The words fell.
With a thud, a disheveled vampire, who had been frozen in place in the room earlier, unable to move and feeling fearful, the same vampire who called George from the rooftop that morning, fell to the floor of the room.
He instinctively got up, ready to flee with a whoosh.
"What are you thinking, buddy?"
"If you run away, I'll lose face in front of my dear fiancée."
Hawk was a bit speechless. As the vampire got up and took a step, he was once again frozen in place.
One foot was in midair, and the vampire, maintaining a starting stance, had erratic eyes. Realizing he was only physically frozen but still able to speak, he quickly roared angrily without thinking further.
"Enemy attack, help!"
"You should shout for ghosts to come."
Hawk glanced at the vampire attempting to call for help and said with a bright smile, "Shout, go ahead. But even if you shout until you lose your voice, they won't come to save you."
Hawk's reminder wasn't necessary.
Because this vampire had already seen through the room's glass outside, where a crowd was clustered at the dance floor, each in different poses, but all eerily frozen vampires.
"Gulp!"
The vampire swallowed instinctively and then looked at Hawk, standing with his hands in his pockets, looking at him with a half-smile.
"I was wrong."
"You don't know you were wrong; you just know you're about to die."
Hawk's smile remained unchanged, and his tone lacked any anger, instead appearing very calm, as if stating the obvious.
He indeed held no anger.
After all…
This time he was just a mercenary, hired by his fiancée, who offered 'two months of active uniform temptation' to employ him as a hitter.
Thus, Hawk was devoid of personal feelings, only looking forward to the uniform.
Gwen listened to the conversation between this vampire and her fiancé, glancing at George, who was still in shock.
"Dad, is it this person?"
"..."
George, with a somewhat complex expression, looked at his obedient daughter from memory. Hearing Gwen's words, he came back to his senses and nodded instinctively.
"Yes."
"I don't want to see him anymore."
"What…"
"No problem."
Hawk smiled slightly, not waiting for George's reaction. His eyes flushed red again, and as the Phoenix Beam fell on the vampire, he was vaporized on the spot, leaving not a trace of ash.
You do the job for whoever pays you.
This is the simplest truth.
Gwen had given him two months of uniform temptation, prompting him to act. George didn't pay him, and even if George dared to, Hawk wouldn't dare accept it.
Hawk looked at George again, grinning.
"Sorry, I'm listening to Gwen."
"..."
George took a deep breath, again looking at Gwen.
This felt like a dream.
After all, in his memory, his daughter Gwen had always been an obedient girl, gentle, kind, beautiful, and generous, someone he was proud of.
And then there was Hawk.
Although he initially didn't have a good impression of Hawk, he couldn't be blamed; after all, Hawk was an orphan.
As unfortunate as it sounds, that was the reality.
Let's put it this way.
Without mentioning other places, just in New York City, most boys coming out of the fostering system either end up in prison or die in some unnoticed corner.
Those who make it out of the system, they're few and far between, a miracle indeed.
George, as a precinct chief, was well aware of this.
But over time, George changed his view of Hawk. Though he didn't quite see Hawk as a son, he had come to reluctantly accept him as a future son-in-law.
But now?
His obedient daughter from memory was more decisive and ruthless than he was.
And Hawk.
What's going on with these laser eyes?
A mutation?
George's thoughts raced as he saw his obedient daughter focus again on a frozen, swollen-faced, bearded black man.
Hawk's gaze followed suit.
George realized and took a deep, cold breath, promptly speaking up.
"Wait, if this guy is killed, the investigation into the mastermind might end here."
"No need, Dad."
"What?"
George froze again.
Gwen turned to her father with a slight smile, "Hawk is right. Hiding things doesn't make sense and can easily go wrong."
They almost went wrong just now.
Gwen found it hard to imagine what would have happened if she and Hawk hadn't come here—her father sacrificing himself to save his teammate. How would her mom have reacted?
She can understand her dad.
Her mom, Helen, could too, but understanding is one thing, acceptance is another.
Boy, oh boy.
They almost planted a time bomb in their perfect family.
Gwen felt a lingering fear.
So…
She stopped playing games.
If Hawk hadn't been exposed, playing detective might've been fine.
Now that Hawk was exposed, continuing the detective game would make his exposure pointless.
The most important thing.
Gwen smiled, looking at Hawk: "You should've known who the mastermind is long ago, right."
Hearing this, George instinctively looked at Hawk.
Hawk ignored George's gaze, professionally focusing on Gwen, nodding with a smile.
"I know."
"Who is it?"
George quickly asked.
Hawk glanced at George and remained silent, continuing to focus on his employer, Gwen.