[Unlocking degree of Motherland template increased by 1%]
[Unlocking degree of Motherland template – 46%]
The system's voice echoed in Luya's mind again, but this time, the progress seemed a bit low.
Luya frowned, feeling a twinge of doubt. Was this a normal fluctuation in the system's metrics? He quickly brushed it off, convincing himself it was nothing unusual.
However, what had just happened was far from ordinary. The lasers that had shot out of his eyes moments ago left everyone in the restaurant stunned.
"What the hell?! Did his eyes just fire lasers?"
Ordinary people couldn't comprehend what they had witnessed. This kind of power was beyond anything they could accept right away.
Bray was the first to snap out of his shock. Gratitude surged within him as he realized how right his earlier decision had been.
"The boss... He's got to be a messenger from God. Hell's Kitchen is going to change under his rule! Backing down earlier was the smartest thing I ever did!"
Previously, Bray had knelt before Luya, much to the dismay of his crew, who saw him as a coward. They had been outlaws, not heroes. To them, surrender was shameful.
But now that they had witnessed Luya's terrifying powers, their complaints vanished. The awe in their eyes spoke volumes about how right Bray had been.
From behind the counter, Lu Xuan and her younger brother emerged cautiously.
She hadn't seen the full scene clearly, standing behind Luya, but she had caught a glimpse—lasers, pouring from his eyes. Her heart sank.
'A man like this... He must be surrounded by powerful allies.'
Lu Xuan had once thought she might be useful to Luya, assuming he wanted to dominate Hell's Kitchen. But now, that hope seemed foolish.
'I'm far too weak to help him. He shrugs off bullets and shoots lasers... What could possibly stop someone like him?'
Just as despair began to creep into her heart, she glanced at Erica, standing nearby. A spark of hope flickered within her.
Erica, unlike the others, was already regaining her composure. As a former assassin for The Hand and Council, she'd seen strange abilities before—things far beyond human limits.
In fact, Erica wouldn't even flinch if Superman himself flew down from a comic book.
"Hah, invulnerable, and he shoots lasers? He really does seem like Superman. I wonder if he can fly too," Erica thought, half amused.
Though she hadn't reached her peak power yet, Erica's combat skills were already at the top of what a human could achieve. Strength, speed, and reflexes—she excelled in all of them.
Having recently escaped from The Hand, Erica was now a free agent wandering Hell's Kitchen. According to her original plan, she should have become an enforcer for Kingpin.
But Luya's unexpected presence had altered her path. Instead of falling in with Kingpin, she'd wounded his men severely.
There was also a flicker of justice inside her, preventing her from returning to Kingpin's side.
Luya exhaled, frustrated by the system's slow progress.
"Drag those bodies out and clean the place. What a pain..."
His irritation grew. It wasn't just the mess; it was the sluggish pace of the template's unlocking. Would the system's progress slow down even further?
"Does every action of the Motherland involve killing?" he muttered, shaking his head. It didn't matter for now.
He needed to play the role of "superhero" in Hell's Kitchen for a while longer, whether he liked it or not.
He scanned the room. People were staring at him, eyes filled with fear—and admiration.
[Unlocking degree of Motherland template increased by 1%]
[Unlocking degree of Motherland template – 47%]
Luya blinked in confusion.
"Huh? The level increased? But I didn't even do anything..."
He decided not to dwell on it. Whatever the system was up to, it worked in mysterious ways.
His gaze drifted to Erica, who was now wiping a steel fork in her hand. Where had she hidden it? He hadn't noticed.
Her combat style was sharp and deliberate—attacking with precision, always aiming for vital points. This woman was no ordinary fighter.
"Have you stared enough?"
"Huh?"
Luya snapped out of his thoughts, realizing Erica was looking at him, her cheeks slightly flushed.
Erica snorted and turned her head.
"You don't just stare at someone like that," she muttered. "It's weird."
If Luya weren't so strong and handsome, she might have acted differently.
Lu Xuan, annoyed, pulled her brother along.
"Tsk, why does the atmosphere feel... strange all of a sudden?" Luya whispered to himself.
Erica, having composed herself, stepped closer.
"Are you the boss here?"
"Yeah," Luya answered casually.
Bray treated him as the boss, so it didn't seem wrong to claim the title.
Erica nodded. "I need a place to stay. Got any spare rooms?"
A hint of hesitation flickered in Luya's eyes. It was clear that, like him, Erica had just arrived in Hell's Kitchen.
But it wasn't a bad idea. Having someone like her around would make things easier. If he decided to claim some territory, she could help maintain it.
Luya wasn't planning to stay in Hell's Kitchen forever. After all, he was still a student.
Bray, sensing Luya's silent question, quickly responded.
"There's a room behind the restaurant, though it hasn't been used in a while. It's... a bit of a mess."
"I don't mind," Erica replied calmly. After everything she had endured fleeing from The Hand, she wasn't about to complain.
"Thanks." She slipped the steel fork into her jacket. One had been damaged in today's fight—she'd need to find a replacement.
With the restaurant in order and the night drawing to a close, Luya stretched and prepared to leave.
Overall, it had been a productive night. He hadn't even needed to seek out trouble—guys like Jeremy came right to him, handing him free experience.
"The only downside is the slow progress in the unlocking..."
"But no matter," he whispered, a glimmer of confidence in his voice. "There's still time to grow before the real threats in Marvel arrive."