chapter 58

For advanced chapters visit our patreon

Upto 135+ chapters available

..Misty..

After Karl and the others left the hospital, their first stop was Victor's clinic. They were still uneasy about the state of Karl's new prosthetics and wanted a professional opinion.

A few hours later

"These prosthetics are top-tier," Victor, the prosthetic doctor, said, inspecting Karl's arm. He removed a screen from the operating table to get a better view. "Some of these components aren't even sold on the open market—they're internal corporate models. What exactly did you do this time? Losing half an arm and then ending up with tech like this… There's no backdoor in these systems, which is rare. The installation work is impressive, too."

Victor shook his head in amazement.

"Vic, haven't you seen the video going around the city the past two days?" Jack asked, pointing to Victor's computer. "Search for 'mercenary fights ACPA.' You'll see what happened to Karl."

"ACPA?" Victor looked up, startled. "You ran into one of those? You're lucky to be alive."

"Tell me about it," Oliver said, yawning as he leaned against the wall. "Every dream I've had lately is filled with gunfire."

"Want me to prescribe a tranquilizer?" Victor asked.

"No thanks. I think I'm getting used to it," Oliver replied, shrugging.

As the conversation continued, Victor completed the final data adjustments on Karl's prosthetic systems.

"Okay, you're good to go," Victor announced. "You're in excellent shape now."

"Thanks, victor," Karl said with a grin as he hopped off the operating table. He turned to Victor and asked, "Want to join us tonight? We're planning to grab dinner, watch a movie, and maybe have a few drinks to celebrate surviving all this."

"Tomorrow," Victor replied, sliding his chair back to his desk. "I have a patient coming in soon, and it'll probably be an all-nighter. You guys go have fun tonight."

"Aw, come on, Victor," Jack teased. "Aren't you one of us?"

Victor waved him off with a smile. "I'm too old to keep up with you kids. Go enjoy yourselves, but don't overdo it. Come back tomorrow for a check-up, just in case there's any sign of rejection in the prosthetic."

"Deal," Oliver said. "We'll pick you up tomorrow for dinner and drinks after the check-up."

---

After leaving Victor's clinic, the group made their way to Misty's shop. Misty, Jack's girlfriend, owned a small psychic house in the area.

Jack pushed open the back door and called out, "How's business, Misty?"

"Same as always—dead," Misty replied, glancing over her shoulder. She had blonde hair, smoky makeup, and a quiet presence. She'd been sitting at the counter, gazing out at the empty street in boredom.

"Did you finish the check-up?" she asked as Jack walked up to her.

"Yep, all good," Jack replied, leaning on the counter and flashing a grin. "Tomorrow, we're heading to Oliver's for a little celebration. You should come with us."

Misty shook her head. "You guys go ahead. I don't want to have to drag you home drunk later."

Jack pouted. "Come on, Misty."

Misty's refusal wasn't surprising. While she and Jack had known each other since childhood, their relationship was still new. She didn't feel comfortable crashing at Oliver's place with the guys, and Jack didn't want her heading home alone late at night.

"Then how about we change the venue?" Oliver suggested. "We could hit the Wild coyote Bar instead—"

Before he could finish, Karl gave him a sharp look, silently conveying, What are you thinking?

Oliver froze, then realized his mistake. The Wild coyote Bar was a terrible idea. It was a frequent haunt of Mrs. Wells—Jack's mother—and she wasn't a fan of Misty. Mrs. Wells preferred Jack's ex, who had ties to the Valentino gang, and her disapproval made things tense between her and Misty.

"Uh… never mind. Forget I said anything. Sorry, Misty," Oliver mumbled, rubbing the back of his head.

"It's fine," Misty replied with a small smile, though there was a flicker of sadness in her eyes. She genuinely cared for Jack, but navigating his family's expectations wasn't easy.

Karl sighed internally. Misty was a good person, and he was happy Jack had found her. At the same time, he respected Mrs. Wells, which made the tension between them all the more uncomfortable.

Love and family… always complicated, Karl thought.

Just as the awkward silence began to stretch, Karl's phone rang, providing a much-needed distraction.

"Hello, who's this?" Karl answered loudly, drawing the attention of the group.

"I've got a job that might interest you, K," the voice on the other end said.

Karl blinked in surprise. "Blanca?"

"Who else?" Blanca's voice was smooth and professional. "What's the matter? Didn't recognize the number?"

"Of course I did," Karl said quickly, his tone respectful. Blanca was a reliable fixer, and he didn't want to offend her. "I just didn't expect you to call personally."

"Consider it a privilege," Blanca replied. "Do you know the Afterlife?"

"The Afterlife bar?" Karl's interest piqued.

"Yes. Meet me there. I've got work for you. Something that needs discussing face-to-face."

Karl turned on the speaker, letting the others hear the call.

"The Afterlife?" Oliver and Jack exchanged wide-eyed looks.

The Afterlife was legendary—a bar reserved for top-tier mercenaries. Only the best could pass through its doors, aside from clients and fixers.

The tension in the room vanished, replaced by excitement.

This wasn't just a job. This was an opportunity.

End of Chapter

For advanced chapters visit

patreon.com/Thereator