Chapter 210 Level 27 Strongman
Twenty minutes later, the streets of Wavehaven echoed with sirens and flashing lights. Ambulances and police vehicles raced toward the various locations, their crews prepared for the worst.
The Special Ops team, dispatched to manage the aftermath, found themselves overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the operation.
Back at headquarters, Leonard calmly sipped his tea. Experience had taught him that his presence at the various crime scenes was, at this point, superfluous. The die had been cast, the players accounted for, and the game, for now, was over.
Behind him, Trinity paced restlessly. Tonight's events had shaken her, challenging her perception of the world she thought she knew. She'd watched in stunned silence as ambulances and prison transport vans arrived at headquarters, their cargo a grim testament to tonight's bloodbath.
One.
Two.
Three…
The numbers continued to climb, each additional body representing another life extinguished, another soul lost to the abyss.
Ten.
Fifteen…
Over twenty enhanced individuals, their bodies broken and battered, were unloaded, their fates hanging precariously in the balance. Some were destined for the cold, sterile confines of a maximum-security prison, while others, their injuries too severe to ignore, were whisked away to the nearest medical facility. On the other hand, a few dead ones were consigned to the morgue.
Trinity's initial shock gave way to a grudging acceptance. Veridiania, it seemed, harbored secrets; dark and dangerous ones beneath its seemingly tranquil surface. The "God" that Officer Reed spoke of with such reverence was real, and his power was undeniable.
She reviewed the files of each apprehended operative, her brow furrowed in concentration. These were not low-level thugs, but seasoned killers, each with violent crimes to their name. Despite that, they had been systematically dismantled, their skills unmatched to the forces they had met.
As the final stretcher disappeared behind the automated doors of the medical bay, Trinity turned to Leonard, her expression grim. "Officer Reed, these were all A-level enhanced individuals. Highly trained, highly dangerous."
Leonard, leisurely sipping his tea, nodded in agreement. "Indeed. Though, considering they were all taken down with a single blow, I'd say their actual threat level was somewhat… inflated."
Veridiania's classification system for enhanced individuals was, to put it mildly, outdated. Without access to a centralized database, Leonard had to rely on his years of experience and a healthy dose of intuition to assess the capabilities of their adversaries.
Trinity, recognizing the subtle dig, chose to let it slide. "The four remaining operatives," she continued, her voice barely a whisper, "are B+ class. Do you honestly believe this… 'God' of yours can handle them?"
"B+?" Leonard chuckled, setting down his mug. "My dear Trinity, you seem to forget that the English alphabet has twenty-seven letters."
Trinity stared at him, utterly bewildered. "What are you talking about?"
Leonard, enjoying her confusion, leaned back in his chair with mischievious eyes. "A little history lesson, my dear. The English alphabet, as we know it, originated from the ancient Greeks over two thousand years ago. And in its original form, it had a twenty-seventh letter."
He paused for dramatic effect, savoring the anticipation in Trinity's eyes. "That letter, my dear, is the ampersand – '&'."
He grabbed a nearby whiteboard marker and drew a rather lopsided ampersand on the wall.
Trinity stared at the symbol, her confusion deepening. "Officer Reed, while I appreciate the impromptu calligraphy lesson, I fail to see the relevance."
Leonard, beaming like a proud father, puffed out his chest. "The relevance, my dear Trinity, is that our 'God,' operates on a level that defies conventional classification. He is the twenty-seventh letter, the outlier, the one that exists beyond the boundaries of the known."
He leaned closer, whispering, "Those four remaining operatives, B+ class or not, are nothing to him. Mark my words, Trinity; we'll be receiving good news very soon."
Trinity, torn between amusement and exasperation, excused herself. Whenever the topic of this mysterious "god" arose, Officer Reed always deviated from the realm of normalcy. She pulled out her phone and, with a resigned sigh, began composing her report to headquarters.
[Operation Nightfall: Update. Encountered a previously unidentified enhanced individual operating within Wavehaven, Veridiania. Capabilities are significantly beyond any known asset currently active within the region.]
She paused, her fingers hovering over the keyboard.
[Subject exhibits extreme prejudice toward Card Club operatives. Directly responsible for the neutralization of 26 confirmed targets, including multiple A-level enhanced individuals. All targets neutralized with a single blow.]
She hesitated for a moment, then added.
[Estimated threat level: &.]
Across the room, Leonard observed her behind his teacup, smiling a bit. 'Let them record it,' he thought. Let them analyze, dissect, and try to make sense of it. In the end, it wouldn't change a thing. This "God," this force of nature, belonged to Veridiania.
Meanwhile, on Wavehaven's outskirts, in the abandoned Lab Graveyard, Elbert and Summer were enjoying a well-deserved respite from the night's chaos.
A crackling bonfire, fueled by old lab reports and broken dreams, cast a warm glow over the clearing. Its flames danced in the gentle breeze.
The air, thick with the smell of roasted meat and woodsmoke, crackled with a sense of peace that belied the violence that had transpired just hours earlier.
Summer, her cheeks flushed from the warmth of the fire and the potent Veridianian beer, savored the taste of the perfectly grilled carp Elbert had handed her. "Bro," she mumbled between bites, "I never knew you were such a good cook."
Elbert, tending to the sizzling steaks with practiced ease, chuckled. "There are many things you don't know about me." He popped open two cans of beer, handing one to her. "Besides, you're eighteen now, a grown woman. Time to expand your culinary horizons."
Sheaccepted the beer with a hesitant smile. "Eighteen, huh? Feels strange." She took a small sip, her face contorting at the bitter taste. "Bro, you know I can't handle my alcohol."
Elbert, with amused eyes, raised his can in a mock toast. "Nonsense, Summer. You're a Gary now, one of us. And Garys, as we all know, are born with a healthy appreciation for a good brew."
He clinked his can against hers. "To family, and to surviving another day in this crazy world."
"To family," Summer echoed, taking a larger gulp. Her resolve was bolstered by the warm fire and Elbert's camaraderie.
The grass rustled slightly, and a figure gradually appeared.
Summer squinted her eyes and found it was Quentin, who had just returned!
He was daunted when he realized his gap with Elbert.
Quentin came to the open space in front of the two.
With a thud and without care, he threw his bat aside.
"Your two are in a good mood, huh?" Quentin sighed.
Then, he directly laid down on the ground!
Summer was about to get up, but was held down by Elbert.
She scratched her head, "Bro, Quentin seems to be hurt."
Elbert smiled helplessly, "Don't worry, he's fine; it's just that his fragile heart is broken again!"
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