Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 77233 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77233 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
“Or wedding.”
“Or grandkids.”
I smirked. “You are ready to be a grandfather?”
“What could be better than the angelic face of a child?”
Yū’s question hung in the air, stirring something deep within me.
The thought of a daughter, my daughter, who I had never met, never held, never seen laugh or cry, weighed heavily on my heart. It was a possibility I had dismissed long ago while sitting in jail.
I swallowed. “You’re correct. Nothing could be better.”
He pointed to a mannequin that wore a sleek black trench coat. “Since you said you have a big job this time. Consider my brand-new item for ultimate protection.”
Approaching the mannequin with measured steps, I scrutinized every detail. The coat hung elegantly on the figure, its contours sharp and defined.
It was more than just a garment; it was a piece of tactical artistry.
The fabric was a deep, matte black, absorbing the dim light of the room.
I reached out, my fingers grazing the material, which felt surprisingly light for its appearance. Yū got to my side. “The outer layer is a blend of high-tensile fibers, woven intricately to provide bullet-resistant properties.”
I opened the coat. “And underneath?”
“It’s a mesh of flexible metal filaments offering additional protection without compromising mobility.”
Running my hand along the coat, I could feel the seamless integration of leather along the sleeves and collar, adding a touch of elegance to its deadly functionality. The leather was soft yet durable, expertly stitched into the fabric.
“I like it, Yū.”
“I knew you would.”
I turned my attention to the pockets, cleverly hidden within the coat’s design.
Yū nodded. “The pockets are lined with a thin layer of lead to protect against radiation and electronic surveillance.”
“Smart.”
“And, these buttons, while unassuming, also serve a purpose.”
“What’s that?”
He picked up a small cube with a red light on it. “Hold that.”
“Okay.” I took it.
He yanked off a button.
The cube emitted a loud alarm and flashed red.”
Smiling, Yū snapped the button back on the coat. “As you can see, it releases a thin, defensive wire to activate a distress signal.”
“So, the person holding this box, how far can they be from me to still hear it?”
“One mile. Any longer distance and they may not get the signal.”
I pressed the button and placed the cube back on the table. “The alarm went off.”
“Try it on, Dante.”
I slipped the coat on, feeling its weightlessness cover my big body.
Yū chuckled. “I was worried that it wouldn’t fit you. I imagine you wear a new size.”
“I do, but this fits like a glove.” I walked over to the mirror across the room, taking in my reflection. “Yes. This will do just fine.”
Yū’s eyes examined the coat’s fit. “How does it feel?”
“Like no bullet can penetrate it.” I ran my fingers over the front.
“Good. Now, for the final touch.” He handed me a pair of dark sunglasses. “These glasses are equipped with facial recognition software, thermal imaging, and night vision. It will give you an advantage in any situation.”
I put them on, the lenses flashing to life.
Through the glasses, the world transformed. The space, once mundane, was now a canvas of thermal signatures. Yū’s hand on my shoulder appeared as a warm yellow imprint against the cooler blues and greens of the room.
“Turn that way, Dante, and look at the wall.”
I did as Yū instructed.
My eyes focused on the wall, revealing a startling scene. What was a solid barrier to the unaided eye now betrayed its secrets under the lens of thermal imaging. Behind the wall, enormous figures moved, their heat signatures blazing in hues of red and orange, vivid against the wall’s cool, blue outline.
These giant figures were thrashing in their unseen cell, each movement radiating intense heat. The colors shifted dynamically with their actions—fiery reds indicating their hot, frenzied movements, contrasting sharply with the cooler purples and blues of the inert wall.
It was like watching a live thermal painting, fluctuating and alive with energy.
The wall, impenetrable to bullets, was now almost transparent in my augmented sight. These glasses didn’t just enhance reality; they revealed a hidden, colorful world of heat and motion, a world that had always been there, invisible to the naked eye.
Yū spoke, “Touch the right side and you will feel a small button. Press it and you will shift from thermal to night vision and then to face recognition. Press one more time and you return to thermal.”
I took the glasses off and gazed at him. “Who are the men caged back there?”
“Bad men. The sort that sneak into a single woman’s home at night and violently have their way with her. The kind that went into the wrong woman’s home, my niece, and must spend the rest of their lives, shedding blood and tears.”
A cold chill ran through me. “Understood.”
Yū gave me a sad smile. “And what is this job that you require so many tools for?”