29 Jin Dong (Part 1)

"So you're telling me, there's actually a person who was able to remain sane and survive after ingesting that damn thing?" After all, there were people with different abilities in this world. This didn't particularly surprise him.

"It is only speculation though. Some say that he was a person who went crazy after ingesting that potion, while some believed it to be a miracle for staying alive for so long. Not your everyday, you casually see someone with powers like us." Alice said nonchalantly.

She continued to drink her new favorite mango drink. An obession turned into an addiction. Both were partners in crime when it came to similar tastes.

"How did they know?" Indra still didn't belive her.

"He was a former member of DW-Industries." He found it very interesting. He too, had heard of Walter Dinnon, a genius scientist who was one of the creators of the prototype d-potion.

"No wonder they were able to close the case so easily. They probably called it a trial error. By pushing it on Walter, they were able to close it instantly. He must have been released from prison, but what could we possibly need from-" Alice smiled as she nodded in affirmation, confirming his doubts.

"Not bad, looks like that mango drink is gradually making you smarter." Alice spat out the drink and stared at him.

"You really have a way with words don't you? Remember, we still don't know his whereabouts" She pouted, earning another chuckle from Indra.

"Either way, we'll have to see if he'll testify in court against them; if he is still sane, that is. I'll call Freddy right now." Minutes later, he arrived at his room with his laptop and took a seat in front of Indra.

"Dude, I'm still surprised when you told me you became the CEO! Do you know how hard it is to keep this secret, when I'm dying to tell it to everyone?" Freddy gruntled annoyingly.

"Why?"

"Everyone will know I am friends with an otherworlder, a CEO, and a guy who sucks at Mortal Kombat." Indra stared at him disbelievingly.

'Was the last part really necessary?' Indra thought. Then again, had he ever won against Freddy? Truly an 'accomplishment', which shouldn't be shared to anyone.

"Wait, what is Mortal Kombat?" Alice asked, finding the conversation interesting.

"Oh that is-"

"Are you done?" Indra asked as he raised his eyebrows at both of them, firmly shutting them up.

"I need you to hack into the New York city police department, and find traces of a man named Walter Dinnon."

"From which date to which date?"

"Starting from the day after the Drug Abuse case till now. So, from August 2015 till June 2020. Try doing an image search and narrow down the list according to his last name." Freddy nodded and began working at an incredible speed.

In less than minute, he was able to hack into the NYPD database and began tracing Walter. Being a former prisoner, finding Walter's image was easy but his whereabouts were still unknown, as most of the surveillance cameras weren't able to pick up anything.

"Can't you hack into DW-Industries' surveillance cameras? They have their eyes everywhere." Alice asked.

"That's not possible. I'll need to login into their network and connect my laptop to the main interface manually. As expected of a reputed company." Freddy responded, as his computer continued tracing for Walter's whereabouts.

'Beep'

"Found him!" Freddy replied excitedly.

"Where is he?" Indra asked as he rushed over to him.

"Jin Dong Market." Thanking Freddy, Indra immediately rushed out covering his face with a brown cloak, with Alice tagging along from behind.

"Indra wait! Do you know what Jin Dong is?" She asked worriedly.

"Biggest black market in the United States. Starting from drugs to weapons to underground illegal fights, that market is the hub of illegality. So yes, I know what Jin Dong is."

"It's too dangerous, even for people who have cultivating experience! We can always find another way to do these things!" Halting his steps outside of the main entrance of the building, Indra turned towards Alice with a hint of anger towards her.

"Another way? Are you hearing yourself, because right now we don't have the time to be doing things leisurely. This company is in danger, my best friend may lose his life anytime, and I'm trying to work my ass off so I become a full time CEO. You told me to protect this company and it's honor right? Then as the CEO of this company, let me do my job."

Alice furrowed her brows as she watched Indra leave, without waiting for her response.

Unlike before, when she couldn't save those in need. She now had the choice to do so. She had nothing to hold her back.

Unknowingly, her legs began moving on their own and ran towards the cab Indra was about get in. She closed the door panting a little, as she looked towards Indra guiltily.

"..."

"I never asked you to come."

"I know. Since Ema is not here, it is my responsibility to protect the CEO. I'm sorry about what I said earlier. Let me win this war with you." Alice's gentleness never disappeared.

Indra was able to notice the determination crystal clearly in her eyes. Curving his mouth upwards, he said,

"Take us to 82 West 3rd Street please."

--

"Once they exit Jin Dong market, put a bullet in their skull. Remember, sir Aaron is not expecting any failures." Winston ordered.

"Yes sir." Adam ended the call, as he went at the back to his trunk and took out his weapon from the car.

"The M-24 sniper? Yo Adam, check out my new Barrett M-82, better firing range than yours. Right, do you have those special bullets?" His partner asked.

Putting the regular ammunition aside, Adam grabbed a black case with a wolf emblem embedded on it. When he opened the case, there were three purple bullets with a golden colored rim on the bottom.

Coursing with pure demonic energy, Adam and his partner grinned, gripping the case tightly. They were ready to kill.

"There are only three, how do we split it?" His partner asked.

"Well, I'll take two and you take one. We don't know anything about their abilities, but just take your best shot." Adam replied.

"Well who needs two, one is more than enough for me. Watch me put a bullet at the center of their foreheads. It's like killing two birds with one stone." He laughed voraciously, causing Adam to aim his gun at him instead.

Cocking their respective rifles, they quickly jumped on top of a roof and took their positions exactly a few hundred meters outside the black market. Adam took cover at rooftop of an apartment, while his partner took cover, opposite of him and waited.

--

The black market at first seemed like a regular market where people attracted customers to their respective shops.

Still, if one were to enter much further inside, they would notice unusual shops and many weird things happening there.

Some stared creepily at Indra and Alice, while some were selling weapons boldly. Others were selling drugs, and some were outright fighting in the alleys. It truly was a dark world here.

Indra and Alice remained on guard as they continued walking inside. He swore to put an end to these people's criminal activities. But for now, finding his target was of utmost importance.

"You noticed?" Indra asked as he gazed around the market.

"Yeah, two men followed us here, and are armed. We have to be careful, because though I'm a healer, I can still be wounded from a regular bullet." She whispered.

"That's not all. I can sense immense demonic energy within those rifles. Probably those bullets, be careful and stay close to me." Alice nodded and stuck close to him as they approached a man, selling sea food.

"Do you know where we I can find an information broker?"

The food seller looked at Indra briefly, before pointing at a hobo who looked extremely dirty to the core.

His clothes were tattered with grease marks. His curly hair was black and yet had loads of dust on it. Heading over to him, the man immediately turned around and placed his hand out. Indra calmly placed a few one hundred dollar bills, and said,

"I need to find a man named, Walter Dinnon." Without looking at them, the man took out his handheld transmitter and whispered something inaudible to the individual on the other side of the line. Placing his walkie talkie away, the man signaled the duo to follow.

After walking for several minutes, the man led them to an abandoned warehouse. Pointing his finger at the warehouse, the hobo left without saying a word. Looking at each other, Indra and Alice entered inside, and what greeted their eyes left them speechless.

There was a man, who laid on the floor, with multiple wounds to his arms and legs.

What left them speechless was the number of lacerations and the dried up blood on his body and clothes. His overgrown hair and beard made him look all the more pitiable.

"Walter?" Indra spoke up, however there was no response from that man.

"Can you heal him?" Alice nodded as they slowly approached the man in front of them.

"Mystic Palms." Soon, the man's body glowed with a green light emanating within the dark warehouse, as soon as she placed her hands in front of the man. The wounds began healing immediately, astounding Indra.

Taking a step back, Indra crouched down and turned the man's face towards him. Just then, the man's nails turned extremely long, opened his eyes and hacked towards Indra. Sensing the oncoming attack, Indra easily grabbed his hand and pinned him against the wall.

"Walter Dinnon?" The man however remained silent as he struggled with all his might, wanting to free himself. He exerted more pressure on his chest, refraining him from struggling.

Momentarily, the struggle died down and the man slowly retracted his claws, while his sharp canines turned back to normal.

"I'm only going to ask you one last time, are you Walter Dinnon?" The man slowly bobbed his head. He released Walter and took a step back. Fate was truly a mystery.

To think a man so well accomplished in life, would one day end up in an abandoned warehouse. Indra sighed sympathetically towards the man in front of him.

"I don't know who you are, but please leave me alone! I don't want to fight anymore, just please leave...please." Walter wailed, unable to hide in the physical and emotional trauma he went through.

"Are you just going to cry like that all day?" Alice rushed over and grabbed his torn shirt tightly. She wasn't angry. She was frustrated. She felt like she was staring at herself in the mirror. An exact replica of something she didn't want to become.

"What have I got to lose...anyways...I've lost everything I worked hard for." The grief was palpable in his eyes.

"Wake up! No one is going to come for you and spoon feed you. If you have a problem, deal with it yourself. Good or bad, in the end you must face it head on." Alice replied as she let go of him and clenched her fists frustratingly.

"Walter, how would you like to take revenge?" Walter raised his head quickly towards Indra, who was simply smiling back at him.

"What?" He asked.

"I can help you take them down. You just have to do one thing, testify against them. In exchange, you will remain under Golden Enterprises' protection, and we will help create a new identity for you. I would've offered you more time, but since I'm busy, you'll have to decide it here and now."

Walter was astounded as he began rummaging his mind through all the possible scenarios. To him, the benefits he was gaining were far greater than he had expected. If he didn't gain revenge, what had he got to lose? He lost everything in life, the moment he lost his precious younger sister.

"Even if I die, as long as I can get my revenge, I will testify anywhere. Never knew the day would come where I would end up joining hands against DW-Industries' worst enemy." Replying to his comment, Indra said,

"Oh, you have no idea."