Chapter 45

Sam had asked Makima for her boss's number once more since he had lost his previous phone. He decided to call it.

As it was a private number, the head of Public Safety picked up the call.

"Hello. Who is this?"

Sam was in Tony's apartment. He said, "Sir, this is me, Sam Lee. I believe Makima had already informed you that I'm alive."

"Ah, Sam. I remember you. It was a shame that you could never complete your secret mission."

"Is it okay to talk about this on the phone?"

"Don't worry. It's a secured line."

"Anyway," Sam played with his ear, "I got another assassination attempt. The doer, however, isn't Chinese."

"Do you suspect anyone?"

"Yes," Sam said.

"Who?"

"I can't talk about this on the phone. Let's meet."

"Send me your address then."

"No. I'll give you a location where we can meet."

"Isn't that dangerous? I'll send someone to pick you up."

"No. I'll give you a location. I don't trust anyone but you," Sam pretended to be afraid. "In any case, when you reach there, I'll guide you to someone."

"Someone?"

"I was trying to extract information from the last assassin I caught, but she committed suicide. I'm pretty sure that if you see her body, you'd be able to recognize her. I've put her in an ice bath, which I don't think will last long."

"Oh, I see."

"By the way, this is just a stolen phone. I'll call you from another one later." Sam replied, ensuring the guy wouldn't have a chance to use GPS to locate him.

Sam then ended the call.

He put one leg over the other as he lay on his bed. 'Step one, lure them. Complete.'

Sam then grabbed his sword and unsheathed it, looking at his reflection.

If his plan worked, he'd have the entire NSCJ under his control, or rather Makima's control, which would be beneficial for him.

-x-X-x-

Sam was watching from a rooftop to the ground. He had seen the short, bald man getting out of an expensive car. Looking left and right, Sam could see some bodyguards and agents hiding. From their stance and the way they sat, you could tell they had guns.

Sam decided to text the man a message about the hotel address.

He put his hand in his pockets and walked inside the hotel.

Those guys Sam had spotted earlier also entered the hotel.

The bald man stood in front of the hotel room and knocked, waiting for Sam to open the door.

Meanwhile, Sam was running in the hall. Using both his footwork and Flash Step, he appeared next to the head of Public Safety, lifted him, and continued running. Before any of the bodyguards could react, he vanished from their sight.

Sam then ran to the rooftop of a distant building. Some people thought he was just a very fast motorcycle pushing its limits as he passed by them. But they couldn't make out his appearance or what he was carrying.

When he stopped, Sam put the guy down.

"Sam Lee. What's the meaning of this?"

Sam didn't reply. Instead, he slapped him unconscious.

He then called Makima and told her that he had her boss as a hostage.

-x-X-x-

It was nighttime. Sam was in the courtyard, sitting in a public chair with the unconscious manager of Public Safety next to him. He didn't know the man's name, nor did he care.

Soon, birds started gathering, and from them emerged Makima.

Sam smiled at her. "Listen, I have this guy as a hostage."

He then woke the man up by slapping him. When he saw Makima, he tried to say something, but Sam was holding him by the back of the neck.

"What are your demands?"

"Makima, save me. It's your duty since you work for us," he demanded.

"Nah, nah," Sam pressed on his neck. "Hostages don't make demands."

Makima crossed her arms.

Sam continued, "You work for the government, not them. If one of the heads is taken as a hostage, what should happen?"

"Their vice should take over."

"And his fate is in your hands. You can save him, or you can let him die."

Makima smirked.

Sam smiled. "Meaning that you have a higher position over him."

That was the loophole Sam wanted to use.

If he could get this guy, he could basically control most of the Public Safety. If he got more members of the security council, he would be able to have them under his command.

"I see your point," Makima said and pointed her finger at her manager's head. A chain-like energy left her finger and hit the man's head. "So what are your demands?"

"Come on, Makima. You know that since he's under control, we can use him," Sam smiled. "You know, control the others. I believe that since you are the Control Devil, you don't like taking orders."

"I can't say you're wrong."

"So, what happens, let's say if you take over the government."

Makima sat next to Sam and wrapped her arm around him. "I'll simply work for myself. The contract between me and the head minister would remain active."

"And me?"

Makima sighed. "Let me guess, you want money, a new house, cars, and a position."

"No," Sam shook his head and put one leg over the other. "I want one thing."

"What is it?"

"I want to have a long break," Sam sighed. "The last few months, I have been working tirelessly. I think I aged faster than everyone around me."

"And your job as a devil hunter."

"Why would I worry? You're here. Take care of that," Sam shrugged as he closed his eyes.

Makima chuckled. "I need to ask you. What's your next step?"

Sam smiled. "Hostage situation."

"You can't just go after them one by one."

"That's why I'm gathering them," Sam patted the head of the mind-controlled man next to him. "You know, there is a move in chess called a fork. You gather the pieces in the location you want. And preferably you do it horsey style."

"Your chess knowledge is lacking. But whatever."

"You know chess?"

Makima raised her eyes. "I've been around since they invented it."

"How old are you?" Sam asked.

"It's rude to ask a girl for her age," Makima flicked her finger on his forehead. "Anyway, aren't you hungry?"

"Yep. You?"

"Yes. First, I'll take some of your blood, and then you'll eat," Makima placed her mouth on his neck and bit him.

[-10 HP]

Sam looked blankly forward. It felt painful yet sensational at the same time. "It's like a married man's life. His wife sucks him dry then feeds him."

Makima stopped sucking briefly. When he turned his eyes to her and met her eyes, she looked at his neck and sucked harder.

Sam picked up his phone and dialed John, a friend of his Tony's persona, who sells firearms. "Hey, John, it's me, Tony. I need to buy a bomb vest. You know, a vest wrapped in fake TNT. Yeah, yeah, I know I don't work this way. I just need to intimidate someone. Can you get me one tonight? Perfect…"