Novel Welcome Back Hero!

Spoiler: Chapter Seven

Ric purred like a cat as he sunk deeper in the massive jacuzzi bubble bath overlooking the central park. "Now this is life!" He said to no one in particular, as he sipped the complimentary champagne.

That afternoon, after receiving the initial payment of his gold bars, he proceeded to enter the fabulous hotel he saw awhile ago. It was called the Ritz. It was a funny name but the magnificent elegance of the place awed him.

He had never seen such an awesome place like this since Prince Vardas of the Nephilim invited him to the flying palace of his people.

When he walked over to the lobby, the receptionist barely looked at him. Only after getting the best room, the presidential suite that cost $4,600 a night, and reserving it for an entire week, did he get their full attention... and fake smile.

But now he is basking in unbelievable comfort and luxury. Using water magic, he started creating minor twister in the bubble bath and let it tickle him as it smashed into his skin. He'd giggle like a girl and do general buffoonery.

Eventually, he reluctantly left the jacuzzi. He activated the wall to ceiling pressure shower for a few minutes, and tested all the small amenities, starting with the shampoo, the shaving cream, to the skin toner up to the complimentary perfume.

He dons the hotel robe, marveled at its softness and then called room service. He ordered practically the whole menu plus double ice cream of every flavor.

He then maxes out the air conditioning just for the heck of it and turned on the 4 Flat screen TV in the room. Either by design or sheer coincidence, all 4 TV opened to the same channel and a catchy commercial song about an ice cream is playing and Ric started dancing to the tune with nothing but his underwear and his robe.

2 more commercials later and a ringing at the door caught his attention. When he opened the door, 6 hotel personnel entered with 6 carts laden with food. They set it up in a long table near the dining room and then added some shit like flowers and other decoration stuff. When they finished, Ric gave each and every one of them a hundred dollar bill to the delight of the hotel staff.

Then Ric started a lazy day watching the tv in the bed while eating a lot of different food. He watched a marathon of Spartacus season 1, enjoying immensely the gore and sex it offered, then switched to news and then a documentary of "How is it made?"

He spent hours glued to the TV set, getting up from the bed only to replenished his plate and to go to the bathroom.

At 7 pm in the evening, he finally stops watching and stretched a bit. He took a quick shower, then dress again in another elemental mage robe.

He left the room, admired the lobby with red carpet then went down the elevator and walked out of the hotel lobby. He drinks in the sight and sound of New York at night. He entered a late night clothing store and both a dozen set of t-shirt, 2 leather jacket, 4 set of jeans, a dozen boxer shorts, socks, a pair of leather gloves, an executive wallet, a coin purse and sun glasses. He paid it all with cash and told the pretty salesgirl to keep the change.

He smiled as he remembered his conversation with Simon earlier. He found out that morning that the magical ingot that he got from Aurora is almost similar with standard earth ingots as well. The Ingot weight just over 430 ounces of high-grade pure gold. Checking the internet, an ounce of gold has a market price of $1266.90. He agreed to round each ingot to 400 ounces, and so that means each ingot cost about half a million dollars (400x 1266= $506,400). A hundred ingot is about Fifty million, six hundred and forty thousand dollars. Simon's cut is 5 million and some change. So that leaves him with a total of 45 million dollars.

Simon gave him 5 million dollars in cash in a duffel bag and promised to transfer the rest once Ric has a bank account. "I will have an agent of mine contact you and serve as a liaison officer. You don't need to worry about the bank account, we will be the one fixing it for you.

Ric was whistling at the cold night as he leisurely walked back to his hotel. He passed an appliance store with massive TVs displayed outside. A News was just being shown but Ric already passed them and did not notice.

"... And in other news, a youtube video posted from Zimbabwe is going viral right now with over 20 thousand views. The video shows a giant rat the size of a Rottweiler is scurrying into the wheat field amidst cry of mix surprise, fright, and excitement from both children and the adults alike. Until now, no one is sure if the video is a hoax or actually real..."

Chapter Seven is Up

 

Spoiler: Chapter Eight

Ric was in the hotel's buffet and enjoying his breakfast. He already finished his 7th plate filled with an assortment of food and he is still going strong.

As he returns back to his table a beautiful latina-looking brunette wearing a killer dress and eyeglasses that make her look like a nerd, well, a sexy nerd.

"You're in my spot," Ric said before sitting on the table and started eating again.

The brunette raised an eyebrow, a half-smile in her red lips. "I'm surprised," She said. "You are probably the first man who did not rake my body with his eyes."

I've dealt with actual succubi before. You don't hold a candle to them, He thought leisurely.

"What's with the smile?" She asked as she leaned over to him.

Ric swallowed a particularly tasty shrimp. "I'm just wondering if I should respond to my inner dialog."

"You should," She said. "But that is not the point. My name is Attorney Gabriela Chuto. I've been asked by a former client of mine to offer my services to you and in return, I will be handsomely repaid."

"How can you help me exactly?"

"Well, I've been told that you recently got access to a sizable fortune and wants to put it into a bank. I have access to the most premium bank and can easily fix your papers without you going to fill out forms. Also, I can deposit your money without the government noticing the amount you put in it and raising any alarm."

"I passed," Ric said.

"May I ask why?"

"Because then you will have control of my money."

Her laugh was really sexy. "Handsome and paranoid, the mystery thickens..."

"listen," Ric said with a mouthful of salad. "I'm not arrogant enough to believe that I have nothing to understand about high finance. That is why I didn't say a word when Simon recommended a liaison officer, because the truth is I do need you, but not the way you wanted it."

"Oh?"

"I need an advisor, not a manager," Ric said bluntly. "I will be the one going to the bank today and open multiple accounts all in my name. What I need from you is to tell me the loop holes. What I can and cannot do. How much is too small and too big. What amount will the government or any other institution will flag my account from their scrutiny. How much can I deposit and what amount is just right for withdrawal? How about money transfer? What is the optimum amount of money I can move at any given time? Then I need your help about stocks. I don't want to play the stock game though, It's alright that I don't make a profit from it but I also don't want to lose a lot of money from it. I want safe stocks, those who are stable and barely moving."

"Bo-riing" The bombshell said. "If you don't want to invest your money then why don't you just bury it like a good pirate?"

Ric just stared at her and her eyes glittered. "You do plan to just bury it! No, not bury but store somewhere... probably make use of some storage facility."

Actually, I have my own magical storage facility right here. I am a walking warehouse! Ric thought smugly. "Something like that, yeah."

"Hmmm," She said, her eyes almost a slit from scrutinizing Ric. "The mystery deepens..."

"Can you help me or not?"

"What you are asking is child's play. I would recommend that you open a bank in the Cayman islands instead and I-"

"I'll probably do that in the future, but for now I want to be cash ready at a moments notice. The investments are mostly for show so that people will take me seriously when I do make my real investments."

"And what kind of investments are you interested in?"

"Real estate properties, patent rights for program algorithms, technology blueprints, company assets acquisitions..."

Her eyes widen, and then a self-satisfied smile rested on her face. "You have plans for the future, something you thought about for a long time..."

Ric responded with a smile of his own, but he was more predatory. "Oh, you have no idea," He said.

 

Spoiler: Chapter Nine

By the afternoon and the skillful instructions and expertise of Gabriella by his side, He is able to open 3 saving accounts with 4, 7 and 9 thousand dollars deposit respectively.

"Why the small amount?" Ric asked after the third bank.

"Because anything that is above 10k and you will be flag according to the bank secrecy law. You can deposit again next week but only around 4-9k. Also, we can open another 2 or 3 bank account by then if you want."

Ric nodded, his face deep in thought.

"You are aware that this will take forever, right?"

"I have the time."

Gabriella sighed. "Fine, just remember that any bank can only insure 250k of you money so don't deposit your money in a bank that you haven't told me or you risk losing your money if they go under."

Ric simply nodded.

"Our next stop will be the most important," She said, and this time, Ric turned to look at her. "We have a meeting with the firm Vodel and Bach. They are an investment firm here in new york."

Ric narrowed his eyes. "I never heard of them," Ric said bluntly. That night after his stroll, Ric went to work on research. His room had access to a powerful PC that was recently installed after his "request" from the hotel management and he spent the whole night researching investment portfolios.He learned everything he can about stocks and bonds and investments and Tax breaks and by the time dawn is sneaking a peek at his window blinds, he already learned something very crucial.

That he rather slay an army of Orcs than spend an entire semestral term learning about economics.

At first, he thought he could easily learn all about it since he has an INT of over 900, one of his highest attributes, but he was severely mistaken. "It's like learning about level 10 transdimensional void space all over again," He complained, and that took him 10 years to master.

But it was not a total loss, for one thing, he is now aware of all the major financial players and investment firms at least in North America and Europe.

And this Vodel and Bach firm is not someone he is aware of.

Gabriella smiled at him. "What, you're expecting a meeting with Goldman Sachs?"

Actually, he was. With the obvious clout of Simon and his organization, he expected that they have access to the leading investment banking management system in the world. But instead, they are referring him to some no name bankers instead. "Just tell me why you choose them instead of the others?"

"Because they are exactly what you think they are. A middle market money managers."

"And why do I need to get the middle market managers?"

"How much are you planning to invest? a hundred million?" Gabrielle asked suddenly.

"Yes."

"How about 500 mil?"

"...Maybe."

"Can you invest a billion dollars? 2? maybe even 5?"

Ric stared at her.

"Don't you see? no matter how rich you are, you will always be the dumb whale to this bankers, probably the guy who won the Powerball. But you can never compete with the hedge funds that are worth several billion in Goldman Sachs. To Vodel and Bach, you will be the whale account and will get the full treatment. Once they sign you up then it will be in their best interest to make sure you grow because if you go down then they will go down with you. Not only are you going to get the best service but they will bend over backward to fulfill your demands."

They entered a waiting black Rolls-Royce in a nearby street, and Gabrielle continued. "Also I've dealt with this firm before with a few minor client accounts and they are good. They know how the economy actually works. Bridget, the tax attorney, knows all the loophole with the government and is a genius in making a work around in any roadblock. Personally, the only thing they need to actually boost their firm is cold hard cash which they don't have enough off."

Despite himself, Ric was momentarily distracted by the appearance of a smooth thigh as Gabrielle climb inside the Royce. "And that is where I come in," He said.

"They are not my client, you are. The gameplan is simple. Walk inside and when they pitch anything to you, you cut them off and tell them you don't want any risk assets. Put 90 percent of what you intend to invest in short term US treasury bonds then dangle the ten percent for them to invest."

"Why treasury bonds?"

"It's simple, say you invest a hundred million at 1.5%, then you get $140,000 a month pre-tax. People can already live on that budget, plus the portfolio they will offer you, which is always risky but with this team you should get another 5-10 percent return on your investment. That should be enough for you if you want to stay in your hotel indefinitely."

Ric smirked. "Fine let's get this over with."

The meeting took place in the afternoon and it went smoothly as far as Ric is concerned. Gabrielle stared at him after the meeting. "Who the hell are you?"

Gabriella introduced her to a team of a tax attorney, certified public accountant, and a certified financial planner. It was Gabriel who explained Ric's agreement with a third party (Simon) and that Ric will have a windfall of 50 million now and in a weeks time, another 50 mil then another 50 after that. As planned, he demanded to put 120 million on bonds, 20 million on direct investment from the firm and the ten he will keep as ready cash.

No need to tell them I already have five mil in me, He thought.

The firm accepted the information graciously. Then Ric asked innocently if they accept gold as a direct investment as well. When they said yes, Ric casually dropped 2 platinum coins in the table. "If you take gold then I assume you also take silver and platinum?" He asked.

Michel, the CPA, is a Greek balding man in his 50's, and he could not take his eyes off from the glittering coins. "We have to check it first of course, but yes we can trade that for you. Right now, the market price of platinum is about $1,600 per ounce. Each coin is about that weight."

Bridget, the tax attorney, is a Texan with strong features and short auburn hair, at the age 0f 29, she is the youngest of the trio. She reached out for the coin and held it in her hands. Only Ric noticed the small tremble in it. "I'd say this coin is about 1.5 ounces," she said in a steady voice.

Michel turned back to Ric. "How many do you have?" He asked.

"I have just over 10,000."

The CFP, Dolores, a short mousy brunette in her 30's, gulped but kept her composure. "10,000 coins times 1.5 ounce means you have 15,000 ounces of platinum. If each platinum ounces has a market price of $1600, then you are looking at about $26 million. We can help you-"

"Bars."

"I beg your pardon?"

"I have 10,000 platinum ingot bars"

All four of them, including Gabrielle, were staring at him with open mouths now, and none of them even cared about his or her appearance anymore.

Each ingot normally weighs 12.4 kg or 438.9 ounces. 10,000 pieces of 400 ounces bar is 4 million ounces.

If the market price held, then Ric is talking about a fortune of about 6.4 billion dollars. With a B.

Outside the building, Gabrielle kept her gaze on Ric, none of her original playful banter. "Who the hell are you?" She repeated.

"Whatever do you mean?"

"Look," She said exasperatedly. "I am just gonna come out in the open and say it since you will know about it in the future if you don't already know by now: I did a background check on you."

Ric stood straighter. "You did a background check on me," He repeated.

"Well, My company did... ... and I know about the kidnapping."

There was a long silence that Ric didn't bother to break, he simply stared at her and watch her sweat a little.

She sighed again. "It is SOP to do a background check on a future potential client. The moment Simon recommended you to me, I authorized your background check. I know everything to know about you up to your 16th birthday. Then you and the rest of class of 96, Rizal-3 were kidnapped and it's like all of you just vanished from the face of the earth."

Actually, we did, Ric thought automatically.

"I can see that what happened to all you guys is a sour topic for you, but I'm guessing that it's not that all bad since you are here now."

"Not all of us."

"Right...but the point is, where ever your kidnappers brought you, somehow you became in possession of the biggest treasure find in all of history! Did they bring you to a mine? a cave? a ruin?"

Suddenly Ric was back in the dark caves of Astalar, getting attacked by vicious giant spiders and he was fighting for his life. Jessielito was screaming at him since he was trapped in a spiderweb. "Ric! Ric, Help me! I don't want to die!" He screamed, his long arm reaching desperately for Ric. He took a step forward but Stella grabbed him from behind. "It's too late! There are too many of them! Robert already ordered the retreat! Fall back, soldier!"

"But Jessie..."

"He is already dead! Move!"

"Ric!" Screamed his friend, seeing the army starting to retreat. "Don't leave me! Don't leave meee!!!"

"..."

"Ric? Are you okay?"

Ric returned his gaze to Gabrielle and to the present. His memory was in the second year of their lives in Arora. We were so young then...just kids, he thought miserably. He shook his head and focus. "I'm fine," he said curtly. "And yes, there are a lot of mines were we came from and let's just say that we grind all day to obtain platinum, gold and silver and ... other useful things."

Gabrielle nodded at him sadly. "They made you child laborers," She said understandingly.

Ric gave her a sad smile. "Yeah, something like that."

Chapter nine is up!

 

Spoiler: Chapter Ten is up!

After his meeting with his financial advisor team, Ric asked Gabriela to drop him to an address he memorized. It turned out to be a dilapidated building in the outskirt of Jersey. Ric stepped out of the Royce and stared at the 5 floor building.

"Are you sure you don't want Big Dan here to escort you inside?" Gabriela asked inside the car window. "He is not only a good driver but he is actually a former seal."

"I'm good," Ric said. "I'm not going into battle. I am visiting a friend."

Gabriela stared at the building distastefully. "Maybe you should invite your friend to a nearby starbucks. This place looks like it is about to collapse and a fire hazzard... not to metion an eye sore."

The last comment was said in a whisper but Ric heard her nevertheless.

"I'll be fine," Ric assured her.

"Fine then," She said. "Tommorow morning meet me in the hotel lobby. By then I can gurantee that the first payment from simon will be complete and per our agreement, I will send it directly to your new financial management team. also I am also bring paperworks to the agreement that Vodel and Bach firm will be the one handling your 'Bullions.' I love that word. 'Bullions!'"

Ric's lips twitch upward but he didn't look back to his lawyer. "Good night, Gabriela. See you tomorrow." And with that, he started walking inside the old building alone and he didn't look back.

Inside the building was even worse and there are one or two junkies simply lying on the corridor floor. Ric gingerly stepped over them. And then there was the smell. specially in the stairs. Animal and human feces and urine decorated both the floor and the wall of the condemned building. But Ric had seen battlefields that are worse and he soldiered on.

His friend is supposedly on the 4th floor of this building. And as he steps closer and closer to the apartment number where his friend lives, his frown deepen.

Finally he is in front of the apartment door and after a moment's hesitation, he knock sharply at the wooden door. There was no response. Maybe he is out? Ric knock once more and still no response. Out of curiosity, he turned the doorknob and it smoothly click open. The door open wide and Ric stared at the narrow corridor inside. Now that it was open, Ric can feel the faint mana in the air.

Nothing is wrong with that... Rudy is trained in magic like all of us. More likely, the mana is merely rune traps defending the place.

Ric extended his senses and he felt the source of the mana deeper inside the room and the black miasma it represented. He recognizes the mana signature. Without a second thought, Ric steps inside the room.

The room was divided into two section, one is for the dining room plus the kitchen while across it is the bedroom in front of the tv set. Ric found his friend sitting alone in the small dining table, drinking some sort of tea. He look so old, far beyond his years. His hunch shoulder felt like he is carrying the weight of the world and obviously it was breaking him.

Ric presence made him turn up and jerk in total surprise. Then he shakily stood up. "Ric is that you?"

Ric just stared at him.

With slow arthritic movements, Rudy walked towards Ric and his eyes brimming with tears. "My god it is you! And you are back. You swore that you will never go back until you defeated the Maou. So, have you? Have you defeated the demon king? Is Arora safe now?"

He stops one step away from Ric and his shaking fingers rose up to touch him.

"Who the hell are you?"

The hand froze midair, then Rudy returned his hand as he scratched his head in embarrassment. "I'm sorry I must look so different from you. Time and fortune have not been very kind to me. Even so, I am very glad that my friend is back and-"

"I can smell you, Troll," Ric said in a grating sound, and when he looked up, his eyes are golden white as it blazes his anger towards the creature in front of him. "Now I understand why this place is so filthy and smelling like this, It is because you are trying to mask your flowery scent."

Rudy arm suddenly elongated and wooden sharp roots sprouted from his fingers. With lightning speed, he stabbed his arm like a spear towards the paladin.

But Ric was faster, and he anticipated the blow. He docks from the attack then countered with a mana infuse punch towards the creature's nose. It flew ten feet in the air and smashed into the nearby refrigerator.

Ric steps forward, fully intending to give the Wood Troll a thorough beat down when his forward foot was suddenly entangled in thick vines, then his other foot. Massive vines suddenly tore away from the walls and ceiling and covered Ric all over and entangling him until he cannot move.

Then the creature impersonating his friend Rudy stood up deliberately slow and with a sneer on his face. It stared with dagger eyes at the immobile paladin.

Ric stared back at him without fear. "Where is he? The real Rudy. Where are you hiding him?"

"He's been dead for the last three years, and I have to impersonate that filthy meatbag for all that three years just so we can trap one of you freaking heroes. I guess my patience had finally born fruit."

The revelation hit Ric like a sledgehammer. Rudy is dead?!

Rudy is one of his classmates abducted in 96. He was the class clown, a walking joke book and the instigator of the best pranks in class. But after they were transported to the new world, his demeanor change more and more. He became more quiet and taciturn. Many of his classmates simply thought that he is starting to become more mature and serious, that he is not taking his new responsibilities lightly.

But one night, after a particularly hard mission, a commotion woke up Ric in their barracks and he found Rudy being held by his former classmates down in the ground. The story was that Stella, their homeroom teacher that was also transported with them in the new world, tackled her ward as he was stepping into a stool over a makeshift hanging cloth to end his life. Stella saved him, but the incident showed how distraught Rudy really was.

His uncomprehensible howl of pain, fear and utter loss, made each and everyone of them felt the irrevocable changes that happened to each and everyone of them after 2 years living in the new world. Rudy screaming that he wanted to go home made others weep for all their losses. Stella comforted the anguished young man and his cooing eventually lolled Rudy to sleep, but none of them ever forgot the incident.

The Arora system of transfering people from earth every fifteen years (1 year on earth) also explained to them that after ten aroran years of service in the army, then the earthlings are allowed to retire and the high mages will even provide the former heroes a plot of land and a thousand gold pieces, plus all the accumulated loot that the individual receive in his service.

But if the former hero wanted to return back to earth, then they need to complete the full fifteen years of military service. At that point, a volunteer from the vast mage union, usually a young mage initiate, will then be sacrifice and his raw mana will be use to power the opening of the gate. Normally, it takes several mage individuals to summon them to Arora, but it only needs a smaller portion of power to return you back, thus only one mage sacrifice is needed. It is only much later when Ric and the others found out that if the hero is level 100 and beyond then can he return back to earth without a soul sacrifice since his power is strong enough to be borrowed without the need for a magical fuel.

The aroran society have an accepting pilosophy about human sacrifices since heroes from earth are sorely needed from the onslaught of the Demon race. And they do not understand the morality and negativeness of the Earth humans against grabbing people from one world to work on another. They have been informed that there are far more than 5 billion humans on earth. It is a mind boggling numbers for arorans who barely have 500 million humans on their planet despite the fact that their planet is atleast ten times bigger than earth.

Rudy at his ninth year on the other world became the fortress commander of the eleventh largest city in arora. By then, Estella petitioned hard the high mages to let Rudy go back home on his tenth year. In return, estella and 4 other former classmates offered to increase their military duty by another 5 years. The high mages readily agreed since Estella had become one of the finest sorceress in Arora's long and bloody history.

One of those former classmates that extended his military service was Ric himself. By then, like the others, Ric had acclimatized themselves in the beauty of Arora and to them, Arora was home. None of them were the high school students anymore but instead, they are veteran warriors wielding vast amount of magic and devastating skills of war.

Even so, everyone was happy for Rudy when he tearfully bid all of them farewell. He promised to tell their families back on earth that they are still alive and since the years on earth is far shorter than in Arora, he promised to wait for anyone of them who wanted to come back home. Since all of them are far older than they look when they were abducted, Rudy expected a complicated reunion and homecoming with his parents, that is why he decided to go to new york instead to meet first his uncle that resided their because he is closer to his uncle than his actual family back home in the Philippines.

Ric remembered how happy Rudy was when he left, waving at them as he stepped into the portal.

And now he is dead.

Ric was suddenly hit by a momentary panic since 10 years after Rudy left, Estella also went back home. Is she okay? They may have taken out Rudy but he could not believe that anyone in this realm could somehow overpower Estella.

Please, in the true name of the red dragon, please let Estella be okay.

None of his fear ever showed in Ric's face. Instead, he simply stared back at the Forest Troll who is smugly retelling him how cleverly he trapped Ric.

"Are you the one who killed him?" Ric asked.

"Who the meat bag?" The troll said, startled. "I wish."

That surprise Ric as well. "Then who killed him?!"

"He killed himself," Sneered the Troll. "With one of those illusion alchemy magic that the humans of this world are so fond of. The one they stab on their arms and mixed with their blood. Disgusting creatures!"

Ric stared at the troll. "He died from an overdose... from drugs?"

"Yes he did. Even before we started our surveillance, it was clear that the man was a goner. That he was seeking oblivion, he just don't have the guts to do it himself. When we carried his body away, he had that stupid dead grin in his face. But you... You won't die like him. The master will find out everything he needs to know about you and I promised screaming and trashing all the time as you give him the info he needs. And when he is finish with you, It will be my turn. Your body will be well aquainted with my claws before I am done with you. Only then will you die and-"

The troll stopped talking as the roots holding the hero tightly suddenly started burning and Ric simply stepped out of it. His eyes were now glowing with golden light and even his breath that comes out of him like it is a cold winter night is golden light and is filled with raw mana. Another group of the trolls root lashed out and grabbed his left foot, only to disintegrate in white light.

Ric turned to him. "Oh I'm sorry, did I just interrupt your speech? Please continue... while I beat the living shit out of you." Then Ric steps forward towards the stricken Troll.

 

So how much research do you do for this novel? bank talks where very detailed, or was that just something you made up. either way good job.

 

Google is your friend!

 

Spoiler: Chapter Eleven UP!

The Troll gasped as Ric used another knife to stab the creature in his shoulder and to pin him to the asbestos wall. By this time, the Troll is missing both his feet and both arms as he hangs there in the walls with several knives pinning him.

But Ric knew that dismantling the limbs of a Forest Troll is none fatal to the creature. You need to burn them in order to truly destroy one of its kind. And so, Ric patiently administer his torture.

"Let do this one more time: who the hell is your master?"

"You can go to hell. You will never make me talk!"

Ric just laughed at the creature. "You have no idea who we really are, do you?"

The Troll just stared at him, while Ric looks around the apartment. The recent fight between him and the troll devasted any semblance of order in the cramped place. Everything was trashed. But Ric found what he was looking for. He knew that incense is somewhere in the house since Rudy loves the smell of it. There was an entire box of it in an upturned cabinet, and Ric grabbed a handful of the flammable stick.

"For years, the high mages trained us how to torture and interrogate a demon. You know, a creature who actually likes pain. But when we are finished with those filths, they were more than ready to spill their guts to our superiors. And then we kill them," Ric said conversationally, as he lit the incense with his holy aura. Without hurry, Ric dropped the incense into a mug and watched the smoke that comes out of it. "You actually believe that you can resist me?"

The Troll watched fearfully as Ric walked towards the ruined kitchen and unlocked the tube from the gas. A solid hissing began in the room and the Troll started to whiten in fear. They both knew what will happen if the room blows up since Trolls are vulnerable to fire. His biddy eyes were drawn to the incense near the table.

"You... You will die as well if this place blew up! Release me right now!"

"Are you so sure about that?"

The Troll just stared at him with confusion.

But Ric's mind was racing now at that moment. The threat of fiery death was actually just there to confirm something. And now he is sure.

This Troll did not come from Arora.

But where then? Here?! On Earth? But how is that possible? Maybe it came from a different realm altogether? One thing he learned about magic is that the possibilities are endless. Even then, a fairy?

Two hundred years ago in Arora, human spies found out that the Demon king is planning to invade the Gulford forest, the home of the elves and fairies alike. Gulford is an ocean of forest twice the size of the Pacific. Normally, its vast size alone intimidates any would be invaders but not the Deom king. The very presence of the Demon army alone is killing the forest. The Great human Ambassador Hellenor work day and night with the elven diplomats to forged a lasting mutual assistance with the two empires and it works. The Humans were able to secure a great alliance with the elves and fairies and its queen, Cylene.

The alliance was just in time, for the demon invasion was on their way. Ric and his army were dispatched by the High Mages to protect and honor the alliance. The battle in the Gulford forest lasted for several years, and Rick had fought side by side with the elves and fairies, including the Forest Trolls.

In recognition of his defense of the Gulford Forest, the queen gave him an amulet that recognized him as a friend of the elves and fairies, and also the Amber ring of True fire, One of the greatest treasure of the elven kingdom. The ring gives Ric true immunity to fire.

Maybe some humans didn't know about the recognition given to him by the queen, and certainly a lot of Demons. Even a few elves might not know about the medallion or the ring, but EVERY fairy in Arora knows what the queen gave Ric, for all fairies are connected with a psychic link to the Queen, it doesn't matter if the fairy is at the other end of the world or just newly born, information like that will be embedded into their brain like data in a cloud drive.

But this bastard didn't feel any compunction despite Ric displaying the Medallion in his chest that he is a friend of the fairies or the fact that the Troll has no idea about the capability of the ring in his left finger. The Troll was not connected in any way to Cylene. That alone is troubling by its self.

"Fine! Fine!" Screamed the Troll. "I will tell you what I know! Just kill that incense! I will not die for that bastard!"

Ric returned back to reality, he almost forgot about the Troll as he remembered the past once more. He purposely ignored the incensed. The room was starting to stink with the smell of the gas occupying the room, But Ric remains unhurried. "Alright, then spill it! Who ordered you to go after Rudy and then Ambush me here?"

"I don't know much about him. He always wears this robe with hood and an illusion magic always surrounds him that it makes it hard to look at him directly. But he smelled human and he called himsel-"

TWACK! TWACK!

Ric jerked in surprise as two arrows embedded themselves in the Trolls left ear and side neck. The Troll began to scream then it abruptly stops as what's left of his body started to become green goo as he dripped down the floor.

Ric recognized the arrow as "Acid Arrow +10." He turned to look at the side window and noticed a humanoid dress in leather jeans, brown jacket with a hoodie that covers his face. He had a small quiver of arrows, probably less than ten arrows, parallel to the back of his waist and he held a modern composite bow in his other hand.

He lingers long enough to watch the Troll melt and then he turns to make his escape. Ric burst out of the window and cross the 20 feet distance from the next building. He somersaulted in the air and landed on the building by caving in the rooftop floor.

And then the chase was on.

 

Spoiler: Chapter Twelve

The bastard is fast, Ric thought.

And he was using some sort of stealth that makes him fade in and out of the surrounding. In a straight up fight, the stealth would be useless against him since he can feel the incoming attack by instinct alone, but the guy was simply running away, and the unfamiliar concrete jungle around him is really messing with his senses.

Even so, with his high agility and speed, the killer could barely get away from his grasp.

And so, the stalemate continued as both men parkoured their way on the rooftop of Newark. Actually, Ric has teleportation magic, but his pride is getting in his way of using it. He refused to believe that he needed magic to capture one lousy human.

"Your pride is your greatest weakness!" Stella once said to him.

Even so, Ric stubbornly relied on his speed. Twice he almost overtakes the killer but then he suddenly turn in a different direction and Ric will overstep him and he needed to backpedal to see his prey again. Once, the elusive runner gained almost 20 meters space between them and Ric jump on the side of the building and did a wall run. He saw his prey did a double take when he saw him running the wall and Ric smiled coldly. "Yeah, that's right. You are not gonna get away, ass-" Just then, the prey turned to another direction. "Sonovabitch!" He shouted.

Eventually, it was the end of the line. The killer was running towards a dead end. The next building is 50 meters away, across an entire road. Ric smiled again and slowed down. But then he frowned when his prey actually speeds up again, and before he could react, the man leaped out of the building then fired an arrow towards the next building. An attached rope extended outward as the arrow buried itself in the concrete wall ten windows higher. The prey used the momentum to swing himself powerfully towards the next building and to Ric's total astonishment, the bastard hit the windows from the tenth floor of the fifty-floor building. He smashed into the window, rolled around as pieces of glasses showered him and then he stopped. Slowly he stood up again and then turned across the street to the gawking paladin, ignoring the shout of alarm from the office workers on that floor.

Across the street, the man in the hood waves slowly towards Ric, whose face turned to stone. The killer waves one last time and then stop when the hero he is waving at the other building vanished.

"Yeah, you're not gonna get away that easily," Ric said, finishing his teleportation by appearing just behind his prey.

The man in the hoodie spun around with an acid arrow and a direct stab to Ric's throat. Ric easily deflected the attack with one hand and his other hand flashed out and grabbed the killer by his neck. He raised him up with the same hand and started choking his opponent. The killer started thrashing silently, but Ric held firm.

"You only get one question, pal. And then I start tearing limbs." Ric said, ignoring the tumult around him. People were hiding, running away from the two and others are on their phone calling 911 or other authorities. "Who the hell are yo-"

The killer's hoodie fell off and the person Ric was chasing all over the city turned out to be a fiery redhead woman.

Two burly black man wearing suits and obviously security emerged from the open elevator door and the woman saw them first. "Help! Help!" She screamed. "This man is attacking me for no reason! I'm an employee here! Help me!"

Ric turned to the security personnel brooding right next to him. "Seriously?" Was all Ric could say.

"Let go of the woman, sir. I'm not gonna ask you again!" The first guy said. But even before Ric could react, the other guy pulled out an expandable baton and smash it over Ric's lower leg.

Whack!

The sound was savage, but it didn't do any visible effect since Ric is still holding the trashing girl in one hand. Ric did turn to the guy in mild annoyance, who look back at him in total shock.

Unfortunately for Ric, that was a mistake. The moment he turned his gaze away from the killer, she took that opportunity to stab the poison arrow she still held in his hand towards Ric's neck. That staggered Ric as the arrow exploded and covered most of his neck with powerful acid. He let go of the woman who fell to the floor and then rolled away just in time before she too got covered by the falling acid.

Gritting his teeth, Ric glowed into his divine light and after a moment, his sizzling neck was perfect again. He could not say the same thing to his shirt since half of it was burned away.

And then one of the guards tackled him.

Well, at least he tried. The security guard used to be a football player in his high school days and he attacked Ric with a full on shoulder smash. But it was like tackling a solid stone pillar. He forced Ric to take a half step back, in exchange for a dislocated shoulder. Two more security arrived and they were just in time to watch as Ric grabbed the man by the back of his suit and threw him over a computer terminal. These triggered the rest of the guards to charged Ric.

Ric didn't dare to throw a punch or do any form of offensive attack since he had no way of calculating his strength in this realm. Back in Arora, his punch can cave in a man wearing regular heavy armor. It will actually be worse if the person is wearing magical armor because that will make that particular person fly a few dozen feet and that will guarantee that the man will break something vital, and die anyway.

Unlike the bandit-looking people he encountered on the side street before, these people look semi-official with their dress and this might start real problems if he kills them.

Ric side steps an overhead smash of the black baton, lightly touch the man by his stomach, and then lifted him so he would go flying over the styrofoam covered ceiling. Ric absorbed several hits from the other two guards as he grabbed a work desk with one hand and used it to walloped one of his attackers. Then he stopped.

Crap! I just told myself I'm not going to fatally attack these guys... Ric thought angrily to himself.

He and the surviving security guard stared intensely at the downed guy until he slowly moved his arm and groaned. Both Ric and the other guy sighed in relief. Just to be sure the guy will not die anytime soon, Ric rested a healing hand over the guy for a few seconds.

And then he created a small whirlpool in his hand using air magic. "I should have done this from the start," He said. Then before the last guy can react, he threw it over to him and the man started spinning as the mini twister engulfed him. "The magic will spin the man around for 30 seconds and after it ends, the guy will be totally disoriented and will be puking his guts out. And more importantly, he will be incapacitated for a few seconds," Ric rationalized.

He congratulated himself as he watched the spinning man move lazily around the room, until it went directly to the window, smashed the glass cover and then the twister threw the man to his death.

"Damn it!" Ric screamed as he dived toward the falling man. His rigid posture made him able to fall faster than the flailing man and as he touched him, he teleported both of them back into the same room. His teleportation magic is at the maximum level, and therefore he can go anywhere he wants with the magical skill provided that he can remember the place he wants to teleport into.

The man started puking and Ric dropped him, then he returned back to the woman who made all this trouble in the first place.

She was gone.

She was nowhere in sight. He uses his mage sight to check for mana disturbance, but there was no mana to disturb. Then he noticed something. His keen sense of smell remembered the killer's gloves and they have a distinctive leather smell and he can smell it at the side door to his left.

Ric smashed into the door and found out that he was in a stairway room. The fight in the office lasted only 40 seconds so he knew that the girl hasn't gotten far away. Ric hangs over the ledge and then pushed himself into a strong jump that he flew all the way to the top and smashed the roof floor. He flew several hundred feet in the air, and while in there, he almost summoned his dragon. In the end, he stopped himself, despite the fact that Chuchu is a good rat catcher, because he didn't need the commotion.

Well, he means ADDITIONAL commotions.

You rely too much on the dragon anyway, that is why this little bitch is getting away from you.

Instead, he relied on his eagle eyes as gravity started grabbing him back to the ground. There! He thought as he saw the redhead running over the same rooftop.

The girl skidded to a stop when Ric teleported himself back in front of her. "You are starting to really annoy me," He growled.

 

huh i wonder who is this Stella?

 

Spoiler: Chapter Thirteen point five, because just thirteen is bad luck

The redheaded woman pulled out a kukri in each hand and Ric raised an eyebrow. "Are you serious?" He said, irritated.

Then the killer kick on the slightly sandy rooftop floor and dirt flew towards Ric's direction. Ric turned to avoid the dirt, but then the redhead was upon him. Short, quick stabs and slices rained upon him but he side step and deflected all of them. But the sheer savageness of the attack surprises him and he had to retreat a few steps as the woman pushed him back.

After a split second more, Ric got used to the woman's rhythm and his own hand snake out to grab her wrist. He tried to twist it and forced the woman to drop one of his weapon, but then she leap into the air and deliver several more kicks. Ric was forced to let go of the wrist to defend himself. The girl somersaulted a few times away from him.

Angrily, Ric tore whats left of his shirt and started pacing in front of the woman, his eyes never leaving her. "Fine, you want a fight, then so be it."

The girl returned her kukris back to her boots then she kneeled on the floor with one knee and presented her composite bow. An arrow is already cocked in it. Without any other hesitation, she fired.

Ric swayed to his left, avoiding the arrow, but he looks like he is about to fell over his face. The redhead followed her movement and fired another, but only hit Ric's after image as he started to zoom in the other direction. The girl was stunned by the display of speed but she recovered immidiately. She fired two arrows simultaneously a few feet to her left at Ric's expected approached vector. The arrows embedded themselves in the floor and then exploded a second later. Ric stepped out of the way and avoided the trap.

Ric was still cursing when two more arrows pierce the heavy smoke and headed unerringly towards Ric's head. He deflected the first arrow and was about to deflect the second one when it exploded right in his face.

Just twenty feet away was the kneeling redhead, another arrow notched in her bow and ready for anything. But she has a cold smile in her face because that last explosion surely damages the hero. Then she felt a tap behind her. she turned and a finger hit her cheeks.

He teleported?! She thought aghast. In a panic, she rolled out of the way and throw a mini mine where she was a second ago.

Ric laughed at her movements. "You remind me of that paranoid cat I saw on youtube awhile ago-" He said then stop when he heard an insistant beeping noise right at his feet. The mine blew up into a massive artificial foam that covered Ric's feet. He frowned whe he tried to step away from it and his feet remain stuck in the foam. He struggled a bit more but no such luck. He turned when he heard a whistle in front of him and he saw the same girl already kneeling and have a notched arrow in her bow and aimed right at the hero's stupid face.

Again the cold hateful smile. "Dodge this!" She said and fired the explosive arrow.

This time, she watched carefully as the arrow actually hit Ric before exploding. She coldly smiled her triumphed after the hard fought battle.

But then, the thick smoke suddenly cleared with a flop of a wing. and to show that Ric is till standing and completely unharmed. His skin change into red with magical scales as he transformed into his semi-dragon form complete with massive wings and a menacing spade tail, that twist back and port proudly behind Ric.

It was his turn to smile coldly at the shock redheaded girl. "I don't need to," He answered her belatedly.

He stepped toward the killer and this time, the foam could not stop him and reluctantly let go of his reptilian red feet. The redhead finally snap and charge Ric with her Kukris. Ric backhand her with his wing and the girl flew ten feet in the air and then skidded to another 4, before stopping. Ric cringed. You stupid fucking idiot! Ric chastised himself. If that girl dies, you learn nothing!

Then he gave a secret sighed of relief when the girl raised herself in a seating position. Ric can tell that the woman have some damage to her leg. but she is still not giving up. Ric dismiss his dragon form and started walking towards the girl. "If you have any other surprises, I suggest that you use it now because in the next minute you will be unconscious," Warned Ric.

The girl raised her left fist and a small tube protruded under her long sleeves. She activated it and a powerful flamethrower engulf Ric in a sea of fire. Ric simply walk out of the fire unscathed except for his burned jeans. "Fire immunity!" He told her as he kept walking towards her.

The redhead stood up painfully, and then notched her last arrow. She aligned it expertly and then release the silver arrow. Who unfortunately bounce away from Ric's chest. He kept walking as if nothing happened. "Not a werewolf!" He reminded the girl.

The girl doesn't have any weapon left, and she look around the roof for anything to defend herself. Finally she settled on a nearby pipe that she pried away from the side of the building. This time, Ric actually stopped walking as he stared at the desperate girl. "Seriously?!" He shouted incredulously as he stared at the pipe.

The girl was on the edge of the roof and she stared at the ground below, then back at Ric and then at the ground again. Ric saw her look and his eyes widen. "No no no no noh!" He shouted as the girl finally decided and throw herself at the edge of the building. Ric speed up and dived after her. He grabbed her halfway down and then Ric stared at the road below. Without thinking he teleported himself and the girl to the middle of the road.

Even then, the girl tried to get away but Ric was just too fast for her. He held her wrist in a vise-like grip before staring angrily at her. "It's over, you are not gonna get away that easi-"

BOOM!

Ric felt like a freight train hit his side and he flew 30 feet away and smashed into the back of a Toyota. He shook his head and pieces of glass fell off his hair. He looks around and realized that a bus just hit him.

"Are you alright?!" said the stricken bus driver. Ric is about to say that he is fine, dont worry about it, when someone started screaming for help. Ric stood up and realized the driver of the Toyota was stuck inside. Ric pried the crush door away and then reach for the old woman driver. He realized that the crushed front of the car is trapping the woman's feet, and so he pried it open with brute force until the woman can wiggle her feet away.

Ric carried her outside when another man shouted, "Watch out! It's gonna blow!" Ric stared at the Toyota and it was on fire, but he wasn't sure that it will blow up. But just to be sure, he muttered a spell and then grabbed the roof of the car and then it instantly turned it into a brittle frozen husk.

Only then did he return back and realized that the redhead was gone. He whirled around, looking for any red blur that might tell him where she had gone. Nothing. He closed his eyes and tried using his sense of smell to find her just like before.

But it was impossible. Before, was in an enclosed area, but out of the open, specially when the smell of oil, metal and smoke filled the air of a recent accident, there was simply no way to isolate her smell, even with Ric's vaunted nose. She was simply gone.

"Damn it!"

 

Homeroom teacher who also got stuck with them 20 years. More tidbits to shed light on her story in the future.

 

Spoiler: Chapter Fourteen

Samantha Orville glanced up from the file she is reading and smiled. Lucio Orsini walked towards the opposite desk with an effort and sighed with relief when he sat down. The guy always reminds him of a walrus when he walks but several times now, the fat man always surprised her how quick he moves when they are chasing criminals.

She watched as he placed his holstered gun and his badge over the drawer of his desk and sighed heavily once more.

"Bad day, Lucio?" She asked as she sipped her coffee.

The man just grunted. She and Lucio used to be partners when they were beat cops, Lucio being his training officer when she entered the Newark PD 8 years ago. Now both of them are detectives, Lucio's second year while this is her fifth. The guy might always complain but he has his heart in the right places. He may bend the rules a little, but he was never on the take. One of the very few honest to goodness honest cops.

Her smile suddenly stopped when the big guy turned to her with a frown. Crap, I know that look, She thought. "My answer is no, Lucio," Sam said wearily, standing up.

He raised his hands, palms open. "I haven't even said anything!" He protested.

"But you will, and the answer is NO."

"Oh come on, Sammy," Lucio pleaded. "Help out a dying man here, besides it's my birthday!"

Samantha laughed. Lucio probably has all the sex he wants from his wife, Sam thought evilly. The guy knows how to beg.

The Walrus stood up and sat beside Sam's desk. Samantha's eye went to the desk when it started to creak. "Just hear me out, okay?" He said.

"What is it? You need to go home early because there are no more donuts left?"

"Sammy, you wound me! Right in the heart, I tell you. Right in the heart!" he said, but for some reason, he is tapping his shoulder instead.

"Alright, I'm listening, jeez. What do you want?"

"I want you to take my case."

"What?"

Lucio immediately raised his hands again. "I don't mean to just shove you my crappy case. But I am willing to trade my crappy case to one of your own crappy cases." He said.

Samantha's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Why?" She asked.

Lucio sighed heavily, his belly jiggling from his sadness. "I don't like puzzles. And this case is definitely one. I understand hookers, pimps, junkies and all the normal criminals. But weirdos like this, I don't like to touch with a ten feet pole.

The corner of Samantha's lips twitch upward and her prominent dimple ever so slowly becomes more visible. She'd been partners with Lucio for a long time and she knew the bastard is trying to manipulate her. That is why he opened up the whole puzzle thing. He knew Samantha loves puzzles. In fact, she is obsessed with it.

"Fine," She said. "Give me the freaking case."

**********************************

Ric was still brooding in his chair when a blond woman entered the room. He barely acknowledges her presence when she sat down in front of him.

If I see that redhead ever again... He thought vengefully.

"I'm guessing that this is not your day, Mr. Moh," Blondie said. This time Ric turned to her completely. Why is she calling me Mr. Moe? He is asking himself until he remembered the new Identity given to him by Simon. They confiscated his wallet with the new Social Security card with his face in it. What was my name again? Oh right, it's Thang na Moh. A second-generation Vietnamese-American.

The woman leaned down to read something in her file and only then did Ric noticed the badge in her waist, not to mention the gun holstered in her left rib. "My name is Detective Samantha Orville of the Newark PD. The nurse said that you are feeling better, so I would like to ask you some questions if you don't mind."

Ric simply nodded.

When the redhead got away, his mana wanted to surge out of him in response to his emotion. He knew that the magical shockwave alone if he releases his anger will topple the surrounding pillars, er I mean buildings all around him. And so he needed to meditate there and there to calm himself down.

It is like being inside a bubble. He can see what was happening but it didn't register as real. He watched when the cops arrived and started shouting at him with pointed guns. He remembered complying to their demands to get down on his knees and getting handcuffed. He remembered being questioned, then the ambulance arrived and some firetrucks. One guy in white went to the old lady driving the Toyota. the other came near him. The new guy flashed some light in his eyes and ask him a few more question like what is his name. Why is this peasant asking if he remembers his name? Of course, he remembers his name. His name is Ric. Then the guy in white uniform shakes his head and he remembered him stating that he believes that Ric is in shock.

Now Ric finds himself in a hospital. He endured a battery of test and checkups. His card made it easier for the nurses to find out that he has an updated and premium insurance, so there was no problem on the hospital's side of things.

His ongoing meditation also helps him indirectly since all his muscles are relaxed and this made him a normal human in the eyes of the doctors, well a very healthy human, since none of their equipment is designed to check for mana, and technically because he is human.

When he feels that his overwhelming power doesn't literally want to burst out of his skin and his anger is now under control, he slowly let go of his meditation skill and the world became as vast and colorful as he normally perceived it. He blinks rapidly for a few moments and then his eyes focus on the blond cop seating in a chair in front of his bed.

His observe skill isn't working properly in this world simply because most people don't have mana in them. How can people live their day to day lives without knowing their level and the level of the people around them? How can people judge the strength of another? By sight? That is so inefficient.


Despite that, Ric learned a lot about the young woman simply by the use of his discerning eyes and experience. The woman was really tall for her 5'10" appearance. Probably a hundred fifty pounds. Cute dimple, Huge brown eyes, and stern lips. Very light makeup and dress practically but with noticeable unique style. The way she holds herself, and the center of her balance told Jack that the girl knew how to use her gun AND the callous in her fingers told Jack that the girl has some unarmed talents, Not as good as the redhead maybe but still this girl can hold her own.

"So what were you doing in the Newark Insurance Company building at 5 PM of this day?"

Ric just stared at her.

The cop shrugged. "To be honest, I'd much rather talk to the redhead," She said.

This made Ric jerk upright in his bed. "You have her in custody?"

"Who is she?" Samantha deflected the question.

So NO, Ric thought resignedly, dropping back to the bed.

It was the blond cop's turn to sighed. "Let me see if I am anywhere close to what really happened: You or your missing girlfriend had grievances against the insurance company who owned the building. Your girlfriend did some sort of stunt to make waves by smashing through the window, and you too are inside that building. Witnesses that saw your girlfriend-"

"She is not my girlfriend!"

"-enter by the window claims that they also did NOT see you enter that way. CCTV in the lobby and the back door also did not see you enter so that is also a mystery for now. What all the witnesses did agree upon is that you and..., ah, your friend, had some sort of disagreement or some change of plan on your part. Either way, this resulted in infighting between you two. In the end, the female requested help from the security personnel of the building and then used that commotion to slip away. We have the report from the attending paramedics that all 4 of the personnel were incapacitated. 3 are in critical condition while the last one describes you..."

Ric remained quiet and didn't add anything. The blond sighed again and continued her story.

"That last guy saw you go after your friend in the emergency stairs... We also have video cam of that girl in the hoodie running upstairs. But then, maybe you too backtrack since no one sees any of you two ever again in the building. We do have reports of you and a woman matching the description of the woman in the insurance building fighting, again might I add, in the streets of Hogwarts and Maladay which is a block away from the building. The 6 pm bus driver swore that you two came out of nowhere and he hit you head on, but more likely, just graze you since the doctor here said that you are healthier than a horse. Then unbelievably, you are involved in rescuing a woman from a burning car, then started screaming like a lunatic in the middle of the streets. Does any of this register to you Mr. Moh?"

Samantha didn't bother to add some of the crazier "Eyewitness" reports of a flying man and woman, frozen vehicles, and the fact that Mr. Moh over here lit up like a lightbulb while he was shouting in the street. Samantha is convinced that half of the people interviewed were high on something. This is what happen in legalizing marijuana!

"I don't care if you don't talk Mr. Moh, we already have you for destruction of private properties and the people you beat up-"

"Means nothing, officer."

Samantha turned to a new voice just behind the door and as she turned to see who it was, her heart sunk. She didn't know the dark hair beauty, but from her posture and the expensive outfit, she might as well have a sign telling the world that she is the high-end attorney for her suspect.

She entered the room and offered the detective a card. "My name is Gabriela Chuto of the Mckenzie&Chuto law firm and you are talking to my client without me."

Samantha offered her hand in return, completely unperturbed. She was not a rookie cop either. "Detective Samantha Orville of the Newark PD. I am simply asking your client some clarification in what happened in some bizarre case two hours ago. I didn't know that your client needed a lawyer...at this time."

"Perhaps," Gabriella said disdainfully. "But to make your job easier detective, perhaps this papers will help you close your case a bit faster."

Samantha narrowed her eyes but took the offered papers.

"These papers are copies of the revised sworn statement of all four security personnel in the incident. After a bit of soul-searching, all four decided that the entire encounter was a misunderstanding and decided not to pursue any legal claims, for now, or in the near future. Also, there is a statement from the insurance company itself stating that they too have no plans to pursue any legal matters with my client. Also, you have there a sworn statement from a certain Mrs. Susan Folker, describing the heroism of my client in saving her life from a burning vehicle."

"And then there is the bus driver," reminded Sam.

"The man who hit my client, you mean?"

"Allegedly."

"Don't be cute, detective," Gabriela said, showing some anger. "The driver already confesses, and even if the state coerces him to sue my client for whatever reason, My firm can easily question what a 69-year-old driver has any business being employed by the state in the first place."

At that point, Ric butted in. "We are not suing an old man," He said, touching the bridge of his nose as he felt a headache coming. Gabriella simply shrugged.

The cop accepted everything with grace. "Well then, I guess that concludes my interview with Mr. Moh... for now," She said, Turning to Ric. "I suggest that you don't leave New York for a while." And then she walked away.

Ric followed her until she disappeared around the corner. Then he turned quickly to Gabriella. "I need to leave New York for awhile."

********************************************

Somewhere in Greenland...

A man was doing vertical push-ups with one hand behind his back. Besides the physical pressure, his sweat was falling on the tiled floor right next to his straining hand, and it was making it slippery. And so he was fighting not only the weight of his own body but the balance itself.

"4,787... 4,788... 4789..."

The room beep, and then a female soft voice reported.

"... incoming video call from Agent A-2. Will you accept? Y/N"

The man sighed and stop his exercise. He stood up naked and grabbed a nearby towel. His brown skin was glistening from the roaring fire in a nearby fireplace. At 5'11", he is a tall man for an Asian descent. Without any hurry, he scrubs his face and body of sweat. And then he addresses the room around him.

His house is the very first artificial intelligence in the world, and soon beta testing will be done and he can then market it towards the future. But first, I need to deal with this new setback.

"Accept call," He said gravely.

One side of the wooden wall slid open, revealing a 240 inch HD Television. It blinks open and the redhead Ric was chasing appeared on it. She is kneeling on a dirty floor of an abandoned warehouse somewhere in New York.

"Report," Was all the man said.

"I... I failed master. I have no excuse."

"Did you not kill the Troll?"

"Yes I did, master."

"Did the Troll able to give any information about me or my plans to the hero?"

"No master, I was able to kill him before he spilled anything."

"Then what failure are you talking about? This is all good news."

The redhead blink. "But...but the hero, He-"


"I never trusted that idiot Troll, so I gave secret orders to the contractors to put a secret camera in that room and the six other sites we set up as hero traps. The moment the Troll send info that he captured a hero, I check the camera..."

The man remembered his shock when he saw Ric's face in the camera and the all-enveloping fear that surrounded him.

"And I know who that man is. None of you would have stood a chance against him. That is why I ordered the Strikeforce to stand down while I ordered you to silence the Troll. You did that job admirably and in fact, you even exceeded my expectation. You have to tell me how you got away from that man when you are back in Greenland ."

The woman blanched. "When I Get there in Greenland? You are pulling me out?"

"Yes. In fact, I am redeploying the whole North American contingent to our other bases in Europe and Asia. That is why when the hero left the Troll I order the strike force to destroy the entire apartment"

"Please! Just give me one more chance and give me command of half of the strike force, I am sure-"

"No, you will not!" The man said angrily. "Fighting that man and escaping him are two completely different matter. You might have a chance in the latter but never the former! Even if I give you command of the entire strike force plus all the rest of my forces, it will only end up in your massacre. So stop this idiocy and come home! I have a more important assignment for you."

"You will just let him go?"

"Why not? He doesn't know anything, and after I complete the transfer of all personnel to other places away from him, the chances of him finding out our plans will be minuscule. Besides, sooner or later he will travel to Vegas, and what he will learn there... well, It will distract him for a long time."

The redhead only hesitated for a few more seconds. "I understand and do as you command."

"Good. Forget the hero, for now, once we reached phase 3 of our plan, then no one can stop us."

The man's eyes blaze red with dark powers. Not even the great and powerful Ricardo, He thought bitterly.

 

all these flags being set up

 

I'm glad you noticed

 

'Tis good

 

glad you like it!

 

Let me speculate. The man gotta be:
1. His old friend
2. His old enemy
3. His old friend's descendant
4. His old enemy's descendant
5. Transgenitaled Ex-wife

Pick one.

 

Spoiler: Chapter Fifteen

Gabriella's chauffeur/bodyguard dropped Ric in front of his hotel building. Ric thank him and he entered the building. He lingers in the lobby for a few more minutes making sure that the driver is gone and then Ric walked straight to the lobby.


The manager saw him coming and recognized him immediately. "Hello, Mr. Moh. How can I help you this evening?"


Ric smiled at him and offered him his hotel card. "Hello, Stefan," He said to the hotel manager. "I enjoyed my stay in your fine establishment, but it is time for me to go and I would like to check out."


"Eh! But... your deposit. You are supposed to stay here for an entire week."


"It's alright, I don't need a refund. Just clear me out and I will go."


And so a maid was sent upstairs and check Ric's room and called back to the lobby to report nothing is broken and nothing is missing. The manager nodded to the phone and smiled back to Ric. "I hope you grace our hotel once more if come back to my neighborhood," The old man said, clasping his hand.


Ric laughed. "I'll do that," He said. He gave the staff a final wave and he walked out of the hotel in the middle of the night.


Ric jogged back to a late night electronic store he noticed yesterday when he was strolling the streets of new york. He entered the glass door and the bells on top rang to announce a customer.


"Hi, can I help you?" A girl in her 20's with a heavy metal vibe greeted him behind a glass counter. The girl has a red hair in one side and bubblegum pink on the other. She also has a nose ring and her stretched out Nirvana t-shirt showed that she also have piercing in... er, other parts of her body.


"Hi," Ric said, making sure he is looking the girl in the eye. "What is the latest smartphone available to you guys?"


The girl shrugged. "We both have the iPhone 9 and Galaxy Note 9. Which one do you prefer?"


Now it's Ric's turn to shrugged. "I'll take 2 of each then."


The girl blink. But the moment the weirdo showed several Benjamins, well, the girl wasn't stupid. She knew a once in a lifetime customer when she sees one. And so she started up selling everything from sim cards to expanded Mini SD memory card to extra USB sticks. and all the other accessories including a mini boom box and a cute extra large headphone. The girl also upsells premium internet access for each phone and even a protective cover for it.


And since the guy keeps grabbing all her suggestions, she tentatively asked if he might be interested in laptops. Ric shrugged. "Sure, why not," he said.


And so Ric also bought 2 laptops, a Mac, and a windows-based one, and both are gaming laptops. Whatever that means, Ric thought amused.


By then the girl went wild and sold things called galaxy tab and Ipad and small camera looking device called go-pro and all of its accessories which seem to be more of them than the actual device they support itself. Then the girl sold him bags for all the various devices, and since he has all those these devices, it was prudent to back it up and so Ric also ended up buying several external storage devices.


Ric had to stop the girl when she started offering vinyl design for the laptops. But didn't matter at that point, when the girl's shaking fingers tab everything in the cash registrar, the total price ended up in 54 thousand dollars, give or take a few hundred.


"One last thing? the internet plan you gave me, can I immediately use it now?"


The girl shakes her head sadly. "No sir, you have to wait for 24 hours before it activates."


Ric nodded, then paid everything in cash and rounded it all up to 55 thousand. "Keep the change, buy yourself something nice," He said magnanimously. It doesn't matter how old or young a woman is, or if she is a goth girl or a classic lady, Ric always find it awe inspiring to see a genuine smile in a girl makes her absolutely beautiful.


Lastly, Ric then put everything in a duffel bag that he also bought in the store, wave at the girl one last time and left the store.


Outside, He grabbed a taxi and instructed the middle eastern guy to go to Penn station. One by one, Ric grabbed the items he bought and store them inside his inventory. The taxi driver never noticed what he was doing.


After reaching the station, he gave the cab driver a hundred dollar bill despite the fact that the fee is only $36. Then he walked briskly inside. His eyes and his aura are roaming the place everywhere, watching for threat.


When he first got here, he dropped all his guard and relaxed. since he figured that it is high time to enjoy himself. But now that he knew that someone wishes him harm in this world, his battlefield senses returned back to him like a second skin. warm and familiar.


His aura pulses around him like waves and now any face in the crowd is something he memorizes almost in a split second and if someone even looks at him funny, His aura easily recognizes this and will be tagged in his consciousness.


He stepped closer to the ticket booth and asked if he can get a one way trip to Vegas Nevada. The old black woman in the station looks at him sternly. "Sweetheart, the best thing I could do for you is an Amtrak ride to Chicago Union Station. From there, I believe you can take either another train or a bus ride to get to Vegas."


Ric readily accepted. "Give me the best seat you got," He said.


"Hold your horse's young man, I ain't as young as I used to be." She tapped some more in her old computer and then smiled at Ric. "You are lucky, We still have a room available."


Ric blinked. "A room? Oh! you mean there is an entire room in the train? Wow! Alright, I'll take that."


"Uh huh, with tax it will cost you $722.98."


Ric gave him a thousand bucks and told her to keep the change. The old woman just harumphs and ignored him. She diddled around with the computer a few more minutes and then gave him his ticket... and his exact change.


Ric sighed, smiled and said his thanks to the woman who barely acknowledge him.


There was a diner and some food stands that you can buy food from and that is where Ric spent his dinner by eating some burger meals.


When the train comes, Ric eagerly entered it since he can rightfully say that this is, in fact, his very first train ride. He knew intellectually that it was not going to be as exciting as riding his dragon, but the novelty is still there. A man in a funny uniform led him inside the bowel of the train and into a room of his own.


It was a bit cramp by the standards of his room in the Ritz and yet Ric had to restrain himself from jumping up and down the small bed. It took another half an hour to fill up the train and then Ric had to wait to see that the train is on its way before he went to the small bathroom with a shower and cleaned himself up.


When he finished, he dresses in a new shirt and jeans that he bought earlier and then he walked out of the corridor. He checked both sides of the aisle before going back in his room.


He wrote a reinforcing magical rune on the door and a customized lock. When he poured his mana into it, it glowed in an instant and then the magic settled in the door.


Only then did Ric relaxed and lay down the bed, watching the world move in the wide window until it lulled him to a dreamless sleep.

 

Nice to see an MC that's not shounenesque...

 

Spoiler: Chapter Sixteen

It took an entire day and a half for the Amtrak train to settle down and stop in a city called Chicago.


Ric hopped out of the train, drink in the sight and smiled to himself. This place is completely different from the last city he'd been in and he finds the contrast somehow exhilarating.


When Ric returned to the counter, he found out that the next available train ride from Chicago to Vegas will be in 14 hours. "The good news is that we can have another premium room available for you at that time if you want."


Ric shrugged and paid the ticket in advance for the train ride.


"First thing first," He said to himself. "Find food!"


He walked out of the station and then hailed a cab. The driver leaned over and asked, "Where to mister?"


"Where do locals go if they want the best food around here?"


The driver smiled. "Hop in then," He said. "I know the best burger place you will ever experience."


The cab brought him to a diner called Lou Mitchell's. And from there, Ric ordered 6 different burger meal, 2 extra fries, and 2 onion ring orders, plus the large soda that accompanied the meal, and then 2 more orders of milkshakes.


While he eats, he pulled out one of his smartphones, and double check the address he found on the net.


While he was on the train journey from New York to Chicago, he spent a lot of time understanding the internet, and more particularly, its search engine.


And as he studied it, he learned new words and concepts that are considered new ideas to him. For example computer programs, He understood the dictionary definition of it, but as he actually sees programs through open source, the entire language system is all gibberish to him.


His dogged mage tenacity started exerting itself and through trial and error, the gibberish started to make sense. Eventually, he is able to create his very own much powerful search program customized to his needs.


He may not have Gabriela's number but he knew where she works and after a quick search, he found the helpline for Mckenzie&Chuto law firm. The female receptionist on the other end asked how he can help him and he asked to be transferred to Gabriela Chuto. The receptionist then informed him in a very slow and precise manner, as if speaking to a special child, that one of the senior partners is in fact very busy and therefore she cannot just transfer him to her office. Ric nodded and simply gave the receptionist his name, his general whereabouts and the number for one of his phone.


After taking care of that, Ric returned back to his phone and checking one of his candidates once more. Since the person is, in fact, living in Chicago, he decided to make a visit. He always wondered why people always tell the world what they're current schedule is and what they are planning to do. This Twitter thing really befuddles me. He shrugged and called another taxi.


***********************


Savannah Milton fidgetted once more as she straightened her business skirt one last time. She can't believe that she is still nervous during an interview despite the fact that she had gone through at least 2 dozens of these rituals for the last year alone.


Every one of her friends believes that she is a shoe-in for every fortune 500 company out there since her school records and even being the top valedictorian of her class, plus the fact that she has a decent business portfolio at the young age of 23. She holds a bachelor degree in business administration with a specialization in economics. But now, even her parents are worried about her future after turning down the first 20 jobs who would want to hire her after they gave a more specific viewpoint on what they want her to do. The last five though turned her down outright.


Her parents told her to suck it up and take the offered job before the companies started blacklisting her. At first, she laughed at the ridiculousness of the idea. but recently, she is starting to think that her parents might have been right after all.


Whatever this job truly offers I'll accept it. It looks decent enough online. I'll spend an entire year of my life here, just to prove to them that I am also a scrapper like the rest of them, and then I'll move on.


Her main problem is the fact that she is passionate enough to try and save the environment. Back in college, they are derogatorily called the 'Nature Warriors' at their back and sometimes in their faces. She finds only when she is out there that most company only give lip service or sometimes outright have a company policy that is opposite to her beliefs. At one time, she even tried to go to an oil company with a forceful info about the fact that despite their products they are at the forefront of trying to save mother earth. She ended up in a heated debate with the interviewer when she realized that the entire thing was just a clever marketing ploy.


Suddenly, she became aware of someone calling her name.


"Hello, Are you Savannah? Savannah Milton?" A man asked.


For a moment, Savannah just stared at the Asian man standing in front of her with a glittering smile. He was tall for an Asian, just about 6 feet but more likely 5'10" or 11" and he looks mature enough. The guy was probably in his middle or late thirties and he looks so devastatingly handsome with his full wavy black hair and the stylish beard and mustache combination.


"Yes?"


"Please come with me for a moment," He said.


Savannah again straightened her business attire and look one last time at a nearby mirror. For the nth time, she wondered if it was better to have the sexy black dress instead for this interview. Hurriedly, she followed the cute guy.


He led her into a corridor and then abruptly choose one of the lined doors. It opened and he ushered her in. Inside was a long table normally used for meetings but today it was deserted and only the two of them are in the room.


"Please sit and be comfortable." The man said pleasantly. Then he offered his hand. "My name, by the way, is Mr. Thang na Moh."


Savannah wondered idly why the man was wearing casual clothes. Mr. Moh is wearing hiking boots, Levis jeans and a gaudy gray t-shirt with a Snoopy logo in it. Except for this man, the other people working here are wearing business attires.


Either way, the guy started asking her questions about her resume, and she started to focus on the questions at hand. For the next fifteen minutes, Savannah gave her standards answers to the standard interview questions.


"May I asked you a question," She asked. Sensing something is wrong somehow.


"Yes?"


"I already sent you all of this info through my resume that I sent you via email to your company. Why are you questioning me about info that you already have?"


"Oh no you got it all wrong," Ric said. "You sent the info to this company-" He read the name of the company on the wall. "JP Morgan. But not to me, so I have to double check the Info I have. I don't work for them."


Savannah's jaw dropped. "Are you telling me-"


"That I am trying to steal you from them, yes," Ric answered her honestly. "I am satisfied with the info I got and I want to hire you."


"Hire me for what?" She asked astonished, putting the binder of her portfolio to her chest.


"I would like to hire you as administrator for a small but independent foundation. You have all the qualification I need since you have a background in hard science and have a clear interest in environmental pursuit."


Savannah shifted in her seat uncomfortably. "And what do you expect me to do on this foundation?"


"Well, you will handle the day to day operation and coordinate the research being handled by the Foundation. If you agree, your main job is to fund new ideas and research of upcoming technology."


"Are you government? who funds the foundation and who is backing it?"


"Pardon me, Savannah, but you will only know the answer to those questions once you agree to join us. We operate in a need to know basis. The need for continued confidentiality of our investors and founders for my organization is one of the main reason why it is taking us this long to find a good candidate for the job we are offering you now."


Savannah narrowed her eyes as the man sat down to one of the chairs. She was convinced that the man, although soft spoken, have some sort of military background, from the way his body moves so confidently

.
"While the foundation has worthy goals, some of its backers don't want to receive certain attention for their work and funding assistance."


"May I asked at least the name of this foundation, and its worthy goals?"


That stopped Ric for a moment for he hasn't actually thought of a name for this foundation. Also, the girl didn't need to know that he himself is the only true founder and investment backer of the entirely new foundation.


"The name of the foundation is Arora Foundation, and the goals are modest. Basically to endow research to new hard science technology that specialized in a wide array of application that will change the world for the better. It will center primarily on the development of natural self-replicating and sustainable technology that will not only stop the depletion of our global resources but make repairs to an already damaged ecosystem."


Is this bastard yanking her chains? for what he just described was her perfect dream job.


"Are you interested?" Ric probed.


Savannah wanted to shout yes but contained herself. What is the catch? She wondered.


Ric had checked and double check all his information about this woman. Her background, her qualifications, her references, her interest in science and her passion for the environment. All this makes her the perfect administrator for his foundation, despite her young age.


"Are you in anyway connected to any illegal organization or activities. I don't care what threat you will impose on me, but if I found out that you are doing something against the law I will walk out of this just like that."


"No, we will not do anything illegal nor compromised your morality in any way. But understand that this foundation is a bit eccentric. We do want to help the planet and the environment, but we don't want nor need any publicity about our organization... and we prefer administrator who thinks the same way. We need someone who will pursue our noble goal but will not need the glory or the public acclaim to be happy on the job."


She paused for a moment. "The publicity angle is rather odd since most foundation will need the publicity to show its backers that they are doing something. At the very least, they would want the news simply to get additional funding from other individuals."


Ric smiled at her mysteriously. "Trust me when I say that the foundation will not lack funding. The founders simply want to make sure that the maximum effectiveness in terms of return on their investment will occur."


Then Ric leaned over to her. "I know about your other interviews with all the other companies. And what I can tell you is that I can double or even triple what they have offered you, but more importantly, I can give you something that they cannot."


"Oh? and what is that?" Savannah asked, intrigued.


"A purpose. a guarantee that your job matters. That what you do in the foundation will touch the lives of not only millions but billions of people around the world."


A small smile adjusted Savannah's face. "You know how to make a girl feel important Mr. Moh. I wonder how many girls you are able to drop their panties with your sweet nothing?"


Ric just stared at her. His gentle reproached took away the sting from her angry cynicism. And she was sorry the moment the remark left her lips.


"I'm offering you a starting salary of 800K euros annually plus living quarters and transportation in terms of an apartment and a car of your choosing."


Savannah didn't bother to hide her surprise. "I don't understand, your offer is actually ten times the average salary of a foundation administrator."


"Like I said, I want you to take this job. This can easily be a lifetime job for you."


They stared at each other for a long time. Then Savannah sighed. "Please send me all the relevant data and business model of your foundation, as well as the complete foundation mandate and all the necessary legal papers that come with it. Oh, and of course a copy of my contract if you will. If everything checks out then you have yourself an administrator."


It was Ric's turn to smile broadly. "That is all I asked."