Highly suspected Symbiote offspring hidden in human cities, the hidden secret behind S.H.I.E.L.D. abducting Pietro, and that Black-haired Boy who suddenly became a ruthless cat burglar... Although Vincent could guess the specific reason for the third, all these incidents happened in New York, which gave him an indescribable feeling.
He had always been very sensitive to the extraordinary.
New York, having just experienced an alien battle, was probably on the verge of another major incident.
Fortunately, Vincent had become increasingly accustomed to the extraordinary compared to before.
After gaining the Body of Steel ability from Kara, it could be said that he had completely stepped into the realm of the extraordinary World.
At this very moment.
Vincent, himself, was extraordinary... It was already afternoon.
Vincent took off his black Superman suit, showered comfortably with the hottest Water, and changed into a relatively formal shirt and suit.
The entire small suit was almost brand new, without a single wrinkle or speck of dust.
This was partly because Diana and Wanda often dug it out of the wardrobe to wash, dry, and iron, and another reason was—
Vincent wore it too infrequently.
Vincent used formal attire like this less than three times a year, yet he would buy at least two sets every year.
Vincent dressed for comfort; whenever possible, he usually wore loose, fashionable casual wear when going out.
However, tonight was Gwen's coming-of-age banquet after all, so he might as well wear it.
For Gwen, Vincent was quite willing.
Fortunately, the Body of Steel did not make Vincent's physique larger, so it still fit him very well. And because the shirt was appropriately stretched, it subtly showcased suitable muscle curves, making him appear more sunny and stylish than before.
He then combed his messy hair and applied hair wax.
The brand new Vincent walked out of his home... Outside the bustling and lively streets of Washington.
Vincent did not go to Gwen's house immediately. Taking advantage of the time before the banquet, he walked into a nearby brand-name jewelry store.
Inside the store, there were a few couples or lovers looking at the merchandise together. Most of the women's eyes were sparkling, while the accompanying men subconsciously touched their pockets.
Seeing the young Black-haired Boy walk in.
A beautiful, full-figured White female store clerk immediately swayed her hip-hugging skirt and clicked her high heels forward, flashing a standard sweet smile at Vincent and asking, "Sir, what type of item are you looking to buy?"
"Jewelry suitable for a young girl," Vincent pondered.
"Is it for your girlfriend?"
"No, it's for a good friend."
"Uh." The female clerk's expression clearly froze, but her excellent professional demeanor kept her composed. She asked with an unchanging smile, "What is your budget?"
"Around five thousand,"
Vincent thought about it. There was still a good amount left from the date money his aunt gave him last time… "This way, please!"
The female clerk's eyes immediately lit up, and she became much more enthusiastic, leading Vincent deeper into the store… "This one."
After about ten minutes, Vincent carefully selected a suitable piece of jewelry and asked the female clerk to wrap it.
"All right, I'll package it for you right away." The female clerk's smile grew even brighter; such straightforward and decisive young customers were rare nowadays.
However, her smile quickly froze.
Just at the entrance of the jewelry store.
Accompanied by a sudden shriek, several customers trying to leave the store were pushed back in by a masked man!
Bang!
At the same time. Two other masked Black strongmen, armed with AK firearms, quickly stormed in from the adjacent glass door!
"Is there no end to this…" Vincent looked back at the scene, his mouth twitching slightly.
Can't it just calm down?
..."Robbery! If you don't want to die, everyone squat down quietly!"
The masked leader saw the customers and clerks running in panic, immediately pulled out a pistol from his waist, and fired a shot at the ceiling inside the jewelry store!
Bang!!!
The hanging glass lamp shattered in response, and countless shards of glass clinked to the floor!
The six customers and four female clerks in the store turned pale, all squatting down with their heads in their hands, and two White-collar men's pants were wet around the crotch!
"Kid, do you want to die?"
One of the masked Black strongmen growled, staring coldly at the only Black-haired Boy still standing in the store, raising his AK firearm.
Only then did Vincent realize that, as a human, he should indeed be afraid of guns.
Ordinary humans are indeed easily killed by guns.
However, as Vincent looked at the dark muzzle pointed at him, it was truly difficult for even a trace of fear to surface in his heart.
If it were the day before yesterday, it would be understandable, but now, he possessed the Body of Steel… Vincent really wanted to politely say to the robber, "Please kill me."
But considering there were other hostages present, he reluctantly squatted down.
After intimidating all the customers and clerks present, the three robbers split up: one held a gun to guard them, while the other two began smashing display cases with specialized hammers, scooping large amounts of jewelry into their backpacks.
About three minutes later.
Before the robbers could pack all the jewelry in the store.
Outside the store, with a sharp, loud siren, several Police cars with flashing warning lights screeched to a halt on the road outside!
"Boss, the Police are here!" one masked Black strongman exclaimed.
"Shut up! What are you afraid of? We have hostages! Pull them out and put them in front!"
The robber leader said angrily, simultaneously taking a firearm from a subordinate, disengaging the safety, and firing a barrage of shots indiscriminately towards the door!
Tat-tat-tat!!!
The gun's muzzle furiously spewed a stream of bullets, shattering the glass door and riddling the Police car parked outside!
The Police officers who had exited from the other side of the car were about to return fire, but then they saw the other two strongmen robbers inside the jewelry store, holding firearms and threateningly ordering the customers and clerks to move to the front of the entrance… "What's the situation on site?"
More Police cars arrived, sirens wailing, to support the scene, and soon, they had surrounded the jewelry store, making it impenetrable.
Among them, a stern-faced middle-aged Police officer stepped out of one of the Police cars.
"Officer George!" a Police officer immediately stepped forward to report.
"What's the situation on site?"
Officer George inquired decisively.
The Police officer swallowed, moistening his dry throat, and quickly replied, "There are three robbers in total, armed with highly powerful firearms like AKs, as well as pistols. There are clerks and customers inside as hostages—four men, seven women, and a student who looks like he's of Chinese descent…"
"Are the snipers in position?"
"They are. But the robbers are very alert; they're all hiding behind the counters and hostages."
"What are their demands?" Officer George continued to ask.
"A van, to leave here with the jewelry."
"They dream big!"
Officer George gave a cold laugh. He wasn't afraid of danger and approached a bit closer, using several Police cars as temporary cover.
At this distance.
He could clearly see the hostages standing in a row near the store entrance, with the three robbers all standing behind them, only faintly revealing the corners of their firearms and clothes… Wait!
Officer George suddenly widened his eyes, looking at one of the hostages, the Black-haired Boy, and a thought popped into his mind—
Why was he there?!
As Officer George saw the Black-haired Boy, the boy seemed to have seen him too, and secretly made a gesture towards him.
Officer George's body stiffened, his mind filled with questions.
However, the boy's gesture indicated:
"I'm breaking out!"
...Inside the store.
With a robber's gun pointed at the back of his head, Vincent stood in the area near the door.
He wasn't panicking at all, even a little bored.
It was his first time encountering a robbery and being taken hostage, which was indeed a novel experience.
But the longer this experience lasted, the more boring it became.
So Vincent decided to make a move.
If it were usual.
He would choose to have Guan Luo inform his aunt, and then, probably in less than a minute, someone would descend from the sky and toss these three robbers into the air.
However, now with the Body of Steel as a defensive guarantee, Vincent was fully confident in handling it himself. His earlier inaction was only out of concern for the safety of the other hostages.
Fortunately.
Now these three robbers had finally gathered together, and by an unfortunate coincidence, they were standing directly behind him.
Although Vincent had his back to them, with Guan Luo transmitting thoughts to him, he could clearly know the three men's positions and movements.
In an instant,
Without any hesitation.
Vincent burst into action, his elbow suddenly striking backward with full force, accurately hitting a soft body!
"Wah!!"
His unguarded lower abdomen struck, the Black masked strongman immediately let out a scream. His eyes rolled back, like a convulsing, arching mantis shrimp!
Vincent seized the opportunity to snatch the firearm from the opponent's hand. Like a hot-blooded, reckless youth, seemingly unafraid of gunfire, he knocked another robber's subordinate to the ground!
The sudden scene stunned everyone present and outside.
"Damn it!!"
The robber leader, who was negotiating with the Police, saw this and immediately let out an angry growl, pointing his gun at the Black-haired Boy who had knocked the robber to the ground.
But just then.
His right armpit felt a sharp pain, as if something had stung it, and he was momentarily unable to raise his firearm!
Vincent delivered a flying kick to the face of the robber who had been knocked to the ground, knocking him unconscious, then immediately turned and, fearless of death, lunged at the robber leader!
Bang!!
The robber leader's already weak right hand was affected by the lunge, and the AK firearm in his hand flew out. Vincent pressed the robber leader firmly to the ground with both hands. The robber leader's eyes turned red, and his large left hand clamped down on the boy's throat, his five fingers like iron tongs, and veins bulging terrifyingly on his arm!
"Woo woo!"
Vincent timely feigned gasping for breath, as if he was barely managing to hold the opponent down.
The scene was chaotic!
Without the threat of the robbers' guns, the hostages fled in panic towards the door, and the Police outside, after a moment of stunned silence, Officer George was the first to rush in!
Bang—!
Officer George first fired a clean, decisive shot, striking down the robber's subordinate who was getting up from the ground and trying to pick up a gun!
Then, with slightly reddened eyes, he rushed towards the two struggling on the ground.
"Let him go!!"
Officer George rushed closer, fired a shot at the robber leader's left arm. Blood splattered, and the robber leader immediately released his five fingers from the boy's throat, curling up in painful agony, clutching his bleeding gunshot wound!
"Vincent, are you alright?"
After confirming that all the robbers had lost their combat capability, Officer George then anxiously looked at the Black-haired Boy sitting on the ground nearby.
"What could possibly be wrong with me?" Vincent blinked, retorting.
Officer George: "..."
Worried for nothing?
"Oh, right, it just feels a bit disgusting from being choked…" Vincent touched his neck, his face showing discomfort.
"I'll call an ambulance right away!" Officer George exclaimed with alarm.
"No, Uncle George."
Vincent waved his hand, stating bluntly, "I just feel that his hands reek of cigarettes and gunpowder, which is nauseating…"
"You rascal…"
Officer George glared at him, still shaken, and said, "Do you know what you just did? They had guns, how dare you make a move?"
Vincent didn't know what to say.
He had actually been very, very restrained.
If it weren't for not wanting to too obviously expose his Body of Steel, and the various methods of Guan Luo's split body, plus considering the safety of the other hostages present, Vincent could have completely chosen to directly confront them despite their guns.
At this time.
More Police officers rushed in, escorting the three injured robbers away.
Vincent stood up and patted the dust off his pants. As if remembering something, he stepped forward and picked up a packaged gift box from among the scattered jewelry: "This is something I bought with my own money."
Looking at the gift box in the Black-haired Boy's hand, Officer George fell silent, no longer able to utter words of questioning.
He knew why Vincent was here… The Police car drove at a steady speed on the road, and outside the window, night had quietly fallen.
Officer George drove the car back home, while Vincent sat in the back seat, the two, one large and one small, silently.
From childhood to adulthood.
Vincent and Officer George had never been alone together; there was always a tsundere and beautiful short-haired girl between them.
Officer George regarded her as the apple of his eye.
Vincent's playmate, like a marble in his hand.
"How dare you act like that just now? It was too impulsive!" Officer George broke the silence in the car, scolding him.
Vincent spread his hands and said, "It's getting late, isn't it? I was afraid if we dragged it out any longer, I'd miss Gwen's coming-of-age banquet."
"Even so… you shouldn't have."
Hearing Gwen's name, Officer George's stern face immediately softened, and he pondered, "In the future, you must always be steady in your actions. If you can't even protect yourself, how can you protect Gwen…"
"I understand, Uncle George."
Vincent nodded in agreement.
He suddenly noticed that Officer George's hands, gripping the steering wheel, were trembling slightly… Officer George was trembling?
As if noticing Vincent's gaze through the rearview mirror, Officer George cleared his throat: "This isn't for you! I'm just afraid, if something happened to you, how would I explain it to Gwen?"
"I understand."
Vincent didn't mind. He smiled and suddenly said, "For Gwen!"
Officer George paused. He looked straight ahead, unable to stop the slight upward curve of his lips, and suddenly felt that this kid looked more pleasing than ever before!
He also said in his heart:
"For Gwen."
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