Chapter 148 Young Summer
"Otherwise…" Summer trailed off, his calm demeanor unwavering.
The SWAT team, as if on cue, split into two groups. One moved to secure the unconscious Nine of Spades while the other fanned out, surrounding Summer.
Leonard sighed, waving a hand dismissively. "At ease, gentlemen. He's young, doesn't quite grasp the gravity of…" He trailed off, shaking his head.
This exchange, thankfully, was not broadcast. Threatening the head of Wavehaven's police force, even indirectly, was not exactly conducive to good PR.
Leonard turned his attention to Nine of Spades, who was being expertly restrained and processed by his team. A wave of exhaustion, mixed with a strange sense of pride, washed over him.
"Summer," he began, his voice laced with curiosity, "you handled someone like that with ease. Don't mind my asking, but where did you learn to fight like that?"
Summer's expression remained unchanged. "Gary's training. When I was fifteen, he had me sparring against… someone of his caliber."
Leonard's eyebrows shot up.
'Fifteen years old? Fighting a cyborg? And if Summer is eighteen now… that means cyborgs have been around for at least three years?'
A chilling thought struck him.
'Summer, his siblings, their mysterious brother… what if they had mastered this technology years ago? What if they had been operating in the shadows, changing the world in ways no one could comprehend?'
After pondering a while, he felt a shiver run down his spine. For the first time in his long career, Leonard felt out of his depth.
He clung to one reassuring fact: Elbert, as far as he could tell, was on his side. If not… well, the world would be a very different place.
With a heavy sigh, he turned towards the entrance of Lab Graveyard. He had a lot to process and a lot to report.
"Elbert doesn't welcome visitors today, sir," Summer's voice, quiet but firm, stopped him in his tracks. "You should leave. Or else."
"Summer," Leonard sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, "this isn't some international border dispute. You're not a mercenary anymore. If you start something here, even I can't protect you." He paused, a wry smile playing on his lips. "And for what it's worth, could you maybe… diversify your vocabulary a bit? That 'or else' bit is getting old."
Summer blinked, his expression unreadable. "It's not a catchphrase, sir. It's a statement of intent."
Leonard threw his hands up in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, point taken. Just… try to stay within the lines, okay? I'm sure Gary has plans, and those plans probably don't involve antagonizing the entire police force."
"Of course, sir," Summer replied, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
Leonard nodded, relieved. He gestured to his team, and they began to withdraw, the sounds of their retreat echoing in the night.
As the last of the SWAT team piled into their vehicles, the camera feed from the drone zoomed in on the unconscious Nine of Spades being loaded into a prison van. A screenshot was captured, forever immortalizing the moment.
[International Assassin Brought to Justice!] the headline screamed.
Back on the livestream, the chat was on fire.
[Holy crap, what a ride!]
[That was intense! So satisfying seeing that assassin get taken down!]
[Biggest fail in assassin history! I bet he'll never want to hear the word 'Veridiania' ever again!]
[Best. Livestream. Ever!]
[Gemini App, Paul Three, you guys are the real deal!]
The screen cut back to Paul Three, still the picture of casual elegance in his white shirt.
An hour and a half. That was how long the livestream had lasted, shattering viewership records and leaving every other platform in the dust. No amount of flashy content could compete with a real-life, high-stakes showdown like this.
"Well, folks," Paul Three's voice rang out, smooth as silk, "thanks for staying up with me. Time to show our appreciation, don't you think?"
He smiled, and with a snap of his fingers, the nearly 300 million in virtual gifts transformed into a dazzling shower of digital gift boxes. Millions of them, raining down on the viewers, each containing cash prizes ranging from a few dollars to hundreds.
The chat went into overdrive. People who had been laughing hysterically just moments ago were now frantically tapping their screens, their excitement reaching fever pitch.
This was unprecedented. A livestream that delivered not just entertainment, but actual, tangible rewards.
Gemini App was on another level. Generous, innovative, and clearly here to stay.
The digital gold rush lasted a good ten minutes before Paul Three raised his hand, signaling the end of the giveaway.
"That's all for tonight, folks," he announced, his voice laced with a hint of amusement. "But this is just the beginning for Gemini App. We've got a lot more in store for you, so stay tuned."
He paused, a mischievous glint in his eye. "In the meantime, might I suggest checking out some of the other amazing content we have on offer?"
The chat exploded with suggestions.
[Just tell us what to watch! We trust your judgment!]
[Gemini App is life now! I deleted all my other streaming apps. You guys are too good!]
[Seriously, just give us the word and we'll watch it! No sleep till Gemini!]
Paul Three chuckled softly.
"Well, if you insist… I highly recommend… everything."
He winked.
"Every single show on the Gemini App is a masterpiece waiting to be discovered. Happy viewing, everyone. Bye."
And with that, he typed a final message on the public screen: [Thank you for your support.]
The livestream ended.
Elbert leaned back in his chair, a satisfied sigh escaping his lips. He glanced at the industry stats flashing across his screen. Gemini App was officially a force to be reckoned with.
A soft tap on his shoulder pulled him out of his thoughts. Summer stood beside him, his expression unreadable.
"The police are gone," Summer reported.
Elbert nodded, lighting a cigarette. He studied his brother, this young man who had endured so much and trusted so easily.
Abandoned at a young age, left to fend for himself on the streets. He had seen things no child should ever witness, endured hardships that would break most men.
He and his siblings, Spring, Autumn, and Winter, had been rescued from that life by Gary, a man who had seen a spark of hope in their eyes when everyone else saw only brokenness.
For over a decade, Gary had honed their skills, turning them into weapons, but never forgetting their humanity. He had taught them loyalty, discipline, and above all, the value of family.+
But even Gary, with all his wisdom and compassion, couldn't erase the darkness that lingered in their hearts. The years they had spent fighting, killing, and surviving… it had left an indelible mark.
Gary often confided in Elbert, expressing his regret for exposing them to that life. He feared he had extinguished the last vestiges of innocence within them.
Elbert understood his friend's guilt, but deep down, he knew it wasn't Gary's fault. He had given them a choice, a chance at a different life. But they had chosen the path of violence, driven by something primal, something buried deep within their souls.
And yet, despite their brutal past, they had embraced Elbert as one of their own. They saw in him a kindred spirit, someone who understood their pain, their anger, their unwavering loyalty.
Summer had once told him that he could tell, just by looking in Elbert's eyes, that he saw them not as killing machines, but as people.
But what truly solidified their bond was an incident that occurred three years ago.
Elbert, still reeling from his own trauma, his vision blurred, his head pounding with relentless pain, had declared, without a moment's hesitation, that he would be their brother. And if anyone dared to harm them, they could count on him to make things right.
Summer had smiled then, a rare display of emotion, but deep down, he hadn't truly believed it.
Two years later, when they returned, they found their frail, headache-ridden Elbert transformed. He had become a force to be reckoned with, capable of defeating all four of them with terrifying ease.
He had become someone worthy of their respect, their loyalty, their love.
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