CH 28: APPARTEMENT

Adam was so baffled by the situation presenting itself to him that he couldn't up but use Appraisal.

[Skill: Appraisal

Rank: Unupgradable.

Description: A skill used by mages and witches, which give them a low insight in the working of Akasha.]

The description of the skill was needlessly vague, but by using it, Adam could 'see' information that should not be known in his current capacity.

[Name: Sae Kirishima

Gender: Female

Age: 21]

The description skill wasn't exaggerating by saying 'low' insight. It was good to know the name but this alone wasn't enough for Adam. After all, he needed to be able to at least distinguish if they were humans or not.

[Name: Robert Thompson

Gender: Male

Age: 30]

[Name: Stuart Rodriguez

Gender Male

Age: 28]

"Sae, what going on here?"

Sae, squinted a little, clearly being slightly drunk. She had hard time believing the man talking was really Adam. His current appearance was quite different from what she was used

"Those two wanted to attack me, but they couldn't have guessed that even if drunk, I can aim very well."

"Look miss, this is just a misunderstanding, we were just trying to see if you needed help."

"Y-yeah! We didn't want to do anything bad."

The two men were clearly flustered, as the one they thought was a simple target turned out to be a dangerous woman.

It was then that his book opened and the page turned as new prompts were inscribed,

[Minor Ordeal: White Knight

Description: Violence is not the answer. Convince Sae to let the two despisable men go.

Reward: +10 Karma.]

[Minor Ordeal: Black Knight

Description: Violence is not the answer. It's a question and the answer is yes.

Reward: +20 Karma.]

Adam's eye twitched.

For one, he felt like this book wanted him to walk the path of a true criminal.

'Do you wish me to become a criminal?'

{I wish for nothing. Acts deemed as 'evil' by your society are the ones that give the more Karma. The choice is yours.}

Secondly, he noticed that neither Sae nor the two men reacted to a floating book suddenly appearing out of nowhere. At least he could confirm that normal humans could not see it.

"Let's call your father. He is part of the LAPD after all."

This was clearly not the first time the two men attempted anything like this. Adam decided that involving the police was the best option. It helped that Sae's father was part of the LAPD.

As if prior discussion had taken place, the moment Adam tried to call, the two men immediately dropped their hands down and began to run in a different direction

The two had quite the experience in the underworld and knew that even though the woman had a gun, she might not necessarily pull the trigger.

After all, she wasn't a cop, if she shot them after they were trying to flee, she would be the one committing a crime.

"Don't move!"

Sae indeed hesitated. It was one thing to shoot at someone trying to rape you, it was another to shoot at two fleeing men. She might have been training in holding gun, but she was no killer.

Adam though had no such hangup,

"Argh!"

One of them tumbled as Adam threw the cover of a trash can at his legs with all his strength.

The second one did not manage to go far before Adam appeared in front of him and kicked his knee.

Sae winced, the sound of the bones breaking was basically audible and the scream of pain of the two men showed their situation.

She turned her head aside at the sight of blood and the white bone sticking out. She had already been sick because of alcohol, so she was unable to stop her stomach from rebelling and she finally barfed, emptying her stomach.

Looking at the two men who were now rolling on the ground in pain, their faces covered in snot and tears, Adam felt no compassion nor guilt.

After taking a photo of the two of them, he immediately approached Sae and pulled her by the hand

"Let's go."

Adam did not wish to stay here any longer, any time someone would come and in the eyes of the laws, he didn't know if what he did would even count as excessive self-defense.

Sae followed, her mind was blurry but she also knew that they couldn't stay any longer.

This was why she did not notice Adam send a message from his phone with the photo of the two men attached.

He couldn't clean up the scene, but thankfully this was Yui's territory and he knew that Yui could be quite ruthless.

[Black Knight Ordeal Completed: +20 Karma]

—--

After the two of them were quite far away. Adam began to feel uncomfortable. His initial plan had been to go back home and change his clothes before resting and doing more tests.

Shuri had already informed him that he could take a leave until the start of the next week and that she had handled the situation on the university side.

But now that Sae was with him and clearly not in a good situation,

"Just help me get a taxi please, I will go back to my apartment."

Adam nodded and called for a taxi. Thankfully they did not have to wait for long.

Sae was surprised when Adam entered the taxi with her but she could only helplessly smile when he said that he couldn't leave her alone now.

Now, this was the Adam she knew. Acting cold and distant, but still caring.

She was so confused about his current outfit. Furthermore, the way he had brutally shattered the legs of her two assailants still replayed in her head.

Just how much strength was necessary for those actions?

So many questions swirling in her head, but Sae was not in the mood to delve further into problems that weren't her own.

When the Taxi finally reached her house, Sae mused as she contemplated being alone in her room right now.

She didn't have many girl friends she was close to and she doubted Natasha was free currently.

In the end, she sighed and asked, "Do you wish to come up?"

Adam hesitated. He really wished to say no. But Sae was a dear friend. She might sometime tire him out with her bubbly personality but this was also one of her charms.

Currently, though, he could not see the Sae he knew. All he could see was a still shaken up woman as well a hidden sadness.

He knew that Sae wasn't the kind to drink like there was no tomorrow. Something had happened and he wanted to know what.

"Let's go."

—

(AN: Opinion on the new cover picture please)