Chapter 149: Determined to Become a Ranger

Chapter 149: Determined to Become a Ranger

Alvin stared at the chaos in front of him, feeling a mix of frustration and amusement. Samuel was a beast, swinging that rag like a taekwondo pro, going toe-to-toe with Stick and his guide cane.

The kid was cracking up, clearly loving the challenge. It had been ages since he had a decent sparring partner, and it showed.

Hearing the ruckus, Megan and Jessica came downstairs with Nick and Ginny. Nick and Ginny were all hyped up, leaning on the bar and cheering for Samuel, not giving a damn that their dad's restaurant was turning into a war zone.

Alvin, fuming, gave the two kids a swat on the butt and used his body to shield them from the flying debris. Nick and Ginny peeked out from under his arm, still yelling, "Samuel, you're the man!"

Megan, looking a bit lost, leaned towards Alvin and asked, "Does this happen a lot here? I thought folks around here were pretty chill!"

Alvin shot Stick a dirty look and grumbled, "Most people are cool, but sometimes you get these self-important jerks. You know I can't resist roasting them."

Matt gave a half-smile, feeling a mix of frustration at his teacher's recklessness and annoyance at Alvin's sharp tongue. After a bit, he couldn't help but want to jump in and help his teacher.

Just as Matt was about to hop off the stool, a big hand clamped down on his shoulder.

The cook, Joseph, in his apron and chef's hat, smiled warmly and said, "One-on-one is the rule on Hellfire Boulevard, Matt. Don't mess with tradition."

Matt, feeling antsy, tried to shake off Joseph's hand. The vibe at Whispering Pines Cafe was seriously off today, making him uneasy.

Surprised he couldn't break free, Matt looked at Joseph in shock. Who knew this gentle-looking cook had such crazy strength? Even with just a bit of struggle, it was clear this wasn't something a regular guy could handle!

Joseph's hand on his shoulder felt like a heated vise, holding him down tight.

Alvin was just as shocked, staring at Joseph, the middle-aged guy who always swiped his tea leaves. His usually chubby face now looked pretty badass.

Alvin never thought the usually chill Joseph had this kind of power. He knew Joseph used to be a gang enforcer who retired to Hellfire Boulevard to sell breakfast after getting married and having kids. Even when people messed with him, he'd just laugh it off.

Why was he stepping up for Samuel today? If he was so strong, why was his own son, Javon, such a wimp?

"Joseph, what was your name back in the day?" Alvin asked, still surprised.

Joseph grinned and said, "I'm Joseph. Samuel wants to be a hero, and I can't let him get hurt!"

Alvin couldn't wrap his head around Joseph's logic. His nephew wanted to be a hero, so he couldn't let him get hurt. But his own son was just a regular kid, so it was okay for him to get hurt? What kind of sense did that make?

Seeing Alvin's confusion, Joseph smiled and said, "Javon's gonna be a college kid, get a good job, and live a happy life. I don't want him mixed up in this stuff.

Samuel's different. He wants to be a hero, and as his uncle, I gotta make sure he doesn't get hurt!"

As a dad himself, Alvin got where Joseph was coming from. He wanted his son to have a normal life.

But Samuel, who wanted to be a hero, was a different story. As long as Joseph was around, he wouldn't let Samuel get hurt!

Maybe it's an American thing, being tougher on your own kid but going easy on your nephew!

While Alvin and Joseph were chatting, Samuel, all fired up, yelled, "Let him join in! I can take 'em both, hahaha!"

Alvin was at a loss for words, but Joseph just laughed and actually let go of Matt, saying, "Go ahead, kid!"

Matt, feeling awkward, knew jumping in now would just make him and his teacher look bad. So, he stayed put.

Samuel, seeing Matt not moving, felt a bit let down. Fighting one blind guy didn't really show off his skills, but two? That would've been epic. But Matt didn't join in!

Frustrated, Samuel roared, tossed the rag aside, and with a powerful gust from his fists, aimed to finish off Stick quickly.

He always thought this old blind dude was a master. Seeing him go after his boss, Samuel impulsively jumped in, and it was a blast. After leaving the Celestia Federation, chances like this were rare.

Joseph never agreed to spar with him, and the gangsters on Hellfire Boulevard were too weak, leaving him bored and frustrated.

Seeing his boss chatting with Matt, they didn't seem like enemies. But since this old blind guy dared to attack his boss, Samuel had to teach him a lesson and make him understand the rules of Whispering Pines Cafe!

Samuel suddenly sped up, and the gusts from his fists even made thunderous sounds.

Stick, a martial artist who fought by sound, was struggling and about to lose.

Samuel didn't want to hurt anyone. He found an opening, broke Stick's guide cane with a punch, grabbed Stick by the collar, and with a hearty laugh, shouted, "Out you go!"

Stick was tossed out the door like a piece of trash by Samuel.

In mid-air, Stick tried to adjust for a decent landing, but Samuel used some trick, causing Stick to flip backward and roll once as soon as his feet hit the ground.

Stick stood up, looking a bit rough. Alvin thought he'd come back furious, but the old blind man straightened his clothes, bowed slightly towards Samuel, and said gracefully, "Thanks for the lesson!"

This caught Samuel off guard. He awkwardly bowed back and said, "Thank you!" A kung fu master had to keep their dignity, win or lose, right?

Matt couldn't stay calm anymore. He walked out of the restaurant with a wry smile. As he passed Samuel, he said lightly, "We'll meet on the street sometime. Can't wait!"

The kids were going nuts. To them, Samuel was like a superhero. His flashy fighting style was a world apart from Alvin's street-brawler moves.

The flashy style was mind-blowing, not only were the moves beautiful, but the fists also made thunderous sounds. It was incredible; American kung fu was something else!

Alvin ignored Matt and looked at Joseph, saying, "Samuel's a beast. How did his gangster dad get caught and executed? Are American cops that tough?"

Joseph, with a bitter and nostalgic look, said, "American gangs? Man, that's a long story!"

Steve and Frank, who had come over to watch the chaos, heard Joseph's words. One had his head wrapped in bandages, and the other had a messed-up nose. They looked at each other and said, "So tough! Are American cops all superheroes?"

Alvin, still feeling uneasy, thought about how he had applied for American citizenship when he first arrived, hoping to make a life in America. Now it seemed he was lucky it didn't work out.

If a time traveler like him had managed to immigrate back, only to be executed for breaking the law, it would've been a huge joke!

A lot of what he was doing now wasn't exactly legal!