In mere moments, the man moved with such speed that it was nearly imperceptible to onlookers. A sharp, agonizing sound echoed as the bones cracked.
[+200 Points]
Hutch's arms were now bent unnaturally, and it was evident that this injury could spell the end of his martial arts career. Even with the means to mend his arms, he seemed unlikely to continue practicing martial arts after such a brutal blow.
A palpable stillness enveloped the scene, with everyone seemingly frozen in time, shocked by the brutality they had just witnessed. Even Hutch's friends were paralyzed, unsure of how to react.
"Now, it's your legs," the man remarked, his words carrying an unusual level of conversational ease for someone operating undercover. Despite that, I couldn't help but commend my choice to recruit someone of his caliber.
Remarkably, only three seconds had elapsed since Hutch's arms had been twisted. The man I had hired was astonishingly efficient in carrying out his task.
Hutch's cries of pain must have been muffled by the agony in his broken arms, but it was clear that he was about to endure another excruciating round of torment.
[+200 Evil Points]
Hutch, already sprawled on the ground, now became the unfortunate recipient of a brutal assault on his legs. The man used his feet to crush both pairs of legs, producing a sickening series of cracks.
"Stop!" A voice in the training center finally cried out, but it was nearly impossible to intervene effectively, given the swiftness of the whole ordeal.
Moreover, the immense power gap between the hired man and everyone else in the room became all too evident. Witnessing his capabilities, it seemed highly unlikely that anyone could have successfully intervened. Having accomplished his task, the man I had enlisted vanished from sight in an instant.
The man cast a dismissive glance at the training center staff, paying them little heed. His task was completed, but I couldn't discern his intentions or why he lingered. Additional training instructors had arrived on the scene and were now attending to Hutch's condition.
One of the instructors, his expression filled with suspicion, locked eyes with the man. "Was this deliberate?" he demanded, his tone accusatory.
Having concluded his mission, the man started to walk away. However, he was soon confronted by the instructor who had questioned him, attempting to block his path.
"I asked you a question: did you intentionally harm that young man?" The instructor's anger had flared after being ignored, and the atmosphere was charged with tension as all eyes remained fixed on the unfolding confrontation.
I couldn't help but worry about the scene I had orchestrated. If the man were apprehended, could I also be implicated? All I could do was hope that he managed to evade capture.
Much to my relief, the man walked past the instructor without a hint of concern. If it had been anyone else, I might have deemed him arrogant. And just like that, he vanished, akin to a ghost materializing and then fading away.
Hutch was now being handled with extreme caution, and before long, an ambulance arrived to transport him. Accompanied by his friends, he was swiftly taken away, leaving the training center abuzz with discussion about the mysterious man I had employed.
With that ordeal behind me, it was time to uncover Hutch's location. His suffering was far from over, and I eagerly anticipated the day when he would beg for mercy, having lost everything.
I had observed the ambulance's departure and knew which hospital it had headed to. What remained unknown was the specific room where Hutch had been admitted. After nearly an hour's journey, I arrived at the hospital and approached the receptionist with a concerned tone.
"Could you please tell me where the patient who arrived about an hour ago was taken? I heard he had all four of his limbs broken," I inquired.
"The patient is currently in surgery, and we cannot allow any disruptions to the medical staff," the receptionist responded, emphasizing the need for the doctors to focus on their work.
"May I at least know which room he'll be in after the surgery? I'd like to visit him then," I inquired further.
"He will be placed in hallway B, room number 5," the receptionist informed me, and I expressed my gratitude for the information.
As I prepared to leave, my attention was drawn to a distraught woman nearby who was speaking loudly to a different receptionist, frantically inquiring about her son's condition. She had clearly rushed to the hospital and appeared quite distressed.
The receptionist responded to the distressed woman's query with a detached demeanor, showing no sign of empathy or concern. It was clear that they had grown accustomed to dealing with such situations.
"Hutch... Hutch Rover," the woman replied, her voice trembling with worry.
As I overheard the name, my eyes widened in surprise. I hadn't expected to encounter Hutch's mother in this context. A smile crept across my face as I realized the opportunity this presented. Sooner or later, I would uncover her identity, but being here had accelerated the process, saving me valuable time.
"Sorry, ma'am, but your son is currently in surgery. You'll need to wait until tomorrow to visit," the receptionist reiterated, underscoring the delay in access.
"Tomorrow? Can you tell me how my son is doing?" The worried mother inquired, seeking updates on her child's well-being.
"We've ensured that he is in a deep sleep to keep him pain-free. His condition is not life-threatening, but he may experience some discomfort if he engages in physical activities," the receptionist reassured, providing a brief overview of Hutch's status.
I was tempted to inquire further, but I didn't want to appear intrusive or suspicious. I had already made significant headway today in gathering information, and it was best not to push my luck.
The unexpected turn of events, particularly encountering Hutch's mother at the hospital, seemed to have accelerated my plans for returning to school. What I had initially estimated would take a month to prepare now needed to be accomplished within a week. The urgency of the situation had grown, and I needed to expedite my actions accordingly.
[Third-Person POV]
"Hero, the embodiment of evil, has taken action," the elder conveyed with a somber tone.
"I understand that this is difficult to fathom, but you are our race's last hope. The incarnation of evil is currently in its most vulnerable state. Throughout the annals of history, no incarnation of evil has ever been this weak. We must seize this opportunity!" The elder's enthusiasm was palpable as he spoke urgently. His radiant aura had a calming effect, making it hard for anyone to resist his plea.
This opportunity was exceedingly rare, and it was no wonder that nearly everyone was filled with excitement upon hearing the news.
When an incarnation of evil emerged, widespread devastation typically followed. The fact that this incarnation was currently at its weakest presented a unique and almost miraculous chance to subdue it early on. Elated by this hope, the hero was dispatched on a mission to locate the incarnation of evil.