19 CHAPTER 19

Across from the 'Rogue' bar's parking lot Yuri parked his old beat-up car inside. The bar's name was given by Yuri, as there was no sign indicating its name.

'I knew there was something wrong here. The bar owner doesn't even close during the day?' Yuri stared at the bar across from him, knowing he came to the right place.

Yuri eagerly took out the toy telescope he bought for $3.50 from the supermarket and kept looking through the window of the bar across from him.

The 'Rogue' bar was small, with only one side of the window where the people can seat, and the other side was the bartender's counter. Therefore, by staring at the window, one could tell how many people were inside.

Only one person was seen lying on a table, with white hair and a blue sleeveless jacket. This should be the drunkard Yuri saw last time he came here. No other customers were seen besides this person.

The place was a bit remote, with few pedestrians on the road, and no one walked into the bar. Yuri had been watching for a long time, but he still hadn't seen the person he wanted to see.

What should he do now? Should he just go in and ask the bartender if he knows where the 'network' is? Just when Yuri was getting impatient and was about to force his way in, a turning point appeared.

A suspicious person walked into the bar. Why was he suspicious? Well, he had a clear and obvious path to walk, but he chose to climb down from the roof of the building next to the bar with a rope.

Not only that, but he was also wearing a black tight-fitting suit, green boots, a green cloak, and a green hood. He even had a green flute tied to his waist. Except for the black base, his whole body was green.

This outfit looked strange, but in Twin City, there were not many people who didn't know what that outfit meant.

'This guy seems to be... the Pied Piper?' Yuri suddenly became interested. The Pied Piper was a famous person who used to be in the rogue gang. Later, for some reason, he turned to the right path and became an anonymous street hero. He had cooperated with the Flash several times.

When he turned to the right path, it was Linda Park, also known as the Flash's fiancée, who wrote the exclusive report.

But once a villain, now a hero, had sneaked into a bar that seemed to be a den of criminals. What does this mean? It's impossible to guess, so Yuri decided to go and see for himself. But not before turning to his omnitrix, dialing it and pushing it down.

"Ghostfreak."

—-—

Inside the bar.

The Pied Piper didn't seem to come for a drink. He pushed the door open and went straight to the only table with a customer.

"Why did you call me here, Leonard? You should know we can't meet now."

The white-haired man, Leonard, climbed up from the table, rubbed his eyes tiredly, and the smell of alcohol emanated from his body.

"Pied Piper? You're here. Why don't you sit down and have a drink? I'll treat you."

"No need," the Pied Piper sat down in front of Leonard, expressionless, and said, "What do you want from me?"

"What's with the hostility? I'm also a good citizen now." Leonard crossed his arms and smirked. "Long time no see, old friend. Are you going to keep that sour face all the time?"

At these words, the Pied Piper fell silent. After a while, he sighed and softened his expression, asking, "How is Lisa doing?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Leonard's smile disappeared instantly, and his face turned dark. "Her brain tumor is getting bigger and the doctor says there is almost no hope of a cure..."

"Do you know what I was thinking at the time?"

Leonard raised his head, stared into the Pied Piper's eyes, and said with a ferocious expression: "At that time, I wished I could freeze the head of that quack doctor who couldn't cure my sister into ice, and then smash it into ice slag! No, I'll freeze the whole hospital!"

"I spent all my savings and sold the company I started with Lisa to get the best possible treatment for her, and all I got was 'she may never be cured'?!"

"But in the end, I couldn't do anything because I needed them to keep Lisa alive."

"Why did God take away my only relative? Why did he do this to me?"

Leonard muttered to himself.

The Pied Piper waited quietly for Leonard to vent his emotions before speaking. The soft expression he had before disappeared, and he said, "This is why everyone likes Lisa and not you, Leonard. You always choose to selectively forget your mistakes."

The Pied Piper pointed at Leonard with a cold face and said, "If it weren't for your arrogance, Lisa wouldn't be like this now, and Mark, Sam, and Mick would not have suffered because of you."

"Don't give me a pitiful look. I feel sorry for Lisa's situation, but I won't sympathize with you, let alone forgive you for what you did to the Rogues."

"You won't forgive me for what I did to the Rogues? What about what you did to it?" Being accused by the Pied Piper made Leonard furious.

"You betrayed us! When you were lost in the thrill of crime, the Rogues took you in. I helped you find yourself again, even when we found out you were gay, we still accepted you!.

But how did you treat us? You dared to date a cop and quit the gang to become a stupid vigilante against us. You betrayed us!" Leonard gritted his teeth.

"I never told David about the Rogues' information, and he never forced me to say anything. The reason I stopped you from committing crimes was that I didn't want you to be wanted forever!" Pied Piper tried to reason.

"Yes, you want us to become the politicians' lapdogs, shouting Black Lives Matter but practicing white supremacy, and you call that redemption."

Leonard sneered, "Old James and Mick believed your nonsense and really joined the FBI, but I never will."

"They won't become anyone's lapdogs. They do things according to their own will."

The Pied Piper's face gradually calmed down. He didn't know why he was angry with Leonard, or even why he came here.

"Leonard... no, Lenny, I appreciate everything you did to help me, but you need to know what is right."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Pied Piper stood up from his seat and walked straight out the door.

"The network has made a lot of big moves recently." At this point, Leonard's voice came from behind the Pied Piper.

"Blacksmith sent a kid to steal James' equipment and now claims to be the second-coming Trickster. He even caused a big scene at the FBI branch last night. I guess the FBI didn't tell you about these things."

The Pied Piper paused, frowning and asking, "What do you want to say?"

"Blacksmith is targeting the Flash's allies. I don't know how many people have been affected, but it will eventually come to you."

Leonard said softly, "You are an old member of the gang, and I don't want you to fall into the hands of some unknown person and tarnish the gang's reputation..."

After speaking, Leonard fell asleep on the table, snoring loudly.

"Thank you."

The Pied Piper's eyes were complicated, and he said thank you before pushing open the door and walking out.

No one noticed that an invisible object followed him out...

*****

A/N: Earlier post than usual, now give me my stones.

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