Survive the Night

"That kid - kill him as well."

'This hoodlums - they don't act like hoodlums at all.'

Internet is Will's favorite passtime. According to the internet, hoodlums are long-tongued beasts who does not abide by law nor follow decorum. They often act boisterous against weak people and cower in front of power. If one might say, most of these actions are product of a facade to cover their weakness against the collective power of society.

'Dang these people are like hitmen in hoodies. Wait that is kind of familiar.'

Will is also quite confused about the notion that hoodlums are required to wear hoodies these days. Why not wear something more comfortable.

"Shit, you really have penchant for being a target of ire." Ader on the side was suddenly obscured. The sole attention became divided when he implicated Will.

'I'd barrage you with courses if not for the Essence of Language.'

He is still firmly holding on to the idea of witnessing the Essence of Language. It is either an end goal for this story or at least a clue. In a world without tutorial, Will is groping in the dark for flint and steel trying to illuminate the surroundings. Life is like that for everyone. But, since Will knew about the story of this world, he'd be stupid not to walk on an illuminated path. In the first place, before reading Aldenoah's book, he had a goal. That is to pick up the language used in the library. Why choose to go astray when the goal and the plot are on the street.

"Babel! You're here for Babel right? Who the fuck sent you?!" from the start Ader did not comply to the strict rules of decorum. His Ph.D. did not prevent his mouth from stabbing weak hearts of his fellow geezers in the field, why be lenient on hoodlums? "You brainless bums. You dare covet on my work with that measly nut brain of yours? Why not return to the shit hole your moms came from."

'Wow, his tongue sure is sharp. He stoop to their IQ level just to convey his heartfelt words properly. That's a Hidden Sage of Tongues y'all.'

The abnormally calm hoodlums twitched a bit. They felt wronged. First of all, they might be dressed as hoodlums, but etiquette is part of their training. Even their mothers who did not do anything wrong were cursed. They felt that the pay for this job is not enough.

While the attention of the mobs were caught, a sudden blur approached the nearest hoodlum.

'At the moment of daze, opportunity arises.' a fist suddenly appeared near the side of hoodlum's jaw. 'Jaw is a keyhole to the gates of dreamworld and the fist is the key. The best way to punch the jaw with minimum energy is from the side.'

A cracking sound could be heard. 'Well, they're still humans.'

The hoodlum did not flew due to the impact nor his head exploded. He became unconscious though.

The impact alerted the mobs and started attacking. They entered their stances and waited for an opportunity to attack. Coordination is observed with their attacks not disrupting the harmony of their moves.

"These bitches aren't hoodlums. They're trained killers." Will mumbled. A grabbing hand is aimed on his nape. Bulging veins appeared on his hands that are exuding the air of murder.

Will's training does not include on detecting killing intent, but the sheer murderous feeling the hand exuded gave him the chills.

With instinct, he leaned forward to dodge the hand. This made him vulnerable from other attacks though. It is a mistake to make a move that will leave you open.

Two hoodlums at the side took the opportunity. Since Will is not the main target, they need to be swift in handling him. Knowing that the grappling hoodlum at the back exerted force like an arrow released from a bow, Will grabbed the hoodlum's hand to balance himself a bit and gave a kick. All he needed to do is to make his foundation firm and use the enemy's force against him. The kick hit the hoodlums throat. The hoodlum flinched before he was knocked unconscious.

"Let's run, doctor." Ader knew that Will is addressing him. Real hoodlums are already pain in the asses. These fake hoodlums are killers in hoodies. Why struggle when they could run. It's already a miracle for the youngster to inflict damage on three of these.

Will noticed an opening from the entrapment. He ran through there while Ader followed suit. The hoodlums chased them as Will made a clearance.

"A youngster Ph.D that could brawl with killers... what are you? A ninja turtle?" said Ader, as if seriously pondering.

'Seriously? Will you die if you don't shut the fuck up? You're the ninja turtle! Your family is the ninja turtle.'

Will wanted to split with Ader, but chances are that the uncle will get caught.

"Doctor, where is your place or do you have a laboratory nearby?" Will inquired hastily as he tries to catch his breath.

"How did you know about my laboratory?" Ader frowned. The guy seemed to be wary.

Will twitched, "Doctor, you keep on prattling about some sort of research and stuff so I assumed you have a laboratory."

Ader realized his mistake, but still did not relent. "The hoodlums knew you'd be here. And they are not real ones, but dressed up killers. If my guess is correct, your laboratory is being ransacked by now." Will added.

"M-my research! Shit let's go. Let's go back. Dang! Those bastards."

"Don't be stupid. What would you do when you get there? Get yourself killed? Don't you have any backup?"

"I have a backup of the finalized program in the faculty, but the tests are still ongoing and the results were left there. George! George is alone in the lab. He'll get killed." Ader's face was filled with panic. He dialed George's number and pressed the call button.

"Yo! Virgin Wilson! Sup watcha doing... burp!... hick." a drunken voice could be heard from the other side of the line. Ader sighed in relief and at the same time twitched. "Are you at the lab?"

"Lab? Whatsgat? Shumting to eat kekeke? Cam wid me to the Esther Pub amigo! Da booze is awesham." after a brief silence the line was cut.

"Well at least there won't be a dead body. For now... we need to survive the night."

---

In a reception lobby in a motel nearby, one man and one youngster are checking in for a room.

'It's my first time to go to a motel with someone and it is with an unkempt uncle. How unfortunate.'

They did not use their real names and pretended to be relatives. Will went out to buy some necessities. While at it, like a predator, he hunted for lone hoodlums to take some weapons. He's surprised to see guns holsted on their waists. He only needed one or two guns and for the rest, he only took the ammunitions.

It seems that killing is not part of their mission. They could've just killed them with guns earlier.

"Oh, they have comms. I wish they did not cutoff the line." he took the tiny transceiver device. This device works like a walkie-talkie, but it looks way cooler.

---

Will went back in new clothes. He also donned a hoodie. Maybe they could blend in later incase of emergency. The necessities were splitten with Ader while the rest were placed above the table.

"Do you know how to use a gun?" asked Will. He pushed the gun loaded with bullets toward Ader.

Ader's face darkened, "The fuck are you playing with guns for?"

Will took the gun and holsted it to his waist. He's carrying 2 guns at the moment. While at it, he also donned a face mask and a bonnet.

"Where's your laboratory? I'm going to retrieve your research results."

"Retrieve? Then what are the guns for?"

"To retrieve lives..." Will coldly looked at Ader. Ader shivered while looking at the youngster's eyes. 'Mom, dad and my past life parents - your son will meet you soon.'

"Just kidding. This is for self defense. I am facing a mob of killers, gun is the least that I could bring. Actually I took these from them. They have guns holstered, so this will be quite dangerous. Where's the lab?"

Ader did not sigh in relief. He was not relieved at all. He showed his phone and there a street map could be seen.

"There." Ader pointed.

"That's a DVD Rental Store. Wait DVD Rental Stores still exist?"

"Yes, but that's not the point. On the 2nd floor there is a studio-type unit. Our lab is there. Most of the things are in plain sight except for the Analyzing Machine. It is a small computer that connects itself to the computational servers where the real calcution happens. It's the only device connected to a VPN and only sends and retrieves retrieves the data. There's no other device in the world that contains the research results." Ader explained.

"Isn't that way too vulnerable to attacks? Also using external servers to calculate the data, isn't that exposing your research?"

"Each major task is divided by different servers so the grand scheme of my research is obscurred to outsiders. The thing that matters the most is the order and timing of the data stream from the analyzing machine. In analogy, it is like a picture split by different people, only the painter could rearrange them to form a complete one."

"Okay, understood. Gotta go. For the time being, don't go out and wait for me."