Wang Yong then slowly approached the guy with the suitcase from behind. ¡°Slowly, easy,¡± he muttered under his breath, trying to calm himself because he still wasn¡¯t used to situations like this. But he needed to do better to impress Shi Ying.

    So he approach that man, tiptoed carefully, making no sound with his steps. Just as he reached out to touch the suitcase, the man suddenly noticed something, and Wang Yong froze.

    ¡°Oh crap,¡± he muttered.

 A Job Well Done

    ¡°Oh, crap,¡± he muttered.

    Wang Yong immediately hid behind a big trash can that happened to be nearby, holding his breath as he kept his eyes locked on the man with the suitcase. He was sure he¡¯d been spotted. His heart was racing, and he prayed so hard that the man didn''t notice him.

    And his prayer has been answered. The man reached into his pocket and pulled out a cigarette. He lit it, took a puff, and kept walking, completely unaware of Wang Yong. Wang Yong let out a huge sigh of relief.

    ¡°Phew, that was close,¡± he whispered to himself.

    When he looked back, he saw Shi Ying covering her mouth, her shoulders shaking as she tried not to laugh. Wang Yong gave her a stern look that clearly said, ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone about this.¡±

    Shi Ying just grinned, giving a look on her face that said, ¡°Make me then, dumbass. Hahahaha¡±

    Wang Yong didn¡¯t have time to argue with her, so he just rolled his eyes and continued to creep back toward the man, keeping his steps as quiet as possible. The suitcase was right there, swinging slightly as the man walked. Wang Yong waited for the perfect moment. Just as the man stopped to take another puff of his cigarette, Wang Yong darted forward and grabbed the suitcase.

    As soon as Wang Yong¡¯s hand touched the suitcase, Shi Ying quickly got into action. Standing a few feet away, she pointed her hand at the man, narrowing her eyes for the concentration. Her special Power activated, and the man suddenly stopped moving. His body froze like a statue, the suitcase still dangling from his hand.

    Wang Yong didn¡¯t waste a second. He grabbed the suitcase and took off running.

    ¡°Go, go, GO, GO!¡± he muttered under his breath as his feet pounded the pavement. He darted into the busy crowd, slipping between people, dissapearing in sight.

    Meanwhile, back where the man stood, three seconds passed. The mysterious man can move again, and blinked in confusion. "What the f*ck just happened???" He thought to himself, before looked down at his hand and gasped.

    ¡°Hey! Where¡¯s my suitcase?!¡± he shouted, spinning around frantically. His eyes scanned the street, but he couldn¡¯t see anyone running away. All he saw were regular people going about their day, completely unaware of what had just happened.

    The man scratched his head, his face a mix of panic and disbelief. ¡°Sh*t!!! Sh*t SH*T SH*T SH*T!!!!!! I could die. The boss would kill me for this!!! Did I dropped it somewhere???¡± He checked the ground around him and even turned in circles, but to no avail.

    Meanwhile, Wang Yong finally ducked into a quiet alley, panting hard as he leaned against a wall. His legs shaken and his heart was still racing, but he had done it. In his right hand, he had the suitcase.

    Shi Ying was waiting for him, her arms crossed with a big smile on her face. She clapped lightly ¡°Nice job,¡± she said, clearly impressed.

    Wang Yong held up the suitcase. ¡°Yeah, but that was way too close! What if he saw me?!¡±

    Shi Ying waved a hand dismissively. ¡°He didn¡¯t. Trust me. He probably doesn¡¯t even know what just happened. My hypnosis Power worked perfectly.¡±

    ¡°I mean earlier! When he almost spotted me, you didn¡¯t even start hypnotized him¡± Wang Yong complained, shaking his head.

    Shi Ying laughed. ¡°Oh, relax, Lupin. You pulled it off, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    Wang Yong sighed and handed her the suitcase. ¡°I beg you, smartass, No joke, please. Next time, you¡¯d better use that power sooner. My heart can¡¯t take this.¡±

    Shi Ying just grinned. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, dumbass.¡± She glanced up at him with a mischievous sparkle in her eye. ¡°Besides, isn¡¯t this way more exciting?¡± Shi Ying then did something in her phone, and not long after, there was a sound of notification in Wang Yong''s phone. A notification of money transfer of 10 grand asro from Shi Ying.

    ¡°What the hell?? This much??¡± Wang Yong opened the phone and look shocked. "That was more money than I''ve ever seen in my life"

    ¡°Not bad for a day¡¯s work, huh?¡± Shi Ying said, leaning against the wall with a smug look on her face. ¡°My client pays the best. Otherwise, we wouldn¡¯t have to do this.¡±

    ¡°What kind of client that pay more money to only stealing this suitcase?? Who¡¯s your client anyway?¡± Wang Yong asked with curiosity.

    Shi Ying gave him a playful grin. ¡°It¡¯s my little secret,¡± she said, winking.

    Wang Yong sighed. He could never stay mad at her for long. ¡°Fine. But don¡¯t pull the prank on me ever again, alright?¡±

    Shi Ying smiled mischievously ¡°Of course. Now go home, dude. And don¡¯t give this money to your brother alright. And for the last time, use that money to buy some clothes. Duh..¡± she said.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    With that, they parted away. Wang Yong looks at Shi Ying''s direction, while she playfully walks away like a child, with the suitcase in her hand, and disappears in the narrow street.

    ¡°Oh man, guess the fun¡¯s over.¡± Wang Yong then walked to his home with a heavy heart.

    <hr>

    When Wang Yong got home that evening, the first thing he noticed was a shiny black racing motorcycle parked outside their apartment. He stopped in his tracks, staring at it with curiosity and visibly confused, before realizing that it had to be Wang Liang''s motorcycle.

    ¡°That has to be my useless brother''s bike.¡± he muttered under his breath. ¡°How did he even afford this? I think he use my own money for buying it.¡± Anger bubbled up inside him, and without thinking, he gave the motorcycle a hard kick.

    The bike crashed to the ground with a loud *clang!* Wang Yong froze, his eyes wide. ¡°Oh sh*t, I hope he doesn''t hear this¡± He hurriedly grabbed the bike''s handle, struggling to lift the heavy bike and set it upright again.

    ¡°That¡¯s gonna cost you a fortune, peasant,¡± came a cold, mocking voice from above. Wang Yong looked up to see Wang Liang standing on the second-floor dirty balcony, his arms crossed and a smirk plastered on his face. ¡°You break it, you pay for it, my dear little brother.¡±

    Wang Yong bit his lip, holding back the urge to yell. "You''ll pay for this." He thought. With a heavy heart, he climbed the stairs to their apartment. Inside was only Wang Liang, who was already waiting for him, leaning casually against the doorway like he owned the place.

    ¡°Welcome home. My dear little brother¡± Wang Liang said, his smirk widening. ¡°What¡¯ve you got today, more money?¡±

    ¡°None of your business,¡± Wang Yong muttered, trying to step around him. Which suddenly, Wang Liang grabbed Wang Yong''s hand

    ¡°I know you have money now!! 10 grand asro is a very huge sum of money, doesn''t it right?¡± He gave to Wang Yong a sinister smile, while showed his phone to Wang Yong, which freak him. A live screen of Wang Yong''s phone is showed live inside Wang Liang''s wallpaper. Wang Yong''s phone was bugged.

    ¡°You bugged my phone???¡± Wang Yong shouted, yanking his arm back. It just so happen that their mother walked into the room. "What happened?? Liang''er, did your little brother make trouble again??"

    His mom choice of word make Wang Yong dissapointed. "Trouble, she said??" Wang Yong thought that, feeling unfairness in his heart.

    "Ah mom, you are back." Wang Liang responded gleefully. "Would you believe that now this little piece of sh*t has more money than us, but don''t want to share???" Wang Liang word added the oil to the already burning emotion in Wang Yong''s heart. He was furious.

    "Really?? How dare you don''t share to us. Where did you get this?¡± Wang Yong''s mother demanded as she began approaching Wang Yong

    ¡°I earned it¡ª¡± Wang Yong started, his voice shaking.

    ¡°Earned it?¡± Wang Liang cut in, laughing. ¡°Yeah, right. You probably stole it. Isn¡¯t that right, little thief?¡±

    Wang Yong¡¯s face turned red with frustration. ¡°It¡¯s mine!¡± he shouted.

    His mother immediately slapped Wang Yong. ¡°Don¡¯t TALK to your brother LIKE THAT, Wang Yong,¡± she snapped. ¡°Your brother works hard. What do you do? Nothing but cause trouble! Now APOLOGIZE to your brother RIGHT NOW!!!¡±

    Wang Liang grinned and took a step closer to Wang Yong. ¡°You should show some respect to the King of the house¡± he said, his voice colder now. ¡°You¡¯re lucky we even let you live here.¡±

    ¡°RESPECT? For YOU?¡± Wang Yong shot back to Wang Liang with his fist clenched, ignoring the fact he was just being slapped by his own mother. ¡°All you do was BULLY me!¡±

    Wang Liang¡¯s quickly show a smug face. ¡°You don¡¯t know when to shut up, do you?¡± Water began swirling around his hands, glowing faintly as he took a step forward. ¡°Maybe I should teach you some manners.¡±

    Before Wang Yong could move, a bubble of water formed around his head, the shape is like a ball, making it like a water helmet wrapping around Wang Yong''s head, causing Wang Yong to suffocate. Wang Yong gasped, clawing at the water, his chest tightening as panic set in.

    ¡°Blub blub blub¡± Wang Yong¡¯s voice is blocked with the water around him.

    ¡°You think you can talk back to me like that?¡± Wang Liang approached Wang Yong and growled, his voice low and dangerous. ¡°You¡¯re nothing to me. You¡¯ll never be anything. A peasant have to bow to the King, and I will personally punish you for disrespecting me.¡±

    Wang Yong¡¯s chest burned as he struggled to breathe. His mind raced with fear, but then, deep inside, something changed. He felt a strange warmth spreading through his body, like a fire had been lit in his chest. His hands tingled, and suddenly, he felt something forming in his palm.

    In Wang Yong hand, suddenly formed a glowing dagger made entirely of water. Wang Yong didn¡¯t have time to think about what it was or how it got there. But he did what he had in a spur moment. With all the strength he could gather, he swung the dagger upward, trying to break free, but unfortunately, hitting Wang Liang¡¯s neck with a sharp stab.

    Wang Liang was shocked, before stumbling backward. His blood was now gushing from his neck. The water around Wang Yong¡¯s head disappeared, splashing to the floor. Wang Yong fell to his knees, gasping for air.

    "Ohok ohok ohok" Wang Yong trying to have a deep breath, trying to recover from the suffocating grip of the water.

    Meanwhile, Wang Liang trying so hard to press the blood escaping from his neck, but the blood didn''t stop, causing his face a mix of pain and shock. ¡°What¡­ WHAT DID YOU JUST DO?! HELP ME!!!!¡± he shouted, staring at Wang Yong with anger and panicked.

    Their mother stood frozen in the middle of the room, her hands covering her mouth. Her eyes were wide with disbelief. ¡°Wang Yong¡­ What¡­ what did you just do??¡± She shouted.

    Wang Yong stayed on his knees, staring at his hand. The dagger was gone now, the water dripping onto the floor. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know,¡± he said quietly.

    Wang Liang, with the blood gushing from the neck, began to losing his strength as he fallen to the ground. He felt his concious was fading away. His hand was shivering, trying to reach his mom.

    ¡°M¡­ Mom¡­ He¡­ Hel¡­¡± He watched his mom, terrified, before he stopped moving, his hand slammed down to the floor, motionless. Dead.

    His mom, watching this in horror, froze, before she grabbed Wang Liang''s body, finally crying in front of him, while hugging Wang Liang tightly. ¡°Huaa¡­. Liang''er, don¡¯t die on me.¡±

    Wang Yong, still processing what just happened, slowly realized that first, he just killed someone. Second, he just killed his brother. Third, his mom watched him kill his brother.

    Wang Yong hand covered in blood, his legs became shaky. His heart was still racing.

    ¡°Mom..¡± Wang Yong finally let out a sound.

    His mom, finally realizing Wang Yong is in front of her, looked him dead in the eye, with anger, loudly said. ¡°Shut up. YOU ARE NOT MY SON. I should just kill you. COME HERE YOU F*CKING MURDERER!!!¡±

    <figure></figure>

 Fugitive

    "Mom..¡± Wang Yong finally let out a sound.

    His mom, finally realizing Wang Yong was in front of him, looked him dead in the eye, with anger, loudly said. ¡°Shut up. YOU ARE NOT MY SON. I should just kill you. COME HERE YOU F*CKING MURDERER!!!¡±

    Wang Yong''s mother can use Water Power, and she can use the same ability as Wang Liang. However, it was weaker than Wang Liang. But she did what she thought first in her mind. Kill Wang Yong

    So she raised her hands, and a ball of water appeared in front of her, swirling like a little storm. With a quick motion, she sent the water flying toward Wang Yong, trying to hit him in it.

    But she missed! The water splashed onto the wall beside Wang Yong, soaking the floor, and even Wang Yong''s leg.

    Wang Yong¡¯s eyes widened in shock. He tear up, and stepped back, his hands in the air. ¡°Mom, stop! I didn¡¯t mean to do it!¡± he said, his voice shaking. ¡°I didn¡¯t meant to kill brother!¡±

    But his mom didn¡¯t listen. Her face was red, and her eyes were full of tears. ¡°Shut up!! You MURDERER. Look at what you did!!!! Tell me this is not you who kill MY BOYY!!!¡± she cried, then turned toward the open window and shouted, ¡°Help!!! Someone help us!¡±

    Her voice was so loud that it echoed off the walls. Wang Yong froze. The neighbors were definitely listening now.

    ¡°Mom, please, stop yelling!¡± Wang Yong begged, his voice almost breaking.

    But his mom just kept shouting. ¡°Help! Somebody stop him!¡± she cried again.

    Wang Yong¡¯s heart pounded. He didn¡¯t want anyone to come in and see this. His eyes darted to the table, where Wang Liang¡¯s motorbike keys glinted under the light. With teary eyes, he made up his mind.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mom,¡± Wang Yong whispered, his voice so quiet that she probably didn¡¯t hear him. He snatched the keys off the table and quickly run to open the door. Running away.

    ¡°Wang Yong! COME BACK!!!! Don¡¯t you dare run away!¡± his mom shouted behind him, but he was already gone.

    He sprinted down the narrow staircase, his sandals slapping against the steps. Just as he reached the first floor, one of their neighbors stepped out approaching the staircase. It was Mr John, an old man with a wrinkled face and held a cane to support his walking.

    ¡°Wang Yong!¡± Mr. John called, frowning. ¡°What¡¯s going on up there? Why is your mother screaming?¡±

    ¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t know! It¡¯s nothing, Mr. John!¡± Wang Yong stammered, before brushing past Mr. John, which as the result, knocked Mr. John cane, causing Mr. John to fall.

    ¡°Sorry, but I have to go!¡± Wang Yong keep running without looking at Mr. John.

    ¡°Hey! Wait!¡± Mr. John yelled, but Wang Yong didn¡¯t stop. He burst out of the building.

    Outside, the Lotus District was as busy as ever. People were chatting, some take notice of Wang Yong''s mother shout, and kids were running around. Wang Yong didn¡¯t even notice them. His eyes were locked on Wang Liang¡¯s motorbike.

    He ran to the bike and fumbled with the keys. His hands were shaking so much that it took him three tries to get the key into the ignition. He finally got it, and the high quality engine in his sporty motorcycle roared to life.

    ¡°Get back here, MURDERER!!!¡± His mom voice echoed to the second floor.

    Wang Yong immediately climbed onto the bike, he glanced back toward their apartment window. He could see his mom leaning out, shouting for help to stop Wang Yong. A few neighbors were standing outside, looking up at her and then at Wang Yong.

    ¡°Wang Yong?? What''s happening??¡± one of them approached, but Wang Yong didn¡¯t wait. He revved the engine and sped off, the motorbike zipping through the crowded street.

    His heart hurt, and his eyes was full of tears as he rode away. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he whispered to himself, over and over again. But for now, all he could do was run.

    <hr>

    Back at the apartment, the alerted neighbor came to Wang Yong''s house, which after seeing the crime scene, started to console Wang Yong¡¯s mom.

    ¡°He kills my boy! And now he¡¯s gone, He just ran off!¡± Wang Yong¡¯s mom sobbed, hugging Wang Liang''s body which caused several bloodstains on Wang Yong¡¯s mom''s body.

    Her neighbor, Linda, frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll call the police. They¡¯ll find him.¡± She quickly dialed the emergency number on her phone.

    ¡°Hello? Yes, this is Linda from Lotus District. I want to report that there is a murder in room 219. A boy named Wang Liang was dead. His little brother, Wang Yong, just ran away on a motorbike. His mother says he killed his brother,¡± Linda said firmly. She glanced at Wang Yong¡¯s mom, who was still hugging Wang Liang, crying softly. ¡°Yes, he¡¯s about 14 years old, has messy hair and lush clothes. Thank you.¡±

    After she hung up, Wang Yong¡¯s neighbor turned back to Wang Yong¡¯s mom. ¡°They¡¯ll send drones to track him down. Don¡¯t worry.¡±

    Wang Yong¡¯s mom scoffed. ¡°Good. I hope he dies,¡± she said coldly, which stunned Linda, speechless.

    <hr>

    The police in Arkbaiki worked fast, especially since they used their police drones to track and catch Wang Yong. Within minutes, Wang Yong¡¯s information¡ªhis face, his name, and even his position¡ªwas sent to their database. The drones didn''t waste any time, immediately flew high above the city, scanning with flashing blue lights, trying to find Wang Yong.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

    Wang Yong didn¡¯t know this yet. He was focused on riding as fast as he could, weaving through the busy streets. The wind whipped against his face, and his messy hair stuck out even more. He glanced back nervously, afraid that someone might be following him.

    Suddenly, he heard a loud buzzing sound. Looking up, his eyes widened in fear. A drone was flying right above him, its cameras locked on him.

    ¡°Wang Yong, you are to stop at once!¡± a robotic voice called out from the drone. ¡°You are under arrest for killing Wang Liang!¡±

    ¡°No, no, no!¡± Wang Yong muttered. He gripped the bike''s handlebars tighter and sped up, taking a sharp turn onto a quieter street. The drone followed him, its buzzing sound growing louder.

    ¡°Leave me alone!¡± Wang Yong shouted, looking over his shoulder. But the drone wasn¡¯t going anywhere. It shot a warning beam of light that barely missed his bike, leaving a scorch mark on the road.

    ¡°Whoa!¡± Wang Yong swerved, his heart racing. ¡°Shit, I don¡¯t want to die! Please!¡±

    ¡°Wang Yong. You have been warned to stop. Surrender now!!!¡±

    Wang Yong turned onto another street, zipping between cars and carts. The people in the marketplace yelled and jumped out of the way. ¡°Hey, watch where you¡¯re going!¡± one vendor shouted. But Wang Yong didn¡¯t stop.

    The drone was still behind him, its blue lights flashing. Another beam shot toward him, this one grazed the back of his bike, causing a fire burn in the motorcycle backseat, and Wang Yong felt the heat. ¡°I¡¯ve got to lose this thing!¡± he muttered to himself.

    He spotted the dam up ahead. ¡°If I can make it to the dam, maybe I can escape!¡± he thought. He pushed the motorbike even faster, the engine roaring.

    The drone followed closely. ¡°Last warning! Stop your vehicle!¡± the robotic voice called again. But Wang Yong didn¡¯t listen. He was almost at the dam when the drone fired another beam, this time hitting the bike directly.

    The motorbike exploded in a burst of flames, throwing Wang Yong into the air. ¡°Ahhh!¡± he screamed as he tumbled toward the water below. He hit the surface with a huge splash and sank beneath the waves.

    For a moment, everything was quiet except for the sound of water rushing around him. Wang Yong opened his eyes underwater and started swimming upward. His lungs burned, but he kicked as hard as he could until he broke through the surface, gasping for air.

    The drone hovered above the dam, scanning the water. Its cameras couldn¡¯t find him. ¡°Subject lost,¡± and after a moment, the drone flew away to search elsewhere.

    Wang Yong floated in the water, coughing and catching his breath. ¡°That was too close,¡± he said to himself, his voice shaky. He swam toward the shore, his clothes heavy and dripping with water. By the time he pulled himself out, it was completely dark in the nighttime.

    The night was cold, and Wang Yong shivered under the old, tattered hooded black cape he had found in the corner of the bridge. He sat under a bridge, his stomach growling louder every minute. He had barely eaten since afternoon.

    ¡°I can¡¯t stay here,¡± he muttered to himself, rubbing his hands together for warmth. ¡°I need to find food.¡±

    He got up slowly, his legs shaky, and with the black cape now covering his head, he made his way into the crowded marketplace nearby. The lights from the stalls flickered brightly, and the air was filled with the smell of fried noodles, roasted meat, and freshly baked bread. The noise of people chatting, bargaining, and laughing made him feel small and invisible, which was exactly what he wanted.

    In front of Wang Yong, was a tower. A news tower, that has a big screen on it. And as Wang Yong happened to looked at the screen, suddenly there is breaking news on it.

    ¡°This just in,¡± the reporter said. He was showing an image. A portrait of Wang Yong. ¡°A young boy, Wang Yong, age 14 years old, is now wanted by the police for killing his brother and fleeing the scene. The government has issued a bounty of 100k asro for his capture¡ªdead or alive.¡±

    The screen then zoomed Wang Yong¡¯s picture. He looked younger in the photo, his black hair messy and his plain shirt a little too big. Wang Yong looked in horror, and immediately turned away. He held his hooded black cape tightly to not showing his face.

    Nearby, he can heard people says about Wang Yong while looking at the big screen.

    ¡°One hundred grand???!!!!¡± a man said, rubbing his chin. ¡°That¡¯s enough to pay off my debts and buy a new house!¡±

    A woman nearby shook her head. ¡°But he¡¯s just a kid,¡± she said. ¡°What could make him so dangerous?¡±

    Another man laughed. ¡°Dangerous or not, money¡¯s money. If I see that boy, I swear I will claim the reward.¡±

    ¡°Whoa, one hundred grand???¡± one boy said, his eyes wide. ¡°That¡¯s more money than I¡¯ve ever seen!¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± said another kid. ¡°But would you really try to catch him? He could be dangerous.¡±

    The first boy shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know. But if someone caught him, they¡¯d be rich for sure!¡±

    Wang Yong, listened in this, quickly move away from the crowd. His priority now is not to search for food, even if he was hungry.

    ¡°Sh*t. Sh*t. SH*T. SH*TTTT!!!! I have to run. I have to go. Go to where??¡± Wang Yong keep mumbling. He had to escape the town. But he was unsure to where to go.

    Suddenly, a face popped into Wang Yong¡¯s mind. Shi Ying**.**

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± he said to himself with his voice filled with a little bit of hope for the first time. ¡°A Ying. I have to find her. She¡¯ll know what to do. I have to go to her place.¡±

    But then, he stopped walking. His heart sank as he realized something important¡ªhe didn¡¯t actually know where Shi Ying lived. They had never talked about it. The only thing he knew was their usual meeting spot, a quiet, narrow street where they always hung out. Not many people went there, so it was their secret place.

    Wang Yong took a deep breath. ¡°Alright,¡± he muttered, ¡°I¡¯ll start there. Maybe she¡¯ll be there.¡±

    He tightened the hood of his black cape and walked quickly, sticking to the shadows. The marketplace noises faded behind him as he made his way toward the narrow street, which grew quieter and darker as he walked, and soon, he found himself standing at the entrance to their meeting point.

    <hr>

    The narrow street was almost like a tunnel, with tall buildings on both sides leaning so close that their roofs nearly touched. The only light came from a flickering lantern hanging from a rusty pole at one end of the street. The ground was uneven, with cracks and puddles. The air felt heavy and damp, and Wang Yong can smell the faint scent of old garbage.

    Wang Yong stepped inside cautiously, his sandals splashing softly in a puddle. The walls were covered in peeling posters and graffiti, some of which looked like they¡¯d been there for years. He remembered how he and Shi Ying used to sit against one of those walls, talking and laughing, far away from the noise of the busy district.

    ¡°Shi Ying?¡± he called out, his voice echoing softly down the empty street. His stomach growled loudly as he waited, but there was no answer. He moved further in, his eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of her.

    ¡°Please be here,¡± he whispered, his voice trembling. ¡°You¡¯re the only one I can trust.¡±

    The street was so quiet that he could hear the faint drip of water from a nearby pipe. The longer he waited, the heavier the silence felt. Wang Yong leaned against the wall, his mind racing. ¡°What if she doesn¡¯t show up? What if she¡¯s not coming?¡± he thought.

    But suddenly, he heard it¡ªa faint sound of footsteps echoing from the other end of the street. His heart skipped a beat, and he stood up straight, staring into the darkness.

    ¡°Shi Ying?¡± he called again with a mix of hope and fear.

    The footsteps grew louder, and a figure slowly emerged from the shadows. Wang Yong¡¯s breath caught in his throat as he waited to see who it was.

    But instead of the petite girl, he was greeted by a big man, who immediately hit his neck and knocked him off, which made Wang Yong pass out.

    <figure></figure>

 Unknown Room

    Wang Yong woke up slowly. ¡°Ugh, what happened?¡± he mumbled, blinking a few times. His vision was blurry at first, but as he adjusted, he realized he was in a small room. The walls were plain and gray, with only a single door on one side, a table, and two chairs. One of them is where Wang Yong got tied up in a rope, with hand on behind. Also on the left side of the wall was a poster of Aiman, the famous captain of the ACP. The poster showed Aiman standing in a guard position, holding a shiny silver shield.

    Wang Yong black cape were missing, and he was back with his old clothes. He tried to move but couldn¡¯t¡ªhis arms and legs were tied tightly to a wooden chair with rough, scratchy ropes. He wriggled and squirmed, but the ropes wouldn¡¯t budge.

    ¡°Where am I?¡± Wang Yong muttered again, his heart starting to race. He looked around the room, trying to piece things together.

    He thought back to earlier. He had been walking through the narrow street, hoping Shi Ying would be there. But then, out of nowhere, he bumped into a big man. He couldn¡¯t even see their face. All he remembered was a pain in his head and everything going dark.

    Now he was in this strange room, with nothing but the Aiman poster staring back at him.

    ¡°Why would a creepy fans of Aiman knock me out? Oh god, I hope he doesn''t try to f*ck me, is it? Sh*t It would be creepy if he does¡­.¡± he said to himself, frowning. ¡°And I hope I am not in some weird place. Where the f*ck am I??¡±

    He leaned back in the chair and sighed. But then, an idea sparked in his mind. His water Power. He recently acquired it, and he wasn¡¯t very good at controlling them yet. But if he could use them now, they might be his only chance to escape.

    ¡°Let''s see. I can use it. I can definitely use it.¡± Wang Yong whispered to himself, trying to motivate himself. His hands were tied behind the chair, so he couldn¡¯t see them. He closed his eyes and focused. ¡°C''mon! C''mon!!!¡± He thought. Slowly, he began to feel the water forming in his right hand. It started to swirl and took shape. Wang Yong felt a tiny bit of hope, and he smiled.

    But as he focused on his Powers, a memory rushed into his mind. The last time he had used his Power, he murdered Wang Liang. which made his hands trembled. ¡°No, no, no,¡± he whispered, his voice shaky. ¡°He was a bastard, but I didn¡¯t mean to kill him. I didn¡¯t want to.¡±

    Then, another memory hit him. He remembered how Wang Liang had bullied him, using his own water Power to choke him during one of their fights. Wang Yong gritted his teeth. ¡°He deserved it. I don''t have much choice.¡± Wang Yong thought bitterly. ¡°He would¡¯ve kill me first if I hadn¡¯t fought back.¡±

    He shake his head to push the thought away. ¡°I don¡¯t have time for that now. I have to get out of here,¡± he told himself firmly. ¡°I have to find Shi Ying. Only she could help me, like she always did.¡±

    With a deep breath, Wang Yong concentrated. This time, he managed to formed a blue dagger of water in his right hand. This made him feel a little more confident. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do this,¡± he whispered to himself.

    Carefully, he turned his hand and began cutting the rope around his wrist. The rope was thick and scratchy, but somehow, the water dagger was sharp than he thought, which made it easier to slicing it through little by little. ¡°Come on¡­ just a little more¡­¡± he muttered under his breath. After a few moments of cutting, the rope snapped. ¡°Yes!¡± he whispered, a small smile spreading across his face. Quickly, Wang Yong freed his legs by slicing it using his water dagger while rubbing his wrists where the ropes had left red marks.

    <hr>

    He was so busy freeing himself that it made him not notice that in the Aiman poster, hidden in Aiman¡¯s eyes, was a tiny camera. Somewhere in another room, a large screen displayed everything happening in Wang Yong¡¯s room. Two people were watching closely¡ªa big man with a beard and a small girl beside him.

    The big man chuckled softly. ¡°Hmm, I didn¡¯t expect him to break free from that rope,¡± he said, clearly amused.

    The girl beside him, typing at the screen trying to note Wang Yong''s behavior, said. ¡°Should we do something?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± the man said quickly with his firm tone. ¡°Let¡¯s see what he does next. I¡¯m curious about his ability.¡±

    <hr>

    Meanwhile, Wang Yong was finally free. He stood up, wincing as he rubbed his bruised hand. ¡°Ugh, that feels better,¡± he said. Then he turned toward the door and frowned. ¡°Now, how do I get out of here?¡± he wondered aloud.

    He walked over to the door, and somehow, he realized the door turned out to be an automatic electric door, a door that could be opened if he approached it. And when Wang Yong approached it, it didn¡¯t budge. ¡°Yeah, what did I expect? Of course, it¡¯s locked,¡± he grumbled, stepping back. He placed his hands on his hips, staring at the door.

    Wang Yong stepped closer to the door and pressed his ear against it. He held his breath and listened carefully. Nothing. It was eerily quiet outside. ¡°Is there even anyone out there?¡± he wondered. He knocked on the door softly. ¡°Hello? Anyone out there?¡± Still no answer.

    ¡°Okay, think, Wang Yong. Think. There has to be something I can use,¡± he said to himself. He tapped his foot on the ground and glanced around the room again. His eyes landed on the poster of Aiman.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

    But he noticed something. On the ceiling near the Aiman poster, there was a small air vent. A spark of hope lit up inside him. ¡°An air vent!¡± he whispered. His eyes lit up with hope as he moved closer to it.

    He squinted at the vent and saw screws holding the grate in place. He summoned his water dagger again and inspected the tip. ¡°Alright,¡± he said while moving his gaze into the air vent. ¡°Let¡¯s see if I can get this open. I hope it fits.¡± He was planning to unscrew the air vent with just the tip of his dagger.

    Using the table and chair to help him reach the air vent, Wang Yong carefully extended his water dagger to touch the screws. But as the tip of the dagger pressed against a screw, since this is a water dagger, it began to slip through the screw, covering the screw.

    ¡°Sh*t. There is no way the tip can even move a screw. Now I am screwed.¡± Wang Yong whispered, frustrated.

    But as he tried to pull the dagger back, something surprising happened. The screw somehow corrode itself slowly, making the screw move a little. Wang Yong¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Wait a second,¡± he said. ¡°This might work.¡±

    He carefully covered the screw using his dagger¡¯s tip. After a while, the screw loosened and fell to the ground with a soft clink.

    Wang Yong grinned. ¡°Great. One screw down, three more to screwed,¡± he said confidently. He adjusted the dagger and moved on to the next screw.

    Eventually, the rest of the screws came loose, one by one, until the air vent door can be opened. Wang Yong stopped for awhile, observing all around him to see if there is any noise that came from the outside door. After a few moments of silence, he whispered, ¡°Here goes nothing,¡± and hoisted himself into the vent.

    <hr>

    The vent was tight and dark, with barely enough space for him to crawl. Wang Yong moved slowly, carefully placing his hands and knees so the metal wouldn¡¯t creak too loudly. The cold surface of the pipe sent chills through his body, and the faint echoes of his movements sounded louder than he liked. ¡°Please don¡¯t let anyone hear me,¡± he murmured under his breath.

    The vent stretched in many directions, but only one path had a dim light at the end, so Wang Yong kept crawling that way, hoping it would lead him to an exit. After a while, he finally reached another grate. Peeking through it, he saw a dimly lit space below. It looked empty. ¡°I hope no one¡¯s there,¡± he whispered to himself, his heart pounding.

    Wang Yong squinted at the grate. It was screwed from outside. ¡°I just hope that it worked,¡± he muttered, summoning his water dagger again. He adjusted the tip and started working on the screws, using the same trick he had figured out earlier, which worked. This time, he carefully pushed out the loosening screw away from him one by one.

    As he worked, he whispered to himself, ¡°C''mon, c''mon. Just a little bit more!¡± His hands were starting to shake from holding the dagger steady, but he didn¡¯t stop. Finally, with no screw on his way, the grate popped loose and swung open, and unfortunately, falling to the floor with a loud crash. The noise echoed through the room. Wang Yong froze, his heart racing.

    He carefully looked around. The space below was silent. ¡°Oh god,¡± he whispered, cold sweat forming on his forehead. ¡°Thank god no one hears that.¡± Wang Yong slowly lowered himself out of the vent, landing softly on the cold, hard floor.

    <hr>

    He stood up and looked around, scanning the area. The room looked like a giant garage, big enough to hold several cars and motorcycles. Some of them were parked along the walls, their shiny surfaces reflecting the dim lights above. In one corner of the room, there was a table covered with tools, and next to it were several guns lined up neatly. In another corner of the room was a control panel. Just past the panel was a large garage door.

    Wang Yong¡¯s immediate attention is at that large door. ¡°That¡¯s my way out,¡± he whispered, stepping toward it cautiously. His sandals made soft slapping sounds against the concrete as he moved, and his eyes darted around, checking every corner of the room. He gripped his water dagger tightly for comfort.

    ¡°Strange,¡± he muttered to himself. ¡°It¡¯s too quiet.¡± The silence made him nervous, but he tried to dismiss it by focusing on the door ahead.

    He approached the control panel next to the garage door. It had a few buttons and a small screen. Wang Yong frowned and touched the screen lightly. ¡°Looks like I can use it to open this door,¡± he said, frowning. ¡°But how do I open it?¡±

    He leaned closer to the screen, trying to figure out what to do. Just then, a faint metallic sound made him freeze. It came from behind him¡ªsoft but sharp.

    Wang Yong immediately looked around, holding up his dagger. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± he called out, his voice shaking slightly.

    For a moment, there was nothing but silence. The hair on Wang Yong¡¯s neck stood up as he scanned the room. He gripped his dagger tightly and walked away from the door, cautiously approaching the sound until he reached the middle of the room.

    Suddenly, a barrage of glowing swords rained down, striking the ground near him. Wang Yong stumbled and fell backward, his eyes wide with fear. As he scrambled to his feet, a voice rang.

    ¡°Mwhahahahahaha, my boy. I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re not leaving us just yet~~¡± the voice said. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t run off without saying hello, would you~~?¡±

    Wang Yong¡¯s eyes darted to the source of the voice. A man emerged from the shadows, surrounded by multiple swords that floated and swirled around him like a storm. The man was tall. His dark hair was slicked back neatly, shining under the dim light. His face was sharp with a pointed jaw. His pale skin looked smooth. He wore a long white coat with shiny silver patterns on it. Underneath, he wore a black vest and a white shirt and shiny black boot. He walk with a flamboyant way, enough to make Wang Yong feel disgusted.

    But now, it is not the right time to feel disgusted.

    ¡°Sh*t!!¡± Wang Yong muttered under his breath, his heart pounding ¡°I¡¯ve been found¡± His gaze now focus to the swords, which its tips glinting in the light.

    Seeing this sent a chill through Wang Yong, and he quickly stood up, gripping his dagger tightly. ¡°Who are you?¡± he shouted.

    The man twirled one of his swords with a flick of his finger, his lips curling into a sly smile. ¡°Ah, how dare a criminal such as yourself dare to question me~~?¡± he said with a flamboyant tone, striking a pose with one hand on his hip. ¡°Instead, I won''t bother giving you my name, and I think it would be much better for us battling each other. So COME ON, BABY~~¡±

    The man raised his hand high, and the swords around him spun faster, forming a swirling circle of glowing blades. The man eye''s glanced at Wang Yong. ¡°Consider this my welcome gift~~¡± he said with a smirk. ¡°Do try to keep up, boy~~¡±

    With a dramatic wave of his hand, he motioned his hand to Wang Yong, which caused the swords shot toward Wang Yong, their tips aimed directly at him.<figure></figure>

 Wang Yongs First Battle

    With a dramatic wave of his hand, he motioned his hand to Wang Yong, which caused the swords to shoot toward Wang Yong, their tips aimed directly at him.

    The blades advanced swiftly, homing in on their target.

    Wang Yong lunged to the left, narrowly avoiding the whistling swords that nearly grazed his face.

    The flamboyant man smirked, dancing and twirling as he directed his weapons with the grace of a conductor leading a lethal symphony.

    "Stop! Why are you doing this?" Wang Yong shouted, attempting to deflect a blade with his water dagger, which passed by him, causing the sword to graze his face. His face was now dripped in blood. "Dammit, it hurt."

    The man''s eyes sparked with amusement. "Oh, come now! It''s rude to interrupt our performance, my boyy~~"

    With another dramatic wave, the man sent a barrage of swords spinning through the air, encircling him. "Tell me you''re impressed, please~~??? I''ve put on this free performance just for you~~" His flamboyant tone sent a chill down Wang Yong''s spine.

    "I didn''t ask for this, and I don''t want to watch your f*cking performance or your disgusting moves!!!" Wang Yong summoned his water dagger, clumsily pointing it at the man.

    But deep inside Wang Yong''s heart, he knew it would be useless.

    "Ouch, such a tease~~" The man clutched his heart with both hands. "My heart just skipped a bit. I might just fall in love with you~~" He blew a kiss toward Wang Yong.

    While that man is rambling in his flamboyant way, Wang Yong notices the swords circling the man, making it impossible to attack. He quickly scanned his surroundings. To his left was a table with a gun and multiple keys, and to his right were various cars and motorcycles.

    Wang Yong instinctively moved toward the table with the gun and keys. He made a run for it while that man was still rambling.

    "Please, let me reach it, let me reach it," he mumbled, stretching his left hand toward the table. Suddenly, a sword grazed his hand, leaving a bleeding wound and causing Wang Yong to fall. Blood dripped onto the floor.

    "Going for the gun?? Please, grab it and shoot me~~" The flamboyant man twirled, his swords dancing through the air. "It''s adorable watching you struggle~~"

    Wang Yong pushed himself up and continued to run toward the table while blood dripping from his wounded hand. Another blade sliced through his legs, wrist, and stomach, which made most of his body covered in blood, but not enough to make him fall again due to his rising adrenaline.

    "Almost there," Wang Yong muttered, ducking under two more swords. Wang Yong then finally reached the table and snatched the gun. He turned around, pointed it at the man, and pulled the trigger.

    *Pop!* A stream of bubbles floated through the air. It was a toy gun.

    The man''s laughter echoed through the garage. "Mwhahahahahaha!!!! Oh, you should see your face! I put that there just for you, baby~~"

    Wang Yong threw the toy gun aside in frustration. "Damn it!" With few options left, he grabbed a handful of keys from the table and sprinted toward the row of vehicles.

    The swords kept coming. Some grazed Wang Yong''s back, stomach, leg, and wrist, but Wang Yong''s adrenaline kept pushing him forward.

    "Where are you running to? You should have learned to behave, sweetheart~~" The man continued to mock Wang Yong, striking randomly with his flying swords.

    As Wang Yong reached the nearest motorcycle, two swords struck its fuel tank. Metal scraped against metal, throwing sparks. Flames erupted from the puncture holes.

    "Oh sh*t! No, no, no!" Wang Yong panicked and turned away from the motorcycle.

    The flamboyant man''s playful expression vanished. "Wait, sh*t!!"

    The motorcycle then exploded in a ball of fire, the smoke engulfing Wang Yong. The man lost sight of Wang Yong in the smoke.

    "Oh, oh, Captain is not going to like this."

    Realizing he had lost a motorcycle, with Wang Yong in the growing fire, he called out, "Come now, pretty boy. If you want to play hide and seek, all you have to do is ask~~ Provided you''re alive. Right~~??"

    But there was no response.

    "Right?? Hey, if you''re alive, just say hi or something. I promise I won''t bite." He returned to a serious tone but was met with silence.

    "Hey, you''re kidding, right??" The flamboyant man realized Wang Yong might have been caught in the explosion and panicked, quickly pacing and entering through the smoke with his swords circling him protectively. "HEY, SAY SOMETHING!!!"

    Suddenly, a light footstep echoed.

    "Ah~~ You had me worried there, boy. How naughty of you~~" He returned to his flamboyant demeanor. "I can hear you, boy. Come out, come out, wherever you are~~"

    Suddenly, a car engine roared to life behind him. He turned around just as headlights burst through the smoke. His eyes widened. It was his prized Mesla sports car.

    "No, not my car!" The vehicle accelerated straight at him, forcing him to dive out of the way. The car crashed into a concrete pillar with a sickening crunch of metal.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    "You little brat! Do you know how much that cost?" His playful demeanor vanished, replaced by genuine anger. "That was imported from¡ª"

    Another engine revved. This time, a Mercerati car emerged from the smoke, its tires squealing as it fishtailed toward him. He slashed with his swords, splitting the vehicle into two, which the splitting made the vehicle pass by him with him in the center.

    That''s when he saw that in the second vehicle, a heavy toolbox pressing the gas pedal, that caused the car to accelerate, which made the man realize that Wang Yong was not in the first car nor the second.

    "You f*cking trickster!! WHERE ARE YOU???" He scrambled to his feet, face red with fury. He quickly sent his swords into everywhere around him, hoping to catch Wang Yong.

    But a third car, a Wonda car, suddenly appeared and accelerated straight toward him, knocking some of his swords away and sending them aimlessly into the air. One sword managed to graze the flamboyant man''s face.

    Before he could react, he noticed that Wang Yong was on the roof of the car, water dagger in hand. Wang Yong had planned to strike the man while the man was dealing with the oncoming car.

    "Take this!!!" Wang Yong jumped from the car''s roof. With all of his grip now on a single dagger, he swung and prepared to strike that flamboyant man.

    But before Wang Yong could strike, the flamboyant man quickly summoned a sword. A Kusanagi.

    He quickly grabbed the Kusanagi''s handle and struck the car and Wang Yong with one slash, causing the car to split in two and leaving a slash wound on Wang Yong''s left eye.

    The car sped straight through the flamboyant man before exploding behind him. Wang Yong quickly fell in front of him.

    "My three expensive cars. All gone to smoke." The now-serious man approached Wang Yong with the Kusanagi in his grip and fury on his face. He lifted Wang Yong, grabbed his collar, and saw that Wang Yong had passed out, his face covered in blood from the slash on his left eye.

    The man let out his angry face and threw Wang Yong in front of him. "This is not enough, boy. Those three cars and a motorcycle, even your bounty can''t cover half the cost." He raised his Kusanagi, its blade glinting in the firelight from the burning vehicles. "It''s not honorable for me, and it''s such a waste. You could''ve been so much fun to play a little longer. Farewell, and don''t think too badly of me."

    The sword descended toward Wang Yong''s unconscious form. But before it could strike, frost crept across the garage floor in an instant. The temperature plummeted, extinguishing the flames and coating every surface in a layer of ice. It also managed to freeze Wang Yong, preventing the Kusanagi from stabbing him due to the ice protection.

    "You''ve gone too far, Kenji." Lisa''s voice cut through the frozen air. She stood in the garage doorway, her pink hair flowing around her shoulders, her ACP uniform hugging her curves. "We just needed to monitor this boy, and you somehow made it worse."

    Kenji quickly made all his swords disappear, including the Kusanagi in his hand and the multiple swords on the ground. "Lisa~~. What brings you¡ª" His playful tone returned.

    "It''s Ms Frister for you while we are at work."

    "Ah, but you didn''t call me the great Nishitaro, Lisa~~" Kenji''s eyes narrowed, a smirk on his face.

    "Okay, the great bastard. Happy?"

    "Better than nothing~~ I thought we were using the first name basis~~"

    "Yeah, but now, we are at the work, moron." Lisa gestured at the destroyed cars. Ice crawled up their twisted metal frames. "And look''s like you managed to destroy our vehicle. AGAIN!!"

    "Thanks to this little troublemaker." Kenji nudged Wang Yong with his already frozen foot. "Do you know how much¡ª"

    Ice shot up Kenji''s legs, freezing him in place and causing him to panic.

    "Yeah, that''s why Bella doesn''t want to work with you." Lisa glared at Kenji. "I will repeat one more time. We needed to know his ability and his skill, and you somehow managed to mess it up. Now look at him, we don''t know if he''s alive or dead. I swear to god, if we end up making a six-foot grave for him, I will personally make sure you are buried alongside him."

    "Chill, chill~~" Kenji laughed. "What about our cars, though? This street boy destroyed millions worth of¡ª"

    "The ACP will take care of that. Or have you forgotten who bought your Mesla?" Lisa sighed and walked forward. "Captain will be very angry about this. You should figure out how to face his wrath now. And expect more pay cuts for this. This is the third time you''ve messed up."

    Lisa then made the ice surrounding them disappear, except for the ice around Wang Yong, to prevent him from dying.

    "Fine~~!" Kenji pouted and walked away from the garage. "Guess I''ll owe you money anyway. I''m broke now~~"

    Lisa sighed and knelt beside Wang Yong.

    "The least you could do is help me get this boy up, moron." She complained to Kenji.

    <hr>

    Wang Yong''s consciousness returned slowly, his head throbbing with each heartbeat. The familiar gray walls of the mysterious room came into focus, which made him realize he is back to the same place he''d been captured. But this time, multiple metal chains bound his wrists and ankles to the chair, clinking with each slight movement.

    Bandages wrapped around his wounds, covering most of his body and his left eye and every one of them made Wang Yong feel the pain, especially in his left eye.

    "Ouch, that freaking hurt."

    "Welcome back, boy."

    Through his uncovered eye, he saw Lisa sitting across the table. Her pink hair cascaded over her ACP uniform as she leaned forward, a gentle smile gracing her features. The tight uniform strained against her chest as she moved, which made Wang Yong''s eyes darted toward Lisa''s bust.

    Lisa seems to notice Wang Yong''s gaze. "Eyes on me. boy"

    "Ehem," Wang Yong quickly behaved himself, which made Lisa smile. She seems to enjoy teasing Wang Yong.

    "How long..." Wang Yong attempted to change the topic.

    "Three days." Lisa placed a glass of water on the table. "Your wound is quite serious, especially your eyes. It is a miracle that you survive. Come, open your mouth for me, will you?" She lifted the glass to his lips, helping him drink.

    As she helped Wang Yong drink, she also deliberately placed her chest onto Wang Yong''s face, but her chest accidentally touched Wang Yong''s eyes wound, which made Wang Yong let out a slight "ouch."

    Lisa, having fun teasing Wang Yong, continues. "Oh, sorry. I just cannot control myself with a boy like you. Let me repay you again." She then continued to carefully place her bust on Wang Yong''s shoulder, while continued help Wang Yong drink the water, making him uncomfortable.

    Nevertheless, the cool water soothed his parched throat. Wang Yong tested the chains binding him, metal links rattling against the chair. He is certain he cannot escape this time.

    "Are these necessary?" He gestured at his restraints with his chin.

    "After your previous escape attempt?" Lisa''s smile widened, and turned away from Wang Yong and across the table. "We''re not taking any chances this time."

    "Where am I, by the way?" Wang Yong looks at his surrounding once again.

    Lisa let out a small laugh. "You are in ACP headquarter''s basement."

    "And why am I chained?" Wang Yong asks while shaking his chain hand and leg.

    "Did you forget?? You are wanted to us now."

    The word of the ''wanted'' made Wang Yong realized that he just became a murderer. He let out a guilt in his face.

    Lisa''s expression softened as she noticed the guilt etched across Wang Yong''s face. Once again, she approached Wang Yong and patted his head. "Hey, don''t be too hard on yourself. I don''t think you are a bad guy here. You just need to return something for us, and then you can go."

    Wang Yong''s eye widened with curiosity. "Return something?? I don''t think I took anything from you."

    Lisa pulled back, crossing her arms under her chest. "But you did, boy, you''ve taken something from us. This is precisely why you are here." This remark caused Wang Yong to furrow his eyebrow.

    <figure></figure>

 Interogation

    Lisa pulled back, crossing her arms under her chest. "But you did, boy, you''ve taken something from us. This is precisely why you are here." This remark caused Wang Yong to furrow his eyebrow.

    She paused. "Judging from your reaction, you indeed didn''t know what you took from us."

    Wang Yong, still in disbelief, finally said something, "Umm, I thought I was here because of a murder."

    "Ahh, yeah, I forgot about your murder case. But, boy, that matter not. The most appropriate punishment for the murder case is usually just a few years in prison. Nothing to worry about. Besides, you can just avoid the punishment with our help, provided you help us first."

    "I can avoid the murder punishment?"

    "Of course, why won''t you? In ACP, you can even kill someone today and still walk free tomorrow, enjoying luxury. I even did a manicure, look!!" Lisa smiled kindly while showing her manicured finger. "Is it pretty?"

    "Err¡­ yes, this is pretty, Ms Lisa" Wang Yong just looks speechless.

    "Just call me Lisa. boy." Seeing Wang Yong''s reaction, Lisa chuckled. "And back to the topic. You can just go straight to jail, or you can just walk free. Provided you return what you took from us."

    "And what exactly did I took?"

    Lisa looked at Wang Yong while going back to her seat. "Tell me, have you recently stolen a particular suitcase?"

    Wang Yong tried to think of the suitcase until he remembered the stunt he and Shi Ying did recently. But he tried to deny it. "Umm¡­ No, I don''t think¡ª"

    "Don''t lie, sweetheart. We know you just stole something with your little friend~~" Said Kenji as he swung the door open. He enters the room and walks with his usual flamboyant demeanor. Wang Yong''s eyes wound twitch as soon as he looks at Kenji. "Ouch"

    Lisa looks at Kenji with a quick glare. "What do you want?"

    "Ohh, so cold~~ Boy, help me warm my heart from this Ice Queen~~ Please????"

    Lisa sighed "Oh, Please forgive us, boy. I don''t know what the hell is wrong with this guy. We are not supposed to attack you. We didn''t intend to hurt you at all"

    Kenji started to feel offended. "What?? I am just playing with him~~"

    "Yeah, if your idea of playing involves the wound in his entire body and making a mess in our garage, I say good job, moron. Now do me a favor and shut up". Lisa shoots a glare at Kenji, making Kenji behave and stand in silence, pouting.

    Wang Yong, however, remained shocked as he didn''t expect to see this side of Lisa. Lisa then turned her attention to Wang Yong, and her demeanor changed too. "Ehehehehe, forgive my rudeness, boy. Now, where was I?"

    "Umm, maybe I will just confess to the fact that I did steal the suitcase, which is not in my possession right now." Wang Yong confess quickly.

    Kenji spoke up and ignored the order of silence from Lisa. "We know boy~~ Your girlfriend took it~~"

    "Oh umm," Wang Yong''s cheek became red. "She is not my girlfriend".

    Kenji immediately approaches Wang Yong. "Ohh, I see~~ She is your crush, huh?"

    And immediately, Kenji himself suddenly froze into ice.

    "I. Said. Shut. Up!" Lisa let out her murder aura and crept behind Kenji before making her ice shatter, leaving Kenji shivering, unsure of the ice or that murder aura.

    "Oh my, I let out an embarrassing side of me, hehe. I hope you forgive me, boy." Lisa turns to Wang Yong once again with her kind face. "But like I said, we need your help to locate that suitcase¡ª"

    "That won''t be necessary, Lisa." A big man with a beard, revealed to be Aiman, enters the room from the doorway. His thick brows furrowed over menacing eyes. His ACP uniform stretched across his broad shoulders as he ducked to enter. Behind him trailed a small figure - Amabella, a petite girl no taller than Wang Yong''s chest, her dark blue curls bouncing with each step, with the resting bitch face expression. She didn''t wear an ACP uniform. Instead, she wears a dark blue hoodie with black jeans and boot shoes.

    These two were the ones who monitored Wang Yong through the hidden camera.

    Aiman''s deep voice resonated through the room. "We''ve got a lead."

    Amabella skipped forward, with an invisible screen emitted from her wrist. "I was finally able to trace the transaction details from Shi Ying''s account. This guy girlfriend¡ª"

    "Not my girlfriend," Wang Yong mumbled.

    "Not your girlfriend sold the suitcase to some rich wannabe drug dealer. The young Thompson." Amabella tapped her screen, bringing up a profile that revealed the suspect to be Maxwell Thompson.

    Amabella then zooms it large so all the people in the room can see it. "I believe he was involved, and I took the liberty of hacking the security camera in the Thompson manor. The suitcase is confirmed in that place."Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

    Lisa leaned over to look at the screen. "So we just need to fetch it from the Thompson manor?"

    "Unfortunately, indeed." Aiman crossed his arms. "It will be boring, but Kenji, you and Amabella are to retrieve the suitcase. It should be simple enough for you two to handle."

    "WHAT??" Amabella immediately let out a huge complaint.

    "Finally, some action!" Kenji jumped up, his earlier shivers forgotten, and he was back with his usual.

    "Captain, a moment??" Amabella then drags Aiman to the corner of the room.

    "Captain, look at that guy." Amabella pointed at Wang Yong. "I guarantee Thompson Manor will be much worse than this guy if you let this sword motherf*cker out loose. So can I request another pe¡ª"

    But instead, Aiman glared at Amabella. "Bella, I believe you are not to question my order. Now, I order you to work with KENJI and learn TEAMWORK. Understood????"

    Feeling dejected, Amabella pouted. "Aye, aye, captain¡­"

    "Mwahahahaha." Kenji let out a huge laugh."Let''s go squirt!"

    "Call me squirt again, and I''ll hack your savings, lunatic!!" Amabella then following Kenji out.

    <hr>

    "Oh, thanks, captain. I might get crazy because of him. I don''t envy Bella, though." Lisa let out a huge sigh of relief after Kenji leaves the room.

    "I am glad that pleased you, Lisa. Now, let''s talk about what to do with this boy." Aiman turns his attention to Wang Yong.

    Wang Yong, on the other hand, is excited to see his idol, Aiman, standing in front of him. A real Aiman, not on the poster, not on TV, but is live and real in front of his eyes. "Oh umm, hello sir Aiman¡­ I umm¡­." He was so excited that he speaks nervously.

    "Slow down, kid. You have all the time you need." Aiman then smile, gesture Wang Yong to take a breath, before sit across him. Lisa on the other hand, is standing beside Aiman.

    Aiman''s expression softened as he looked at Wang Yong, he ponder for awhile, before finally speak. "Under normal circumstances, I''d offer you a position with us."

    "What?" Wang Yong''s eyes widened. "Umm sir, are you really serious??"

    "Yeah, but UNDER normal circumstances." Aiman stressed that part. "You have potential, kid. No Power until recently, yet managed to evade capture multiple times. Even gave Kenji trouble, and our financial resources too."

    "Ahaha, sorry for all of these cars." Wang Yong laugh awkwardly, trying to apologize for his stunt in garage earlier.

    "It''s okay kid. Kenji will take responsibilities. I will personally make sure of it." Aiman stroked his beard. "But there''s a problem."

    Wang Yong lifted his head, hope flickering briefly in his eyes.

    "Your mother contacted us through your neighbor Linda." Aiman''s voice grew heavy. "Turns out Linda has a friend who happen to be one of the top lawyers in our country. They''re pushing for maximum punishment. Die by hanging."

    "What???" Wang Yong cannot believe what he was hearing.

    Lisa gasped. "But, Captain. He''s just a kid-"

    "They want execution." Aiman''s words fell like stones. "Your mother specifically requested to witness it. Says it''s the only justice for your brother''s death."

    "What??? But I¡­" Tears welled up in Wang Yong''s eyes, spilling down his cheeks. "I didn''t mean to kill him." His voice cracked.

    "Yeah, unfortunately, your mom''s influence runs deep," Aiman said softly. "The lawyer''s already filed the paperwork. But there will be a trial. The judge will decide your fate, boy. I afraid this is the best we can do."

    Wang Yong''s shoulders shook as he sobbed. "I never wanted anyone to die. The Power, it just- it happened so fast. I couldn''t control it."

    "I know, kid. I know."

    "Please," Wang Yong pleaded through his tears. "I just wanted to help people. To be a hero. Ms Lisa even told me that I can avoid punishment if I help you. Please¡­."

    "What??" Aiman''s gaze shifted to Lisa. "What''s this about avoiding punishment?"

    Lisa''s cheeks flushed. "I might have suggested we could help him dodge the consequences..."

    "Lisa, we uphold the law. We don''t circumvent it."

    "But Captain, he''s just a kid! And his own mother¡ª"

    "¡ªis backed by a high ranking lawyer. So even if we pardon his crime, people out there will think less of our justice system. There will be no ''hero'' names for us. Your so called Ice Queen will be in the hot toast." Aiman let up a huge sigh. But suddenly have an idea.

    "Unless¡­" He then whispered something to Lisa, she then nodded.

    Aiman then turned back to Wang Yong. "Boy, you say you want to be a hero. Tell me, what does that mean to you?"

    Wang Yong wiped his tears with his sleeve. "I watched you on TV. How you saved people, protected them. I wanted to do that too. I want to be like you!!"

    "I am very flattered." Aiman couldn''t help but smile.

    Wang Yong continued. "But without Power..." He paused, collecting his thoughts. "Everyone said I was worthless. My mother, my brother. But I knew I could be more."

    "And now that you have a Power?"

    "Yeah, and that make me qualified to help people. But now I already are on wit end." Wang Yong''s voice steadied. "If you help me, I promise I will do my best to make things right."

    Aiman nodded slowly, seeming satisfied with the answer. He stood up, towering over Wang Yong. "There might be a way. But first, I need to test about your Power." He then wave a hand.

    Without warning, Lisa stepped forward. She raised her hand toward Wang Yong.

    The temperature inside Wang Yong body plummeted. Ice crystals formed on Wang Yong''s skin, spreading rapidly across his body. His eyes widened in shock, mouth opening to protest, but no sound came out. Within seconds, his consciousness faded, body slumping forward as the cold overtook him.

    "Was that really necessary?" Lisa lowered her hand, concern etched on her face.

    "We need to know if he can handle what''s coming." Aiman signalled Lisa to turn off her Power, unfreeze Wang Yong, which caused Wang Yong to collapse, while still being tied in the chair. "I have my doubt over his Power. But if he''s going to survive what I have planned, this is just the beginning."

    <hr>

    Shi Ying''s boots clicked against the concrete floor as she entered the abandoned warehouse. Vapor curled from her lips, strawberry-scented clouds dancing in the dim light filtering through broken windows. Her black jacket hung loose on her petite frame as she approached a terorrist group gathered in the shadows.

    "It is done, Valerie." Shi Ying''s voice echoed through the empty space.

    A woman stepped forward from the group. Her brown skin gleamed like polished bronze under the scattered light, her presence commanding attention without effort. Valerie wore a crisp black suit with gold rings adorning her fingers.

    "The suitcase?" Valerie''s voice emerged.

    Shi Ying nodded. "Exactly where you wanted it."

    "You didn''t bring your boyie, right?" Valerie''s eyes narrowed. "What a shame¡­"

    "Wang Yong?" Shi Ying''s confident demeanor faltered for a split second. "I didn''t bring him into this. He''s got nothing to do with our involvement."

    Valerie''s lips curved into something between a smile and a sneer. "Oh girl¡­ I commend your protective instincts. But I fear you will regret your choice since it might be too late though."

    "What do you mean??" Shi Ying show a slight annoyance gaze.

    "Word is, your boyie''s will be scheduled for trial that may resulted in his execution tomorrow."

    The vapor pen clattered to the floor from Shi Ying''s suddenly limp fingers. Her face drained of color. "What?"

    "Oh? You didn''t know?" Valerie''s tone dripped with false sympathy. "Seems your little friend got himself into quite the situation. The ACP now have him. And to make things worse, his own mother''s want her son death. Worst case is, your boyie will be hanged tomorrow morning."

    Shi Ying''s usual playful confidence crumbled. Her hands trembled as she processed the news. "No way¡­"<figure></figure>

 Execution

    Wang Yong, previously passed out, now opens his eyes. His left eye throbbed as consciousness returned, the metal chain restraints his wrists and ankles. The platform beneath him is glowing, hummed with energy. His bruised body ached, and the slash wound across his left eye had crusted over. When Wang Yong opened his eyes, he realized that he was in the middle of the ArkBaiki town plaza, in the middle of the crowd, and his neck was tied with the rope that was hanging in the top of the plaza ceiling.

    Arkbaiki town plaza stretched across five acres of polished marble, its pristine white surface reflecting the morning sun. Holographic screens floated above the crowd, broadcasting close-ups of the execution platform. Hundreds of citizens packed the plaza, their excited chatter filling the air like buzzing insects.

    Chrome-plated security robots lined the perimeter, their red sensor eyes scanning the crowd. An invisible dome shimmered occasionally when birds tried to fly through it. For the information, it was because of Aiman''s shield power that created an impenetrable barrier around the execution grounds.

    "The boy''s awake." Aiman''s deep voice boomed across the plaza. He stood tall in his ACP uniform, thick brows furrowed, as he addressed the crowd on the podium in the center of the plaza. "Citizens of Arkbaiki, we gather today to witness justice."

    Lisa shifted beside him, her pink hair catching the sunlight. Her ACP uniform strained against her chest as she crossed her arms, watching Wang Yong with an unreadable expression.

    In the front row, Linda sat with a blank expression, surrounded by a team of lawyers in pressed suits. Their tablets displayed holograms of legal documents and final preparations for the execution proceedings.

    Wang Yong''s mother stood apart from them, her face twisted with hatred as she stared at her son. Dark circles shadowed her eyes, and her hands trembled with frustration.

    Aiman raised his hand, silencing the murmuring crowd. His broad shoulders cast a shadow across the platform as he stepped forward.

    "In here, we present Wang Yong, age fourteen, who stands accused of the brutal murder of Wang Liang, his older''s brother. We have eyewitness accounts, security footage, and DNA traces, all of which pointed to this calculated act of fratricide. And now, we invite the jury to give us their decision for the accused fate."

    Aiman signals the jury, and they get up from their seat, handing a sealed envelope in his hand. Aiman accepted it with a nod and broke the seal. Revealing a paper that Aiman open it and read the content to the whole audience.

    "The jury finds the accused guilty of murder. We hereby sentenced Wang Yong to death by hanging."

    Wang Yong, shocked, tried to refute it. But his throat constricted as he tried to speak. His jaw worked, but no sound emerged. He glanced and found a chill of ice smoke in his breath escaping his lips. He glanced at Lisa, who maintained her serene smile even as frost crystallized around her fingertips.

    "What is going on??? I thought they were on my side. Am I dreaming right now?? Please tell me this is all a dream." Wang Yong desperately thought that, but when he realized the aching wound in his left eye and all over his body, he realized this was not a dream.

    "Before we proceed for the execution," Aiman''s voice echoed across the plaza, "I invite the victim''s mother to address the court."

    Wang Yong''s mother stepped onto the platform. Her face contorted with raw hatred as she faced the crowd. They are all silent as Wang Yong''s mother prepares to speak.

    "That son of the b*tch is no son of mine. He murdered my precious Wang Liang, my ONLY child. For years, I worked myself to exhaustion at the brothel, sacrificing everything for my children. And how does he repay that sacrifice? BY DESTROYING OUR FAMILY."

    Her fingers curled into claws. "Wang Liang had such potential. But this... this powerless piece of sh*t took all that away. I don''t think he deserves to be hung. He deserves worse than that. He deserves to suffer as I have suffered."

    After that, she quickly summons a water ball in her hand and quickly throws it to Wang Yong, which hits Wang Yong''s head, splashing his face. It didn''t hurt him, but Wang Yong felt pain in his heart.

    Tears streaked down Wang Yong''s mother''s hollow cheeks as she continued. "But I have to become a kind mother to Liang''er. So, I thank the jury for their wisdom. Let his death serve as a warning to others who would destroy their blood. Let justice be done."

    And the crowd erupted in thunderous applause at his mother''s words and action. Their faces twisted with hatred, eyes burning with righteous fury as they jabbed fingers toward Wang Yong.

    "Kill the f*cking murderer!"

    "Hang him!"

    "Justice for Wang Liang!"

    "Death to the brother-killer!"

    The chants grew louder, merging into a deafening roar that shook the plaza. Security robots adjusted their positions, metal joints whirring as they contained the surging masses.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    Meanwhile, Wang Yong is devastated. He felt each breath more painful than the last. For fourteen years, he''d watched her shower Wang Liang with love while treating him like dirt. Every smile, every gentle touch, every proud moment - all reserved for his brother.

    He remembered the countless nights he''d gone hungry because she gave the best portions to Wang Liang. The times she''d praised his brother''s water power while ignoring Wang Yong''s efforts to help around the house. The way she''d turn away whenever Wang Liang tormented him.

    The unfairness of it all crashed over him in waves. His brother had tortured him for years with that water power, yet their mother had always blamed Wang Yong for "provoking" the attacks. Wang Liang could do no wrong in her eyes, while Wang Yong could do no right.

    Tears welled up in his good eye as the crowd''s hatred pressed down on him. Their voices merged with memories of his mother''s constant disappointment.

    "Useless child."

    "Why couldn''t you be more like your brother?"

    "I wish you''d never been born."

    Wang Yong had enough. He felt unfair, and unconsciously, a strange sensation rippled through Wang Yong''s body, starting from his heart. It spread like wildfire through his veins, down his arms and legs, tingling at every joint until it reached his fingertips.

    The crowd''s jeers became a distant roar as he focused on that burning feeling inside. Wang Yong''s hands trembled against the restraints.

    "It''s not fair." He thought to himself while letting the power consume him, so he immediately gestured his hand to summon his Power.

    But before he could do the thing, a different kind of cold crept up his limbs. His muscles seized, refusing to respond. Wang Yong''s eyes darted down to find his arms encased in a thick layer of frost.

    Lisa stood at the edge of the platform, one hand extended toward him. Her usual flirty smile had vanished, replaced by an expression of steel. Ice crystals danced around her fingers as she strengthened her hold on him.

    Wang Yong'' struggled against Lisa''s ice power. He was held firm, powerless. Each breath came out as a visible puff in the suddenly frigid air around him. Wang Yong met Lisa''s gaze. He felt betrayed.

    Aiman raised his hand again, a gesture to demand silence. His deep voice carried across the plaza.

    "The promised time has come. Let us pray for his soul, that may the gods show him mercy where we cannot. Bow your heads!"

    The police robot on the platform lowered their heads in unison. Lisa''s eyes closed while keeping her power active to continue restraint Wang Yong. Aiman also lowered his head, his usual stern expression softening into something almost resembling pity.

    But the crowd refused to participate in this final act of grace. They continued jeering, some making rude gestures while others shouted for Wang Yong''s death. The security robots'' red sensors pulsed faster, tracking the increasing hostility.

    Wang Yong''s tears fall from his cheeks. His body shook with silent sobs as the weight of his situation crashed down. No one would mourn him. No one would remember him with kindness. His mother wanted him dead.

    The prayer ended. Aiman straightened, his thick fingers hovering over the control panel. The platform''s below Wang Yong hum grew louder.

    "May the gods forgive your sins, the accused one." Aiman then proceeded to press the button. The platform below Wang Yong is revealed to be a trapdoor, open with a metallic clang. Lisa''s ice shattered as he dropped, and the rope in his neck began to do his job. Hanging him.

    Wang Yong''s body jerked violently. His legs kicked uselessly at the empty air as the noose tightened. His lungs burned, desperate for oxygen that couldn''t pass his crushed windpipe. Dark spots danced across his vision, growing larger with each passing second.

    His good eye rolled back as consciousness slipped away. The crowd''s roars faded to a distant buzz, then to nothing at all. Darkness swallowed him whole, dragging him down into its endless depths.

    <hr>

    In the endless void, Wang Yong''s stare through the darkness. The sound started as a chuckle, then grew into a hysterical cackle that bounced off invisible walls.

    "Ahahahahahahaha. A hero? What a joke." His voice cracked. "All those dreams, those stupid hopes of joining the ACP. Is it impossible for me??"

    Just then, a flash of movement caught his attention. A familiar strawberry-scented vapor curled through the darkness, and there she was. Shi Ying. Her curly hair was floating as if underwater.

    "Catch me if you can!" Her playful voice drifted back to him as she darted away, her black jacket melting into the shadows.

    "A Ying? Wait!" Wang Yong broke into a run. His feet pounded against the invisible ground, but the distance between them only grew. "Where are you going?"

    Her laughter floated back to him, light and carefree. "Come on, slowpoke! You''re falling behind!"

    Wang Yong pushed himself harder, his legs burning with effort. But for every step he took, Shi Ying seemed to take three. Her form grew smaller and smaller, becoming just a speck in the distance.

    "Stop! Please!" His voice bounced off the darkness. "Don''t leave me here alone!"

    But Wang Yong''s desperate chase after Shi Ying came to an abrupt halt as a strong hand seized his collar, yanking him off his feet. He found himself staring into Wang Liang''s face - pale, twisted, with blood still seeping from the gash across his neck where the water dagger had struck.

    "Why?" Wang Liang''s voice gurgled through the blood. "Why did you kill me, little peasant? It should have been me. I should have taken your insignificant and useless life!!!"

    Wang Yong kicked his legs uselessly in the air, struggling to break free from his brother''s iron grip. Behind Wang Liang, their mother show up from the darkness, her hollow eyes burning with hatred.

    "You should have died instead of my precious Liang''er," she spat. "Worthless child. Son of the b*tch. Monster. Murderer!"

    The void filled with voices, hundreds of them, thousands, all screaming for his death.

    "Kill him!"

    "Brother-killer!"

    "Die! Die! Die!"

    Wang Yong clamped his hands over his ears, but the voices burrowed through his fingers, drilling into his brain. His throat burned as he screamed, trying to drown out the endless chorus of hatred.

    "STOP IT! PLEASE, STOP!"

    <hr>

    His eyes snapped open. Harsh and bright lights stabbed at his retinas. The screaming voices faded, replaced by the steady beep of medical equipment. A hospital room came into focus around him - white walls, the sharp smell of antiseptic, tubes running into his arms.

    A young doctor in his mid-twenties stood at the foot of his bed, reviewing some kind of chart. Lisa sat in a chair beside him, her pink hair tied back in a neat ponytail, still wearing her ACP uniform.

    And when Wang Yong was awake and screamed, they both looked at him. Lisa, with an expression of concern, relieved. "You are awake, thank god you are finally awake."

    Wang Yong, seeing Lisa, thought, "Am I dreaming again?"

    <figure></figure>

 Infiltration Mission

    The scene moves to a two-floor cream-colored estate, which is lit up by the night moon sky, with its windows and balcony. Ornate columns flanked the grand entrance, with the word Thompson on the plate name. The house is surrounded by a well-manicured hedge. On the right side of the house, near the hedge, there is Kenji in it. His white coat somehow remained clear despite crawling through the dirt. The mansion loomed before him, and its windows were pretty dark, not a single light in it.

    "I don''t understand. I should just walk through the very beautiful front door~~" He adjusted his earpiece. "An actor such as myself is sneaking around like some common thief~~"

    The sound of button mashing came through his earpiece. "Don''t be so dramatic, and stop whining. It''s called infiltration, geez. I can''t even enjoy myself in peace." Amabella''s voice was punctuated by the distinct sounds of a fighting game.

    "I know what infiltration means, squirt~~" Kenji stood up, brushing some dust from his sleeves. "Are those video game noises? You''re supposed to be my eyes~~"

    "For your information, d*ck. I am your eyes. I can see everything you see while destroying this boss." Amabella eyes glowed as she clicked the screen furiously, trying to finish the game. "And don''t call me squirt."

    Kenji rolled his eyes, creeping along the garden path. "At least tell me which window to enter through, tiny."

    "For the third time, you f*cking moron, second floor, east wing. There''s a balcony with big sliding glass doors. Do you copy? Or do you want me to alert the people inside the house that SOMEONE is creeping on the house just because you called me tiny??"

    "You wouldn''t dare, shorty~~" Kenji glanced up at the indicated balcony. "Besides, this is ridiculous. I could summon my swords right now and-"

    "And blow our whole operation and let Captain get mad. In that case, be my guest. Now, just follow my lead and- YES! FINALLY!! Take that, you long sword freak!!!"

    "Are you even paying attention anymore?"

    "I will not if you don''t start climbing and continue to distract me. And for your information, I can multitask. Now shut up and do your f*cking job."

    Kenji sighed dramatically. "The things I do for this job~~. My beautiful coat might get wrinkled~~."

    With an exaggerated sigh, Kenji gripped the ornate stonework and began to climb. Despite his complaints, he moved with surprising grace.

    "This is ridiculous." He hauled himself up another few feet as he climbed. "People of my caliber shouldn''t have to resort to such methods~~"

    "Less talking, more climbing. Chop chop. You are almost there." Amabella''s voice crackled through the earpiece.

    Kenji reached the balcony and swung himself over the railing, his coat swishing behind him. He approached the sliding door and tried to slide it. They didn''t budge.

    "It''s locked." He slides the door again. "Why would anyone lock the balcony door~~?"

    "Geez, I don''t know." Amabella''s voice dripped with sarcasm. "Maybe to stop people from breaking in? Now shut up and do the lock pi¡ª"

    A flash of silver cut through the air as Kenji summoned his Kusanagi sword. The blade hummed with a resonance blade sound.

    "Wait, what are you-"

    The sword sliced through the door multiple times like butter, causing the door and the glasses to fall and shatter to the ground.

    "Problem solved~~. You are slow, tiny~~." Kenji dismissed the Kusanagi, which disappeared in the air.

    "OH GOD YOU F*CKING RETARDED MORON!" Amabella''s rage quit on her game, and she finally focused on her eyes, watching Kenji. "I said quietly! What part of slicing through a door with your sword screams stealth to you?"

    "Please." Kenji stepped into the darkened room. "It was far easier, elegant, and fast. Besides, I am in."

    "That''s not the f*cking POINT! There will be evidence of forced entry, you F*CKING PIECE OF SH*T!"

    "Such harsh words from such a tiny person."

    "I¡ª" Amabella is speechless, "Kenji, let''s do our job this time, and let me hack your bank account after we finish this."

    "Oh, don''t you dare, tiny girl~~" Kenji moved through the darkened hallway, his footsteps silent despite his polished boots, passing through several rooms and several antique pieces of furniture in the hallway.

    "This silence is unnatural. A house this size should have some maid noise." He paused at an intersection.

    "My sensors show zero heat signatures on your floor." Amabella''s keyboard clicked in the background as she looked at the CCTV inside the house that she managed to hack. "There''s no one within a hundred-meter radius either. So don''t worry"

    "I could''ve waltzed through the front door." Kenji traced a finger along a dusty side table. "If you know there is no one in the house, I don''t even know why we would waste time creeping in this house instead of just walking commando, with me naked in there as well~~"

    "Well, yeah. But now, you already announced our presence by destroying those windows. So, good job announcing yourself." The sound of rapid typing filled the comm. "Take a left here. The suitcase should be in the study at the end of this hall."

    Kenji turned left, his eyes scanning the shadows. "No guards, no security, no staff. Doesn''t this seem too convenient?"

    "Look, my equipment doesn''t lie. And my seer Power, in case you are blind, is more effective than your eyes. I''ve triple-checked everything."

    "This place should be heavily guarded. Thompson''s family should have hired more bodyguards for this suitcase. But here we are, in an empty mansion. Does this scream strange to you, tiny??"

    "Trust me. If there was anyone here, I''d know."

    "TeCHnOLogY can be fOOled~~"

    "Not my tech." Amabella let out a frustration. "Fourth door on your right. The suitcase is behind a painting of some old guy with a mustache."

    "If we get ambushed by someone, I''m sending you my dry cleaning bill." Kenji approached the indicated door. "And therapy bills. And a new car to replace the one that got destroyed two days ago~~"This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    "Just get the suitcase, drama boy."

    Kenji pushed open the heavy oak door, revealing a study lined with leather-bound books and oil paintings. Moonlight filtered through tall windows, casting shadows across the Persian rug.

    "There''s your mustachioed gentleman~~" He approached a stern-faced portrait featuring a figure named Theodore Thompson, one of the people who contributed to Arkbaiki country. "Though I must say, old Thompson''s fashion sense leaves much to be desired~~"

    "You can admire him all you want, assh*le. But now, we have to get rid of this huge portrait. The suitcase is behind that."

    Kenji carefully took down the painting, and it revealed a wall safe - all brass and intricate gears, with multiple rotating dials arranged in a complex pattern.

    "This looks complicated~~" Kenji ran his fingers over the mechanism. "Who uses mechanical safes anymore?"

    "Don''t even think about-" Amabella started.

    Kenji summons his Kusanagi sword in his hand. "Time is money~~"

    The blade struck the safe''s surface, which caused a high-pitched whine to fill the air, followed by a red beam that shot from the middle of the safe. Kenji rolled sideways, his coat whipping behind him as the laser scorched the wall where his head had been moments before.

    "Welp, how do you feel, drama boy??" Amabella grinned.

    "What the actual hell?" He rolled behind an antique desk. "Since when do safes shoot lasers?"

    "Since always, if you''re rich enough. I was trying to tell you it might have security measures."

    "You said there weren''t any security systems!"

    "I said the electronic security was disabled. That''s a mechanical safe with mechanical countermeasures, moron."

    Kenji stood up, brushing dust from his sleeves. "Well, you''re paying for any damage to my coat. We agreed - if I got ambushed-"

    "No, no, no. Your exact words were ''ambushed by someone.'' That safe is a something, not a someone."

    "This is workplace harassment~~" Kenji straightened his vest. "I''m filing a complaint~~"

    "Please do. I will also file a complaint, which I will do now." Amabella typed something on her device. "I found this detailed video on Youdeo about cracking these vintage safes. First, turn the main dial clockwise until-"

    "You''re getting safe-cracking tutorials from Youdeo?" Kenji''s hands hovered over the dial. "What happened to pRoFeSsionaL inTeLLigence~~?"

    "Hey, some of those lock-picking channels are legit. Now shut up and listen. Three turns right, stop at 42..."

    Kenji reluctantly followed her instructions. The mechanism clicked and whirred with each precise movement.

    "Left twice, then what?" Kenji''s fingers worked the dials.

    "Hold on." Amabella''s sensor started to beep furiously. "Oh shit. dumb*ss, we''ve got company. Multiple signatures approaching from the northeast, about 5 kilometers out."

    "Human?"

    "Mechanical. Robots. Heavy ones." Amabella''s eyes now focus on the radar on her invisible screen. "They''re moving fast. You''ve got maybe two minutes before they reach the house."

    "How long to crack this safe?"

    "Five minutes." Amabella''s voice tightened. "You need to work faster. Right to 15, then left to 89..."

    Kenji''s fingers flew over the dials, following Amabella''s rapid-fire instructions. The safe mechanism clicked and groaned with each turn.

    "One minute thirty seconds," Amabella warned. "And these readings... these aren''t standard security robots. They''re combat models."

    "Wonderful~~" Kenji spun another dial. "Any other good news?"

    "Just focus on those numbers. Right to 27, then..."

    The safe''s mechanism groaned as Kenji worked the final combinations. Heavy metallic footsteps echoed through the mansion''s halls.

    "They''re inside the house." Amabella''s voice crackled. "East wing, ground floor."

    "Oh, wonderful. I am so cooked~~" Kenji''s fingers danced across the dials. The last tumbler clicked into place, and the safe door swung open with a satisfying creak. "Finally~~"

    His triumph faded as he peered inside. Dozens of identical black briefcases lined the safe''s interior, stacked neatly in rows.

    "Are you kidding me?" He grabbed the nearest case, checking its serial number. "Which one is it?"

    "The one marked X-437. It is placed in the deepest left corner." Amabella''s voice grew more anxious. "And hurry up!"

    Kenji tossed aside case after case. "Who needs this many briefcases? This is excessive."

    "Just find it!"

    He dug deeper into the safe, while outside, the Robot marched near the safe room. The stomping grew louder, accompanied by the whir of servos.

    "Got it!" He pulled out a case marked X-437.

    "Take your time." Amabella''s voice suddenly became eerily calm.

    "What? You were just-" Kenji froze. "Oh no..,"

    "Oh, you know." Her tone remained unnaturally steady. "Since our friends are already here, we might as well enjoy the moment."

    Kenji slowly turned around. Eight robots stood in a semicircle behind him, their metallic frames gleaming in the moonlight. Red optical sensors focused on his position, and weapon systems hummed to life.

    "You could have mentioned this sooner~~"

    "Chop chop. You have the chance to destroy them now. I thought this was your specialty."

    The robots raised their arms, revealing an arsenal of built-in weapons. Kenji clutched the briefcase to his chest, his other hand ready to summon his swords.

    "Well," Kenji said, "this evening just got more interesting~~"

    "Time for the show! I got the best seat from my seer power. Don''t let me down." Amabella''s voice crackled through the earpiece as she grabbed a bowl of popcorn from her desk. The sound of crunching kernels filled the comm line. "Don''t disappoint me, lunatic."

    Silver flashed through the moonlit study as dozens of swords materialized around Kenji. He kept Kusanagi firmly in his grip, its blade humming with ethereal energy.

    "It''s my chance to shine~~" Kenji flicked his wrist, sending the floating blades spinning toward the robots. Metal screeched against metal as swords pierced mechanical limbs and chassis.

    Three robots collapsed, sparks flying from their damaged frames. The remaining five opened fire, filling the room with a barrage of bullets and energy blasts.

    More robots thundered up the stairs, their heavy footsteps echoing through the mansion. Kenji''s swords danced through the air, slicing through metal and circuitry with surgical precision.

    <hr>

    In another place, a half naked young man watched multiple security feeds from Thompson''s mansion security camera. The screens showed Kenji''s battle from various angles.

    "Hey, girl, our plan worked."

    Valerie stepped into the dim light, half-naked too, with her wearing a bed robe, a satisfied smile playing across her face. "Excellent, Maxwell. Now that our objective is complete, let''s enjoy the show. It''s time to let the trouble brew from within." She settled into a bed behind them and looked at Maxwell seductively, "Ready for round two?"

    "Hahaha¡­ later. I want to see how the lost child of Nishitaro handles this."

    "Aww¡­." Valerie let out a slight disappointment before standing up, watching the security feeds continue to display Kenji''s deadly dance with his flying swords, more robots joining the fray with each passing moment.

    <hr>

    Kenji sprinted through the mansion''s corridors, and the briefcase clutched against his chest while Kusanagi sliced through another robot''s torso. His floating swords carved a path ahead, reducing mechanical pursuers to sparking scrap metal.

    "Exit strategy would be nice!" Kenji vaulted over a fallen robot.

    "Why did you need it anyway?? Just destroy the home." Amabella moved her hand as the part of the invisible screen followed her finger. "Take the next right, then-"

    Suddenly, multiple metal plates slid down over windows and doorways with hydraulic hisses. The moonlight vanished as reinforced barriers sealed every possible escape route. Kenji is trapped by the 5-inch thick reinforced barrier all around the house.

    "What the f*ck???" Kenji let out a serious side of him as he skidded to a halt as a steel wall slammed down inches from his face.

    "Sh*t!!!. The whole place is going into lockdown." Amabella''s voice crackled with static. "Someone''s activated the mansion''s defense systems manually."

    Mechanical footsteps echoed from multiple directions. More robots emerged from side passages, their red sensors fixed on Kenji''s position. The corridor filled with the whir of charging weapons.

    "I count twelve new friends." Kenji backed against the sealed wall, summoning additional swords that hovered around him in a defensive formation. "Any bright ideas?"

    "I''m trying to override the lockdown, but..." More furious typing. "These systems are completely isolated. Someone''s controlling everything."

    The robots advanced in perfect formation, their metal feet clanking against the marble floor. Kenji''s floating blades spun faster, ready to strike.

    "Looks like your power and the tech are useless." He adjusted his grip on Kusanagi. "I suppose we''ll have to do this the hard way."

    "Try not to die." Amabella stopped typing as she saw that doing anything was useless at this point, grabbed the popcorn again, and munched another. "And remember - that briefcase better stay intact."

    The robots raised their weapons in unison. Kenji''s swords hummed with anticipation as the mechanical army closed in, trapping him in the sealed corridor.

    <figure></figure>