“So, the hero is finally here,” one of the executive muttered. “Can we finally get on with this? What in the name of the Gap happened?”

“That’s easy. We failed. The assassin failed, and Sweet Fist is going to get even more popular after this.” Another executive lamented.

“That’s what you’re worried about?” A lady executive scoffed. “An attack happened in the city and people were hurt. I thought this was to be done quietly.”

Everyone in the room turned to the hero who waited a moment before answering.

“Thankfully, no one died in the attack. If it was an attack. Preliminary reports suggest that Sweet Fist spotted the assassin before he was able to do anything. The videos on the internet were of the assassin trying to escape Sweet Fist.”

“He was spotted?” An executive groaned. “The Quiet Inn send someone that inexperienced against Sweet Fist?”

“You get what you paid for. Told you all we should had ordered a main course.”

“That’s a million dollars. Sweet Fist isn’t worth that much.”

“He is when he is costing us that much money.”

“We should make a complain again the Inn.”

“Complaining against a group of assassins that’s been around for a thousand years? Good luck with that.”

As the executives argued among themselves, the Lady of Numbers only had eyes for the man at the head of the table. With his pudgy face, Mint Farnsworth did not look dangerous. He looked like an ordinary family man without superpowers, magic, or great science. He was the most dangerous man in the room. Farnsworth raised his hand and the arguments stopped immediately.

“Is that all?” Farnsworth looked at Lady Numbers directly and asked. “Is there anything else you can tell us about the assassination?”

The hero nodded. “Our analysts are not sure, but several of them believed that Sweet Fist may have some power that allows him to see threats.”

That caused quiet murmuring in the room, but it was Farnsworth who asked the question.

“That’s seems unlikely. Sweet Fist is just a martial artist. What makes the analysts of Velocity Tower think that?”

“The assassin was at the diner for over an hour, and no one noticed a thing. Then, Sweet Fist came in and immediately saw him for what he is. That cannot be a coincidence. Sweet Fist is also far more than a martial artist. He is a mystic warrior. Mystic warriors are rare, and their powers had never been fully documented, but there is precedent. The mystic warrior, Shadow Knife, was known to have senses so acute it was as if he could danger before they occur. Sweet Fist may have some power like that.”

“So, you are saying he has some sort of danger sense!” An executive exclaimed before turning to Farnsworth with a concerned look. “If that is the case, then it will be very hard to kill him.”

“There’s more than one way to skin a cat.” Farnsworth said evenly. “Lady Numbers, what about the heist at the warehouse? Surely, Velocity Tower is going to do something about that?”

“The matter is currently in the hands of the local police.”

“Why?”

“Velocity Tower will only take action if there is clear danger to the public due to excess use of powers. There is currently no indication of that in the warehouse heist. Everything reported thus far seems to indicate that the job was done by a very professional crew.”

“Wasn’t one of the guards in the hospital right now?”

“He is.” Lady Numbers admitted. “Which means the crew that did this made certain he didn’t die. He is broken, but not dead and company insurance will cover the expenses.”

“Everyone here knows that’s just a technicality. The man was heavily injured. That’s enough of an excuse. Why isn’t the Tower moving on Sweet Fist? He is the most prominent villain in the city.”

“He is good for business.” There were startled expressions at that. Even Farnsworth had a raised eyebrow. Lady Numbers enjoyed that. “He is the second living mystic on Nexus, and he is accepting disciples. His mere presence is bringing money, attention, and resources to the city. The Tower won’t move on him unless it is absolutely necessary.”

“That does not sound like Thundersky.” Farnsworth said.

“Thundersky is no fool.” Lady Numbers warned. “He knows everyone here is hoping that he will do the dirty work for you. He will do it if he has to, but don’t expect him to volunteer.”

“So, are you saying the Tower will move if the incident is big enough?” Farnsworth inquired.

“It’s not that simple. This is bigger than Thundersky. Everyone has eyes on Velocity City right now, and that includes the Alliance of Champions. If Thundersky moves on Sweet Fist without a valid reason, they will come down on him like a ton of bricks.”

“So, what do you suggest?”

“Start buying the land.” Lady Numbers immediately replied. “On average, property prices in the Kings had dropped about thirty percentage since the ‘Red Maddy’ incident. That is a thirty-percentage discount on prices from just a year ago. It is more than enough for all of you to make a profit.”

Objections immediately rose, but not from everyone. The hero saw a few executives keeping silent. She was glad that they weren’t as united as before, but everything still depends on one man.

“What if we offer Sweet Fist the same deal as Red Maddy?” An executive asked hopefully.

Her powers activated on its own. Knowledge and scenarios assaulted her mind before a number automatically came up. Lady Numbers shook her head.

“Sweet Fist is unlikely to take the same deal as Red Maddy. The chances of the same plot succeeding are only at twenty-one percentage.”

“That doesn’t matter as long as heroes attack his holdings.” Another executive said. “If heroes attack his holdings, he will need to protect them, and we can escalate from there.”

“Sweet Fist don’t have any illegal holdings.”

“What?”

“His crew only did one job so far and his known holdings are a diner, some warehouses, and a front company that is still being set up. All of them are legal. If any heroes attacked these locations, the police are more likely to arrest them than Sweet Fist.”

“He must have some illegal holdings! He is a villain.” The executive said. Lady Numbers had too much self-control to roll her eyes. Like most civilians, the executive believed that the V-word was magic in the court of law.