Compared to the other items in the box, the two gloves looked like rejects. Their surfaces were pitted, and the design was unattractive. Emily didn't like them at all.
Luke explained, "Don't underestimate them. These were custom-made just for you. Try them out, and you'll see."
Emily reluctantly put on the gloves and, as instructed by Luke, pressed the button in the center of the palm.
Boom!
A ball of flame erupted from her right hand, and frost condensed around her left hand.
One of ice, one of fire!
Emily was instantly stunned.
Luke said seriously, "Your ability is Elemental Manipulation. You can control water, ice, and fire, altering the elements' density and size. You can also affect light propagation to a certain extent. Where there is fire and water, your destructive power is immense, but if the environment lacks these elements, your danger level drops significantly."
"These gloves were created to remedy that. Wearing them, you can maintain powerful combat effectiveness regardless of your surroundings."
Emily frowned. "How do you know so much about my abilities?"
Luke shrugged.
"God told me."
"Liar!"
Emily rolled her eyes, staring at her right hand. The flames condensed, forming a burning fireball. With a flick of her wrist, the fireball shot out and struck the wall on the right.
Boom!
A wave of heat radiated outwards, leaving a scorched mark in the middle of the wall.
The girl opened her left hand. Frost condensed above her palm, forming an ice spear that shimmered with a pale blue light. The blue light flashed, and the ice spear plunged into the wall, completely fixed.
One of ice and one of fire—they perfectly compensated for her elemental deficiencies. They truly were tailor-made for her.
"So, are you satisfied?"
Emily suppressed the joy in her heart, raising her chin with forced restraint.
"Just passable!"
"If you don't think they're suitable, give them back to me."
"No need, I'll take them."
The girl put her hands behind her back and walked gracefully to the armored box, casually asking Luke as he organized the gear,
"Did you design all this equipment yourself?"
"What do you think?"
Luke countered with a question, placing his chosen weapons into the belt slots.
"Oh, one more thing to remind you: your suit is made of special materials. It's fireproof, waterproof, electric-proof, and gas-proof, but it is not bulletproof. Remember, you absolutely cannot be hit head-on by live ammunition."
"Got it. When do we leave?"
"Now."
The black Lamborghini roared out of the underground garage like a beast. With bursts of thunderous engine sound, it disappeared into the night.
Inside the Bay Area
Gotham City, Bay Area.
Under the night sky, Gotham was as silent as ever. Even the distant sound of the tide couldn't break the quiet.
The black Lamborghini drove through the darkness, silently approaching Ocean Park like a venomous snake.
According to Ibn's confession, Adousan was in a building west of Ocean Park.
As they neared the location, Luke turned off the headlights, put on his mask and glasses, and got out of the car with Emily.
It was now past 1:00 a.m. The streets were deserted; there wasn't a soul around.
They crept along the roadside grass toward 78 West Ocean Park, a somewhat dilapidated four-story building, just as Ibn had described.
Emily kept her voice low.
"This should be the place. What's the plan now?"
Luke took an instrument out of his backpack and placed it on the ground.
"What is this?"
"A signal jammer, with a 300-meter range, operating for one hour."
The girl sighed in appreciation. "You came well prepared."
Luke just smiled and said nothing.
Some say: Life is precious, love is dearer, but for freedom, both can be cast aside.
In Luke's opinion, this was absolute nonsense. Only those who had truly died know how precious life is. No one who has experienced the years of living like a puppet, with sealed senses and imprisoned in a dark abyss, ever wants to experience it a second time.
Luke cherished his current life. Therefore, no matter the task, he always ensured everything was foolproof.
A dark gun barrel extended from the grass.
Pfft!
The guard at the door tilted his head back and collapsed to the ground.
Emily dragged the guard into the bushes. A frost flower emerged from her fingertip and was pressed onto the guard's forehead.
The deep-seated cold brought the guard back to consciousness. When he felt the sharp blade pressed against his neck, his face instantly became ugly.
"I'm with the Razor Gang! How dare you mess with me! Are you looking for death?"
"Let me go now, or else..."
Pchhh!
The dagger's tip pierced the flesh. Luke twisted the blade and said with a faint smile,
"Or else what?"
The guard clenched his jaw, struggling to sit up, but the weakness in his limbs left him helpless. He lay on the ground in despair, his voice hoarse.
"Wha... what do you want?"
"I ask, you answer. If you dare to get a single word wrong, the next stab will go into your neck."
"Is Adousan in this building?"
The guard frantically shook his head. "N-no, he's not."
"Lies!"
A cold glint flashed. Blood spilled out, flowing down his neck. The guard's eyes widened, his pupils contracting to pinpoints. Endless fear flashed in his eyes.
He had been slashed!
Luke casually played with the dagger and said flatly,
"I've cut the arteries in your neck. Without treatment, you'll be in shock from blood loss in, at most, half an hour."
"That's a very painful way to die."
"I'll ask again: where is Adousan?"
The guard stammered, "He... he's in the building."
"Which floor, which room?"
"Third floor, the easternmost bedroom."
Luke and Emily exchanged a look—Ibn hadn't lied. Emily followed up,
"Are you involved in drug trafficking?"
The guard turned his head away, his eyes evasive.
Luke raised the dagger. "Answer her question!"
"N-no, they are the ones who do it. I'm just a lookout. I've never trafficked drugs. Please, save me. I don't want to die."
"Don't worry, you won't die."
Luke knocked the guard unconscious, quickly bandaged his wound, and then, with Emily, climbed over the perimeter wall using some scattered debris. They checked their surroundings. Once they confirmed the coast was clear, they quickly approached the main door.
The door was unlocked. Pushing it open led directly to the living room. There were no guards and no alarm systems.
Luke activated the life detector on his goggles. Five heat signatures appeared: four were very close, in the same room, and the fifth was further away.
The two split up. Luke pushed open one door and slid the pre-prepared white metal sphere through the gap.
Two seconds later, the metal sphere fractured, and a large plume of gas spread through the room. The sleeping occupants fell into a deeper slumber.
On the other side, Emily had dealt with another person.
The two met up and headed up the central staircase to the second floor. Just then, a low growl echoed through the hallway. An Argentine Dogo dog rushed up, only to be kicked back by the quick-moving Luke.
Emily raised her handgun.
Pfft! Pfft!
Blood bloomed, and the dog collapsed to the ground, motionless.
This incident shattered the silence of the staircase. A drug dealer opened a door. Just as he saw the dead Dogo dog and was about to shout, Emily shot him in the head.
Luke looked at her, mildly surprised.
Emily was expressionless. "The first day I joined the Anomalous Affairs Investigation Department, my captain told me: When executing dangerous missions, your first priority is to protect yourself. The best way to protect yourself is to eliminate the enemy."
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MistaQuartz
Explore up to 20 chapters in advance!