Handsome! So incredibly handsome!
That was the only thought in the minds of all the young women present at this moment.
Even Mary, who was trembling with fear, couldn't help but think it.
Standing to the side, Charlotte looked at the cold, stern expression on her brother's face.
A strange, inexplicable feeling welled up in her heart.
First, there was the state of the machine.
She knew her brother was strong, but this seemed a bit... too strong, didn't it?
Could he really have had some secret exchange with the stall owner before the match?
If that were true, he was far too cunning!
Second, was her brother actually angry?
No, that wasn't right.
Her intuition told her he was faking it.
But logically speaking, for a normal person, he really should be furious!
Charlotte wrinkled her cute little nose.
Could it be... exactly what Ms. Cecil had told her in private?
That because she had experienced too many supernatural events lately, her nerves were shot, making her overly sensitive and prone to over-interpreting everything Al did?
Before Charlotte could untangle the thoughts in her head, Victoria, standing beside her, could no longer restrain herself.
“I'll go with you!”
She spoke up first, her voice carrying a hint of urgency and undisguised admiration.
Earlier, in front of the power meter, Elias's stingy behavior—gentlemanly offering to treat but letting someone else pay—had indeed been a bit of a turn-off.
But now, what did that little bit of stinginess matter?!
That was called having principles!
That was called being frugal and good at managing a home!
“I mean... I'll walk with you!”
Victoria took a deep breath, hurriedly adding another sentence, completely disregarding her usual reserve.
Her deep blue eyes were fixed on Elias, seemingly terrified that he would coldly refuse her.
However...
Elias was clearly in no mood for romance at the moment.
At least, judging by his expression, that cold face that kept everyone at a distance already made the situation very clear.
“I said, alone.”
Elias didn't even spare Victoria a glance; his eyes were devoid of any ripple of emotion.
He turned his head directly toward his sister, speaking in an unquestionable tone of command.
“Lottie, take your friends back immediately.”
“It's the Spark Festival tonight. There are too many different kinds of people out here; it's bound to be chaotic.”
“I expect to see you staying home properly when I finish my business and return.”
Satisfying!
The moment those words left his mouth, Elias felt incredibly satisfied deep down!
To this day!
After being in this world for so long, he could finally, rightfully assume the dignified air of the head of the household in this family!
Think about the life he had been living before.
In this house, it had always been his older brother Arthur and his sister Charlotte taking turns scolding him!
His status was even lower than the cat that occasionally came by the house for food!
Today, he had finally taken this opportunity to turn the tables and become the master!
Furthermore...
He had deliberately spoken so harshly entirely to create a sense of uncertainty for Charlotte.
At the very least, it would ensure the girl went home obediently instead of wandering around.
“Okay...”
Charlotte was stunned by her brother's sudden aura and nodded obediently.
After all, George, who had caused such a mess today, was brought here by her friend.
He had even made such a scene just to pursue her.
She felt somewhat guilty about the whole situation.
However...
The young girl's personality was never that of an absolutely submissive, good little girl.
Her eyes darted around, and she still playfully stuck out her tongue.
She tentatively took two steps forward, coming right up to Elias.
Looking up, she used a pitiful, extremely coquettish little expression to ask:
“Then... Al.”
“Can I go find Arthur?”
Uh...
Elias paused, just about to nod.
Charlotte immediately threw out another option.
“Or, should I go to the Central District to find Ms. Cecil?”
Hmm?!
“It's a festival, after all. Staying home alone is really boring...”
Charlotte continued to wheedle, drawing out her words.
“No!”
Elias's scalp tingled, and he interrupted her loudly, almost like a reflex.
Seeing Charlotte jump at the shout, her little mouth pouting with a look of grievance, Elias's heart softened.
He hurriedly cleared his throat, trying to fix the situation.
“I mean... it's not right to trouble Ms. Cecil in the middle of the night; she's busy with official business.”
“If you don't want to be home alone...”
“You can go find Arthur.”
“Yay!”
The aggrieved Charlotte vanished in an instant. Hearing this special permission, her face immediately cleared up, beaming with joy.
As if afraid her brother would change his mind, she turned around and started calling for Mary.
Together, the two of them dragged and hauled the unconscious George, who was like dead weight on the ground.
Before leaving, she didn't forget to look back and leave one last remark.
“Al, when you get back, tell me how you did that!”
Crap!
In his rush to slap that idiot George's face, he had accidentally overdone it!
He nodded to Charlotte, silently beginning to think of an excuse to deal with his sister later.
At the same time...
As a sensible sister, Charlotte didn't forget to take Victoria's arm.
She gently comforted the blonde girl, who looked completely dejected after being rejected, while working hard to say all sorts of good things about her brother.
The group staggered away and disappeared around the corner.
The onlookers realized the man in the suit on the ground was really just a drunk making a fool of himself.
Finding it dull, they quickly dispersed like a receding tide.
The focus of the entire street returned once more to the ever-growing Great Torchlight Parade.
The deafening sound of bagpipes and the revelry of the people covered everything that had just happened here.
Before leaving...
Elias didn't immediately turn to join the crowd.
Instead, he slowly turned his head and walked toward the stall owner.
Seeing this monster approaching him with a blank expression, the stall owner's mental defenses collapsed.
His calves were shaking so violently that he almost lost control of his knees and fell to the ground to beg for mercy!
“This gentleman... sir! Ancestor!”
The owner pressed himself tightly against the wall, cold sweat soaking through his clothes as he spoke tremulously.
“Is... is there anything else?”
“Didn't I give you all the money...?”
He was submissive on the outside.
But inside his fast-turning brain, he was desperately and frantically calculating.
If it really came to blows, how many thugs from the West District gangs of Hope County would he have to call just to barely subdue this man of monstrous strength?
Ten?
Twenty?
One had to realize!
When he had bought this beat-up machine from the black market, he had specifically paid a pit fighter to test it, just to be safe!
Under the condition of no spring restrictions at all...
Only a top-tier brute, over two meters tall with muscles like rock, using every ounce of his strength in a heavy punch—
Generating over four hundred pounds, roughly two hundred kilograms of terrifying power—
Could barely push the machine's pointer to the highest position to win a gold crown!
Yet this polite-looking young man, no more than 1.85 meters tall...
Had not only done it with ease...
But had done it while he had freaking secretly locked the restrictions!
He had used a violence that crushed everything to turn the entire machine into scrap on the spot!
Anyone with half a brain knew...
A normal human could never possess such terrifying, physics-defying strength!
This guy...
Maybe he wasn't human at all!
He might even be a vampire in human skin!
Or a werewolf!
The more the owner thought, the more despair he felt, and even his breathing became difficult.
At this moment, he even felt like there was some eerie light gleaming in Elias's eyes.
It seemed to confirm his thoughts.
His gaze shifted past Elias's broad shoulders, looking behind him like a man grasping at a straw.
Across the street...
His companion, who was supposed to be the shill, was currently hiding behind a galvanized trash can like a frightened ostrich.
His body was also trembling uncontrollably.
Seeing the owner's plea for help, the shill shook his head like a rattle.
He wore a look of utter refusal.
The meaning was clear:
Don't you freaking look at me!
If you want to die, don't take me with you!
“If I wanted you dead, that companion of yours couldn't save you.”
Elias stopped half a step in front of the stall owner.
“Since you're running a trick stall to earn some hard-earned money...”
“Don't use these low-life methods here to swindle people.”
Elias leaned forward slightly, his oppressive shadow instantly enveloping the owner.
“Most people in Hope County are lower-class laborers who sell their strength.”
“They don't have much money to begin with.”
“When you cheat them of their hard-earned money, do you sleep soundly at night?”
Elias stared into the owner's bloodshot eyes, which were filled with terror.
The corners of his mouth suddenly curled into an eerie arc.
He lowered his voice, speaking in a dark tone that only the two of them could hear, emphasizing every word:
“My name is Batman.”
“Carve that name deep into your brain.”
“The next time I see you cheating people on this street...”
Elias slowly raised his right hand—the one that had just demolished the machine.
Under the owner's horrified gaze...
He lightly patted his stiff shoulder.
“I'll let you experience firsthand...”
“Exactly what it feels like to be the sandbag for a power meter.”
With that...
Elias turned around, hands in his pockets, and his silhouette was soon swallowed by the night.
Leaving only the stall owner alone, shivering in the cold night wind.
He really needed to use the bathroom...
Rate on N.U.
