Every 10 power stone I will publish 1 bonus chapter
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"The coffee tastes amazing~"
Skye sighed with delight.
Sanjid chuckled softly.
Guatemalan Geisha coffee, grown between two volcanoes in New Granada, was a single-origin treasure. The rich volcanic soil gave it a distinctive chocolate and nutty flavor.
Despite originating from Ethiopian coffee trees, this particular variety contained 3–5% less caffeine than typical coffee. It was infused with an intense jasmine aroma, with subtle hints of bergamot and mandarin orange.
A full pound of this coffee could cost up to 1.5 million yuan—and just one cup? 200,000 yuan.
Only 15 grams of powder went into a cup. The price was outrageous.
And yet, despite its cost, the café was buzzing with customers. Sure, branding played a role—but the flavor was genuinely excellent.
Skye, of course, had no idea how expensive it was.
As a long-time member of the lower-income class, even being a top-tier hacker hadn't made her wealthy.
Naturally, price tags weren't her focus.
Her entire attention was fixed on the boy in front of her.
She didn't realize the coffee she casually sipped was so luxurious it could break her heart.
But... it really was good.
Even low-grade coffee rarely tasted this nice.
It lifted her spirits.
After a few more sips, Skye seemed to remember something.
She set her cup down, no longer savoring the aftertaste, and looked up at Sanjid with a hesitant tone.
"Um… can I ask you for a favor? If you're not too busy?"
Her voice was soft, uncertain.
Sanjid didn't hesitate. "Go ahead~"
As long as it wasn't anything excessive, he didn't mind.
The girl had helped him a little, and she was a devoted fan of the Goddess of Judgment. Not helping would be... awkward.
Skye looked down for a moment, her fingers nervously circling the rim of her coffee cup.
"One of my closest friends moved to Manhattan for college. We've always kept in touch regularly… but about a month ago—she disappeared. And no one's been able to find her."
Sanjid frowned. "The police haven't found anything?"
Skye scoffed lightly. "The New York police? Yeah, right~"
Even without further explanation, Sanjid understood.
The police system in Country M wasn't state-owned. It was privatized.
Both federal and local police had broad jurisdictions due to low population density. They had to cover everything—and were granted broad authority.
But lack of oversight created shadows.
Corruption, cover-ups, delays, and even excessive force ran rampant.
Above every police station stood an untouchable behemoth: the Police Union.
By law, officers were only accountable to their departments—not to the public.
In short, capital came first.
And New York? It was the heart of that capital.
A disappearance case with no political or financial weight? Not a priority.
To the everyday citizens, the police had a terrible reputation.
Especially for minorities like Skye, who was of Asian descent.
The system was a joke.
Sanjid took another sip.
"You want me to help find your friend?"
He wasn't exactly a detective… but he had connections who were very good at finding people.
Skye quickly shook her head. "No, I've already found a clue."
She stuck out her tongue, her tone playful.
"I, uh… 'borrowed' some traffic surveillance data. It took me ages, but I finally found something!"
'Borrowed'?
Sanjid mentally rolled his eyes. She probably hacked straight in.
He was used to that kind of thing now—and didn't bother to comment.
"She was kidnapped by a gang—looks like one of the ones based in Hell's Kitchen. That's why I'm asking for your help."
Her expression turned serious.
Even with clues in hand, there wasn't much she could do.
That part of the city wasn't just rough—it was a death trap.
Walking into Hell's Kitchen alone was practically a death wish.
The crime rate there rivaled Gotham in the comics.
Superheroes had emerged in recent years, but rather than deterring crime, they created an all-out war with the gangs. The results?
More destruction. More retaliation.
A vicious cycle.
A girl like Skye—with no powers and no backup—would be a perfect target.
Asking the police was out of the question.
Even if they didn't arrest her for illegal hacking, it was unlikely they'd do anything about a kidnapping in Hell's Kitchen.
Unless a congressman or billionaire was involved?
Forget it.
"I'll treat you to Alaskan cod fillets," she offered.
Sanjid raised an eyebrow, faint traces of icy blue glowing in his pupils. He thought for a moment, then replied:
"Alright."
"Yesss! I knew you'd agree~"
Skye cheered, then immediately winced, mourning her wallet.
You didn't need to go to Alaska to get the fish—restaurants had it, and she could cook it herself.
But even making it at home cost dozens of dollars.
Still... for her friend, she'd bite the bullet.
Her wallet could cry later.
O(TωT)O
Sanjid found her reaction amusing.
"Tonight. Get ready to move."
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That Night — Manhattan, 36th Street
The street was shrouded in darkness.
Only a few flickering streetlights still functioned. The sidewalks were cracked, the buildings crumbling. A few rusted old cars were parked along the sides, and shadows twitched in every corner.
The city walls were stained and graffitied.
Bodies lay motionless in alleyways, some twitching.
In the dark, vicious eyes watched silently.
This was a place even the NYPD feared—Hell's Kitchen.
But tonight, someone dared to enter.
Vroooom—!
A crimson Ducati roared through the street, its engine loud and defiant.
Sanjid rode confidently, his long red coat whipping in the wind, dark hair tousled and wild.
And in his eyes—
The icy gleam of determination.
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