Kai looked at the old man, his face a map of wrinkles and age spots. The man's eyes, however, sparkled with a hint of mischief, and his frail frame seemed to belie a hidden strength. Kai stood before him, the money still clutched in his hand, and tried to peer into the man's mind. He focused harder, his eyes narrowing in concentration, but all he could glean was a cryptic phrase: "organisation" and "Koby's boy is strong."
"Who are you?" Kai asked, his voice firm but curious. "What are you doing here?"
The old man's face creased into a sly smile. "So you've found me out," he said, his voice low and gravelly. "Indeed, the apple does not fall far from the tree." With a sudden burst of energy, the old man sprang to his feet, his movements fluid and effortless.
Kai's eyes widened in surprise as the old man launched a swift attack, his hand flashing towards Kai's face. Kai blocked the blow easily, his reflexes honed from years of training. He took a step back, his eyes locked on the old man.
"Well, well, you block my first move," the old man said, his eyes glinting with approval. "Not many can do that."
"Who are you?" Kai demanded, his voice firm. "What's your mission? Is it my family?"
The old man chuckled, a dry, mirthless sound. "Your family? Nah, it's not that. Come, fight me!" With a sudden burst of speed, the old man vanished into thin air, reappearing a few feet away.
Kai's eyes widened in shock as he realized that the old man possessed abilities similar to his own. He jumped into the air, his fists flying as he clashed with the old man. The two of them exchanged blows, their movements lightning-fast as they battled across the sky.
Finally, after a flurry of punches and kicks, Kai landed a decisive blow, striking the old man squarely on the chest. The old man plummeted towards the ground, but before he could hit the earth, Kai teleported him away, reappearing in a deserted alleyway.
The old man coughed, his chest heaving with exertion. "Well, boy, you're just like your father," he said, his voice dripping with admiration. "You almost killed me."
Kai's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with questions. "What are you talking about?" he demanded.
The old man smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I'm talking about your father's legacy, boy. I'm his right-hand man, and I've been sent to test you."
Kai's eyes widened in shock as the old man's words hung in the air. "Are you like me?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
The old man chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "There's so much you have to learn, boy. It seems your father hasn't told you anything. But I'll leave that to him. I'll leave all the things he needs to tell you."
Kai's mind reeled as the old man's words hung in the air. He knew that he had stumbled into something much bigger than himself, something that threatened to upend his entire world.
Kai's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with skepticism. "If you're lying, I can kill you this instant," he warned, his voice low and menacing. "Now, tell me the truth."
The old man chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "You've tried to peer into my mind, haven't you?" he said, his voice dripping with admiration. "You're marvelous. The first time I met your father, he did the same thing. I was blown away by how he knew everything that was in my mind."
Kai's grip on his temper tightened. "What do you mean?" he demanded.
The old man's expression turned wistful. "Your father bamboozled me with every move he made. I couldn't explain how I always lost every time I went against him. And then I found out he was using mind tricks."
Kai's eyes widened in surprise. "Mind tricks?" he repeated.
The old man nodded. "Yes, mind tricks. He taught me how to control my emotions, how to jump, and the way of the aura. But what you and your father can do...it's far beyond anything I've ever seen."
Kai's curiosity was piqued. "What do you mean?" he asked.
The old man's expression turned serious. "Your father is strong, Kai. Stronger than anyone I've ever met. He's threatened government officials and gotten away with it. And you...you're just as strong."
Kai's eyes narrowed. "Who are you?" he demanded. "What's your connection to my father?"
The old man smiled. "I'm his right-hand man, Kai. And I've been watching you, protecting you behind the scenes. That's why nothing's happened to you."
Kai's mind reeled as the old man's words hung in the air. "Why didn't you come to me earlier?" he asked.
The old man shrugged. "I was waiting for the right moment, Kai. Now that you're stronger, it's time for you to take your place in your father's company."
Kai's eyes narrowed. "Who's been in charge of my father's company?" he asked.
The old man smiled. "There's no one stronger than me in your father's company, Kai. But now that you're here, it's time for you to take over."
Kai's expression turned skeptical. "I don't need your training," he said.
The old man chuckled. "You're stubborn, boy. But that's good. You'll need that stubbornness to survive in your father's world."
And with that, the old man handed Kai a small, round object that looked like a marble, and a pen made of lead. "These are the things you need to enter your father's organisation," he said.
Kai took the objects, feeling a rush of power flow through him. And then, in an instant, the old man disappeared.
Kai looked around, his expression stunned. What had just happened? He couldn't sense the old man anywhere.
Kai looked around, wondering where the old man had gone. But as he touched the pen made of lead and the marble-like object in his pocket, he felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if he knew exactly what they were for.
Without another thought, Kai disappeared into his car. He looked around cautiously, then got out again, thinking to himself that if he had disappeared from here, people would have noticed his whereabouts.
Kai made his way to the hospital, greeted the staff, and was approached by the manager and receptionist. "Hi, Mister Kai. Are you looking for Kate?" the receptionist asked.
Kai shook his head. "No, I'm here to see my father."
The receptionist nodded. "Please, sign in here, Mister Kai."
As Kai walked through the hospital hallway, the smell of disinfectant and the sound of beeping machines filled his senses. The fluorescent lights overhead cast a pale glow over the sterile environment.
Kai entered the VIP room, where his father lay in a plush bed surrounded by monitors and medical equipment. The room was decorated with elegant furnishings and a large window with a view of the city.
"Hi, Father," Kai said, approaching the bed.
His father smiled weakly. "Hi, son."
Kai tried to peer into his father's mind, but his nose began to bleed, and he laughed at his own foolishness. His father chuckled, a hint of pride in his eyes.
"You're trying, boy," his father said. "But don't think you can outsmart me just because I have cancer. I'm still your father."
Kai nodded, feeling a mix of emotions. "Yes, Dad. I won't try it again."
His father patted the bed beside him. "Come, young tiger. Sit next to me."
As Kai sat down, his father began to speak in a low, serious tone. "Now that you've tried to peer into my mind, I know you've met John, my right-hand man."
Kai's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? You know about that?"
His father nodded. "Yes, I know everything. What you think of as strong power, you haven't seen anything yet, boy. You're ready to take over the company."
Kai's mind reeled as his father's words hung in the air. He felt a mix of emotions: excitement, fear, and uncertainty.
"What about John?" Kai asked, trying to process everything.
His father waved his hand dismissively. "Don't worry about him. He gave you the marble and the pen made of lead, didn't he?"
Kai nodded, feeling a sense of wonder. "Yes, he did."
His father smiled. "Use them to get into my company. It's time for you to take over, son."