Westfield London shopping center.
10:00 A.M.
Syd and Sera were waiting for someone in front of the woman's restroom.
Sera wears a black off the shoulder top and a red hat on her head.
Syd wears a redshirt.
Sera spotted that Syd was hiding something in his sleeves.
" Syd... What's that you hide in your sleeves?..."
" Oh, this?"
" !!! "
Her eyes widened.
" It's a pistol. Just in case. I know."
" P-pistol?!...oh...I shouldn't be surprised if you have a pistol... I apologized...."
" Why is that? Is it because holding weapons are illegal in England?"
" Well, Yes..."
" To be honest, I'm also don't wanna use it. In fact, I rarely pull a trigger. Y'know? It's loud as shit."
He said.
" You got the vinyl? "
" y...yeah...yeah. Right here."
Sera shows Syd a black piece of paper-looking thing. It's a vinyl, the best material for soundproof.
" You look nervous, Sera."
" I haven't skipped a class in the normal day before... I feel a little nervous."
Sera said in nervous.
" Don't feel nervous, Soon you don't have to go to that school anymore."
"... You're right..."
"...."
" Hey, Syd. Remember that time you said something about...uh, things you hate?"
The British girl asks.
" Yup"
" You say...you hate cream. Is that true? Or just a bluff?"
" I really mean it. It's true. I hate cream."
" Why? Why do you hate it? I don't understand. You don't like pineapple on pizza, that's understandable because I don't like it too. But Cream? That's the most important thing you need to have beside your ice cream."
" It's not like my body has any problem with cream. Maybe because most of my childhood was in Asia? I'm really not familiar with western food (Although nowadays western foods are being made all over Asia). I'm more into some spicy things. The cream is so greasy to me that it makes me want to vomit. But Honestly, If you ask me to eat it, I can, just a bit. But if I have a choice? Nah, I'll pass."
He continues,
" I also have a friend back there. And he is Jewish. And for Jewish, anything made from milk or dairy product is forbidden. Which he pretty much makes me don't eat many milk products too even though today Jody often forces me to drink milk "
" She does that?"
" Yes. She does. Why so surprising?"
" Wait a sec. ...Have you ever noticed that Jody totally acts so different to you?"
" What'ya mean?"
" It seems like you are the first person Jody really glad to be with. Back when we were in the first year, She didn't even care about anything."
"Really? I only hear the students talk about how cold Jody was, which.. kinda inaccurate to me."
" Guess Birds of a feather flock together," Sera said.
Suddenly, the person they're waiting for finally shows up.
*Door opens*
Jody Johanson came out the woman restroom in the cleaner uniform, she's holding a cleaning set.
" Wear the cloth mask, it will help you not to be noticed by the cleaners out there."
*put up the cloth mask*
" Ready."
Jody said.
" Okay, I'll repeat again. We disguise as Mr.Lake clients, pretend that we are going to have a business talk about organizing the kid's events in this hall.
I am now Mr.Steven, the owner of the event. Sera here is my beautiful assistant..."
" Laura," Sera said.
" And you will be the cleaner who comes around us in no time, pretend to clean things before all of us are going to beat him."
" Okay."
" Tell me you remember all of the steps."
" I remember all the steps."
" Repeat those steps.please."
" You and Sera go talk to him, I will be cleaning around... And when you give me a signal...that's when we will beat his ass."
She accurately repeats.
" Now that's what I wanna hear. This time is not like the church. We don't have executed authority. Don't kill him. You understand the word, Don't Kill him? "
*Both Nods.*
" Do anything but kill right? "
asked Jody, grinning.
.
.
.
.
A man with purple hair in 40 was working in his office.
This is Palmer Lake, The CEO of Westfield shopping center.
Even his hands are working, Palmer's head was wondering about something.
" I haven't got any contact from Collin for the last 2 days... Where's that bastard goes? "
He's wondering.
" We've been talking about many Topic for months. But the main thing is our business. He will be the person who finds me, clients. But since Monday...he hasn't contacted me yet..."
" Sigh...maybe I'm overthinking. There's no such way the cops will know what we are doing. We communicate with the deep web. Not Gmail or phone call. However, I can't be careless. Collin should be busy managing his school's corruption... Fucking pigs... If I had kids, I'll never send them to that place."
*Doors open*
A woman in black hair walks in, She's his secretary.
" Mr.Steven and his assistant have arrived, sir."
" Steven? The one who will be running the kid's event in the hall? "
" Yes, Sir."
" Aren't we already agreed that we would talk about this in the next 3 days?"
" Mr.Steven says his schedule got changed a bit due to the absence of his business partner from china, sir."
" .... "
Palmer didn't reply. He's thinking for a second.
" Tell him that I'll go meet him in 5 minutes."
" Yes, Sir."
The lady nods, then she walked out of the office.
Palmer went to his desk and picked something out. He secretly brought it with him.
.
.
.
.
Syd and Sera were sitting in the meeting room.
This place is closed air. To keep the business private.
He sits on the black chair, Sera was next to him.
A woman in black hair, having a secretary vibe, coming up to Syd and Sera way and talk to them.
" Mr.Lake will be here in 5 minutes, Sir. Do you need some coffee?"
" Ah, no. Thanks."
Syd turned to her and smiles in manner. The secretary stares at him for a little bit before she walks away.
" You quite have a load of charm, The way she looked at you."
Sera said.
" Everybody says that."
He grins.
Not for long, the doors opened, appearing Mr.Palmer Lake, coming in with the same Secretary as before.
(...He's here!...)
Syd stood up and then shook hands with Mr.Lake.
" Hi, Mr.Lake, it's such an honor to meet you in person after we've been contacted through our assistants for long."
" (*Chuckles*) With pleasure, Mr.Steven,"
" You can just call me Steven."
Syd releases his hand.
" Mr.Lake, this is Laura".
Syd turned his hand to Sera.
" She's my personal assistant. She's the same person who makes contact with you."
Palmer nods to Sera. She nods back.
" Okay, Steven (*Sits down* ) So, what happened? I thought our meeting will begin in the next 3 days."
" That's right, Mr.Lake,---"
" Just Lake. Steven."
" Alright. The reason is my business partner from China, Ms. Meili Wang, who's actually a person I was scheduled to meet today, Unfortunately, Lose her Father this morning. So her meeting with me got pushed to the next month or maybe when her dad's funeral is complete."
" Oh...pity..." Lake said.
" So I thought, why should I waste my time on these 3-4 blank days on my schedule? Why don't I come to finish my business with you, today, at your office?"
" So you're telling me that you want to finish the job as soon as possible?"
Asked Palmer.
" Well, time is a value for me. Better not to waste it, don't we?"
" That's right. Hahaha! I understand you. Steven. I understand it very well! For a businessman like us, there's a lot of things to do."
Palmer Lake laughs out loud.
" Tea, Sir."
The secretary brings Palmer tea.
" Thanks, Emy,... Oh...Oh...Steven, you want some tea?"
" No...we're good." Syd and Sera replied.
"Emy, this is a private talk between me and my 2 clients. So you better wait outside." Lake says to the black hair secretary.
" Lake, uh, I don't take it seriously to have your lovely secretary in our discussion."
(... Syd is so good at his acting... ) Sera thought.
" No worry, Steven, The clients must receive the most private discussion. That's my principle."
" Okay... If you said that...So, let us begin. Shall we?" Syd said,
" Laura."
" Yes, Sir."
Sera nods then bring up the fake document on the table.
.
.
.
.
10 minutes had passed.
" And I do believe that the audience will mostly crowd on the top floor. So I would like to ask if I could take an event on it. I know, I don't want to make the other shops around there be fulled by people who don't wanna buy their stuff."
" Hmmm~ I don't expect that you'll have this much sympathy, Steven," Lake said.
" Well, haha... One's gotta eat." Syd replied.
" However, Which such a great sympathy you have, but you know it couldn't change the charges? If you wanna go to the top floor, it will get more expensive."
" How much?"
" Seven times the normal price and 5% of your event's profit. That's what I gonna say."
" Seven? Isn't that too much for the kid's event? "
" Steven, You have to understand. Westfield is the biggest shopping center. At least 60,000 people visit each day. So... You have to play by the rules. Or else, I apologized, but you have to go to another place."
" NO-NO-no-no, Mr.Lake. Out of all my respect, I'm fine with the money. But the thing is I think your charge is...too much. Can we have like 4 times the normal price?"
" 6." Palmer said.
" 5 " Syd tried to extend the conversation.
.
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.
.
Outside.
Mr. Lake's secretary was standing behind the door, waiting for her boss outside.
Suddenly she saw a woman cleaner, holding a mop and bucket, coming in her way.
" What are you doing here? Aren't you already clean the office----"
Without waiting, The secretary didn't finish speaking, The mop was rammed right through her head, knocking her out instantly.
.
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" Alright Alright... Steven... You're such a dealer, don't you? 5.5 ... That's the last offer I can say."
"...." Syd acted like he was considering the offer.
While that, without Palmer Lake realization, The Vinyl board was slowly extended by Sera's power and they have already covered up the floor behind Palmer.
" I'm free all day. Don't need to rush, Steven."
Palmer laid his back to the chair, chilling.
Suddenly the door was opened.
Palmer turned back to see who was braving enough to interfere with his private business.
Turns out, It's the woman cleaner.
Palmer didn't see her face directly because of the cleaner mask she's wearing.
" Hey?!... What the hell? Why are you here?? Don't you see we've been in discussing?! Should I fire you out???"
" I-I- I'm sorry, sir... But. I haven't finished cleaning up this room yet...s..so..."
" How did Emy let you in?!? "
Palmer scolded the female cleaner.
" Hey, hey, hey Lake. Don't be such a furious boss. We've already finished dealing with our business!"
Palmer suddenly turns back.
" So ...deal?"
" YES. 5.5 times the normal price. But I'll give you 10% of the profits!"
Palmer suddenly slapped the table.
" THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT!! STEVEN Hahahahha!!!"
" Laura, you already take a note."
Syd turns to ask Sera.
" Yes, Sir. The financial process will be done at the end of the weekend. We'll pay you the first half, and another half plus 10% of event profits after the end."
" Nice, Steven... Really nice! That's what we were talking about."
" Please sign the contract, Mr.Lake."
Sera hands him a paper.
While that, Jody, in disguise as a cleaner, acts as she's cleaning the stuff behind.
" Speaking of which, Steven, Since you've made a lot of business with Asia billionaire, Have you ever tried any Cantonese-Lobster?"
Palmer Lake asked while he's reading the contract.
" Well, what do I say, Yeah. It was pretty tasty actually. I have it once I was in Shanghai eating house."
Syd replied.
At that moment...
That's when Seraphina and Jody noticed.
The mood in the room suddenly drops... to tense.
It's very obvious on Palmer Lake's face.
It's like he noticed that something's wrong.
However, Palmer keeps going.
" Oh....really?....(*shakes head up and down*)..."
He's signing the contract.
Palmer put the pen back on the table, he the sit in the relaxed position...
He took off some strange-looking pills out of his pocket.
" What's that? "
" Oh, just my Antacid."
He put it in his mouth and picked up tea.
He drinks it.
Swallow both pill and the liquid.
"....ahhhhh...woohoo...."
A satisfaction sound from drinking British tea coming out Palmer's throat.
"...British tea is the best, Don't you think, Steven?"
As soon as Lake finished.
*Click*
A strange sound coming from under the table.
"....."
".... Did you hear that? Steven?....
(*moves closer to Syd*) You heard that sound?...."
And that's when Syd knows... Something has gone out of the plan...
" .... " Syd doesn't reply.
" That's the sound....of 9 mm. , From my office's desk, Pointing straight to your balls."
Palmer said.
The atmosphere inside the meeting room gets tenser.
" And...Why is 9 mm pointing right to my balls?"
Asked Syd, calming.
" Because you just have given yourself away, Boy. You are very smart to fool me this long... I bet you've done lots of research on the "Real" Steven...haven't you? "
" ... "
" Now, Imma tell you where did you miss, Boy. Because we have been contacting through out the assistants... Once I know that Steven had been in Shanghai, I ask him about the Chinese chef...I asked him if he could find me the best one so that I can hire the chef and put him in the Chinese restaurant section to cook something like... Giant crabs... Fried rice...etc. But when I mentioned Cantonese-Lobster, you know what did his Secretary said to me?"
" ..... "
" She said that Steven can't eat a Lobster because of Shellfish Allergy. He will get itches, stomachache, hives...and many more. But this Steven tells me that Lobster is tasty?...."
"....Shit..." Sera said.
" Well, Mr. Palmer Lake." Syd starts to speak, " I'm sorry about fooling you."
Syd moves his face closer to him.
" But let me tell you something trustworthy. Since the first minutes, you had your ass sit...."
*Click*
Another strange sound coming from under the desk.
" I also have my 9mm point right at both of your testicles. And if I remember correctly, also your Lake junior."
" Oh.... Looks like we both have the same thoughts....fake...Steven..."
Suddenly at that moment, Jody walks behind Palmer Lake, she grabbed his shoulder and pinned her finger surrounding by air bullets down to the same spot Syd was pointing his gun at.
" That makes us three."
Jody said.
"...You.... Ability users?!?!...Three of you?!?!?!...."
Sweat runs down from Palmer's forehead.
" Now, here's what's gonna happen... Mister...Palmer...Lake... If you don't want to get your balls blown up. Put your gun on the desk, slowly, and walked out with us."
"..."
" What if I say... I refuse?..."
" Then you gotta get this, Jody! "
" Say Cheerio to your Brexit balls."
BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG!!!
Jody says before she blasts 5 Air bullets straight down to Palmer's balls.