Chapter 184 What level?
Elbert flashed a cryptic smile. "As it happens, Officer Leonard, I have a little gift for you today."
Leonard's interest piqued. "Oh? And what would that be?"
Elbert finished his apple, weighing the core in his hand.
"An international assassin." He said indifferently.
"An assassin?" Leonard's gaze sharpened. "Where?"
Suddenly, a high-pitched screech split the air.
The ground vibrated with the roar of an engine.
In the distance, a cement mixer truck barreled toward them, its driver hidden behind a devil mask.
Elbert's smile widened, casually tossing the apple core into a nearby bin.
"Step back," he murmured.
He took two strides forward before slamming his foot into the ground, using the leverage to deliver a monstrous kick to the truck's grille.
The impact resonated through the air.
The truck, as if colliding with an immovable object, crumpled like paper. The engine block folded in on itself, the windshield exploding into a spiderweb of cracks.
The impact nearly knocked Leonard off his feet.
The truck, caught in a dizzying spin, careened sideways before slamming into a utility pole. It shuddered to a halt, smoke billowing from its mangled hood.
Its once-imposing frame was reduced to a twisted wreck. Every window was shattered, with its metal panels peeled back like tinfoil.
The driver, clearly no ordinary man, shook off the impact. He shoved aside the debris, desperate to escape the wreckage.
However, it was too late.
A figure appeared beside the truck, a white-clad phantom with a single eye glowing violet.
Elbert chuckled lowly. He effortlessly threw a punch.
The assassin, used to killing and not being killed , crumpled under the blow. His vision went dark, his body going limp.
Elbert shook out his hand, retrieving a metal playing card – the six of clubs – from the unconscious man's belt. He then casually dragged the assassin from the wreckage and threw him at Leonard's feet.
Leonard stared, his face in awe and disbelief.
That truck had been traveling at least fifty miles per hour. It was like a behemoth of steel and concrete, yet Albert stopped it with a single kick.
'What monstrous strength did this young man possess? Had he become Superman in the few days since their last encounter?'
Leonard snapped back to reality, his gaze fixing on Elbert.
"Tell me," he demanded lowly. "What level of cyborg are you? Peak A-level? B-level? You know you need to be registered."
Elbert chuckled, shaking his head. "Officer Leonard, if you must insist on labeling me, let's just say I'm AND-level."
"AND-level?" Leonard frowned. "There's no such designation in the system."
"Sir," Elbert said in amusement, "you need to update your knowledge base." He waved his hand dismissively. "Speaking of which, I did just deliver an international assassin to your doorstep. Shouldn't I get a Good Citizen Award or something?"
Leonard sighed, glancing down at the unconscious assassin. "You've tangled with a dangerous group, Elbert. Are you sure you're alright? Do you need me to assign some men for—"
"Don't bother," Elbert interrupted, smiling wryly. "I doubt your men would be much help against the likes of these guys."
"Don't underestimate yourself, Officer Leonard," he said seriously. "I won't stand for these international actors running wild in our city. Protecting Veridiania is my civic duty."
He paused. "Gather your best people, Leonard. Come to my lab later."
Leonard's eyes widened. "You've made breakthroughs in cyborg technology? Just like Summer?"
Elbert's expression turned wistful. "It's a work in progress, but I'm optimistic. The research is still in its early stages."
Leonard stared at him, flabbergasted.
'Still in its early stages? Was this kid serious?' he gaped.
"Since when did you have a lab?" Leonard sputtered. "Is it in this exhibition hall?"
Elbert smiled. "I recently acquired a medical company."
"What company?" Leonard asked, bewildered.
"FutureTech Group."
Leonard choked on his own spit. "You acquired Mr. Brown's company? FutureTech? Valued at 800 billion?" He shook his head in disbelief. "You're swimming in money, kid. You should donate some to the police department!"
Elbert chuckled. "Within a month, I'll provide you with ten super soldiers, each exceeding A7-level. They'll make General Jeffery's Apex Guardians look like children's toys."
Leonard's eyes lit up, his earlier frustration forgotten. "Now that's what I like to hear!" He paused, his expression turning serious. "A month is pushing it, though. Give me six, but make sure they're ready."
Elbert simply smiled, offering no argument. "I'll be going then."
"Where to?" Leonard asked. "Shouldn't you be working on your research?"
"I have business with the Black Fox gang. Trouble's brewing up."
Leonard's jaw dropped. "And you still claim you're not Paul Two?"
"Prove it," Elbert challenged with mischievious eyes.
He turned and walked away, leaving Leonard speechless.
"You..." Leonard sputtered, shaking his fist. "You little..."
But as he watched Elbert disappear down the street, he strangely calmed down and slowly sipped his tea.
This Elbert, this enigma of good and evil... he was something else entirely.
He ruled Wavehaven's underworld; a one-man army facing down international assassins. A silent guardian taking on human trafficking rings. A scientific genius pushing the boundaries of cyborg technology.
It sounded like a ridiculous fantasy.
But somehow, Leonard knew it was all true.
He smiled genuinely, filled with anticipation.
Let the storm rage, old man. Let's see what you're truly capable of.
An hour later, across the ocean in a farmhouse in Rio Town, Dek State, an old telegraph machine sprang to life.
An elderly man with silver hair fumbled for his reading glasses and sat down before the device.
'Dear Mr. Box, we have unfortunate news from Veridiania.'
He frowned, his heart sinking.
'The six of clubs and the four of hearts have been neutralized.'
Anger washed over him. He replied with fingers trembling from rage, [Dear Kofi, was it that devil, Paul Three?]
[Sorry, Mr. Box, it's unclear.[
[Speak plainly!] he yelled, his voice echoing through the farmhouse.
The reply afterward was hesitant. [Field reports indicate the four of hearts perished during a gang conflict, while the six of clubs died in a vehicular accident.]
"What?!"
The old man slammed his fist on the table, rattling the telegraph keys. His coffee spilled slightly, staining the message he had been composing.
"Impossible! My children were chosen! How could they fall to common thugs? To a traffic collision?"
He swept the cup aside, sending it shattering against the wall.
He typed while barely restraining his anger, [Dear Kofi, it seems we must unleash the full power of our finances. Sell the remaining livestock. Double the bounty on Paul Three's head.]
[Understood, Mr. Box. The bounty is now 60 million dollars.]
He paused, his anger giving way to a chilling calculation. [This adversary is formidable. Deploy the Chain Bridge and Invictus Divine. It's time to unleash hell.]
[Yes, Mr. Box.]
Back in Veridiania, Leonard sat at his desk, staring at his computer screen.
The Wavehaven Cyborg Registration Information stared back at him.
[Name: Elbert]
The cursor blinked in the 'Cyborg Level' field.
He sipped his tea, scratching his head.
'What did Elbert mean by "AND-level"?' he thought.
He wasn't exactly a tech whiz, but he managed to open his web browser.
"AND," he muttered, typing the word into the search bar.
He scrolled through the results, his eyes skimming over the text until a particular entry caught his attention.
[The 26 letters of the English alphabet originated from ancient Latin, also known as Roman letters.]
[Two thousand years ago, the Latin alphabet actually contained a 27th letter.]
[This letter was pronounced 'AND' and written as: &.]
'The 27th letter?'
Leonard's mind raced.
'Cyborg levels were designated by letters: A, B, C... though, officially, no one had reached C-level yet.'
'Was Elbert implying that the standard 26 letters weren't enough to categorize him? That he existed beyond their limitations?'
'Beyond the boundary, and surpassing everyone?'
'A bit arrogant, no?'
Figuring out the mystery, Leonard chuckled and shook his head.
This kid was something else.
After a long moment, he took a deep breath and typed a single character into the 'Cyborg Level' field: &.
In the notes section, he added: Abilities unknown and potentially limitless.
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