Chapter 10 Infiltrate the Loan Shark Building

Chapter 10 Infiltrate the Loan Shark Building
Late at night, nearing midnight, "thump," Nolan stood in front of a darkened five-story building topped with a luxury penthouse. But what Nolan actually saw was a sturdy black tower composed of massive black bricks, appearing like a translucent shadow looming behind the physical structure.

"Hey... why are you just standing there? Are we stuck? If we come here this late, how are we supposed to ask anything?" Nina whispered.

"Good grief... you're so noisy. Look behind the building. Do you see it or not?" Nolan asked, annoyed by Nina's constant chatter.

"Whoa... is that... am I seeing what I think I'm seeing?" Rico asked from beside Nolan, staring at the shadow-like tower behind the building that seemed to have no end at the top.

"Hmm... the Dark Tower that they say appears anywhere as long as it's night... this is the first time I've actually seen it," Nina remarked, finally noticing the black tower behind the building.

"What... are... you... doing?"

The three of them immediately looked forward as they heard a stiff, robotic voice—digital and cold. A massive humanoid robot, seven feet tall and wearing a security uniform, stood blocking the entrance gate. It gripped an electric baton in its right hand and a rifle in its left.

"It's nothing, officer. We're leaving... we'll come back later—"

"Crash."

Before Rico could finish his sentence, Nolan vanished and reappeared in mid-air, performing a somersault. He brought his heel down hard onto the robot's head, crushing it and slamming the machine into the dirt. As he landed, "crash," Nolan stomped again, driving half of the robot's mangled body into the ground. He glanced at Rico, whose jaw had practically hit the floor and whose eyes were wide with shock. Nina, meanwhile, just stood there relaxed, her arms folded across her chest.

"Let's go in," Nolan said, casually stepping forward.

"Dude... you're insane... that was a security robot! The alarm is definitely going off and we're going to get busted... the police bots are going to swarm this place... oh man... what do I do," Rico whispered frantically, clutching his head with both hands.

"Just forget it, come on, or you'll get left behind," Nina urged, casually following Nolan inside.

Seeing his two friends walk in without a care in the world, Rico glanced at the wreckage of the security robot, looked around the area, and then looked back at his friends who were already halfway across the yard.

"Damn it... damn it... damn it... I shouldn't have come... damn it," Rico muttered to himself, eventually following them in, clearly regretting his life choices.

The three of them walked toward the front entrance. After climbing the steps and reaching the glass doors, Nolan suddenly vanished and reappeared on the other side. Nina and especially Rico were stunned. Nolan then unlocked the door from the inside and swung it open.

"How did you do that? What was that just now?" Rico whispered.

"Explain... I'm not moving another inch until you explain," Nina added in a whisper.

"Whatever. Let's move," Nolan replied coolly, turning his back and walking away.

Rico and Nina looked at each other, and with no other choice, they jogged to catch up with Nolan, who was already ahead. As they reached the reception desk, "ting," the three elevators behind the desk suddenly slid open. Several grim-faced men in suits carrying rifles burst out from all three lifts at once.

They immediately ran to surround the trio, leveling their weapons and herding them back to the center of the room. Rico instantly threw his hands up, but Nolan kept both hands in his jacket pockets and Nina kept her arms folded across her chest.

A bald man with a facial scar and a tie—distinct from the others—stepped forward. He looked Nolan, Rico, and Nina up and down, inspecting them closely.

"I'm sorry, but if you want to see the slaves, come back tomorrow. We're closed. Or is there something else? Because you've got some nerve breaking in here at night without permission, clearly oblivious to the security cameras all over this room," the man said, his tone serious and threatening.

"I'm looking for Marvin. Is he around?" Nolan asked casually.

"The boss has already returned to his residence," the man answered.

"He's upstairs, right?" Nolan asked, pointing toward the ceiling.

"What business do you have with the boss?" the man asked, beginning to raise his rifle.

"He broke a promise. He said he wouldn't sell my older sister and that he'd wait for me to redeem her. Turns out he lied to me. So, I'm here to ask for the buyer's address. I'm going there to take my sister back. You can either call Marvin down to meet us, or we go up. Which one is it?" Nolan said, completely unfazed.

"Just a bit of advice... you should probably just do what he says and tell Marvin to meet us," Nina added, sounding just as relaxed.

"Okay... we're dead... we're definitely dead... goodbye, world," Rico muttered to himself, his hands still raised high.

Hearing Nolan and Nina, the man froze for a second before his mouth curled open. He let out a booming laugh, followed quickly by every other man surrounding them. The man turned back to Nolan, thrusting his face forward to get a better look. It seemed he finally recognized him.

"Haha... wait, it's you! The brat who came here crying to the boss, begging him not to sell his foster sister and promising to settle the debt. You guys remember this brat?" the man shouted mockingly.

The room erupted again with thunderous laughter. Nolan remained calm, unprovoked. He even started casually cleaning out his ear with his pinky finger. Once the laughter died down and the man wiped a stray tear from his eye, Nolan spoke again.

"So... what's it gonna be? You haven't answered my question. You calling Marvin down, or am I going up?" Nolan's voice was now icy, despite his calm demeanor.

"Heh... keep dreaming, kid. I'll let you walk out of here alive, just go home. Besides, we all took turns with your sister before she was sold anyway," the man sneered.

"Fine then. I guess your answer is: I'm going up," Nolan replied.

In an instant, Nolan vanished and reappeared behind the man, casually walking toward the elevator. The room fell deathly silent. Nina just smiled, though sparks were already dancing between her fingertips. Rico, on the other hand, grew even paler. The man, shocked to find Nolan heading for the lift, spun around and lunged.

"Hey, wait!"

The man reached out for Nolan, but "pow," Nolan spun and parried the man's arm with his own. With incredible speed, his elbow smashed into the man's face, sending him flying across the room. He slammed into a pillar, his head getting lodged deep inside the stone. Everyone stared to the right in stunned silence; the only sound was the man's rifle clattering onto the floor and echoing through the hall.

The other guards were frozen, their brains unable to process what had happened because it was simply too fast. Finally, they raised their rifles again, but "snap," Nina raised her hand and flicked her fingers.

"Whoa!"

"Clack!"

Every man surrounding them screamed, dropping their weapons as the metal turned glowing red and searing hot. As the guards scrambled in confusion, Nolan actually started clapping with a deadpan expression.

"Hoo... so you can do that too, huh," Nolan remarked.

"Hmph... you're not the only one with tricks," Nina replied proudly.

"Kill them! Don't let them get to the elevator!" a man shouted.

Immediately, the fierce, grim-faced men surrounding them charged all at once, drawing machetes, knives, and whatever else they were carrying.

"Oh god... now we're definitely dead," Rico said, finally dropping into a fighting stance.

"If they don't have guns, you can win, dude. Stop being a baby," Nolan said, squaring his shoulders and getting ready.

"Haha... I think I'm gonna get along well with you guys," Nina said cheerfully as she braced herself.

"You're all insane, dammit," Rico countered, now fully locked in.

The three of them braced themselves to face the twenty-five men rushing toward them with blades and clubs.