Chapter 195: Sudden Robbery?
The Lieutenant's keen gaze landed on Ty, noting the subtle change in his demeanor. With a voice tinged with concern, he asked, "Are you okay, young de... man?"
Ty, his stance tense and hand gripping his chest, quickly offered reassurance. "Y-yea, sorry to worry you, just something personal," he responded, trying to mask his inner turmoil. Thoughts about Erebos raced through his mind.
'If Erebos is already in this world, how far ahead is he in his plans? He must hold significant power here, especially given his role in sending me to Planet Scyle,' he contemplated, his face betraying a flicker of worry despite his effort to appear calm.
The Lieutenant, though not fully convinced, chose not to press further.
"Sure, if you say so," he said, his voice a blend of doubt and respect for Ty's privacy. He then turned his attention back to the hotel staff, his voice softening with a touch of nostalgia. "Well, then, how about the old suite I had before I joined the military? Back when I first arrived here with my family?"
His words hinted at a deep-seated familiarity with the hotel, suggesting memories and connections that stretched back far beyond their current situation.
The hotel worker, looking puzzled, responded, "Sorry, it seems to be slipping my mind. Do you recall what number it was?"
The Lieutenant paused for a moment, scratching the top of his head in thought. Suddenly, he remembered, snapping his fingers, "Oh, yes, it was Suite room 232."
Ty, overhearing the number, rubbed his head thoughtfully. The number seemed to trigger a faint recognition, but he couldn't place it. He decided to ponder it quietly as the worker confirmed, "Yes, looks like that room is available." She then opened a drawer and inserted a blue chip into a device before handing it to the Lieutenant.
"This should work for the night. If you need to rent it out for another night, sir, just let us know in the morning," she said, offering a respectful bow.
Ty, still lost in his thoughts about the significance of the room number, followed the Lieutenant, his mind a blend of curiosity and lingering thoughts about Erebos and the mysterious man with the orange beard.
"Thank you," the Lieutenant acknowledged the hotel worker's assistance. "Alright, let's go ahead and head off, cousin. We'll get a good breakfast in the morn—" His words trailed off as the distinct sound of 3-4 pops echoed through the area.
Ty, reacting instantly, spun toward the door. A masked man with a bag slung across his chest was seen sprinting down the street. In his hand was a short gun, which he fired off a couple more shots while running. The scene was a stark contrast to the calm luxury of the hotel lobby.
"Don't worry, I'm sure the Police force will apprehend him quickly. He's using a firearm, so his
chances of escaping are limited," the Lieutenant calmly stated, displaying a surprising level of composure given the situation.
With a sense of urgency yet maintaining his calm demeanor, the Lieutenant suggested, "Come, let's get settled in the room. Then we can head up to my old suite to see what man could afford that room for two weeks. After that, we'll go over some key details for the Arena of Life."
His smile was simple but carried an air of command, reassuring Ty in the midst of the unexpected chaos.
Ty, sensing the Lieutenant's confidence and authority, felt it was best to follow his lead. Despite the alarming incident outside, Ty's curiosity about the mysterious occupant of the suite and the upcoming challenges in the Arena of Life lingered in his mind, mixing with his own personal concerns and mysteries yet to be unraveled.
As the chaos outside intensified with rising screams, Ty's mind raced with thoughts of Erebos. 'What would Erebos want me to do next? And how can I do the opposite?' he contemplated, his finger thoughtfully pressed under his lip.
'He would likely anticipate that I'd find out about him being in the suite room. So, the best course of action is to take the path he least expects. But if I just run off, he'll use whatever power he has to catch me. Yet, I'm curious to test something.'
Lost in his thoughts, Ty barely noticed the Lieutenant approaching him. The Lieutenant, leaning down, flicked Ty on the head to get his attention. "Boy, are you liste—" he began, but his words were cut off by a large boom that shook the ground beneath their feet.
As Ty's resolve hardened, he turned to the Lieutenant and exclaimed, "People could get hurt! If we have the ability to help in some capacity, then we have to do something!" His sense of urgency and responsibility shone through.
Without waiting for a response, Ty bolted towards the door. Black flames sprang to life at his silver-laced shoes, propelling him swiftly across the surface. The Lieutenant, taken aback by Ty's unexpected display of compassion, hesitated momentarily, surprised by this caring side of Ty.
Snapping out of his brief stupor, the Lieutenant called out, "Demon Boy, wait! You can't be using that ability in public!" But Ty was already on his way.
In the midst of the chaos, a man leisurely sipping tea in a lounge chair, with a hint of a smirk on his face, spoke up. "Of course, use this one," he said, offering a sword. The blade was unique, silver in color with an empty gauge in the middle. "I think this will be of help," he added, nonchalantly flinging the sword towards the Lieutenant.
The Lieutenant, not expecting the weapon to be thrown with such speed, managed to catch it by the hilt, but not without singeing his hand slightly. As he gripped the sword, he looked back at the man. "Who are you, so I can make sure to give it back?" he asked, a mix of gratitude and curiosity in his voice.
The man with the orange hair dismissed the Lieutenant's concern about returning the sword. "Oh, don't worry about giving it back. Just make sure the 'Demon Boy' gets it," he said, his gaze sharp and knowing. "I have other personal matters to attend to," he added, before swiftly departing.
The Lieutenant, torn between questioning the mysterious man and catching up to Ty, cursed under his breath. "Well, guess it's time to kick it up a notch," he muttered, taking a short stance. His legs suddenly shifted to a prismatic white color, and with an incredible burst of speed, he vanished from sight like a flash.
Outside, Ty was already in the thick of the action. He had dashed out the door, moving swiftly towards the source of the explosions. There, he spotted the man with the bag and black mask, the same one who had fired shots earlier.
He was now being pursued by 4-5 soldiers dressed in blue and red uniforms. The uniforms were reminiscent of what Ty had seen on Earth, yet they had a shinier, more refined appearance, he noted.
Ty's thoughts were racing as he tried to locate the source of the explosion. His attention was abruptly caught by the masked man, who raised his hand towards one of the guards. To Ty's horror, a massive earth pillar erupted from the ground, striking the guard with such force that it caused a horrific explosion upon impact, leaving nothing but a bloodied aftermath.
Ty's outcry of "NO!" was a visceral reaction to the senseless violence unfolding before him. The voice of the creature within him questioned his reaction, "Why are you screaming? You don't even know who that is."