"Looks like you bit off more than you could chew this time, Danny boy."
"Boss Bryan, help us! That bitch is crazy!" Harris's face brightened as he reached a hand towards the man. With his legs useless, he could only crawl.
The smirk on Bryan's face dissolved in an instant. He looked at Harris as if he were an insect. A vicious kick to his head knocked him unconscious, his body flung to the side.
Then he briefly looked Danny's way before focusing on Karen, grinning. He had both hands in his pockets and a long white coat over his shoulders. He looked like he had all the time in the world.
"Bryan, save me!"
Danny also squealed for help, but the man didn't seem to be in a rush. With gentle and steady steps, he closed the distance and walked over the bouncers.
"That's enough."
Karen ordered, tightening her grip to make her point. She was already on her feet, and Danny held her in front of her. Sweat and blood trickled down Danny's throat, his life hanging in the balance.
And that feeling of danger she got from the man wasn't a joke. The man was, at the very least, as strong as she was, if not stronger.
"Easy there, lass. There's no need to get defensive." Bryan raised both hands. He momentarily glanced at his men and chuckled, finding his own words ridiculous. "You can ignore them, of course."
Looking back at Karen, Bryan continued, finally looking at Danny's pathetic position, "What's this really about?"
Bryan wasn't sold on the story Danny told him when he called. He had rushed over because he thought whoever the attacker was intended to destroy one of their many establishments.
That was unacceptable, so he rushed over.
But looking around, there was barely any damage to speak of. And as an added bonus, the woman was exactly his type — strong-willed and unafraid of using force to get what she wanted.
That kind of woman… hehehe.
"W-well…" Danny suddenly got antsy, knowing his lie had been seen through. "She-eh—"
"What's happening here is only out of necessity," Karen cut him off before he could say anything that might make her escape worse. "I was taking my leave when your subordinate refused to let me go."
From what she had gathered about Bryan's question, the man did not seem to know anything about what she desired, and she wanted to keep it that way.
Bryan eyed her for a moment, his brows partially raised. Then he looked at Danny, asking for confirmation. Subtly, Karen pressed the blade in a silent warning.
"W-what she said," Danny swallowed hard, his eyes shifting. "You know how it is, right? You see a nice girl you'd do anything to have. Hehe-yeah."
"Right…"
Bryan didn't buy it, not that it mattered. With the same easy look on his face, he looked at Karen and gave her another intense scrutiny, appreciating the artwork that was her figure. "What do I call you, sweetheart?"
"I'm in a hurry."
Karen ignored his question as she calculated her chances. Bryan's men were not particularly powerful, but their numbers were a problem.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart, but someone has to pay for these damages," Bryan chuckled, gesturing at his surroundings. "That idiot might have been at fault, but you were the one who threw them around."
"How much?"
Karen was not in the mood for games. She had already gotten more than enough intel for one night. The rest could come later.
"Hehe, I don't need your money, woman." Bryan shook his head dismissively. "I already have a lot of that. What I want…"
His eyes turned predatory, a smirk playing at his lips. "... is someone like you by my side."
"That's not possi—"
"Uh-uh, let me finish," Bryan waved a finger. "I never said you had a choice. This is how you're going to pay for the damages you've brought to my establishment. Repairs don't come cheap. A maximum of four years, how about that?"
"..."
'Is this man serious?' Karen was silently taken aback. 'He can't be this unreasonable, can he? And four years?! There's barely any damage to speak of!'
Feeling her emotions rising, Karen paused, breathed in and out. "That won't be happening…"
"Are you sure?"
At his question, Karen pressed the blade, eliciting a groan from Danny. But Bryan didn't seem offended in the slightest. He looked over his shoulder, hinting at the people he had brought with him.
"Think it over," he added. "And make it quick. I don't have all day."
As silence settled over the bar, Karen was once again forced to reconsider her options. Staying with the man was not an option in the slightest. And reasoning applied to unreasonable people never got anywhere.
"Hehe, what are you gonna do, dearest Anita?" Danny took a shot at her, feeling smug. "You're only one woman. This is your fate."
"Shut it," Karen snarled. "I'm still debating whether to end your miserable life. You'd be wise not to provoke me."
Danny gulped, not daring to push his luck. His boss might be right before him, but he wasn't foolish enough to believe he was that valuable to Bryan.
Karen's mind raced with many possibilities, her eyes scanning her opponents for weaknesses. Every possibility she thought of always ended with her fighting her way out.
"Time's up, woman." Bryan interrupted her thoughts, his expression now serious. "I've been accommodating of your stance long enough. Give me an answer."
"..."
"My answer…"
Karen began, purposely dragging out her words while lowering the blade. Danny's expression lit up as he exhaled in relief.
"Ah!"
Before he could celebrate, he was ruthlessly pushed towards Bryan. Almost as if Bryan had predicted her actions, he veered to the side, watching as Danny flew past him.
"I knew it wouldn't be so simple!" Bryan exclaimed, preparing for a fight. "Get her!"
His men moved the moment the command landed, but Karen had chosen to go all out from the very start.
"Spirit Manifestation…"
Karen muttered under her breath. Suddenly, the atmosphere in the bar changed, a heavy and ominous presence descending over everyone.
"...Tempest Lynx."