BXBX NOVEL Chapter 112: Make me [1/2]
Not understanding what he was trying to say, I observed the store and noticed that about two-thirds of the displays were tuned to a new program.
"{Perceive}, {Listen}."
[Are you serious Angie? Can you repeat that?]
[Sure Dennis, around 7:30 this morning. Right here on the streets of Phoenix, a mysterious Good Samaritan fed over three hundred people.]
[He led them around and then rented out eating establishments to feed them. The staggering number of people who flocked to this kind soul was the talk of the city.]
[Aren't you exaggerating? Three hundred?]
[I felt the same way at first, Dennis, but the number of restaurants calling us to let us know that they were part of the rental continues to come in. So far, we have over 10 burger joints, 12 diners, 15 pizza places. And still growing!]
[My goodness! Doesn't that mean he's spent an insane amount of money? Why didn't he just take them all to a McDonald's and be done with it?]
[Yes, that would have been the most logical thing to do. I am not sure what this man believed. But every place he rented was owned by local businesses. The man who used the alias "John Smith" rented them all for more than they could make in a day.]
[Hmm. So, he was helping the local economy? Was he part of a relief organization?]
[We don't know anything at this point, Dennis. As everyone knows, the recent lockdowns have made it difficult for small businesses to operate.]
[As times have gotten harder, more and more people have been laid off, and those who have heard about Mr. Smith from friends or the news have rushed to join him].
[Then where is this man, Angie? Did he say why he did such a publicity stunt? Do we have a picture of Mr. Smith? Was he some kind of business tycoon?]
[That's the thing, Dennis! None of the people who ate, nor the business owners could remember what he looked like! And even though some people took videos and pictures, he wasn't in any of them!]
[How strange, maybe this was some form of manipulation by the government?]
[Your guess is as good as mine Dennis, but the locals have started calling Mr. Smith the Angel of the Phoenix! His actions today reminded everyone and me that there is still some good in the world. That is all for now. This is Angie Emissora. Channel 7 News]
Invoking {Fates} to heighten my senses, I heard what I needed to hear. The interactions between the newscaster and the reporter said it all. I then turned to Zach, smiling sheepishly.
"Are you hungry?" I asked to lighten the mood.
"'Can it, Mr. Angel. Walk with me. Now," he said in a frustrated tone.
The Nightmare turned and started to walk away without waiting for me. Of course, I wouldn't disobey, because this man was very powerful. I moved my legs and followed him a little further back.
"Listen bastard. Do you have some kind of disease if you don't make headlines or something?" he asked obviously in a bad mood.
"Would you believe me if I said I had no intention of letting it get that far?"
"Yeah. Sure. Anyway, let's go to a coffee shop."
I followed him into a small shop on the corner of the street. As we entered, almost everyone was watching the news. The topic was obviously still the "Angel of Phoenix".
After ordering a couple of drinks, Zach and I sat down at a table by the window. Neither of us spoke as we drank our coffee in silence.
Then Zach began to speak in a somber tone. "Look, bastard. I say this for your own good. Drop the whole matter with the Saviors. Don't stick your head where it doesn't belong."
Somehow, I already knew that was what he was going to say. Otherwise, he would have reacted differently to my reports.
But even if I could drop the matter. I didn't want to. Because if they were not stopped now, they would only do worse things in the future.
When the head of the mercenaries noticed my silence, he rubbed his temples as he continued.
"Look, bastard, I am not saying that they will go unchecked forever. Just not now.
"They will pay a fine if I ask, but if I accept your reports, they will demand a trial."
I already knew from Warren how big their organization was. Having a Specter as a backer would, of course, allow them to be arrogant. But I had yet to understand why David and Zach tolerated them.
My lack of an answer caused the nightmare to continue. "If we proceed with the trial, their head would call for a Seeker war. You are a young Wraith. I don't care how many undead you kill, fighting an entire Reaper army is suicide!"
I have fought Reapers before, and while the Phantoms were harder, I had {Reveal}. Zach should have known that by allowing the Saviors to remain at large, the entire battlefront would be compromised.
Law and order were necessary to deter criminals and force compliance. Only when the number of fuckups could be controlled would humanity be able to move with one will.
Although technically humanity had not yet achieved such unity. I thought the zombies would do it, but the reapers could not overcome their own problems and prejudices.
Zach sighed exaggeratedly as he drank his coffee. After a few moments of silence, he changed the subject.
"Look, the problem is not that we can't contain them. It is not even the amount of undead they take down.
"The problem is David. As a Revenant, his mental well-being is paramount. So, nothing can happen to Xander Rutherford."