"To me, it's just a game."
Hawk shrugged and then turned the conversation, glancing at Gwen: "If I were to guess what kind of gift the vampire is preparing, I would guess it's inviting George for dinner."
Gwen raised an eyebrow.
"Dinner?"
"A vampire's dinner."
"..."
Gwen was silent for a while, then pursed her lips, watched Hawk who had finished speaking and was once again lowering his head to eat the beef on his plate, and reached out to take Hawk's plate into her hands.
Hawk held his fork, raising his head to look at Gwen who had snatched his food.
Gwen smiled brightly.
"Hawk."
"Hmm."
"What time is Dad coming over?"
"The call arranged for eleven o'clock."
"Then can you take me there?"
"Want me to go?"
"What?"
Gwen looked astonished, then shook her head quickly: "No no no, I just thought we could go check it out, in case something happens to Dad, if you could..."
Hawk didn't wait for Gwen to finish her sentence, he had already smiled and given an answer.
"Alright."
"Uh..."
Hawk answered smoothly without asking for a price, leaving Gwen a bit baffled.
Gwen looked at Hawk suspiciously.
"You don't need me to..."
"No need."
Hawk smiled brightly, looking at the suspicious Gwen: "Then we'd better eat quickly, otherwise we'll be late."
Gwen snapped back to reality, handing the plate she had just taken back to Hawk.
Hawk reached out and took it, quite gentlemanly saying thank you.
Eating her vegetable salad, Gwen still had a bit of suspicion.
She had just prepared to pay the reward with three uniforms.
But Hawk didn't want it.
This wasn't typical of Hawk.
Moreover...
Gwen always felt Hawk's smile looked a bit strange today, like a weasel eyeing a mouse, with a look that said he had her figured out.
Phooey, I'm not a mouse.
Gwen thought to herself.
Finally...
On the way to Hudson Meat Processing Plant, sitting in the passenger seat, Gwen couldn't help but glance at Hawk driving.
"Hawk, shouldn't you be asking me for a few uniforms?"
"Why?"
Hawk glanced sideways at Gwen when he heard this: "I said, as long as you ask, I'll help. You should trust me more."
Gwen opened her mouth.
"Sorry?"
"I accept your apology."
Hawk smiled, retracted his gaze, and focused on driving.
Just kidding.
If he asked for a reward now, how would he ask for it over there?
Everyone knows.
Free things are always the most expensive.
Now it's free, soon it will be the most expensive kind.
Quickly.
On the riverbank across from Hudson Meat Processing Plant, Hawk glanced sideways at the dilapidated gate, which led to a meat processing plant with a 90s architectural vibe.
"We're here."
"Uh..."
Gwen surveyed her surroundings, watching as Hawk blatantly parked the car opposite the meat processing plant: "Won't they notice us parked here?"
Hawk shook his head: "No."
Under the effect of the Reality Gemstone, he had already reduced the presence of himself, Gwen, and the car to almost zero.
As long as he wanted, even if he drove the car and hit someone, in others' eyes, that person would appear to have encountered a supernatural event and flew up by themselves.
So...
Hawk thought to himself and then sensed George's presence.
"George is here."
"...Where?"
Gwen's eyes lit up, following Hawk's gaze, she soon saw George arriving here in a taxi.
Hawk was a bit curious, while opening the door and getting out, he asked Gwen, who also got out from the passenger seat: "George is coming over now, what about Howard and Simon?"
Getting out from the passenger seat, her gaze fixed on George heading towards the meat processing plant, and realizing he really couldn't see her and Hawk, she looked at Hawk: "You forgot, Dad sent them to Long Island."
Hawk's expression became clear.
"Did Helen go too?"
"No."
Gwen shook her head: "Dad is worried those people might still be watching him, so Mom is still at Detective Hale's house."
Hawk nodded.
"Hale is decent."
"I know."
Gwen walked beside Hawk, wrapping her arm around his, and watched as her dad George, just ten steps away, knocked on the door of the meat processing plant. Her voice involuntarily lowered: "Are you sure Dad can't see us?"
Hawk didn't speak, because a small door to the right of the plant's main entrance opened.
A muscular, bald African man appeared.
After opening the door, the bald African man's gaze scanned the surroundings, without any hesitation passed over Hawk and Gwen, and finally rested on George in front of him, eyes showing a hint of caution.
"Who are you looking for?"
"Cole invited me."
"Cole!"
Upon hearing the name George mentioned, the bald African man's cautious expression instantly vanished, and he fully opened the small door.
George walked in.
The bald man took another look at the entrance, confirming no one else was there, then closed the door again.
Having followed George inside, Gwen watched the bald African man right before them, who seemingly couldn't see them, and looked at Hawk a bit shocked: "He really can't see us!"
Hawk gave a helpless smile: "Do you really have no confidence in me?"
Gwen shook her head.
"No, I have a lot of confidence in you. Just because I'm confident, I asked you not to go because having you to back me up gives me a lot of room for error."