Kael was back at his house. Seeing food on the table.

'Just some left overs. Heard you were busy.- Mom' Kael smiled as he took a bite of the food that was left by the table. Kael appreciated this light taste. It was something that was simple. Kael then went to sleep.

Kael then headed to his campus again, via subway. Cindy awaited for Kael at the campus gates.

"Hey, Kael. Are you free tonight?"

"I might be." Kael answered as he walked past her.

"You better make it tonight!" Cindy warned but Kael did not bother, mostly it was due to today being her birthday. Another trap that they had set.

Kael did not want to be bothered by it, so he headed to class. A boring day of lectures but he had to stay awake. Then he went over to the nearby shop, getting some flowers and a healthy basket of fruits. This time he was going to visit Blake. He didn't need to ask for directions since he could feel where Baihua was. Knocking on the door.

"Who is it?"

"It's Kael." Kael replied as he stepped into the room. Seeing Blake with her father.

"Kael... Were you the one that rescued me?" Blake asked, clearly she had vivid visions of something. Maybe she saw Kael who noticed her.

"No, I did see you being carried into a car. Then I called a friend who came to rescue you. They took you to the Blood Woods. The one that people said was haunted. Then my friend left you in here." Kael said, placing the flowers and the basket of fruits for Blake.

"Thank you, Kael. I hope I can thank your friend too."

"You have my gratitude for helping my daughter's rescue... Is there anyway I can be in contact with your friend?" Kael shook his head.

"Sorry Mister Summers. My friend prefers to keep to themselves. Not even letting me reveal their gender or anything about their identity." Kael said to them which he could see the aged Mister Summers let out a sigh.

"Nonetheless, I'm just glad my daughter is safe. Thank you for being thoughtful."

"I will leave you both to it, then." Kael said as he stepped out of the room with Baihua following his shadow.

"Master, do you want me to stay and protect them?"

"No, I'm sure you don't like being away from me for too long." He could hear Baihua chuckle.

"You're so thoughtful master, yes. I don't like being away from you for too long." Baihua whispered.

"Vanquisher, Ravager. Protect the two of them. Anyone that tries to harm them, kill them quietly."

"Yes,master." The weapons faded into the shadows of Blake and her father, keeping them safe from whatever threats that may try to harm them.

Kael was thinking if he should even go to Cindy's party? Perhaps not.Now his only thought was on dinner. Kael was focusing on something that he was craving for quite a while. Fried Chicken. Like real good fried chicken, the shop of an elderly couple who make some of the crunchiest, spiciest fried chicken ever. Kael looked at his wallet, he had 20 dollars. It was enough for the 3 piece set with a regular drink and mash potato.

Smiling as he paid for his meal, Kael took it and sat down. The anticipation in his veins, he was excited as he looked at the vapors from the smoke. His hands were ready to touch it. He could literally taste it from his memories. The crunch, the flavor. The anticipation was going to kill him as he slowly tried to grab it.

Only to see someone throw his plate aside.

Kael looked up at the three burly men that stared at him.

“Your name’s Kael Webster right?” Kael let out a sigh, he was thinking about his fried chicken.

“What’s this about?” Kael asked, trying to keep his anger in check as he clenched his fists far too hard. Until his fingernails pierced his skin, he was bleeding a little. But that was nothing compared to the anger of his plate being thrown aside.

“Best if you come with us. Or we’ll use fo-” Kael struck their necks in one go, the three of them fell to their knees. Then following it up with Kael placing a fork to the neck of the leader.

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“Look. You better have a damn good reason. Because you just threw a plate of fried chicken and man. I was looking forward to that.” Kael said where the leader was trying to speak. Stuttering as Kael's glare was suffocating them.

“We came from the Casino owned by Garett. A girl named Cindy brought your name up.” Kael put the fork away.

“Fine, I’ll follow.” Kael got in the car.

“Yes, boss. We’ve got him.” One of the men said on a phone call. The drive was smooth, they stopped at the casino. Where Kael could see Cindy, Marc along with the other people that were stuck.

“Ah, so you must be Kael Webster. Your girlfriend, Cindy here said that you can pay back her debt.” Kael walked on over to look at Cindy who was sitting on Marc’s lap and Donnie who was on the floor.

The man spoke with ease, he was wearing a three piece suit with cross shaped earrings. The man put a cigar to his lips, but his subordinates don’t have a lighter. Kael walked on over to the man, lighting it up for him. He smiled.

“You’ve got manners. So anyway back to her debt. She’s got a debt of 2 million. Not my fault she blew it on this place. Plus the guy’s debt was also at 10 million. Guess he wanted to show off to your girl eh?” Kael did not say much to the man.

“Well my name is Tony Garett. I own this place and I’m one of the bigger underground mob bosses. I like your attitude kid, most people that see me would either cry like them or scream. You’re just calm, calmer than ice. Why’s that?” Tony asked.

“Well Tony. I’m just pissed about my fried chicken.Three of your guys ended up messing up my order. I’ve been craving for that fried chicken for a while. I mean you know Ma and Pa’s fried chicken store right?”

“The one with the crunchiest, but spiciest one?” Tony asked where Kael nodded. Tony turned to his three men throwing ash tray to that hit the leading man's head.

“Fuck, why!? WHy did you three mess with him in that shop!? I fucking said that MA AND PA FRIED CHICKEN. IS OFF LIMITS. WAIT UNTIL THE GUY IS DONE THEN YOU GO IN. SHIT. I mean LOOK AT HOW PISSED THIS GUY IS! HE DUG HIS NAILS THROUGH HIS SKIN AND HE IS BLEEDING!” Tony’s tune shifted greatly shouting at the three guys that brought Kael into this room.

“Ah. I’m sorry. I’ll buy you a round of fried chicken after this… How about..” Tony’s words were cut off, he had a phone call where he picked up his phone. The atmosphere changed completely.

“Yes? Oh… Yeah. He’s in the same room with me. Oh. Oh… Don’t piss him off. Err…. I… I understand.” Tony hung up on his phone. Then they watched Tony sighed.

“You know what, why don’t we talk this over some food. I’ll pay for that fried chicken. You feeling super zesty or just the Magma Crunch?”

“Magma Crunch.” Kael answered ,where Tony nodded with the brightest grin ever.

“Kael! Why aren’t you helping me!”

“Why should I? I mean, you have Marc. He’s rich. I’m just a poor guy who wants to eat fried chicken”Tony laughed hearing Kael say all that.

“Hey, you three. Make sure you go back, apologize to Ma and Pa. Then get this man the fried chicken. Magma Crunch Bucket. Dorothy! I need you at the counter, sweetie! I’ve got an important guest!” The others were surprised to hear Tony change his tune.

“So do you drink?” Tony asked.

“Depends on what you got. Whiskey on the rocks, some simple strong liquor with ice is fine for me.” Kael said as one of Tony’s men brought a chair for him to sit down.

“Please have a seat. Dorothy, some strong liquor for this guy. Don’t use any of that cheap ice. Give this man the one you give to Patriarch Flare.” Tony said as he smiled to Kael.

“Ah. So you know Patriarch Flare.” Kael said where Tony nodded.

“I’m an affiliate of the Flare family. I mainly keep things under control in the city. Same goes for the developers and the project managers. If cops can’t deal with it, I try and settle it off the record. I just got the call from Patriarch Flare himself. Now, that debt. I can let it go if you want.” Tony said.

“No, don’t let it go. Just dial their parents.” Tony glanced to his men who made the phone calls. The drinks came.

“Fuck you, Kael! You’re not going to help your girlfriend! You two timing son of a b-” A blade was over at Cindy’s neck, Kael had the blade in his hands and the distance? It was roughly 50 meters but he made it there within a fraction of a second.

“I really did love you but love is blind as they say. And I finally see your true colours.” Kael said as he sheathed the blade, then vanishing back to the chair.

“Holy shit. If you were serious. Guess I’d be dead too huh?” Tony said it so casually while his men were having nervous snickering and chuckling.

“I think we’re on good terms. Unless you don’t want to.”

“No. I mean, I had my doubts but now I understand why Patriarch Flare said to not piss you off. That family that threatened the Patriarch? It’s one of the three big families in Matello. You just made one of the branch families vanish. The Corazons are a bit on the nutty side, everything goes on their end.” The men around Tony were breathing heavily, the name itself implied a lot of things.

Marc’s parents and Cindy’s parents came to their side.

“Tony, look this is a misunderstanding!”

“Misunderstanding my ass. Your children played at the big tables even after we told them not to. They are 18. They are adults according to the law, so they can get into trouble because of it.” Tony snapped at the parents who kept quiet.

“Kael! Why aren’t you helping Cindy!” Cindy’s father barked at Kael.

“Last time I checked. You didn’t like me, Mister Banks. You had an issue because my dad is just a small business owner. Unlike your big fat corporate enterprise.” Kael said as Tony passed him a cigar, then taking Kael’s lighter to light it up for Kael.

“Damn. I almost feel sorry that you’re dating a bimbo like her. That’s a lot of love you put into her. Yet she just used you as a piggy bank.” Tony said as he let out a sigh, patting Kael’s shoulder.

Kael put the cigar on the ash tray, then taking a sip of his glass. When the bucket of fried chicken arrived, Kael and Tony put their cigars aside. Both of them were anticipating the flavor of the magma crunch. Picking the drumsticks, then taking the first bite. The crunch was loud enough for half the room to hear. The spice was amazing, it wasn’t just spicy. It had a touch of sweet, sour and salty at different bites. The insides? Juicy and the mixed flavor was all that mattered.

Kael and Tony devoured their meals properly, then finishing off with a drink.

“Thanks Tony.”

“Any time. Since you’re his benefactor. Just let me know if you need anything.” Tony said as a bowl of water and soap was brought to them. Allowing them to wash their hands.

Kael left Cindy with the others, letting Tony settle the debt. Good riddance to that. It will generate rumors but none that Kael would be too concerned about. He was headed out to a different direction in life anyway.