Adam, now in the guise of a young girl, carefully navigated the busy streets of River City. The hum of the city surrounded him — merchants shouted, children played, and travelers from all walks of life hustled past. But Adam had other things on his mind.
He activated his skill, God's Eye, scanning the crowd for anyone who could be useful.
[Host Skill Activated: God's Eye]
Immediately, Adam's vision sharpened, and a status window appeared in front of him, revealing the details of a nearby man.
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Name: Kevin
Occupation: Traveler
Skills: Tracking, Strength, Stealth
Traits: Quiet, Observant, Stoic
Current Mood: Searching for a restaurant for lunch.
Hidden State: Survival - 81%
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A short man stood in front of Adam, his status window clear. Kevin smiled and waved at Adam, but Adam quickly averted his gaze, uninterested in making contact with someone like him. Kevin was no use to him. He moved on, scanning the crowd for someone else.
As Adam's eyes darted around, his attention landed on a man who seemed far more suspicious. He was looking around too much, his body language screaming of hidden intentions. Adam activated God's Eye on him.
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Name: Samoo
Occupation: Street Informant
Skills: Information Gathering, Sneak Attack, Evasion
Traits: Suspicious, Cunning, Shifty, Arrogant
Current mood: Search his victims
Hidden State: Deception
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Adam's eyes narrowed. "So, the carriage driver was right," he thought. "Thugs on every corner."
Samoo's status window faded as the thug's eyes locked onto Adam in his girl disguise. His gaze lingered, and a predatory grin spread across his face. Adam sighed internally. "Great... He's coming this way."
Adam turned and began to walk away, trying to keep his distance from Samoo, but it was too late. Samoo, a tall, broad-shouldered man with a bald head and tattoos covering his muscular arms, followed, his leather vest hanging loosely around his frame.
"Hey girl, where do you think you're going?" Samoo called after Adam.
Adam continued walking, his mind racing with plans. "I can't kill him here… there are too many people watching. But if I lure him to a deserted alley…"
Samoo caught up to him, placing a heavy hand on Adam's shoulder and forcefully spinning him around. "Hey, I haven't seen you here before. You new around these parts?"
Adam clenched his jaw, wondering if now was the time to act. "Should I just deal with him here?" he thought, weighing his options.
Samoo's smile widened as he stepped closer, his eyes taking in Adam's disguised form with lecherous intent. "If you're new, you'll have to come with me."
Adam inwardly smirked. "Perfect," he thought. "If he takes me somewhere secluded, I can handle him without causing a scene."
The onlookers watched with silent pity. They all knew Samoo's reputation and what happened to anyone caught in his clutches. But no one dared intervene. No one wanted to face the wrath of the thugs that ruled River City.
Just as Samoo grabbed Adam's hand and began to lead him away, another hand grasped Adam's from behind. Startled, Adam turned to see a tall woman standing behind him, her grip firm and unyielding.
Samoo stopped in his tracks, glaring at the woman. "You know the consequences of interfering, Anastasia," he growled.
Adam quickly activated God's eye skill to get more information on this woman.
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Name: Anastasia
Age: 42
Occupation: Co-Owner & Manager
Skills: Cooking, Strategy, Diplomacy
Traits: Nurturing, Efficient, Insightful
Current Mood: Determined to save you
Hidden State: Empathy - 92%
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Adam blinked, taken aback. This wasn't what he expected.
Anastasia was tall, her long hair tied back in a neat bun. Her sharp features were softened by her vibrant green eyes, which glimmered with intelligence and determination. She wore a simple dress under a light apron, as though she had come straight from the kitchen without changing.
Samoo glared at Anastasia. "Back off," he hissed. "This isn't your business."
Anastasia stood firm, her eyes narrowing. "Leave her alone, Samoo," she said, her voice steady. "You don't want to cause trouble here."
Samoo scowled, but Anastasia's presence clearly made him uneasy. He was used to getting what he wanted, but even thugs like him had limits.
Before Anastasia could say anything more, another voice cut through the tension. A robust man approached from the side, his deep-set hazel eyes locked onto Samoo.
"What consequences are you talking about... When we've already paid our family protection fees to you?" the man said firmly. "Why are we being harassed like this?"
Adam turned to look at the new arrival, taking in the sight of the man who seemed to radiate both strength and calm. The man was in his mid-forties, with weathered skin from years of working under the sun. His brown hair was neatly trimmed, as was his beard. Despite the weariness etched into his face, there was a certain kindness in his features. He wore simple clothes like Anastasia, including an apron that signaled his work as a restaurateur.
Without hesitation, Adam activated God's Eye once more to learn more about the man standing before him.
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Name: Robert
Age: 44
Gender: Male
Occupation: Restaurant Owner
Skills: Cooking, Business Management, Hand-to-Hand Combat (hidden)
Traits: Calm, Diligent, Charismatic
Current Mood: Focused to save you
Hidden Stat: Leadership - 85%
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Adam's brow furrowed. Hand-to-hand combat? He thought. Interesting. It's hidden... probably because Robert hasn't revealed this skill to anyone. Has he kept this ability a secret all along?
Robert's presence brought a sense of calm, but also control. The people around them, including Samoo, seemed to take a step back, recognizing Robert's authority, even if unspoken.
Samoo, however, wasn't swayed. "Don't interfere in my matters," he growled. "I'm not doing anything to you."
At that moment, Anastasia stepped forward, pulling Adam closer to her side. Her sharp eyes flashed with anger as she slapped Adam's hand out of Samoo's grip. "You are doing something," she said in a strong, unwavering voice. "She is our daughter. How dare you lay your filthy hands on her?"
Samoo's face twisted in fury. His lecherous grin vanished, replaced by cold, venomous anger. He took a step closer, fists clenching at his sides. "What did you say, bitch?"
The tension skyrocketed. The onlookers, who had been watching passively before, now shifted uncomfortably. Some whispered nervously among themselves, wondering what would happen next. Even though they all knew Samoo's temper, few had seen him so openly defied.
Adam, still in the guise of the young girl, felt the atmosphere tighten like a noose. His eyes flicked between Samoo, Anastasia, and Robert, calculating his next move. He knew that a full-blown confrontation here would not end well for anyone, especially in such a public setting. Yet, part of him was intrigued by how far Samoo was willing to push this—and how much Anastasia and Robert were willing to defend him.
Robert, however, didn't flinch. His posture remained steady, but there was a quiet intensity about him now, a subtle shift in his stance. It was the kind of readiness Adam had seen in seasoned fighters—men who didn't need to prove their strength with threats. They simply were strong, and others knew it.
"Samoo," Robert said, his voice calm but firm. "Walk away. You've already crossed the line, and I'm giving you a chance to back off."
For a moment, Samoo seemed to hesitate. His eyes darted between Robert and Anastasia, weighing his options. The silent pressure from the surrounding crowd, combined with Robert's quiet authority, seemed to give him pause.
But Samoo was not one to easily back down. His arrogance flared up once more, and he took another step forward, his hand slowly reaching for something at his side. "You think you can order me around, Robert?" he sneered. "You're nothing compared to me. I work for people who could squash you like a bug."