Code Collector

Chapter 36: The First Leg

Gary left, leaving Allen lone with his thoughts. He walked to the side if the road, thinking of two ways to deal with the new problem he was facing.

The first would be to get out of the flow, and the other was to ride it.

Since Jeremy and the police had already spread the name of his alter ego, he will use that as his weapon. Whay they know is that some random maniac had attacked the sisters, but they didn't know the reason why.

If he was going to spread a talk about what the sisters had done in the past, and why they deserved it, his popularity will only rise. Not only that, many people from the highest class will seek for his help.

The only thing left for him to do as of the moment was start the rumors. He doesn't know anyone in Camp Twyla, therefore he can't be too sure where to start.

Shoving the thoughts away, Allen hid to wear his disguise. It was almost nighttime, and he was betting that Hilda was waiting for him. He told her his alter ego would come at nightfall, and it was already past that.

And old woman in an old poorly managed store. Hilda was left alone in the world. Her husband died after acquiring hundreds of thousands of debts, and his son turned away from them after knowing this.

The other Codes shop mocked Hilda's store. Among the dozens of shops in town, only Hilda's shop was in the Rundown Street. The other ones were in the brighter side of town, having all partnerships with strong Hunters and having great relationships with clients.

When Pamela gave Allen the address of Hilda, she was insulting both Hilda and Allen. She knew the old lady couldn't provide Allen the money he wanted, and as far as she saw, Allen couldn't bring good quality Codes.

For Pamela, this was her biggest mistake. She unknowingly stirred a mixture of two people in the lowest of low, who had a good chemistry together.

It was dusk, and Hilda had prepared herself. Her store was dark in the nighttime considering the lights were barely functioning. As she looked at the mess in her store, she clenched the phone in her hand.

WANTED

Masked Assaulter

Height: 182cm, Wears a Wooden Mask and a Black Cloak, Estimated Level: 40

The bell of her door opened, making Hilda look up to see the exact same person on the notification she was reading. She gulped as she let the man walk into the store.

"So, you've heard about me," Allen spoke with his deep scruffy voice. "Will you report me now?"

Hilda took a deep breath and shook her head, "I want to know the reason why you did that to those girls. I know them. They were the same women who invite my husband into gambling. I also know that we're not their only victims. But why?"

Allen was taken aback by the woman's words. Actually, he had expected for the police to be hiding in her store, waiting for him to enter and attack him right on the spot. But what he was seeing was nothing out of the thoughts running in his head.

He tried to look for the truthfulness in Hilda's eyes, and there he saw that what the woman's telling him and what she feels were authentic. She had hate in her eyes, mixed with grief and relief. Allen didn't know, but seeing Hilda like this made him feel warm.

He wasn't a hero that everyone wants. He wasn't a hero that will do good. He was a person that everyone needs for revenge, help, and live a new and exciting life. For his first job, he had already made two people feel better with themselves.

"It was an order from a client," Allen responded. "The sisters also did something bad to her."

Hilda's face softened. She walked out of the counter and touched Allen's face. "Young child, but do you have to commit such heinous crimes? The poster said you assaulted them."

"I merely did something irreversible in their faces," Allen said. "I lived without parents, but I know where to not touch garbage when I see one."

Hilda chuckled, "Actually that was the only thing I would like. I never really wanted anything more but to get justice for my misery. Now I have, thanks to you."

Allen took a deep sigh and gently removed Hilda's hands on her cheek. This wasn't good. He was going to use this woman to get to her son, but she was already done with him. He had to think of another way to lengthen his deal with Hilda.

He then looked around. He saw how miserable the state of the store was. The flickering lights, the cheap broken stands, the dirty glass. If he needed to get Hilda's son to come to her, he must find a way to rekindle their mother/son relationship.

Like a lightbulb lighting up over Allen's head, the boy got an idea. He snapped his fingers and smirked, looking down to face the stout old woman.

"Do you want to stop here?" Allen asked, making Hilda contort her face in confusion. This made Allen smirk. "Your son. Do you not want him back? I know a way to make him come home. Once we're done, he will come here crying to see his mama."

Hilda's eyes widened. She looked at Allen in the eyes and saw that the boy was serious. "A-Are you sure?"

"Yes," Allen said. "But you have to do something for me too."

"A-Anything," Hilda stutteringly spoke. "I will do anything just bring my son back home."

"When you get a flow of customers, tell them that a The Wandering Trader is your exclusive Hunter," Allen said. "But you have to be very picky on who to tell this information to. Only those who are desperate enough to do anything are the ones who are qualified. The ones comfortable with their lives are not."

"Where are you going with this, young man?" Hilda asked. "What do you mean customers? I don't even have any Code to sell."

Allen chuckled, offering his hand for the woman to take. "But I do."