Chapter 7

Rat-tat-tat-tat!

Black fumes ejected from the Santana's exhaust as it sped out of the mansion, its engine popping repeatedly like a tractor.

It was the vehicle that Hugh had gotten for him, but Skyler was not stupid—Anne must have put the old butler up to this.

Naturally, he did not care—his sister-in-law would never get the pleasure of winning against him.

As for the car, he'd just treat it as transportation like it was—anything would be better than walking.

With that out of the way, his first agenda of the day was to get a phone.

His satellite phone was already broken, and who could leave without a communication tool in modern society?

Hmm…?

That was when Skyler narrowed his eyes.

A plain sedan had stopped near the junction.

It seemed inconspicuous, but Skyler had noticed that it was following him since he left the mansion and headed into the city's bustling streets.

"Such an unprofessional tail—guess they haven't had the baptism of fire," he chuckled, his lips curling up unwittingly.

Could it be Anne yet again? Though he really couldn't be bothered by such third-rate tricks.

Moreover, he couldn't attack preemptively before the other guys crossed the line anyway.

-

Half an hour later, Skyler strode into a phone shop.

As Lily had instructed, Hugh had given him a grand—just enough to afford one phone.

And when he entered, he noticed through the storefront window that the car tailing him had stopped at a clearing outside the shop.

It took a while to complete the purchase of the phone and a new SIM card, after which he saved Lily's number in it.

As he started outside the shop, a girl came rushing at him, looking like she was about to crash!

Skyler definitely had the speed and reflexes to dodge… but he didn't.

As the girl crashed headlong into his chest, the girl apologized repeatedly, "Oh! Sorry, handsome. It was an accident…"

She appeared around twenty four, and wore a low-cut blouse that bared her fair chest despite the cold weather.

Skyler would even grade her looks for eight out of ten. She could be considered pretty with her getup and makeup, and could definitely turn a few heads.

"It's fine!" Skyler smiled, though he knew inwardly that she had crashed into him on purpose.

"Oh, you're so reasonable… so handsome!" The girl exclaimed, appearing love-stricken.

"I think so too," Skyler chuckled.

That left the girl staring blankly.

If a pretty face praised your good looks, shouldn't you be returning the favor?

And then there was this man… who was so vain he would praise himself instead!

Still, the girl soon came to her senses and explained, "Sorry, I just broke up with my boyfriend and broke my phone because I was upset. I need a new one now… Would you like to have coffee so I can apologize properly?"

"Just coffee?" Skyler asked, his eyes fixed on her cleavage.

"Oh, you!"

The girl blushed even redder as she purred, "I just met you… Can't you be more patient?"

Skyler smirked.

Be patient? To do what, properly start a family with you?

Nonetheless, they skipped the coffee, and arrived outside a hotel room in just half an hour.

Once the door closed, Skyler flashed a sleazy smile, eagerly wrapping a mischievous hand around the girl's waist.

Seeing that he was already getting down to business, the girl promptly avoided her, "Oh, darling… Be patient! Look how sweaty you are. Why don't you take a shower?"

Skyler couldn't help cringing.

Darling? Already?

However, he made a mad dash for the bathroom anyway. "Sure thing, baby! I'll clean myself up right now!"

Whoosh!

As soon as the bathroom door closed, the girl was suddenly scowling as she sent a text with just two words: ten minutes.

Time seemed to pass slowly, though the splashing in the bathroom was still audible.

Eventually, the girl was finally puzzled.

Shouldn't Skyler be eager and be done after a couple seconds? What was taking him so long?

"Aren't you done yet, darling?" She asked from outside the bathroom.

However, no one inside answered.

What?

Bang!

Just as the girl realized something was wrong, there was a loud crash as the door was kicked open violently.

Four beefcakes charged in right then, with the one in the lead carrying a video camera, while the others carried an assortment of weapons, clearly ready for trouble.

"You bastard! How dare you mess with my wife—"

As the beefcake leader charged in, he yelled at the script he had prepared beforehand.

Naturally, he stopped halfway, stumped as the girl was the only person in the room!

Thud, thud, thud!

They heard the footsteps outside just then, and turned to find Skyler standing at the doorway, filming the room and gloating, "What's going on here? Wasn't this supposed to be my room? Why are there suddenly a bunch of people in here?"

Shit!

The four beefcakes and the girl blanched—she had been inside the room, while they were watching outside. And they never saw Skyler leave!

Still, the leading beefcake came to his senses right then and barked at his goons, "Go! Get his phone!"

The three goons promptly charged at Skyler menacingly, weapons raised…

Bim! Bam! Smash!

The three goons were sent flying in no time at all, floored and screaming at the top of their lungs.

The leading beefcake panicked too. "S-Stay away from me!"

Skyler ignored him, arching his back to pick up a dropped machete and slowly closed in, "Who was it?"

"I don't know what you're talking about, I—"

Whoosh!

Skyler sprang, and was suddenly right in front of the leading beefcake, pressing the machete against his neck.

Even as the leading beefcake felt the chill eating his bone, Skyler spoke impassively, "Last chance."

"P-Please don't kill me!"

The leading beefcake was so terrified he almost wet himself, even as he felt the blade against his neck, and Skyler's lifeless cold glare, "I-It's the Wyvern… He was the one who sent me!"

"And who sent Wyvern?" Skyler growled icily.

He had just arrived at Horton and didn't know anyone, so he would have no reason to come after him.

If he did, someone must have put him up to it.

"I-I don't know!" The beefcake cried, trembling. "I'm just a nobody…"

Skyler was ready to interrogate him further when a group of cops charged into the room.

What the heck?

Everyone in the room and the cops were stunned. Just from the looks of their eyes, it was clear neither party knew they would show up.

In other words, this was a mere coincidence and not a set up.

"A knife crime!"

One of the cops soon came to his senses, and whipped his gun out of his holster, training it on Skyler, "Put down the knife! Hands behind your head, on your knees!"

Shit…What the hell was going on here?!

Skyler felt himself dying inside, even as he tried to explain, "Officers, these are gangsters…"

"Put down the knife!" The officer barked again.

Clang!

As Skyler dropped the machete, the officer pressed, "Hands behind your head, on your knees!"

"I'm telling you, they—"

"On your knees!"

Skyler's eyes flashed as if lightning bolts could shoot out.

This was just so frustrating!

He was just telling the truth, but the cops weren't listening!

In the past—if he didn't have to wipe them out, he could at least knock them out and leave.

But things are different now, as Skyler had to stay in this city for a yearlong mission, and he must not break the law while he did.

"Are you sure you want to arrest me?"

He glared coolly at the officer, growling, "If there's something fishy about this arrest… You won't be able to get me out of your hair."

"Officer, please! Save me… He's going to kill me!" The leading beefcake kept bawling.

Skyler wheeled on him, wanting nothing less than to snap his neck right then…

At the same time, the officer barked, "Arrest everyone! Take them to the precinct!"