POV Robber#2
Fear and frustration coursed through me as the situation escalated in the library. I never expected resistance like this.
Who was this guy, and why was he so fearless?
My hands were trembling as I struggled to maintain control.
He throwed a book at my partner's face, and I watched in shock as it hit its face , causing my partner to yelp in pain.
I couldn't believe what was happening. This was supposed to be a quick and easy robbery, but now it had turned into a mess.
The library was in chaos, and I could feel panic setting in. The customers were scattering in all directions, and I knew we had to get out of there before things got even worse.
I turned to my partner, who was still clutching his face in pain, and yelled, "Let's go! This isn't worth it!"
However, it wasn't as easy as it seemed. He at skillfully dodged the bullet I had fired earlier and suddenly charged toward me with another book he found on the receptionist's desk.
He shouted determinedly, "TASTE THE POWER OF KNOWLEDGE!" while brandishing the book at my head.
I attempted to shield myself by raising my forearm, trying to resist, but it didn't stop the flurry of blows he delivered.
It was no longer just a "The knowledge power"; it was now "The book power." He began shouting phrases such as:
"SAMS are modern machines controlled by a joystick," he stated confidently.
(Of course, that's how they are designed.) I thought, recalling lessons from my youth.
"SAMS are the saviors of humanity" he passionately added.
(Indeed, they saved us from the clutches of those cursed mutants.) I remembered, while wondering why I had chosen to rob the library today instead of the nearby bank.
"These SAMS are superb ..." he continued. I was starting to get lost in his words.
Why had I become a thief? How had I strayed from my dream? I once dream of becoming a great pilot...
But the young man didn't stop there. He raised the book high above his head and shouted, "REDEMPTION !!!!!! CRIES FOR THE MECH CULT!"
I couldn't help but ponder the significance of those words as I struggled to defend myself against the relentless barrage of the book power.
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POV Tatsumi
A few minutes earlier...
I was peacefully reading my manual on ' how to pilot a SAMS like a pro ' when suddenly, two robbers stormed into the library.
I couldn't believe they were robbing a library. Like u have a bank in the corner , U know???? Just on the right .....
Sure, it was the biggest library in the city, but people nowadays used Payfriend or StrawberryPay for payments, cash transactions were rare.
"It's not like it's my problem..." I murmured, hiding under the table with my manual to devour it .
I expected them to leave within 10 seconds, as a robbery should be quick and discret , but no!
The librarian was taking her sweet time handing over the money, and it was starting to annoy me.
On top of that, the robbers hadn't even removed their safety locks of they gun.
"What a bunch of amateurs" I muttered , shaking my head.
As the situation continued, two minute had passed, I finished reading the manual and i thought.
(To be honest, the manual worked well in explaining the maneuvers to become an excellent pilot, but it emphasized that it would take a lot of practice to achieve it.)
As I thought, unaware that I had stood up from my hiding place under the table, pushing the chair in their direction, drawing all the robbers attention as they yelled at me.
I was so lost in my thoughts that I found myself in front of the librarian.
Regaining my senses, I looked her straight in the eyes and thought ( They still haven't left? )
I gave them some time to get away before things got messy. But they wouldn't listen and shouted one bullet on me.
NOW, THEY HAD REALLY ASKED FOR IT. NOT ONLY WERE THEY TAKING MY PRECIOUS TIME AWAY!!! BUT THEY WERE DISRUPTING ME FROM ACQUIRING KNOWLEDGE FOR THE MECHA DREAM !!!!!! AND THEY DARE OPEN FIRE ON ME...
I grabbed the book from the librarian's desk titled "Redemption,"
( WHAT A FITTING TITLE !!! ) I thought.
With bold, determined steps, I closed the distance between myself and the robber who had so audaciously opened fire on me.
His panicked expression contrasted sharply with my focused determination.
As I swung the book with precision, each strike was filled with the pent-up frustration of being disturbed in my pursuit of knowledge.
"SAMS like this!" I yelled with each blow, the book connecting with his arms and legs as he struggled to defend himself.
His accomplice, meanwhile, was growing increasingly agitated, his aim wavering as he tried to decide whether to shoot me or intervene.
But I didn't give him the chance. With a final, forceful swing,I cried, "REDEMPTION!!! CRIES FOR THE MECHA CULT!!!" knocking the gun out of the robber's hand, sending it clattering to the floor.
Gasping for breath and nursing his bruises, the robber lay defeated at my feet. I stood there, breathing heavily, the adrenaline still coursing through my veins.
"May Mecha God REDEMPT you, buddy." I muttered one last time, letting the book drop to my side.
The remaining robber, realizing that his partner was incapacitated, made a hasty retreat.
The tension in the room began to dissipate as the librarian and the other, who had wisely taken cover during the commotion, cautiously emerged from their hiding spots.
I turned to the librarian, who looked at me with a mix of gratitude and disbelief.
"Are you okay?" I asked
She nodded, her voice trembling with relief. "Thank you... I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't intervened."
I gave her a reassuring smile and picked up the fallen gun, making sure it was safe.
"Just doing my part to protect the sanctity of knowledge," I said as I headed toward the library's exit to escape the crime scene.
The librarian called out, "Wait, wait. What's your name?"
I paused for a moment, considering whether to answer. Then, I shook my head and said, "Sorry, but I can't share."
Without waiting for any further questions, I turned and walked away, disappearing into the busy streets of Hope City.
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Several days later, the library robbery incident remained unknown to the public, with only those present aware of the young man who had foiled the heist.
Our protagonist, indifferent to the incident, now stood before a hangar. Today was a big day for him — today he would become the owner of a hangar, all for just 666 SC. But as Tatsumi always said, "Nothing is free in this world."
The hangar was filthy and dusty, devoid of any furnishings, with a second floor that could serve as a living area. It was surrounded by dilapidated buildings and situated in a dark, desolate alleyway.
Tatsumi's hangar was far removed from the bustling society of Hope City, nestled in the uninhabited zone. It was well beyond the protective walls of Hope City that shielded against mutant creatures.
The one silver lining was that the hangar came equipped with two machines — one for melting materials and another for forging them. This would enable Tatsumi to leave his old lodgings behind and take his first steps toward becoming a designer.
"Tatsumi, today is the day. Today, I'm a free man. I may have no money, but I can start my big dream project. I may have no mecha, but I can build one now. I may have no home, but now I have one" Tatsumi proclaimed. It was the first time he truly had a place to call home in this new world.
Back in his previous world, Tatsumi worked as an assassin by night and a shopkeeper by day, renting an apartment. He had dreamt of one day having his own house and building a collection of mechas. But here, not only did he have a home of his own, but he could also begin assembling a collection of mechs, starting with his dream project.