As the saying goes: it was never personal.
From beginning to end, Locke held no personal animosity toward Cross, Wesley, or even the Fraternity.
In fact...
Locke had actually considered the possibility of visiting the Fraternity to see if he could learn the Curve Bullet technique from them. He had been mentally prepared for the fact that they wouldn't teach him easily.
He was even willing to pay the tuition.
A fair exchange of values.
Whether they wanted money or wanted him to join the organization, Locke could have accepted it. To him, a freelance assassin was an assassin, and an organized one was still an assassin. There wasn't much of a difference. If anything, an organization might have more quests for him to grind.
But...
Fate is a fickle mistress!
Looking at the two corpses—a scene of fatherly love and filial piety—Locke couldn't help but shake his head. He let out a sigh and turned toward the mini-bar in the living room.
He had no grievance with Cross.
He had even less of a grievance with Wesley.
It was just that they had tried to kill him, and he had simply struck back. As for the drama that had just unfolded, Locke felt he had actually done them a favor. At the very least, Wesley died first, followed by Cross. In his final moments, the image Cross saw was his son standing by his side.
"What a waste!"
Locke swirled a glass he'd found at the bar, listening to the sirens that were now growing deafeningly clear. He looked at the two bodies, drained the glass in one gulp, and smacked his lips. "You were fine people; it's a pity you chose the life of a thief!"
With that, Locke set the glass down and walked toward the door.
He had been wearing gloves when he handled the glass, so he wasn't worried about fingerprints. Even if he had left any, it wouldn't matter. Locke had no criminal record; even if they put his prints into the system, they wouldn't find a single match.
『Ding!』
『Quest Completed (Scent of a Woman at Night!)』
『Quest Completed (Visiting the Little Newbie at Night)』
『Hidden Quest Completed (Cross's Redemption)』
『Quest Rewards: "1,000 Achievement Points", "1,000 Potential Points"』
『Hidden Quest Rewards: "4,000 Achievement Points", "4,000 Potential Points"』
『Big Scene Bonus: "6,000 Achievement Points", "6,000 Potential Points"』
『Current Status Refresh!』
『Name: Locke Broughton (Unique Player)』
『Achievement Points: 11,300 (Can be used to purchase items in the Achievement Store)』
『Potential Points: 13,300 (Can be used to upgrade owned skills)』
『Talent: Tenacity (Level 3): Your physical attributes and recovery speed are greatly enhanced.』
『Common Skills: Driving (Senior), English (Grade 9), History (Grade 9), Math (Grade 9), Chemistry (Grade 9), Shooting (Intermediate), Sniper (Senior)...』
『Extraordinary Skills: Curve Bullet (Blue Quality) Intermediate: Ordinary marksmanship is direct and uninspired, but your marksmanship is flashy and extremely lethal!』
『Current Quest: Mandate is Mine (In Progress)』
"Nice!"
Half an hour later, back at the Star Tower, Locke shed his jacket. Seeing his Achievement and Potential points climb back into five-digit territory made him feel like he was walking on air.
As expected.
Fortune favors the industrious.
Once he raided the Fraternity on Monday, both his Achievement and Potential points would likely soar past 30,000. He was one step closer to his ultimate goal.
Locke changed into his pajamas and leaned against the bay window of the master bedroom. He drew back the curtains to watch the city lights, taking a satisfying sip of bourbon.
Outside, the streets were swarming with NYPD officers.
Pity...
They had no idea that Homelander had already clocked out and gone home.
Locke's lips curled into a smirk.
...
Cross's Safe House
Amidst the constant flow of officers in and out of the building, Captain George Stacy—who was now destined for an all-night shift—walked into the safe house. His eyes landed on the two bodies lying near the staircase.
Cross Carlos and Wesley Carlos.
"Sir."
An officer approached George. "Identities are confirmed. The one on the floor with the bullet between the eyes is confirmed as one of the suspects from the red sports car. The one leaning against the wall was the driver of the pickup. Here are their files."
"Mhm."
George took the NYPD data pad and scrolled through.
"Cross Carlos... former textile mill employee?"
George paused, then moved on to Wesley's profile.
Fortunately.
For some reason, George felt a sudden wave of relief.
Wesley wasn't a textile mill employee. At least, a month ago when he was fired from his previous firm, he wasn't.
"Jack!"
"Here, Boss."
George noted a 911 call log related to Wesley and signaled his subordinate, pointing to the company where Wesley used to work. "Check this company."
The officer named Jack blinked. "Now?"
George looked at him. "Do you think we're going home tonight?"
Jack swallowed hard, nodded, and turned to head out.
"George."
"Kate?"
George saw Kate Beckett walking in as Jack left. "This isn't the 21st Precinct's jurisdiction, is it?"
Beckett, wearing forensic gloves, stepped inside. "Orders from the Commissioner. He told me to come down and assist you."
George nodded.
The Commissioner was currently back at headquarters, throwing a fit of nuclear proportions.
"Have we identified the woman yet?"
"Forensics had clocked out. We just called them. The Commissioner told them if they aren't on-site in thirty minutes, they're all fired!"
"...Fair enough."
With such a chaotic event occurring in New York tonight, the front pages of every national newspaper tomorrow would be plastered with the news. New York City was famous once again.
The Mayor was likely fuming.
His re-election campaign was about to begin, and his platform was built entirely on the claim that crime rates had dropped significantly during his tenure. After tonight's spectacle, that campaign was dead in the water.
And...
This all happened right in Manhattan.
Kate hung up her phone and turned to George. "Information Tech just called. They successfully back-tracked the vehicles. After the red sports car entered Manhattan, it sat parked on the side of Fifth Avenue for ten minutes. It pulled away from the Star Tower exactly ten minutes before the owner of that Audi R8 called in to report his car stolen!"
George listened intently, nodding along.
But when she reached the end, he froze.
George looked up at Kate. "Wait, where did you say?"
Kate continued, "The Star Tower. The owner of the Audi R8 is identified as Locke..."
George finished the sentence for her. "Locke Broughton?"
Kate looked at George with an expression of pure amazement.
George felt completely numb.
***
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