One was about to explode. Just what the hell was going on?! What is he DOING to her?!

One: “SIX!!”

6: “That voice...DAD?! DAD HELP m—-

Ah…! No. wait. I-I mean ONE!! Second boss One help! I’ve been captured by THE Monitor Man!”

Mr. Abrams: “...I haven’t even-”

6: “How did you even get away from the TRAP that old woman set for you?? I KNEW she wasn’t somebody we could trust!”

Mr. Abrams: “(Old woman?) You’re quite talkative. I like that. Why don’t you go on and elaborate about that? Who is this ‘Old Woman’ that had me running around like a fool today?”

6: “Uuhhh, D-DAD help me!!”

One: “...Even...Even if you ARE the famed Monitor Man…

YOU STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM MY DAUGHTER or els--”

*POW!*

A simple fist sent One crashing into another tree, toppling it. He forced a few rough coughs to clear his throat, but wound up vomiting some of his teeth inside a small puddle of blood.

For a brief moment, the golden bunny flashed brighter than ever before...but then it dimmed. One initiated an attack. Mr. Abrams knew this was the only loophole that wouldn’t transfer the wearer someplace farther away: because the user entered a combat ready stance, signifying they were no longer in danger.

One: “Ugh, wow...to think that Monitor Man is good at more than just magic and surveillance...I’ll need Six to heal m--SIX!!”

Mr. Abrams: “...She isn’t in pain. Did you hear her scream at all after my magic was cast? No? That’s thanks to the spell’s effect. This symbolic ‘bracelet’ can be thought of as a limiter to her freedom. Unless you complete my instructions – ‘EACH’ and ‘EVERY’ one of them; that device will never come off. It allows me to monitor her wherever she goes, no matter what she happens to be doing. And should you double cross me...let’s just say you wouldn’t be happy to see her suffer because of your mistakes. Do we have a deal?”

One: “...Ptew! *Spits out bloody tooth*. It’s not like I have a choice here! You’ve practically taken my daughter hostage! At LEAST give me back control over space! Erase your energy from this damned field! Otherwise there’s no point in making any sort of deal when my daughter and I...

*Looks around*

When we’re caught escaping!”

Mr. Abrams: “Fine. That’s doable. But you’re on your own getting out. Furthermore, if you EVER tell a soul about our deal today; I will find you. Nobody can escape from my sight for long. It’s never happened before, and it won’t ever happen in the years to come.”

Both men continued discussing the ‘deal’. Unbeknownst to them, 6 already started surveying the area.

Ever since six began calling for her father, her head frantically turned left and right in search of him. Where WAS he? She heard his voice ringing out and around, but she only saw Mr. Abrams. Then she looked behind him, and saw something disturbing.

The hairy monster was still there, but lying next to it was a blood-stained little boy. It was his hands that caught her attention, soaked in blood but not yet beginning to crust. A lot fresher than the downed creature’s scarlet-stained fingernails. A deep and ugly wound stuck out from his right shoulder. Strangely enough, the blood wasn’t seeping out. Almost like an invisible coat of energy sealed up the gash and prevented it from spilling.

6: “Just what the heck…? (Dad would never fight like such a noob, tearing away at someone; especially a child, so sloppily. Normally he gives it a clean cut or a clean pull.

…

Was it 4? No. Even HE isn’t this clumsy. Dad praises his accuracy very much – aside from dad, 4 is the next best. He isn’t trash like 5. Then, why...Oh! It must have been the beast! That means...wow. And I thought my side was difficult. I feel so much more embarrassed about that rubbing alcohol stunt now! Dad can never find out about it.

...And speaking of: just where is--)”

The reason why she failed to notice her father is because Mr. Abrams actually teleported her in between himself, and the two kids he was now protecting. 6 was desperately avoiding contact with Mr. Abrams, which is why she looked behind herself – the exact direction she first arrived facing, instead of looking over Mr. Abrams’s shoulder.

Now she had no choice but to peer over the lazy heartthrob’s shoulder. And the sight she bore eyes upon, caused her to shriek.

6: “YAAAAAAAAHHH!!!

DAAAD...!!!

DAD YOU’RE...YOU’RE…!

*Sniff*

No…! No!!

No… dad, are you going to die?? You have blood coming out from all over…!”

She wasn’t lying, either. His leg and entire right side were completely broken and bloodied. It was a shock to her that he was still standing as if he was unscathed.

.

.

Was that hairy monster actually THIS terrifying? Her father, with space AND magnetism powers is op. He has SO many preparations and just…DOESN’T LOSE!

Not too often at least…

She had to remember to stay away from the hairy monster next time she saw it. Her bullets would probably not even phase the thing.

...Unless Monitor Man was was the person that did this to him…!

Her sudden epiphany was succeeded by an uncontrollable gasp.

It made so much sense!!

Her dad was op. Sure.

BUT that Monitor Man was the bane of ALL villains that’ve ever threatened Herotopia’s capital! He’s Super OP! SOP!!

Tear-producing sorrow boiled into seething anger. The transformation in her emotions was fierce – if anger could be transformed into strength as a power, she’d be unstoppable right now!

But all of her bravado deflated as quickly as it was forming. Who was she trying to kid? This was a man that could trash her father! And she? She only had a gun.

One: “Don’t you worry, 6. I raised you and 4 to be soldiers on the field! Do I look dead to you? Look! The transporter is already fully charged! First let me take care of this Soul contract thing with Mr. Monito-- I-I mean...Uhm. With the teacher here. And finish an errand for him. After that we can get to work on selling a few useless things I happen to have, lying around.”

Mr. Abrams: “Cut the shit, scum. Listen up; and listen well! You especially girl, since I already said this to your father. The ONLY reason I’m accepting this deal of his and allowing you a CHANCE to obtain freedom, is to further prevent accidents or assaults against my students with his intel. If I find out this entire ‘leak’ was a ruse – I will personally hunt you both down. In fact, If I ever see you again after this is all over, I will personally deliver you to a pair of prison cells. I don’t give three rats’ asses about how you feel. Take the damned oath, let me into your memories and get the hell out of my sight!”

Not caring about this fool’s opinion was starting to become as natural as breathing for Mr. Houdini Abrams. After removing his stylish top hat, his beautiful hazel-blue irises peered directly into the wounded mercenary’s. Their gaze did not leave each other for the next forty seconds.

…

The barrier closed and vanished. One took one last look at four. His stare caused his daughter, 6, to change focus out of pure curiosity.

What was he staring at?

Her Father grabbed her head and immediately shifted it facing forward – AWAY from 4’s dying body. Unfortunately, she’d already took a swift glimpse in before he could shield her from the hard truth.

While biting her lower lip, she whispered.

6: “Are...are we REALLY going to leave him behind? Dad, couldn’t you-”

1: “No. I barely got you out of there, there’s no way I can rescue him. Don’t worry, Maxis won’t die. They’re heroes. They have an obligation to save him. Later we can just work some more obsolete missions to pay bail. For now, you have to worry about escaping and NOT causing him further grief.

(To be honest, I would have searched for someone to remove my soul oath the minute I got away from him. How in the world did he know?? I’m not even sure if there exists such a possibility, but I was planning to research the matter, regardless. And even THEN I didn’t one hundred percent believe it could be done. I was only CONSIDERING it as a possibility!

A possibility he unexpectedly revealed – but how did he…? Maybe mind reading? That could be a method Monitor Man secretly uses to ‘know’ more about his target during battle.

Hmm…

I’ll have to ask boss about this once I’ve delivered the brooch to the location he gave me.)”

6: “So...are we reporting back to ‘boss’ about her failed mission?”

1: “Wha-Boss? ‘Her’?

...Oh. Right. Stop it Cornelia. Calling the client that hired us ‘Boss’ is confusing. Our only ‘Boss’ is the Numbers Boss.”

6: “But YOU did it! YOU referred to her as boss when telling us not to touch any of our targets’ heads!!!”

1; “…”

6: “YOU said it was okay for missions when our real boss isn’t accompanying us!”

1: “That’s ONLY during each of those missions. This mission is over now. We failed. Just call her our former client from now on.”

6: “What about the other numbers?”

1: “Who knows, who cares? They only came for the thrill of killing and the cash. We came for the cash alone. If they want to keep killing, let them. They’re all replaceable, anyway. And I’m sure Boss Zero won’t care either. He only minds himself unless a group mission catches his eye.”

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