August proceeded to kick the demon-masked man in the chest, sending him sliding across the ground.
The officers instantly grabbed him and put him in cuffs.
Up ahead Fox let out a frustrated hiss.
"You'll regret this," she muttered with a chilling echo as she lted into the shadows.
The officers arrived at the spot where she vanished but there was no trace of her.
August deactivated his fiery sword, standing amidst the chaos with his helt gleaming in the faint light.
"Secure the area," the commanding officer barked to his team, but his gaze lingered on August.
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The officers stood around August, their faces lit with gratitude after securing the demon-masked man and his large accomplice. Their squad cars ford a periter in the dimly lit alley, flashing red and blue lights painting the walls in alternating hues.
The commanding officer approached. "I don't know who you are under that helt, but you've helped us in ways we can't even begin to thank you for," he voiced while extending a hand. "Truly, who are you?"
August still clad in the cloak of echoes and the sci-fi-inspired helt concealing his face, shook the officer's hand briefly. His modulated voice added to his air of mystery. "I'm just a businessman," he replied. "You can call Aleman."
The senior officer frowned slightly. "A businessman, huh? And what kind of business puts you in situations like these?"
August gave a small, modulated chuckle. "The kind that deals with extraordinary items and extraordinary situations." He gestured to the subdued masked n being loaded into the police van. "I trust you'll handle them properly?"
The officer nodded. "We will. But… if you know more about them—specifically about the one who escaped, the fox-masked woman—we could use that information."
"I don't know who she is under the mask," August replied smoothly. "But if I find out, you'll be the first to know."
Just then, a commotion ca from the nearby building. Two officers escorted Victor Whitford out.
The young man's disheveled appearance was completely different from his usual confident deanor.
He spotted August and frowned thinking it was one of the Oni mbers who got caught.
"That is Aleman," one of the officers clarified while pointing at the man who looked like he ca out of a Sci-Fi Movie.
Victor was in awe. He guessed a lot must have changed since he last saw Aleman.
"Thank you!" Victor's voice trembled as he exclaid. "I thought I was dead. I thought—" He paused as his hands trembled. "I owe you my life."
Victor's father who was clad in a tailored suit, erged from a nearby black luxury car surrounded by a few envoys. His eyes burned with restrained fury, but his relief at seeing his son alive softened his features. He walked briskly to Victor, pulling him into a firm embrace before turning to August.
"I don't know who you truly are," the older Whitford said, "but you saved my son. For that, you have my eternal gratitude."
August dipped his head slightly. "No thanks necessary. I'm always willing to help a custor."
Victor blinked. "Custor?"
"Yes," August responded with a deliberate tone. "You've bought from before. And you got pulled into this ss because of anyways..."
The senior officer stepped forward. "Mr. Whitford," he said to Victor, "we'll need you to co down to the station to write a formal statent, especially regarding this fox-masked individual. She's still at large."
Victor swallowed hard and nodded. "Of course. Whatever you need."
The officer then turned back to August. "Are you sure you don't know anything more about her? You look like you've dealt with them before."
August tilted his head. "I actually haven't. If I knew anything more, I'd tell you. But I don't."
The officer sighed but didn't press further. "Fair enough. If you ever co across more information, don't hesitate to contact us."
As the officers escorted Victor and his father back to their car, the elder Whitford paused one last ti to address August. "If you ever need anything, na it. The Whitford family will always rember this."
August inclined his head again, then turned on his heel, the faint sound of his helt's systems accompanied him as he walked away into the shadows.
As the flashing lights faded behind him, August murmured to himself, "One problem solved… but another always seems to wait around the corner."
...
...
The breaking news flashed on every major network and social dia platform: "Two Oni mbers Captured!"
It was a shock to everyone, as the Oni group had been a nightmare for law enforcent for over six months. Their mbers were always slipping through the cracks.
Anchorwoman: "In an unprecedented turn of events, two mbers of the notorious Oni group have been apprehended by law enforcent, thanks to the aid of an unidentified vigilante who has taken the internet by storm."
The screen cut to grainy but clear enough footage of a figure dressed in a futuristic helt. He moved inhumanly smooth and fast. In the footage, he delivered powerful attacks to the two Oni mbers, using a sword and an electrical ability that seed otherworldly. One shot captured him throwing a lightning-like streak at one of the Oni mbers, stunning them before he incapacitated them entirely.
Anchorwoman: "This vigilante, who has co to be known online as the 'Miracle Man,' has been linked to a previous incident at Faith Specialist Hospital, where he reportedly healed a critically injured patient with what many believe to be a ga item from Enders Light. Speculation runs rampant about his true identity, with so calling him a hero and others demanding answers about his thods."
---
At the police station, throngs of reporters and curious onlookers crowded the entrance. Placards reading "Who is the Sci-Fi Man?" and "Reveal the Miracle Man!" waved above the crowd as frustrated officers tried to maintain order.
One officer stood at a podium during a press conference.
Officer Rodriguez: "At this ti, we cannot reveal more about the vigilante's identity or thods. What we can confirm is that his intervention was instruntal in the capture of the two suspects and the rescue of a young college student."
---
anwhile, at Derrick's ho, he sat in his dimly lit living room, his phone clutched tightly in his hand. His eyes were glued to the news broadcast, the footage of the vigilante replaying over and over again.
"...It's him—it's the sa guy from the hospital."
He leaned back in frustration while running his hands through his hair. On the coffee table in front of him lay a crumpled piece of paper with a number scrawled on it: AM Coven.
He had morized the number before the nurse at Faith Specialist took the card back. But every ti he dialed it, he was t with silence. He slamd his fist onto the table in frustration, cursing under his breath.
'He's out there saving people, but won't answer a damn call. Does he even care? Tara could use soone like him right now... If anyone can heal her, it's him!'
Derrick usually wouldn't think like this but he was currently at his wits end. He hadn't been able to get across to August even after dialing the number many tis.
This was due to the fact that August had been preparing for this operation for the last two days.
Derrick grabbed his phone and dialed the number again. His leg bounced anxiously as he waited. It rang once, twice, and then went straight to voicemail again.
---
Elsewhere, at August's ho, he watched the news quietly. The footage of himself in action played repeatedly, and while he knew the helt obscured his identity well enough, the attention was becoming too much.
He only wanted the hospital's attention not attention from this but he decided not to bother about it.
"Well, perhaps more publicity isn't bad... this should boost AM Coven once the business is fully open."
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