Chapter 148: Masters in the Restaurant

Chapter 148: Masters in the Restaurant

Matt was floored. If the kid was already found, then what the heck was the point of all their island shenanigans?

Matt knocked on the bar with a smirk and said, "Man, I need a drink. Maybe it'll make me feel less like an idiot.

Seriously, what's the deal here?"

Alvin grinned as he poured Matt a whiskey, slid it over, and tapped the glass. He ignored the old blind dude; they weren't pals, and Alvin had no reason to chat him up. Plus, the old guy still owed him a ton of cash!

"It was a smuggling ship from the Rand Group. The kids were on it, and I just happened to snag it," Alvin said, clinking his glass with Matt's and taking a sip.

Matt nodded. They should've seen it coming. He'd overheard the interrogation and knew the Handshake Association and the Rand Group were in cahoots, but he hadn't connected the dots.

The Rand Group was actually started by Danny's dad. First thing Danny should've done when he got back to the U.S. was claim his inheritance. But Danny got caught up in a bunch of stuff and never found the right moment. Then he got tangled up in Colin's mess and now he's stuck on the island.

"I'll call them. It's on us," Matt said, rubbing his face in frustration.

Alvin shrugged and said, "Up to you. Drinks are on me today; have a few more."

With that, Alvin turned to chat with Steve. He was dying to know how Captain America got his head busted by a little turtle doing taekwondo. He figured he could milk that joke for a month!

Steve was getting ticked off by the laughter. He knew Alvin's jerk nature and sharp tongue.

Glaring at Alvin, Steve grabbed a bottle of whiskey like Jack did. He was curious about the two weird blind guys, but not anymore.

Steve figured he'd be better off going home and drinking himself to sleep. Even though he couldn't get drunk, Alvin was paying, right?

Matt knocked on the bar and said, struggling a bit, "Alvin, I came today mainly because of my teacher. I think there's some misunderstanding, and I thought we should clear it up!"

Alvin glanced at the quiet old blind man and smiled, "No misunderstanding, Matt. There's no beef between me and your teacher. If you're his lawyer, you must know what went down, right?"

Stick stopped Matt from talking, faced Alvin, and calmly said, "My name's Stick. You can call me Old Stick.

I had Matt bring me here today to remind you that there are some things buried under your school that are super important to the Handshake Association. They'll stop at nothing to get them.

We're all enemies of the Handshake Association. I hope we can clear up any misunderstandings and team up to take them down!"

Stick spoke calmly and serenely, not like the martial arts master who'd dislocate someone's arm in a heartbeat. Instead, he seemed like a wise elder giving advice to a youngster.

Too bad that approach didn't work on Alvin.

You gotta pay me the medical bills first before you start giving me advice! How can you, someone who owes me money, lecture me?

Alvin shook his head and sarcastically said, "The Handshake Association isn't even on my radar; they're too dumb.

There's no misunderstanding between us. Pay my compensation bill, and we're square."

"I'm a fair guy; I don't usually hold grudges after the fact!"

Stick's face tightened, and he said in a low voice, "I've been dealing with the Handshake Association for years. They're a tough nut to crack. Underestimating them will bite you in the ass!

You should know they're lurking in the shadows now, while you—" Stick drew a circle in the air with his finger and said, "You're a sitting duck. The Handshake Association has some serious 'weapons.' They're not something you can handle!"

Alvin was fed up with people like this. They always acted all high and mighty, treating others like idiots and dishing out unwanted advice!

If you're so awesome, why's the Handshake Association still kicking? If Frank were in your shoes, the funeral costs alone would bankrupt them!

Taking a sip of his drink, Alvin put down his glass, looked at Matt, and said, "Old man, before you start preaching, you need to know a bit about me. Maybe Matt didn't fill you in on what kind of guy I am.

But whatever, I don't care. I'm not teaming up with you. If you want to mess with the Handshake Association, be my guest, or you can hang out on Hellfire Boulevard and watch me turn every one of those troublemakers into dust.

You don't even need to thank me. I'm super helpful, especially to the blind!"

Stick angrily tapped his cane on the ground, losing his cool, and coldly said, "Your arrogance will be your downfall. I've never met someone as rude as you. You'll regret what you said today!"

Alvin couldn't care less about Stick's anger. Usually, these so-called arch-enemies couldn't do much to each other. If that's the case, why would I need your help?

What you've done over the years probably isn't even a fraction of what Frank and Jack could do in two days with a pickup truck! Why do you act so superior?

I'm destined to take down Thanos, and you, an old blind man, are acting all high and mighty in front of me. I can only assume you're drunk.

Ignoring the old man, Alvin looked at Matt and said regretfully, "Sorry, Matt. Looks like today's a bust for you!

But I gotta say, I usually have a good temper and no beef with people, as long as you respect me.

Not barging into my school and hurting my colleagues, then telling me you're helping me. Do I look stupid?"

Stick couldn't take Alvin's sarcasm anymore. His cane shot towards Alvin's shoulder like a snake.

Alvin shook his head in annoyance. These martial arts masters were always a pain, resorting to violence when embarrassed. Luckily, he had cast a "reflect damage buff" on himself when he saw the old blind man come in.

Alvin grabbed the whiskey bottle next to him, ready to take the hit from the cane and then smash the bottle over Stick's head.

But in a flash, a dirty rag hit the cane, deflecting it.

The martial arts master of Whispering Pines Cafe, "Samuel," wearing a waiter's uniform, excitedly shouted, "Let me handle this!" and rushed over to fight Stick.

Alvin watched in frustration as the two quickly cleared a space in the restaurant, leaving tables and chairs in chaos.

The patrons of Hellfire Boulevard stood against the walls, excitedly watching the commotion, occasionally cheering for "Samuel." It seemed he was quite the crowd favorite.

The second waiter, Peter, looked in awe at "Samuel," who had twisted a rag into a stick and was clashing with Stick's cane, producing metallic sounds. Peter muttered, "Amazing!"