CHAPTER 36: DON’T BUY THIS CHAPTER YET!

I watched as Peter’s face shifted from initial exhilaration to sudden despair.

I was telling the truth. There were only seven thugs inside, and their strength was nothing remarkable, probably just like the ones I’d fought by the city gate. Had they stayed on the same floor, it would have taken me even less time to get rid of them.

And during that moment, I truly realized just how monstrous I’d become.

A thug I’d once needed to be careful around, the kind I would have feared in my old life, was now no different than an ant I could simply trample.

Suppressing the throbbing in my skull, I shot him a furious glare, then clamped my fingers over his mouth, effectively cutting off any further sound.

If Peter let out one more noise like that, I couldn’t guarantee I wouldn’t knock him unconscious just for the sake of peace and quiet.

"Geez, are gang leaders in this era all this cowardly and delicate? That scream of yours sounded like an old hag getting stabbed; it nearly ruptured my eardrums." I hissed, rubbing my temple.

Peter blinked his eyes at me.

"What? Aren’t you going to say anything? Did I break your larynx?"

He blinked again, this time faster, a high-frequency flutter that seemed to be trying to send a message.

"Cut the crap and start speaking. What’s the use of blinking at me like that? Are you imagining yourself a cute, little girl begging her brother for candy with cutesy eyes? You’re not! Your blinking just makes me nauseous, understand? So drop the act immediately!"

"Mmmph! Mmmhhhh!" Peter protested, the sound muffled by my hand.

"Ah..." I was momentarily stunned, mainly because the very obvious fact of my hand still clamping his mouth had completely slipped my mind.

Naturally, my legendary thick skin deployed instantly. I drew myself up and stated, with impeccable logic: "You know, if you’d just told me you couldn’t speak because my hand was over your face, this whole thing could have been avoided!"

I declared righteously, refusing to take any blame.

Peter’s eyes flashed with indignation, the look clearly saying: ’What a shameless bastard!’

But just as quickly, the brief surge of defiance vanished. His gaze dropped, and the familiar fear settled over his face once more.

I quickly unclamped his mouth and, without hesitation, pulled him toward the edge of the roof, giving him a clear view of the establishment below.

"Good. Now listen carefully. See that?"

Peter first wore a confused look, but then something seemed to click. His eyes became elated as though he had just seen a ray of hope, a change I didn’t miss.

"That’s the bar where Alduin’s staying, right?" I asked.

I saw Peter nod his head instantly.

"I don’t want to cause a scene. I believe you can take me inside quietly, right?"

’If this is the power I get from just possessing a B-Rank physique, I can’t even imagine what I’d be like at S-Rank. Would I be a demigod-like? Hah. Looks like my childhood dream of becoming as strong as Goku was just around the corner after all...’

Words couldn’t describe how thrilled I was. Considering the strength and power I always longed for, now in the palm of my hand.

I soon continued in a nonchalant tone, "I know I said I’d give you a minute to think it over, but I’m afraid I’m gonna take back that. I don’t really have time to wait. So here’s the deal; tell me where your boss is right now, or I’ll start breaking the rest of your fingers."

"What?" Peter’s eyes widened in horror.

Even now, he was still silently enduring the pain of his broken right hand. Tears welled in his eyes at the thought of his left hand being next. He couldn’t afford to lose any more fingers, not when it hurt as hell!

Yet, he knew that if he spilled information about his boss, there’d be no place left for him in the gang. He’d have to change his identity and disappear, move far away, because once they found out, his body would be floating in the river for everyone to see.

But on the other hand, if he kept his mouth shut, the devil standing in front of him looked like he was ready to start the torture to force the answer out of his mouth.

"Please... spare my life!"

Peter suddenly dropped to his knees, pleading.

"Why are you kneeling? Get up and tell me where your boss is." I demanded coldly, wearing my scariest expression. Now that Peter clearly feared me, I figured it was better to keep up the cold act rather than slip back into my usual self.

When he didn’t budge, my eyebrows knitted together in irritation.

"Are you trying to annoy me?" I said grimly.

Peter flinched like a whipped dog. Slowly, he lifted his head, speaking through clenched teeth, "I-I just need to tell you where my boss is... right?"

I stared at him for a second, then let out a chuckle.

"I changed my mind. Get up. You’re taking me to him now. And don’t even try thinking about doing anything stupid. One lie, one trick, and you’ll end up like your men inside. Or worse."

"Y-you killed my men?" Peter was in shock. In his mind, he began counting time. How long was he even in the house? Ten seconds? Twenty? And all of my men... wiped out? How the hell is he this strong? Does coming back from the dead usually give you such overwhelming power like that? What the hell is even he, right now? An undead? Or a human?

So many questions bombarded his mind that he felt his head might explode.

"Guess," I shrugged.

That alone was enough to get Peter racing back to his feet. He shot up from the ground, wiping sweat from his brow and no longer daring to drag things out.

"If I take you to my boss... you’ll spare me, right?" he asked carefully.

"Yes,"

He exhaled like he’d been holding his breath for a decade. "This way," he said, gesturing hurriedly.

I was about to follow when a thought made me pause.

"Wait a minute,"

"Y-yes?" Peter turned stiffly, looking like a frightened lamb about to be slaughtered.

"First, tell me where he’s staying."

He nodded quickly. "He usually stays at the Carnivore Bar on Mowa Street. I was supposed to report back there after retrieving the map from your place."

"A map?" I repeated, puzzledly.

Strength: F

Agility: F

Intelligence: D

Stamina: F

Charisma: F

’Fuck! He’s trasher than I thought!’

"Did I just get freaked out for nothing?"

[Additional Information:

Target experienced genetic collapse due to consuming a potion, resulting in severe physical deformation. The Potion, however, granted him a supernatural ability that allows him to communicate and tame animals.]

’Genetic collapse? A potion? Is that why all his stats, except Intelligence, are stuck at F-Rank? His body got wrecked in exchange for a strange ability... and that D-Rank in Intelligence... maybe it’s related to his animal-controlling ability?’

’Hmm... Even if I hadn’t taken the pill, I probably could’ve beaten him. My base physique stats are a rank higher. Damn, I started to regret using it so early...’

’Hold on... I’m really getting ahead of myself, aren’t I? Just because his stats are low doesn’t mean he’s weak, or that he’ll automatically lose to me. When it comes to real combat experience, Peter’s probably dozens of times better than mine. Even if I combine my 25 years’ worth of experience back on Earth with the original Aiden’s memories, my actual street-fighting experience is still just a drop in the bucket compared to his.’

’I might have superior hardware, but my software is severely lacking.’

’So no, using the pill wasn’t a waste. If anything, it was a smart call.’

Never judge a book by its cover. Never underestimate your opponent. A starved camel is still bigger than a horse.

Those proverbs existed for a reason!

I tightened my grip on the talisman’s ashes and exhaled.

I stepped out from behind cover and strode confidently into Nolan Street.

I immediately saw Peter lock his gaze onto me. His slightly yellow eyes narrowed into slits, like a snake sizing up its prey.

Even though I knew I was far stronger than him, at least stat-wise, I couldn’t stop the fear from creeping in.

His gaze was nothing like the two thugs I’d seen at the city entrance.

It was the eyes of a true, seasoned criminal who had done many horrible things, probably including killing!

For a second, I felt frozen in place.

However, almost instantly, I forced myself to be calm. I simply reminded myself that my stats were four ranks above his. There was no need to fear someone so terrifyingly outmatched.

’I’m stronger than him... I’m stronger than him...’

I repeated the words like a mantra.

To distract myself from his predatory gaze, I simply closed my eyes. As darkness enveloped me, the fear gradually receded, replaced by a growing sense of calm.

All the while, I never stopped walking.

By the time I opened my eyes again, I had closed a good chunk of the distance between us.

After going through a few more steps, I finally arrived in front of him.

"Do you know who I am?"

I heard him asking the question.

Without meeting his gaze, I replied calmly, "Yeah. You’re ’Rat’ Peter, right?"

"So you do know me, and you still walk up to me like this? Either you’re brave... or just plain stupid."