"What do you mean by compromise?"
Ken and Derek questioned Lucas. Curious as to what he meant.
Lucas looked at them before turning to Bill. "Where do they want to ship their items?"
Bill was initially confused when Lucas proposed a compromise between the two, after all there's only one truck available to do the delivery, so he was quite puzzled, but when Lucas asked the destination of their items he suddenly had an epiphany. "Both of them wanted their items to be shipped in Illaya Village." Bill said.
Lucas was surprised at Bill's word, he initially planned to load both of their items on the truck before sending Ken's item first and then Derek's, so even if their destination were different at least the truck won't need to retrieve the other items here but it seems it would be unnecessary now. "Well, isn't that great."
He looked at Bill before asking. "Can their items fit in the truck?"
Bill paused for a bit before answering. "Yeah, I think so."
"Well, is that okay with the two of you?" Lucas turned to the two for confirmation.
Ken didn't really have any problems even if the items arrived tomorrow, he just didn't like Derek's attitude as if he owned the place, that's why he opposed Derek in the first place, so when given the opportunity to step down he took it. He nod his head indicating he agreed to the arrangement.
Derek took a bit of time to think before giving his approval with a smile on his face. "All right, we agree as well. Now if you would excuse me, I have other matters to attend." Saying that he wave his hand and took his leave along with his entourage.
Bill heaved a sigh of relief seeing them leave. "I'll prepare the delivery of your items." He then scurried to the back of the shop.
With Derek's entourage and Bill's departure, Ken was left alone with Lucas. The two of them looked at each other before Lucas broke the silence.
"That was quite brave of you, standing up to those gang." Lucas said with admiration in his voice.
'I only dared to do that because I knew I could protect my self... If I was still the Ken a week ago, I wouldn't even consider talking back to them, much less pick a fight.' Ken thought inwardly while mocking himself.
"No big deal, I'm completely capable of protecti-" Ken wasn't able to finish what he was saying before being interupted.
"But also very stupid." This time Lucas looked at him with indiffirent eyes.
Ken was surprised by the sudden change of attitude, he wanted to argue but remembering that Lucas helped him, he decided to hear him out first.
"Why do you think so?"
"Very simple, you're alone while they have thousand of people spread out in the town. They could make trouble for you where ever you go. So making a scene out of this trivial thing isn't worth offending the Honey Badger Gang." Lucas said matter of factly.
Ken decided not to argue since Lucas was ignorant of the fact that he's superhuman. He nodded his head half heartedly. He took Bill's contact number before saying.
"Alright, I have to go now." He said before leaving the shop and walking to the car repair shop.
...
After Derek and his entourage left the shop, they circled around the street but didn't immediately leave the place, they found a vacant bench to sit down.
"Boss what are we doing?" one of the lackeys asked.
Derek glanced at him before saying. "Can't you see we're waiting."
"Yes, but who are we waiting - ouch!" the lackey cried out while rubbing his head.
"You bloody idiot! can't you see we were waiting for that imbecile to come out!" the man who slapped his head said while pointing at his nose.
The guy who was slapped was angered for being hit and pointed at, he lashed at him and shouted.
"You dare to hit me?! I will break your nose!"
"Come! you ain't scaring anyone!"
Just when the two was about to come to blows Derek shouted.
"Enough!" he stood up and slapped the two in the head. 'Damn, I'm always surrounded by idiots. Can't I have any capable subordinate.' He thought in frustration.
The rubbed their heads before looking at each other. One of them asked. "Boss what are we really doing here?"
Derek looked at them before sighing. "We're waiting for the truck driver to leave."
Everyone was confused when they heard that, they thought they would be waiting for the audacious young man before beating the crap out of him, that's what they always do when someone dares to cross them.
Confused, someone asked. "Aren't we waiting for that Ken?"
Derek shook his head. "For what? to beat him? once news spread out Lucas would definitely find trouble for us, so instead of harming him, we might as well took his items. We will 'persuade' the truck driver to deliver ours first before getting him to leave behind all the construction material including Ken's.
"This is much better than harming him, not only that, we won't be on the radar of Lucas if we do this, and even if he knew he won't be able to do anything, because at that time the materials won't be on our hands, it will be on the highger ups. I doubt he was bold enough to oppose the top brass of Honey Badger Gang." Derek smirk when he finished elaborating his plans.
The lackeys were stunned upon knowing of Derek's plans, they hurriedly praise him to get in his good books.
"That's a great plan Boss!"
"Yes! we wouldn't have been able to think of such brilliant plan!"
"The Boss is really a genius!"
Derek looked at them while reveling in their praise. 'This is the difference between you guys and me, I used my head and not my muscle.' Derek thought inwardly.
...
Completely clueless of Derek's nefarious plans, Ken arrived at the car repair shop.
The car repair shop was remodeled after an abandoned wharehouse so the place had plenty of room.
After walking inside, he saw various machineries and equipment, there's three cars being lifted by post lift but the place was strangely silent.
Seeing no one inside, he called out. "Hello? is there anyone here?"
Ken called out for a few times but no one answered. He decided to look for his truck and check it's condition while waiting for the shop owner.
He rembered the owner was a middle aged man with a few wrinkles and some strands of white hair and an aura of wisdom and experience.
While remembering the appearance of the shop owner, he finally found his truck, he smiled upon seeing his truck before approaching.
He slide his finger on the truck with a dazed expression. For him this was more than just a truck, it was filled with memorable memories for him, this truck used to be his dad's, he remembered when he was little their family would often go on trips using this truck, it was bliss for him.
'It's been a few weeks, I should really call mom and the others.' He thought while reminiscing.
He was about to open the door when he suddenly heard someone.
"What are you doing?"
Ken was startled, he had a strange expression on his face when he heard the voice, the voice was very familiar to him, in fact he had just parted with the owner of the voice.
'Don't tell me...' With a forced smile on his face he turned around, sure enough he saw a young man in sando with camouflage print and military cargo pants, the voice belonged to none other than Lucas.
"It's you?"