Chapter 293: Give me your Contact!

Silas had just decided to leave immediately. The golden-haired woman was strange, the Eye of Fate was strange, the whole situation was strange, and, frankly, Silas already had enough strange things happening in his life.

He turned toward the exit.

"Let’s go."

Alpha, still concealed by his Camouflage, gave no response.

"Mr. Ashard!"

Silas stopped, his shoulders slumping.

’Of course.’

Several police officers were approaching.

The leading officer was a middle-aged man wearing the dark uniform of the City AF Police Department. Two younger officers followed behind him. The officer stopped a few feet away and gave Silas a respectful nod.

"Mr. Ashard. Thank you."

"For what?" Silas asked him in confusion.

"The hostages."

"Oh." Silas glanced toward the supermarket. "You’re welcome."

The officer looked slightly amused by how blunt he was.

"We received reports that you and Alpha entered the building and neutralized the suspects before our tactical team could breach the location."

Silas nodded.

"Yes."

"You saved several lives today."

"Good."

The officer paused.

"That’s... all you have to say?"

Silas looked at him in confusion again. "What else should I say?"

The younger officer beside him almost smiled, while the senior officer cleared his throat.

"Right. Well, regardless, the City AF Police Department appreciates your assistance."

Silas nodded.

"Okay."

"We’ll need a brief statement for the official report."

Silas’s expression immediately soured.

"Do I have to?"

"Unfortunately."

"Fine."

The officer took out a tablet.

"What happened when you entered the building?"

"They attacked us."

"Did you know the suspects beforehand?"

"No."

"Did they threaten you?"

"Yes."

"Did you use lethal force?"

"No."

"Did your friend use lethal force?"

"No."

"Did either of you sustain injuries?"

"No."

"Did you use any awakened abilities?"

"Yes."

The officer looked up.

"Which abilities?"

"Combat abilities."

"..."

The officer slowly typed something.

"Could you be more specific?"

"No."

"Mr. Ashard..."

"I don’t discuss my abilities publicly."

The officer paused.

"Fair enough." He continued typing. "How did you manage to incapacitate the suspects so quickly?"

Silas shrugged.

"They weren’t very strong."

Another awkward pause followed. The officer looked at the unconscious robbers being carried away by paramedics, and suddenly felt second-hand embarrassment for them. He then turned back to Silas.

"Understood."

Silas nodded.

"Can I go now?"

"Almost."

Silas closed his eyes.

’This is torture.’

The officer asked a few more questions, which Silas answered each one with the shortest response possible. Yes. No. Didn’t know. Didn’t notice. They surrendered. No injuries. Nothing unusual.

Eventually, the officer lowered his tablet.

"That’s everything."

"Great."

Silas turned immediately, but the officer spoke again.

"Actually..." Silas stopped, his expression blank, while the officer smiled.

"Would you mind taking a photograph with the department?"

Silas stared at him.

"No."

The officer blinked.

"Ah."

Silas pointed toward the supermarket.

"I came here because of a mission. I want to leave."

The officer nodded.

"Of course."

Silas walked away, his eyes glinting. Finally, freedom. He made it several steps when he felt something touch his sleeve, causing him to stop. His expression instantly turned cold as he turned around.

The golden-haired woman immediately stepped backward; her confident expression disappearing. She swallowed as Silas stared at her.

"Yes?"

The woman opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She closed it, and opened it again. Still nothing. Silas waited, his patience decreasing like evaporating water. The woman suddenly chuckled awkwardly.

"Ah..." She brushed a strand of golden hair behind her ear. "That was..."

She looked around.

"...less intimidating in my head."

Silas raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

She straightened her back, and her expression suddenly became very serious. She clearly decided she was going to act mature, calm, elegant- composed. She took a deep breath.

"Mr. Ashard."

Silas waited. She extended her hand.

"My name is Kelvina."

Silas looked at her hand, then at her face. He shook it. To be honest, she was beautiful, rivaling his women... Not that he would admit it. She was a stranger.

"Silas."

"I know."

"Right."

Kelvina’s fingers remained in his hand for slightly longer than necessary. When she realized it, she immediately withdrew them.

"I mean..." She cleared her throat. "I know who you are."

Silas nodded. "Okay."

Another silence followed, causing Kelvina’s expression to twitch. She had prepared for this. She had imagined meeting Silas countless times. She had imagined herself being confident and cool, maybe even mysterious.

None of those fantasies had included standing in front of him with her brain apparently shutting down. He looked so divine!

She inhaled.

"That was an impressive rescue."

"Thanks."

"You were very efficient."

"Thanks."

"You looked..." She stopped.

’Don’t say handsome.’ She absolutely could not say handsome. That would be embarrassing.

"...professional."

Silas nodded.

"Thanks."

Kelvina internally screamed.

’Why do I keep saying things that require him to say thanks?’

She needed a new topic, something mature and natural. Something that would make her look like a normal person.

"Do you... Do you enjoy supermarkets?"

Silas stared at her, causing Kelvina to freeze.

’What the hell did I just say?’

Silas slowly answered.

"No."

"Right." She nodded as though that made perfect sense. "Neither do I."

Silas looked toward the supermarket.

"You were shopping here."

"Yes."

"So you do."

Kelvina’s mouth opened and closed. She looked away.

"I changed my mind."

Silas’s expression remained blank.

"Okay."

She desperately tried to recover.

"Anyway..." She straightened again. "You’re attending the Grand Banquet, right?"

"Yes."

"I’ll be there too."

"Okay."

"Perhaps we’ll meet again."

"Maybe."

Kelvina nodded.

"Yes."

Silence.

Silas waited, and Kelvina waited. Neither knew what to say next. Then she remembered her original objective, causing her eyes to widen.

"Wait!" Kelvina stepped forward. "Give me your contact!"

Silas stared at her weirdly, and she immediately realized how that sounded, causing her cheeks to turn red.

"I mean..." She raised one finger. "Not like that."

Silas said nothing, making Kelvina’s face even redder.

"I mean, yes, like that, but not..." She stopped. "That’s not what I..."

She covered her face for half a second. Then dropped her hands and forced herself to act composed again.

"I simply require your contact information."

"Why?" Silas asked.

Kelvina froze.

’Why?’

She hadn’t thought that far.

"Networking."

"Networking?"

"Yes."

"With me?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Kelvina’s brain crashed. She looked toward the unconscious robbers, then the police, then Silas, then the floor.

"I..." She took another step. Her shoe caught the edge of a fallen piece of cardboard. "Whoa!"

She stumbled, but Silas reacted instantly and caught her by the waist with one arm while his other hand caught her wrist. For a moment, everything stopped. They stared at each other.

Kelvina’s face instantly turned crimson, while Silas released her almost immediately.

"You okay?"

Kelvina nodded rapidly. "Yes."

She looked down. Then realized her other hand was still gripping Silas’s jacket and let go.

"I’m fine."

"Good."

He started turning away, causing Kelvina to panic.

"Wait!"

She reached for him again; this time she grabbed his sleeve.

"Yes?" Silas turned to face her, his eyebrow raised.

Kelvina’s brain stopped working again. She was still holding him. She slowly released his sleeve.

"Contact."

"You really want it?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because..." She searched desperately for a respectable answer. "Because you’re... interesting."

Silas raised an eyebrow. "Interesting?"

"Very." She nodded. "Extremely."

Silas considered her for a moment. Then took out his phone.

"Fine."

Kelvina’s eyes widened.

"Really?"

"Yes."

She immediately pulled out her phone. Her hands were shaking as she entered his number. Then accidentally pressed the wrong button. Her phone played a loud notification sound, and everyone nearby turned.

Kelvina froze.

Silas looked at her. "What was that?"

"Nothing."

The phone sounded again, causing Kelvina to stare at it in horror. It was her custom notification. A dramatic voice announced:

"SUPREME LEADER HAS ARRIVED."

Kelvina’s soul left her body.

"..."

"..."

Silas slowly looked at her.

"What?"

Kelvina’s face became completely red.

"That was..." She desperately searched for an excuse. "...a joke."

Silas nodded slowly.

"Right."

He looked unconvinced.

***

From several meters away, completely invisible beneath Camouflage, Alpha was holding his phone, recording. His shoulders were shaking from suppressed laughter.

He had been recording the entire conversation. Alpha silently zoomed in when Silas suddenly looked around.

Alpha froze, while Silas narrowed his eyes. For a moment, he thought he sensed something. Then the feeling disappeared.

He shrugged.

"Anyway, I should go."

Kelvina nodded quickly.

"Yes."

Silas started walking. Then turned back.

"Your name was Kelvina?"

"Yes."

"Nice meeting you."

Kelvina’s heart practically exploded.

"Y-You too."

Silas left, while Kelvina stood there watching him disappear into the crowd. Then slowly placed both hands over her face.

"Oh, my God."

Behind her, one of the rescued civilians whispered to another.

"Wasn’t she just acting completely normal?"

The other person looked at Kelvina.

"That was normal?"

Kelvina heard them, and her face turned even redder.

Meanwhile, several meters away, Alpha lowered his phone. He looked at the recording, a grin slowly appearing on his face.

"Oh, this is priceless."

He saved the video and immediately named the file:

[Silas_Ashard_Getting_Hit_On_In_Public.mp4]

Alpha smiled.

’This is going to be useful later.’

He followed Silas, completely unaware that the person who had just asked Silas for his contact was the very same person running the most insane Silas fan community in the country.