-...this isn't the time to talk about that. - Ringo commented lightly, pointing to his ear. He wasn't ready to talk about his Esper power, he didn't know if anyone might be listening.
Lena understood and nodded. Eva didn't understand at first, but Lena patted her shoulder and made some gestures. Eva understood, they were probably military gestures for listening.
-Okay.- Eva agreed.
So after feeding the dogs, the group returned to the lounge chairs. This time, having learned their lesson, Ringo took the right-hand side, which led to another argument about who would be on his side. Annoyed, he sighed and tried to ignore it.
Luckily, he soon got drunk, the argument faded into the background. He removed all his alcohol immunity just to get some peace.
He was soon asleep, completely drunk and snoring lightly.
Lena and Eva stopped arguing and looked at him.
Eva seemed to have an interested look, but just as she was about to move, she saw Jack lifting his head from Ringo's waist, staring directly at her with narrowed eyes.
Eva was so angry she wanted to strangle the "dog". Lena laughed happily, and the pair resumed arguing.
The next day, Ringo woke up to Lena waking him up this time. Strangely, Jack didn't stop her, making Eva even angrier when she found out, vowing to fight the "dog" to the death.
Until Ringo flicked her forehead and said. - Don't fight with my bear.
-Where's that a bear?! It's clearly a hellhound! - Eva complained, looking at Jack, who gave her a mocking gaze.
Will was beside, happily playing with Lena, unconcerned.
Ringo sighed, at least he'd had a good night's sleep.
Pulling on his clothes, he left with the pair already dressed in their combat suit, Jack and Will.
The group walked out the door and went to Fabian's company. Ringo didn't want anything, just wanted to wait for Han Xiao. He remembered that after the attack on Raven Forest, he'd come to this city.
He wasn't sure when he'd arrive, but he'd ask Antonio to help keep an eye out, he could finally go after the Felony.
Eva and Lena came because they didn't want to get stuck. Since it was a short trip, he brought Will and Jack along to stretch their legs as well.
The pair were clearly visible walking on the street, but by now everyone knew he spent most of his time in this city, and if anyone associated the pair with Ringo and Ringo with him, he wasn't worried.
Arriving at Fabian's company, Ringo was surprised because, once inside, he saw a familiar figure with black hair, sniffing slightly to confirm his scent. He confirmed it, it was old Han!
Ringo laughed, finding it amusing.
He approached as Han Xiao showed a VIP card to the attendant.
-Han, I really didn't expect to see you so soon. - Ringo approached and spoke in a low voice, only Han Xiao and the duo beside him hearing.
Han Xiao stopped, confused and shocked. He turned and saw Ringo's profile, and his eyes widened in the next moment. - Death Scream?!
Ringo paused for a moment and spoke. - Well, you said not to use your face, don't worry, I just stole some lollipops from kids and knocked out some old ladies on the street with it.
Han Xiao's eyes narrowed and he recognized him. The next moment, he understood what he had said, and his lips trembled fiercely.
The irony was if the bad luck wasn't his own, he would have actually laughed out loud and said. - Good job!
-Son of a bitch. - Han Xiao could only sigh and complain superficially, already lowering his guard upon recognizing him. - How did you find me?
-It's a coincidence. - Ringo tapped his nose and Han Xiao understood.
-I need to change my smell next time. - Han Xiao sniffed his shirt lightly.
-This is it? - Eva finally couldn't stand being ignored any longer and asked with interest.
She could sense that Han Xiao wasn't very strong, only an E Grade.
Han Xiao also looked at the pair curiously.
-This isn't the place to talk. Are you going to the blood pact? - Ringo asked.
Han Xiao's eyes narrowed, and he asked in a low, confused tone. - How did you find out about that?
Ringo shrugged. - I am a blood pact assassin, have you forgotten? Besides, it's the fastest way to make money here.
Han Xiao paused for a moment and nodded. It wasn't a perfect explanation, but it was acceptable. - Yes, I'm going there.
-Well, here. - Ringo grabbed a pen and paper and wrote a simple letter of recommendation. - This should do the trick, it should save you some money.
Han Xiao took it happily, but the next moment his face fell and he wanted to throw the letter in Ringo's face.
"I, the random middle-aged uncle, was recommended by the handsome, righteous, and virtuous Death Scream."
Well, Han Xiao did use a random middle-aged face, but isn't that description a little too straightforward? - No! Damn it! I'm not a middle-aged uncle!
Ringo patted Han Xiao on the shoulder and said. - You're welcome, my friend. I saved you at least $20,000, no need to thank me.
Han Xiao looked at the note in his hand that could let him keep $20,000, and a battle between pride and pettiness began in his heart.
Finally, with a serious expression, he silently put the note away, after all, he is a poor mechanic.
Ringo laughed happily. - My besto friendo! I knew you'd accept my gift.
Eva laughed even more happily while Lena hid her smile with her hand.
Han Xiao's lips trembled as he fought not to draw his gun and empty the clip into Ringo's face. He took a deep breath and ignored her.
-Well, I'm in room XXXX, you can come find me tonight. - Ringo waved and left with Eva and Lena, followed by the pair of dogs.
Antonio, who had arrived a long time ago, finally approached, coughing lightly.
-Your friend? - he asked curiously.
-Friend is my ass! - Han Xiao cursed irritably.
Antonio felt very happy for a moment. He found Han Xiao very pleasing to the eye. The best way to make a friend is to have the same enemy!
Ringo managed to find Han Xiao earlier than expected. His current objective is to find Felonia. He also doesn't intend to interfere with Han Xiao's mission. If he went with him, the strategy would change, thus decreasing the chance of finding Felonia. He would simply follow him secretly when the time came.
For now, Ringo took Lena and Eva back to the hotel. He'd rented a reinforced training room, ready to spar against Eva.
The result was as expected.
Bam~
The dull sound of a crash against the hard floor rang out. Ringo stared at the ceiling with an expression somewhere between exasperation and strangeness. Eva beside him looked very happy, jumping up and down to warm up.
-You weren't kidding, you're terrible at this. - Eva laughed.
Lena had her laptop next to her, pretending to pay attention to something, but in reality, she was holding back a laugh. Jack and Will lay beside her, watching the training session with curiosity.
Ringo sighed. In reality, with his health level and previous evolutions, Eva seemed like a slug in front of him. In fact, he could stand still and she wouldn't even be able to move him, while he adapted by altering his strength in different areas of his body.
But there was no point in training like that, so he used his evolution, just as he withdraws his evolution to take advantage of alcohol and tobacco, but now he did the same with his physical enhancements, and he even lowered his health level.
He was now a Rank D even weaker than Eva, and thus, the current situation had arisen.
He didn't complain, with a sigh, he stood up and got into position again.
Eva enjoyed a martial art based on kickboxing, she took small leaps and moved quickly around him, with precise punches and kicks.
She was strong and fast.
But the improvement was evident. She first took him down with a feint and a cross punch. When she tried it a second time, he could tell simply by her muscle movement and counterattacked, surprising her.
But the surprises were just beginning.
For the next hour, Ringo fell occasionally, but never in the same way. Eva was sweating and her smile had disappeared. She was completely serious, even with a stronger physique than his. Even though she seemed faster to him, it didn't matter anymore.
With the first move, he knew what she was going to do. So while she could complete a move in a hundredth of a second, he could understand the move she would make in a thousandth of a second, and the remaining time would be used to counterattack.
In short, she moved faster, but he was smarter. While she was still concentrating her strength, he was already blocking.
She noticed this, it left her both frustrated and excited.
At her level, finding a good training partner is quite difficult, but seeing Ringo progress so quickly was driving her crazy.
-Are you kidding me? - She asked irritably. - You clearly knew how to fight before this.
Ringo shrugged. -It's part of my Esper power. In short, I learn fast, very fast.
-He's right. - Lena said. She had set up some cameras and was monitoring the fight on the computer. - The opening moves are completely different from the closing ones. Besides, haven't you noticed? Much of what he's using is a mirror image of what you did.
Eva had noticed this too, but she didn't want to admit it. Groaning in frustration, she threw another punch at him, but he didn't even raise his hand to block it, instead opening his side guard. She narrowed her eyes, even more frustrated. This move was supposed to be a feint, but he realized that even if she wanted to apply more force now, her balance wouldn't allow it.
Her eyes narrowed as she changed her plan, taking advantage of his lost balance, using the cross blow as leverage, regaining her balance and launching a cross kick.
Ringo's eyes widened, but he didn't have time to parry the blow. His guard was pointed to the left, but the blow came from the right!
With his center of mass fully to the left, the kick hit his face and sent him flying away.
Lena whistled as Eva gave a satisfied smile.
Ringo stood up with a slightly irritated look, but could only sigh. After all, he was still very new at this; he wouldn't become a master in just a few hours, maybe a few days.
If Eva heard his thoughts, she'd want to rip him apart.
-Well, it's late. You asked that Han guy to come, we better get back. - Lena commented as they prepared to continue.
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--x--
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