"If you are really serious, then I have to say that you are a fool. I can't make an enemy out of a big and influential family like the Hunter family. Even if I had a thousand times more guts, I still wouldn't agree with your proposal irrespective of how much I hate them. That's how powerful they are. Moreover, I hate smart people like you the most. You wouldn't hesitate to throw anyone under to achieve your own objectives. You aren't any different to that lecherous bastard in my understanding. Both of you want to use me like cheap labor and discard me later on when I have no use to you."
After being manipulated by Nelson, Jack had given up on taking on another job like that ever again. He was a criminal but not the kind with exceptional brains. He was just exceptionally handy when it came to gutting people with his wind blades and blood magic. Therefore, it wasn't easy for him to secure advantage against the brainy bunch as long as he was a wanted man, an escapee from prison who could be arrested at any time.
After going through all that trouble, he would still end up on the streets. Therefore, he believed that there was no use taking on the trouble in the first place.
Jack made up his mind and was about to leave when Zach landed in front of him all of a sudden seemingly out of nowhere.
It scared the hell out of him, but he didn't show it on his face.
"I'm not that bastard Nelson. I understand the weight of a promise made to someone. Reciprocating kindness with greater kindness and hostility with even more hostility is the creed I live by. So, you need not fret about being manipulated."
Jack was surprised at such a remark, but it was hard to trust others for him easily after suffering at the hands of Nelson and the Hunter family.
"As expected, you were really close by." muttered Jack under his breath as he tried to figure out how Zach had ambushed him without being noticed.
The duo of Zach and Christina still gave him the chills and his missing arm began to itch when his eyes met Zach's. There was fear and apprehension in his gaze as he kept his eyes focused on Zach but the defiance in his fear-stricken eyes was obvious to Zach.
Zach had been hiding in the vicinity to observe Jack's attitude. His camouflage skill had already reached perfection. Since Jack's wind scouting relied on the movement of the target being observed, Zach wasn't found even after Jack mobilized the wind element to search for him.
Zach didn't bother trying to convince Jack with words because he had a better method to do exactly that. What could a blind man want more than to see the world with his own eyes?
Therefore, Zach searched his weapon arsenal before finding a seemingly inconspicuous black box that was like a Rubik's cube in appearance.
He put the box in the palm of his hand and raised it towards Jack as if to show him the reward for his cooperation.
Jack had never seen something like the black box, so he was confused as to why Zach looked like he was showing off.
Zach put the box on the ground next to the overly cautious Jack.
Before Jack could understand what happened, the box began to morph into a new shape using the various intricately linked parts inside the cube. The cube was in fact made of several million pieces folded in on themselves thus it was easy for it to assume any form or shape as per the requirement of the user.
For Jack it turned out to be a pleasant surprise because the black box changed into the shape of a mechanical arm that integrated with the stump near his shoulder essentially acting as a new robotic arm for the previously limbless Jack.
Stunned, Jack tried to recall the sensation of moving his fingers in his mind. As a result, the robotic arm moved just as he wanted them to move.
The artificial limb was based on neural control technology, meaning that it operated without reliance on voice commands or any external input, thanks to its direct synchronization with Jack's neural network.
This integration allowed his brain to seamlessly and intuitively guide the robotic limb's movements, bestowing upon him a level of functional control that paralleled that of a natural appendage.
In essence, the artificial limb had seamlessly melded with his body's functioning, creating a harmonious synergy between his neural commands and the limb's responsive actions.
Therefore, Jack's body was now better than before. He was now capable of even more intricate and precise movements compared to his actual limb in the past. This was no doubt a blessing.
As Jack reveled in the sensation of his missing arm returning, Zach's voice resonated from his side.
"Consider this revitalized limb as a preliminary gesture of gratitude for your cooperation in our efforts against the Hunter family," Zach's words were marked with a firm and unwavering tone.
"Be assured that substantial recompense awaits you upon the successful accomplishment of our mission."
Zach's promise held a sense of commitment that made Jack want to put his trust in Zach.
Jack wasn't a fool who couldn't ascertain when someone was being genuine. He could tell that Zach was sincere in asking for his cooperation. Moreover, the latter was willing to pay him much more than his help was worth.
Jack couldn't have been more thankful towards Zach who had not only given him a chance to survive but had also given him his arm back. The metal arm, though a little foreign, fit just like his original arm and was just as responsive.
He wondered who Zach actually was. Such miraculous skills couldn't be so ordinary. Jack had been to many places but none of them could produce the things Zach had in his hand. He still remembered the red colored sword that could cut through anything. Just how many secrets could one man hold within himself.
Thankfully, Zach hadn't harbored a grudge against him for doing the bidding of the Hunter family and had come to offer him a helping hand in his most dire circumstances.
Therefore, instead of being greedy, Jack bowed slightly towards Zach and said, "Your favor is already enough of a payment. This arm is certainly more than enough for what you want me to do. No need to pay me anything other than this."
Zach smiled in response. The smile contained the satisfaction of having obtained an ally who was not only powerful but also knew how to hold back his greed. This was a trustworthy quality to have among mercenaries, though a little na?ve. Zach admired Jack for being able to hold himself back even though he could have wrung any amount out of Zach considering that the latter was just as desperate as Jack was.
Jack offered his still good right hand towards Zach in order to seal the deal between the two.
Zach didn't hesitate either and grabbed on to it with gusto. This handshake sealed the deal between the two men whose ideals would now be aligned together until Zach could rescue Diana from the clutches of the Hunter family.
…
The cold war between the Hunter family and the Smith family had been going on for days without any side coming out a clear victor. The Smith family neither agreed nor disagreed with the conditions put forth by the Hunter family. They were clearly trying to drag on things for a little while longer. On the other hand, the Hunter family was unable to force the Smith family to accept their conditions as well.
They were afraid of pissing off Zach to the point where he would go berserk. Harming his wife Diana was probably such an act and the Hunter family didn't want to get the situation more tangled than it already was. They only worked hard to keep the situation such that Zach wouldn't be able to save his wife and would have to lay down arms in front of the Hunter family.
Due to the inaction on the part of both the parties, the war was in stale mate, unable to go forward.
As such, the ongoing clash between the two opposing forces evolved into a strategic battle of information dominance. The outcome hinged on the quality, breadth, and effectiveness of their respective intelligence networks.
In one corner, Zach devoted his resources to unraveling the enigma of Diana's captivity, painstakingly piecing together clues and traces to uncover the exact location where she was being held against her will.
On the other side of the spectrum, the Hunter family pursued their own quest for knowledge with a vigilant eye on the movements of the Smith family. Every shred of information, no matter how seemingly insignificant, was a precious resource. Each tidbit was meticulously collected, analyzed, and integrated into their expanding intelligence mosaic. By amassing this comprehensive understanding of the Smith family's activities, the Hunters aimed to fortify their defenses against any potential threat, ensuring they were poised to respond to any scenario that might emerge.
In this intricate dance of gathering and leveraging information, both sides recognized the profound impact that the mastery of data could yield. It was not solely about who possessed the most information, but rather about who could extract the most actionable insights from their amassed knowledge.
Unfortunately, there wasn't anything worthwhile that Hogan's experienced information network could gather about the Smith family despite having tried their best.
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