Due to her limited information, Stella didn't doubt Hunter's story.
She was certain she didn't know this young Asian man. Based on that fact alone, his explanation felt credible.
If not for guilt over getting her involved, why else would a stranger risk his life to break back into Steve's villa and save her?
"Well... thank you."
Stella, ever the well-educated lady, expressed her gratitude politely despite her disheveled state.
Hunter had been observing her closely. He saw the tension leave her shoulders and the wariness fade from her eyes.
Seeing this, he knew it was time to make his move.
He smiled and shook his head. "A beauty like you, Miss Bridger, possesses a charm no man can refuse."
"Getting you involved in this mess was my responsibility to begin with."
"Besides... I actually had another motive for saving you."
Stella smiled faintly. She was pleased by the compliment, and his honesty didn't bother her.
"What motive?" she asked.
Hunter knew this was the moment of truth. Whether he could power-level his Lockpicking skill to become a world-class master depended on his next performance.
Smiling, he held out both hands.
He waved them in front of her face, then slowly moved them apart.
Suddenly, with a flick of his wrists, two items appeared in his empty palms.
A standard padlock in one hand. A metal pick in the other.
"Magic?"
Stella was surprised. She hadn't seen any sleight of hand or hidden sleeves.
But she wasn't overly shocked.
As a top-tier expert, Stella's social circle was wide. She was close friends with Henley Reeves, a famous magician known for her escape acts.
Compared to Henley's illusions, conjuring a lock and pick was basic stuff.
So, while she didn't catch how Hunter did it, she wasn't blown away.
A strange expression flickered across Hunter's face.
When Stella said the word "Magic," the Proficiency System suddenly pinged him.
[New Skill Triggered: Magic]
This was a skill with a high ceiling. Even though he had gotten good at controlling his emotions lately, Hunter was momentarily stunned.
He quickly masked it with a chuckle and nodded, playing along.
"Miss Bridger, watch this."
Hunter inserted the pick into the keyway.
He closed his eyes, felt the pins, and manipulated the tool. A few seconds later—
Click.
The shackle popped open.
Stella frowned slightly. She wasn't sure what point he was trying to make.
She glanced at the lock and lost interest.
A standard hardware store padlock? She could open that in ten seconds when she was six years old. Now? She wouldn't even need two seconds.
Hunter noticed her underwhelming reaction and continued with his prepared script.
"A long time ago, I discovered I had a knack for learning."
"Anything I'm interested in, I can master quickly."
"Since becoming a thief, I've tried to use that ability to become better at my craft."
"I'm willing to learn from anyone with real skill."
"Miss Bridger, I've been watching you for a long time."
"Like your father, John Bridger, you are a master in the field of lockpicking."
"Taking the risk to go back into Steve's villa to save you... wasn't just about guilt."
"It was also because I wanted to earn your favor."
"I want you to teach me. I want to learn your techniques."
Hunter finished his pitch and sat back, maintaining a polite smile as he waited for her response.
Stella felt a sudden sense of clarity.
"So that's it!"
"He needs something from me."
Stella's talent was inherited from her father. John Bridger had spent a lifetime studying every locking mechanism on earth, from ancient Chinese puzzles to modern biometric vaults.
Stella had learned at his knee. By the time she was eighteen, John had admitted she knew everything he did.
The only thing she lacked was experience.
But after opening her own firm and working with the LAPD and banks for years, she had gained that experience. She had cracked top-tier safes under pressure.
Calling her one of the world's best was not an exaggeration.
So, the idea that Hunter risked his life to save her just to become her student?
That was a motive she could understand. And accept.
"You're certainly honest," she said calmly. She didn't agree immediately.
But Hunter was thrilled.
He knew that not refusing immediately meant she was considering it.
After all, these were trade secrets her father had spent a lifetime accumulating. She couldn't just give them away to a stranger.
"There's no point in hiding it," Hunter said with a smile.
"Please consider it, Miss Bridger."
"Of course, if you refuse, I won't hold it against you."
"By the way, you must be starving."
"And your clothes... they got pretty dirty during the escape."
"Wait here. I'll go buy some food and see if I can find you a change of clothes."
With that, Hunter stood up and walked out.
Left alone in the motel room, Stella's stomach grumbled loudly.
She looked down at her filthy clothes, her face flushing slightly.
She watched the door close behind him, a look of appreciation in her eyes.
"He's a decent guy."
"Maybe... teaching him a few things wouldn't be so bad. Dad probably wouldn't blame me."
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