CHAPTER 34 : THEIR MOVES

"That mad scientist is really important to you, huh? Most of the other gang leaders wouldn't tolerate such insults and would just execute anyone beneath them who talks back like he does," a muscular man scolded, looking out over the city of Klang from a tall building with many windows. The streets below were almost empty, with only a few police cars passing through."I'm not like those fools... Their egos blind them. Vincent is annoying, but he's just annoying. He's still right; he's an important asset," White said, glancing back slightly, the muscular man smiling faintly."You and I... We've built this empire together; I won't jeopardize everything just because I feel hurt and angry," White sighed as the muscular man stood beside him."That's true, White. We still hold the underworld firmly in Malaysia, but you know who the real threat is, don't you? It's not the police, but that Masked Man. What happens if he's still alive? There are other Mutants who share his goals. They have the ability to stop us," the muscular man explained, White's expression turning grim as he turned away from the window."It doesn't matter whether they're humans or Mutants... We won't let them challenge us," White replied, the muscular man smiling and looking at him again. White walked away, adjusting his shirt slightly.Not anymore...I won't let anyone challenge me again."Humans are fascinating creatures. You're facing a massive problem that could wipe out many, yet most humans are still fighting among themselves. Even outside of Malaysia, high-ranking individuals are trying to weaponize Strays and Mutants. Several countries are aware of the existence of Mutants, but they choose to keep their information secret from others," Sui'ra was observing holograms showing activities happening around the world."You're not answering our questions, Sui'ra," Ali sighed, with Khalid and Mei present as well."I've told you... I won't involve myself in human affairs. Besides, I've saved you for the last time; I won't give you any more help," Sui'ra replied, turning to face the three of them with a smile."You're probably the one who suggested that the Mutants in the White Tigers unite and create their gang. You might say you don't involve yourself in our affairs, but it's proven time and again that you're the one pulling the strings behind everything that's wrong regarding Strays and Mutants," Ali protested."This war is what you want, isn't it? You have no problem sharing information about HOPE with other Mutants. Khairul, Nasuha, and Kyoko were attacked by Mutants who knew our capabilities... HOPE is not too exposed yet, so they know about us through other information, and you're the culprit," Khalid added, resting his chin on his hand."It's your choice to fight the White Tigers. I didn't ask for it, did I? All I've said are just suggestions. You can choose to let the White Tigers continue their operations or stop them immediately," Sui'ra stated, Ali clenching his fists tightly. Khalid also looked dissatisfied."There's no use trying to get into my head, Mei," Sui'ra suddenly admonished, noticing Mei almost activating her power."Tch..." Mei sighed. Eventually, they left Sui'ra without getting an answer to their question, 'Who is the Mutant behind the White Tigers?'"Did you get anything?" Kyoko asked."Unfortunately, he didn't want to give us anything," Mei replied."Where are the others?" Khalid asked, noticing Khairul, Nasuha, and Mikael were missing from the park near the forest where Sui'ra was hiding. Chyou was sitting on a bench alone, looking at his phone."They went with Mikael to visit his child's grave for a bit," Kyoko said."A grave?" Ali looked puzzled."Near where Sui'ra is hiding, there's Mikael's child's grave. Do you know about the Stray case in Putrajaya? The Stray that was killed during that incident was Mikael's child. He didn't want the government to get their hands on his child, so he buried them in this forest," Khalid explained. Ali shifted his gaze toward the nearby forest from where they were."Bismillah," Ali murmured a prayer to himself.Meanwhile, in the forest, Mikael laid a bouquet of flowers on Farah's grave. Khairul and Nasuha watched him silently. Mikael brushed off some dirt from the tombstone and patted it a few times."Alright... Thanks for bringing me here, Nasuha. Let's head back to them," Mikael smiled gently at Nasuha."Okay. Let's go, everyone." Nasuha encased Mikael and Khairul in orbs of light and flew them both along."Are you okay, old man?" Khairul asked Mikael."I'm fine," Mikael replied, closing his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, he looked directly at Khairul."This fight is helping me make sense of all this madness. You said it yourself, right? The past can't be changed; it's the present that matters," Mikael said, smiling at Khairul."Ah... yeah... It feels weird hearing that come out of my own mouth," Khairul scratched his cheek, which wasn't itchy. Nasuha smiled at his reaction."You both have been through a lot too. At least an adult like me can lighten your load a bit and fight alongside you. Our lives will never return to normal... You're all I have right now," Mikael explained."We're one big family, Mikael. We'll always be here for you," Nasuha added."Hm, thank you," Mikael replied. Nasuha landed the three of them in front of the other HOPE members and Ali."Our strategy is simple. Mei, Chyou, and Mikael will be the recon team; they'll scout the White Tigers' hideouts. Mei can read the minds of those around her, Chyou can ensure you don't get caught, and Mikael can collaborate with Chyou to observe the hideouts," Khalid explained. They had returned to Mei's house, where Rose was also present."I'll conduct my own investigation as well. Combined with the information I have and what the recon team can gather, we can move to the next phase," Ali added."The next phase is to attack every hideout we can find simultaneously. From what I gathered, they have four operational bases, but one was compromised last night. That leaves three... We'll strike them simultaneously and unexpectedly, this way we won't allow them to call for backup, and they'll be thrown into chaos," Ali continued."Understood. It's a good tactic. But are you sure the thug you beat up gave you the right information?" Rose asked."Most likely, yes. I broke their bones; I doubt they'd want to lie after that," Ali replied with a bitter smile."It seems like me, Nasuha, and Khairul are useless in this first phase, huh?" Kyoko sighed, looking disappointed."Same here. Our powers are strong in combat, but we don't have the abilities to sneak around, gather, and obtain information like they do," Khalid answered."So while they conduct their investigation, we'll go hunt Strays, right?" Khairul asked."Wow, do you have mind-reading powers too, Khai?" Khalid countered."Are we just going to let the Strays out there be unattended?" Khairul replied with a small smile."We'll divide the patrol group into four of us. We still need to be cautious; we're in a target-rich environment, we can't stray too far apart," Khalid suggested."Hm, understood." Nasuha nodded in agreement."That's all for our discussion. Good luck, everyone," Khalid said.The groups gathered outside Mei's house, preparing to move in their respective costumes. Rose started to walk away, but Nasuha gently tapped her shoulder."Be careful today, Sister Rose," Nasuha advised."Alright, Nasuha. You all be careful too... If there's any emergency, contact me immediately," Rose replied, patting Nasuha's head gently. Khairul approached the two of them."You both have changed so much. Keep up your fight, but remember, if it gets tough and burdensome, take time to rest. In the end, you're still human, not tools," Rose said, looking at Nasuha and Khairul."Don't worry, we're getting stronger," Nasuha reassured her."That's right," Khairul agreed, and Rose sighed softly."Be careful, and call us immediately if there's an emergency," Khalid instructed the recon team."Hm, you all too. Make sure to break the eyes I gave you," Mei said, Khalid smiled faintly and took out the eye that emitted a red aura."How did you do that?""I just placed part of my mind into that object... When you break it, I'll know your location from that piece of my mind coming back to me, and if I break it, you'll hear my voice calling you," Mei explained, and Khalid nodded in understanding."Your powers are truly amazing," Khalid praised, making Mei chuckle softly.Finally, both groups set off. Chyou used his teleportation power to quickly bring the recon team along, while Nasuha carried Khairul and Khalid through the air with Kyoko's assistance, and they moved at lightning speed."Chyou, don't push yourself too hard with your powers... You need to conserve your energy," Mei advised, and Chyou nodded in understanding before teleporting the recon team again."I feel really dizzy," Ali complained, feeling the effects of Chyou's teleportation."You'll have to get used to it," Mikael said, though his face showed signs of nausea.Before long, they arrived in Klang, and Ali looked around as Mei used her powers to scan the surrounding area."We'll split up here for now. Let's meet back here to share the information we gather," Ali said."Are you sure you can handle your job alone?" Mikael asked."I've always worked alone," Ali replied before leaping to another building and disappearing from sight."Blaaarrrghhh!" A lizard-like Stray with a human body and three tails was attacked by Khairul and Khalid, the two of them forcing the creature back multiple times with their swift strikes.The Stray had sharp, sword-like spikes at the end of its tail, which it retaliated with, knocking Khalid away and parrying Khairul's blades swing. Kyoko caught Khalid before he collided with the wall of the building.The sound of sirens echoed from a distance."Is that the Special Force? They're close! We need to finish this quickly!" Khalid ordered. Khairul pushed the Stray's tail away before Nasuha flew above the creature, pointing her hand up."Star Slash!" A beam of light resembling a star shot from Nasuha's hand. She unleashed her attack on the Stray, instantly killing it with a clean cut."Let's go quickly." Khalid ran toward Nasuha and Khairul. Nasuha encased the two of them in orbs of light, and Kyoko swiftly took them away. Two armored vehicles from the Special Force arrived shortly afterward, leaving only the bisected body of the Stray on the empty road."We missed them," one of the Special Force members sighed as he exited the vehicle. An older man with a thick beard and mustache stepped out to inspect the area."They didn't notice we set up hidden cameras, but they heard us and fled. They're fast, like lightning," the older man said, placing his hands behind the backs of the rushing Special Force members approaching the slain Stray."This is the same Superhuman's work, sir; there are burn marks similar to several monster bodies we have," one of the Special Force members pointed out the burn marks on the cut wound of the Stray."Not only that, there are also small lightning burn marks. Look at that," the older man pointed out."Ah... yes.""Captain Syafiq, there are several sightings of other monsters." Another member showed a tablet screen to Syafiq, who examined it closely. The hidden cameras captured footage of several Strays, but they also caught a glimpse of Nasuha flying with Khairul and Khalid, who then disappeared after being struck by a swift purple lightning."Send Units Hound 3 and 4 here. Unit Hound 2, take this monster's body and bring it to the base. Unit Hound 1, follow me; we'll continue our patrol," Syafiq ordered."Understood, sir!" the Special Force members replied, and Syafiq walked toward the armored vehicles, followed by his armed team with automatic rifles."Are you sure?" a man asked as he carried several boxes into the back of his car."The masked man is said to be dead. Our delivery won't be interrupted. There are no cops around either, so let's move quickly," his companion replied as he got into the car, the first man sighed and closed the trunk."Delivery, huh?" Mikael observed them with a suspicious expression, watching alongside Chyou, who remained invisible. The two men climbed into their car, and Chyou quickly teleported him and Mikael to Mei, who was on the rooftop."They're heading to their base; that's all I could read from their minds. We need someone to follow them," Mei told the two."I'll follow them. Don't worry, I'll be fine. We'll regroup at the building in an hour, right?" Mikael replied."Alright, we'll search for the other base," Mei nodded in understanding. Mikael leaped from the building they were on and used his powers to unleash black liquid, swinging toward another building to track the two men's car.At the same time...A man knocked on the door of an apartment. The door slowly opened, and another man nodded at him, stepping out of the house with a backpack. The two walked to a different apartment and knocked on the door several times.A woman wearing a face mask opened the door, stepping out with a suitcase. The two men who approached her looked visibly nauseated, one almost gagging and quickly covering his mouth."Ah... the smell.""I tried my best to hide the smell... Just ignore it, hurry!" The three rushed off. In the ventilation space located in the ceiling, Ali watched them using his powers, allowing him to see through the walls.His eyes glowed blue, allowing him to see their auras, and he inhaled the air multiple times."It smells like a corpse... Stray bodies, huh," Ali muttered, crawling out of the ventilation and standing on the rooftop of the apartment building. He saw the three enter a black van and gathered energy in his legs before leaping after them from behind.Your criminal activities are coming to an end, White Tigers.This time, I'll make sure you all going down!