Almost the moment the crowd began to riot, Security Captain Chris had already started running.
His thick muscles didn't affect his speed. On the contrary, they gave him considerable explosive power, making him look like a cheetah hunting prey.
Chris rushed to a load-bearing column, slid over, and struck the emergency shutdown device of the security system located at its base.
With a loud boom, the tons-heavy alloy security doors lowered slowly via electric power.
The angry crowd ultimately failed to rush into Vought Tower before the safety gates closed. The supervisor on duty breathed a sigh of relief, then thought of the impending media storm and felt a headache coming on.
"Miss Ashley? Yes, I have something important to report to you..."
Butcher walked down the streets of Manhattan, feeling quite relaxed.
With just a few words, he'd caused a major setback for those superhuman bastards and Vought Corporation behind them. How could he not be in a good mood?
"Mr. Butcher, you seem to be in a good mood. Would you like to have a chat?"
As he turned a corner, Butcher stopped in his tracks because of a young man reading a newspaper behind him.
If someone can immediately identify me, they're obviously after me.
Could it be that Vought discovered what just happened?
Impossible. If those maggots in the cesspool were that efficient, my own corpse would've been rotting long ago.
He subconsciously clenched his fists, turned around with a cold face, and then realized that even with his height, he needed to look up to meet the young man's eyes directly.
Young and strong, with a handsome face and very masculine looks. He seemed to have received formal training and possessed a maturity beyond his years.
This kid is definitely a tough character.
Butcher immediately formed several assessments, but remained unfazed. He raised an eyebrow and walked toward Jordan with a roguish, disdainful smile.
"Oi, kid, I don't know where you got my name from, but darin' to come here alone, I think you've misplaced your courage..."
"I'm not someone to be trifled with!"
A powerful, heavy hook punch was caught by a warm, broad hand. Butcher's expression changed slightly as he tried to pull his right fist back.
His eyes grew even more ferocious, like those of an enraged lone wolf. "Superpowered bastard?"
"Watch your words."
Do you think everyone you can't beat is a superhuman?
Jordan tightened his grip on Butcher's fist with his left hand, causing Butcher's expression to shift again. Cold sweat streamed down his forehead.
"Looks like I hit the nail on the head..." Butcher, though pale with pain, continued his taunts with unwavering stubbornness. "Don't think that havin' superpowers means you can easily defeat me. Back in the day, I—ugh ugh ugh?"
"This is the second time I'm reminding you," Jordan said irritably, releasing the old rogue's hand and wiping it on his jacket with disgust. "If you don't speak properly, you can say goodbye to your teeth."
"Do you understand?"
Butcher, whose mouth was sealed by an invisible force field, tried several times but still could not make a sound or even open his jaw.
Hearing Jordan's words, he finally nodded, panting.
Strength and speed far exceed ordinary humans. Telekinetic superpowers too.
This guy's abilities are too strong. I can't beat him at all. I can only...
Find a chance to escape.
"Find a chance to escape."
Jordan's voice and Butcher's thoughts rang out almost simultaneously. Butcher's pupils contracted. His face turned completely grim.
This bastard also has mind-reading abilities!
Well, this is a complete disaster.
"Alright, stop pretending to test me in your head. I have no interest in the inner monologues of a thug."
Jordan still looked disgusted, and as he turned around, he waved to signal Butcher to follow.
The latter's lips twitched. He glanced around and, seeing no one nearby, finally steeled his resolve and quickly followed.
"Kid, what exactly do you want?"
"Someone just asked the same question... What good food is around here?"
Instead of answering, Jordan looked around at the shops with great interest, like a tourist who'd just arrived in New York.
"Don't try to fool me with pizza or hamburgers."
"There's a Spanish barbecue place nearby, and if I had to pick one, it's pretty good."
"Oh? That sounds alright. Lead the way."
Jordan nodded, gesturing for Butcher to go first.
Butcher gritted his teeth in hatred, regretting that he hadn't brought a gun when he'd gone out today.
Spanish-Style Barbecue
Jordan and Butcher sat opposite each other, with a large plate of meat on the table in front of them.
Jordan took a bite and found the method of eating vegetables and roasted meat in a tortilla quite good, so he ignored the sullen-faced Butcher and started eating by himself.
"Aren't you going to eat something? I can't finish this much by myself."
Jordan wiped his hands with a napkin.
"You're paying anyway."
Butcher's eye twitched. "You went through all that trouble to find me just so I'd treat you to a meal?"
"To correct you, finding you didn't take any great effort. After all, your speech at Vought Tower was so high-profile."
"I have to say, putting everything else aside, you really are a born orator."
Seeing that his life was temporarily out of danger, Butcher relaxed and a mocking smirk returned to his face.
"Cheers for the compliment, then."
"There's no need to be so polite."
Jordan smiled, unconcerned about his thuggish mannerisms, and briefly explained why he'd approached him.
"I just arrived in your country and I don't have a single money on me. If you'd kept being stubborn, I might have gone to find someone else."
Butcher stared at him. "Are you takin' the piss?"
Although Jordan spoke as if it were the truth, he didn't believe a word of it.
You come to the US without any cash on you? Are you an alien who just teleported into New York?
He would've turned on him long ago if he hadn't been completely outmatched.
"Okay, let's go back to the question we had when we first met. What would you like to talk about?"
"I have intelligence about Vought Corporation. But since someone doesn't need it, let's just forget about it?"
Butcher's expression changed instantly.
"Alright, I admit that my attitude was problematic at first, but it's just an occupational hazard. Please forgive me."
Butcher's lips curled into an unpleasant but eager smile.
"You've come to the right person when it comes to intelligence. There's no one in all of New York who knows more than me."
"Alright, stop with that intelligence broker act." Jordan tapped the table with his finger. "I know an interesting place in New York that superpowered people like to frequent. Take me there tonight. I have important business to attend to."
Butcher immediately understood what place Jordan was referring to.