50: Chapter 50 Willing

"Holy crap!"

"Am I becoming Superman?"

In his mind, the golden book continued to write...

【Congratulations to the host for awakening a new ability: Self-Healing】

【Self-Healing (Elementary)】

Source: Fiona Gallagher Affinity 100 Resonance

Type: Passive Skill

Effect: Minor injuries (scrapes, cuts, contusions) can heal on their own within seconds to minutes.

Moderate injuries (fractures, deep wounds) have healing speed increased by 50%.

Fatal injuries... won't kill you on the spot, but don't expect to turn the tables with this alone.

Note: Fiona has lived in the South Side of Chicago for so many years, having been beaten, thrown, and injured countless times, but she has stood back up every single time.

This isn't magic; this is sheer willpower.

But what you have learned now seems more like magic...

...

Strong!

Awesome!

Shaun marveled inwardly.

This 【Self-Healing】 looks incredibly invincible.

Especially since it seems to be able to withstand a fatal injury; that's already a very powerful description.

Shaun checked his abilities...

【Current Abilities】

Bullshit (Elementary) — from Frank

Magic Power (Elementary) — from Madison

Combat (Elementary) — System Ballard

Survival (Elementary) — from Fiona

Telekinesis (Elementary) — from Madison Affinity 100 Resonance

Self-Healing (Elementary) — from Fiona Affinity 100 Resonance

Hmm...

Shaun felt like he was gradually becoming Superman.

With both telekinesis and Self-Healing, he definitely wasn't a normal person anymore.

...

After obtaining the new ability, Shaun sat in the study until late at night.

Several maps were spread out on the table, sent secretly by Jamie from the Technical Team earlier, showing several known strongholds of the Colombians in New Orleans.

Bars, warehouses, nightclubs, all located around the edge of the French Quarter.

Since Hector was released on bail, he hadn't shown his face.

But his subordinates were still active.

Shaun stared at the map, running the plan through his mind over and over again.

Capture a prisoner.

Find a Colombian who has a high enough status, knows the inside story, and can be made to talk.

Kidnap him, find out Frank's whereabouts, then decide the next step.

It sounds simple.

Doing it...

Shaun glanced at the clock on the wall.

1:00 AM.

He had to discuss it with Ballard tomorrow.

She would definitely have objections; after all, this kind of operation was completely against the rules.

But Shaun couldn't care about that much right now.

Every extra day Frank stayed in those people's hands meant more danger.

It wasn't that he absolutely had to save him, but if he could, he should.

Thinking about this, Shaun rubbed his eyes and stood up.

He walked out of the study; the hallway was quiet. Shaun walked towards his room.

Pushing the door open, he didn't turn on the light; the moonlight was bright enough anyway. He took off his coat, tossed it onto the back of the chair, and walked towards the bed.

Then Shaun stopped...

There was someone on the bed!

Shaun's body tensed up instantly, but his 【Primary Magic】 didn't sound an alarm.

So... it wasn't an enemy.

Looking closely, he discovered it was actually... Fiona.

She was lying on his bed, on her side, facing him.

The moonlight shone on her, revealing her loose long hair and her bare shoulders.

The quilt only covered up to her chest, revealing her collarbone and a small patch of skin.

Seeing this situation, Shaun roughly knew what Fiona wanted to do.

But...

He really didn't know how to speak up right now...

Just as he was hesitating, Fiona spoke, her voice slightly husky: "What are you standing there for? Come in."

Shaun opened his mouth: "How did you get in?"

Fiona said: "The door wasn't locked, so I just came in."

Alright...

Shaun knew there would be no rest tonight, but he hadn't expected his bit of "Bullshit" to completely break down Fiona's psychological defenses.

Seeing Shaun didn't understand, Fiona urged him again: "Shaun, come here."

Shaun walked over, stood by the bed, and looked down at her.

Under the moonlight, her face looked different from during the day.

Fiona felt she should say something, so she said: "Fiona..."

"Shh."

Fiona reached out, grabbed Shaun's wrist, and gave a gentle tug.

Shaun sat on the edge of the bed.

Fiona sat up.

The quilt slipped off, the moonlight shining on her, giving Shaun a clear view.

Then he felt something press against his lips.

Very light, very soft, with a slight tremble.

Shaun closed his eyes.

The rest... didn't need words.

...

Shaun was woken up by the sunlight.

He opened his eyes and saw the curtains weren't drawn tight; a golden ray of light came through the gap, landing right on the pillow.

The space beside him was empty; Fiona had already gotten up, he didn't know when.

Shaun sat up, rubbed his face, and went over last night's events in his mind.

He froze for a few seconds, then got out of bed, put on his clothes, and opened the door.

Walking downstairs, he stopped just as he reached the corner of the stairs.

Ballard was standing in the center of the hall.

She was wearing casual clothes, arms crossed, back to the stairs, looking at the courtyard outside the window.

Hearing footsteps, she turned her head, her gaze landing on Shaun.

Shaun couldn't describe that look. Complex, very complex.

Not anger, not questioning, but an expression of "knowing something but not wanting to ask."

Shaun met her gaze for a second, then straightened his expression and walked down.

"Morning!"

Shaun felt he said it very calmly.

Fortunately, Ballard didn't have much expression either, just nodding: "Morning."

Shaun walked to the coffee table, picked up the kettle, poured a glass of water, took a sip, and went straight to business: "About last night, I came up with a plan."

Ballard looked at him: "What plan?"

Shaun put down the cup: "Capture a Colombian, one with high status, make him talk, and find out Frank's whereabouts."

Ballard didn't speak.

Shaun didn't stop either, continuing: "Hector is hiding, but his subordinates are still active. I know a few strongholds; I'll go stake them out at night and find a straggler..."

"No need." Ballard interrupted him.

Shaun froze: "What?"

Ballard took out her phone from her pocket, tapped a few times, and handed it to him.

On the screen was a text message from an unknown number.

The content was only one line...

"The old man is in our hands. If you want him to live, 10 PM tonight, same place."

Shaun stared at that line, his brows furrowing, but asked: "Where is the 'same place'?"

Ballard took back the phone and said: "That underground casino, the one you went to with me."

Shaun's heart sank. They arranged to meet there; obviously, something was wrong!

Shaun immediately urged: "This is an ambush."

Unexpectedly, Ballard was very calm, just nodding: "I know."

Shaun was stunned, thinking Ballard had a way, so he asked: "Then what do you plan to do?"

Ballard was silent for a second, then she looked up at Shaun, saying seriously: "Shaun, I need you to act."

Shaun was stunned, not reacting immediately: "You want me to act?"

Ballard took a step forward.

"I know you are not an ordinary person. This house, that night, those gangsters who were scared away—I saw it all."

"I don't know what exactly you are, but you have something on you."

"Going tonight is definitely an ambush. They have many people, weapons, and are prepared. If we go using conventional means, we won't come back."

"But if you use that power..."

Good grief!

Ballard was really counting on Shaun to use his "superpowers"!