Chapter 356: Ranks and Protection
Alexander looked Stephen in the eye as the vehicle slowly rolled down the street.
"I’m going to the main headquarters," said Alexander. "I want to set up protection for my family and friends."
"Protection?" said Stephen, raising an eyebrow with curiosity. "Why leave them here instead of taking them with you?"
"Because that place is way too dangerous," said Alexander. "I don’t have the capacity to protect them over there yet if something serious happens."
"Hahaha, so it was for something that simple?" said Stephen, letting out a hearty laugh as he shook his head. "You’re forgetting that I’m going now. Take them all with you, that won’t be a problem at all. If anyone wants to come and cause trouble, as long as they aren’t Diamond rank, everything will be fine."
"Diamond?" said Alexander, locking eyes with him upon hearing the term. "I have my doubts about that ranking system... What rank are you?"
"I’m Diamond," said Stephen plainly. "Though I barely reach the bottom spots of the ranking in direct combat. I’m much better at biochemical combat."
"Can I ask how strong Big Black is?" said Alexander, recalling the imposing man he had met some time ago.
"That brat?" said Stephen, letting out a dismissive smirk. "I guess Platinum... He’s somewhat tough, but nothing too special."
Alexander pondered the situation for a few seconds. Bringing Stephen along was extremely risky; if he found out the truth about his growth or his system, he would be risking absolutely everything. However, instead of backing down, he decided to step forward and take the initiative.
"Let’s go, I want to show you something before we leave," said Alexander.
"Let’s go," said Stephen, grinning nonchalantly.
Both of them stepped out of the vehicle. Seeing the suited guards immediately standing at attention to follow them, Stephen stopped and waved his hand at them.
"Stand down, he’s with me," said Stephen.
The guards nodded without hesitation. One of them immediately pulled out his encrypted phone, pressed a button, and held it to his ear.
"The target is in Major Stephen’s custody," said the guard in a loud, firm voice. "By his order, we are withdrawn from the mission to escort young Alexander. His protection is now officially in the hands of the TMC’s vice leader."
Alexander froze for a moment upon hearing those words and turned his head toward Stephen.
"Vice leader?" said Alexander, raising an eyebrow. "I thought you said you were just a guest."
"Well... he’s always wanted me to join officially, so he gave me that title," said Stephen with a light smile, shrugging his shoulders. "But I prefer to be considered a freelancer."
Both of them walked toward a nearby parking lot, where a 1970s Ford F-150 truck was parked. It was an imposing red with silver stripes down the sides and a bar of auxiliary lights mounted on the roof. It had the whole rugged ranchman aesthetic, fitting Stephen’s image to perfection.
Stephen climbed into the driver’s seat, inserted the key into the ignition, and the engine roared with thunderous power. Alexander made himself comfortable in the passenger seat while looking at the classic dashboard.
"Hold on tight, this baby is special," said Stephen, flashing a wild grin.
Without warning, Stephen slammed his foot on the accelerator. The truck shot forward toward a concrete wall at the back of the parking lot.
"You’re gonna crash! You’re gonna crash!" shouted Alexander, gripping the dashboard tightly as he watched the wall approach at full speed.
Stephen didn’t even flinch. Just a meter before impact, the air in front of the truck distorted and a glowing portal burst open, swallowing the vehicle whole and transporting them into the TMC’s inner sector.
Stephen slammed on the brakes in front of the imposing buildings of the TMC’s inner sector, shut off the engine, and looked at Alexander with a hearty laugh.
"What did you think? Pretty fun, right?" said Stephen, patting the steering wheel a couple of times.
"Holy shit, man! That was terrifying," said Alexander, letting go of the dashboard as he tried to catch his breath. "How did you do that?"
"It’s a portal that brings me here," said Stephen with a proud grin. "It’s exclusive to me and only activates with this truck. In case of an attack, I can get to the base fast; it’s a security measure that all top ranks in the TMC have."
"Well, I’m following you," said Stephen, leaning against the truck’s doorframe. "With your current strength, you’ll be faster than my baby, so it’ll also be good to stretch our muscles a bit."
"I have no idea where I am... I just remember it’s a mansion," said Alexander, looking around as he observed the unfamiliar buildings.
"We should have asked before dismissing the guards... Anyway, hold on," said Stephen.
Stephen pulled out an old button phone, dialed a three-digit number, and put it on speaker.
"Stephen speaking. Which fucking mansion did you put my boy in?" said Stephen.
"Major Stephen? Uh... let me check the database..." said the operator’s trembling voice on the other end of the line. "It’s in the north sector, 402 XXXX Street."
"Perfect. Hey, is the idiot who parked in my spot this morning still alive?" said Stephen, raising an eyebrow.
"S... sir, the agent already moved his car and is writing a handwritten letter of apology..." said the operator, swallowing loudly.
"Tell him he has ten minutes to bring a box of donuts to everyone in the gym or I’m injecting him with my new special serum and making him train until he meets hell," said Stephen.
"Understood, sir! Apologies sent, donuts on the way!" said the operator before hanging up in panic.
Stephen slipped the phone back into his pocket with composure and looked at Alexander.
"Done. Got the address now, you know how rookies are," said Stephen, pointing east. "It’s in the north sector, about fifteen kilometers from here."
Alexander, speechless, just nodded and took off running behind Stephen.