Hulk : The Thunderstrike

At the entrance to the station, there were seven or eight thieves lurking!

This information struck John like a bolt of lightning, leaving him restless and agitated, as if a hundred claws were scratching at his heart.

Should I believe it or not?

"Antonia, what do you think? Whatever you say, we'll follow your lead!"

Sam was the first to speak up, stepping forward decisively.

When the mentor doesn't provide support, could the apprentices really expect anything from him? Or from their fellow junior, Marco?

Antonia nodded firmly. "Once the passengers leaving the station start lining up, we'll let them pass one by one. I'll point out who needs to be apprehended, and John, you'll take action!"

In truth, with his skills, Antonia could have handled all seven or eight thieves on his own. But since his mentor had brought him here, it wouldn't feel right to let the older man walk away empty-handed. John and Marco were his teammates, and besides, the station fell under someone else's jurisdiction.

Antonia understood the nuances of credit and teamwork. If he acted alone, it might come across as selfish, and people might have unkind things to say behind his back later. Having been through plenty in two lifetimes, Antonia was well-versed in such matters of human nature.

"John, they'll be coming out of the station soon. Are you ready?"

By this point, John had already made his decision. Trust in Antonia triumphed over doubt in his mind.

Antonia had proven himself earlier when he caught a thief and accurately identified three others. This was no coincidence.

If there's no reason to doubt him, what's there to hesitate about?

John gritted his teeth. "Alright, Antonia. You're the man for the job. Take charge. Whatever you say, we'll do!"

Marco, however, felt left out. "What about me, John?"

John looked at Antonia, who grinned. "Marco, you'll manage the ones we catch. Line them up against the wall, make them squat, and hold their heads. If anyone resists, feel free to knock some sense into them—I guarantee they'll listen!"

Marco's eyes brightened at the prospect. He didn't expect much, given he'd only been on the job for about a month. Just being part of the action was a thrill.

And so, their makeshift anti-pickpocket team was formed.

"They're coming out now, boss!"

Antonia's voice snapped everyone into focus.

John and Sam exchanged glances, their silent agreement evident as they moved to the front of the crowd. Displaying their badges, they explained the situation and asked the passengers to cooperate.

While some grumbled in dissatisfaction, they complied nonetheless—few people in Chicago would dare challenge the police openly. Soon, the passengers formed a line, though not without some initial disorder.

Station security personnel were brought in to assist, helping maintain order while Antonia stood at the platform's exit, towering over the scene with his 7-foot-6 frame. His commanding presence, sharp features, and police uniform sent an unspoken message: Don't mess with me.

The previously restless crowd quickly quieted.

Among them, those with guilty consciences or shady intentions froze. For example, the gang of thieves Antonia had singled out earlier began to panic. At first, they considered running, but one look at Antonia's intimidating figure made them think twice. Instead, they stood motionless, trembling in fear.

---

"John, the guy in the white shirt and blue jeans, carrying a backpack—get him!"

Antonia's sharp command rang out.

Sam didn't hesitate. His eyes locked on the target—a man who matched the description perfectly. After a quick confirmation, Sam moved in.

The man, caught off guard, was stunned.

Antonia, meanwhile, turned to John. "See that woman in the floral dress with short hair? Fourth in line. She's transferring stolen goods right now to the guy behind her—the one with green hair. Get them both!"

John, initially skeptical, hesitated no longer. The woman was indeed reaching into her bag, ready to hand something to the green-haired man behind her.

"Freeze! Hands where I can see them!"

John surged forward, faster than even Sam, startling the female thief into tears. However, with two suspects, John found himself struggling to handle both.

Seeing an opportunity, the green-haired man attempted to flee.

But Antonia's thunderous voice boomed, "If you dare run, I'll break your legs!"

The man froze mid-step, his courage abandoning him as his foot slowly retreated.

Not just him—the entire crowd went silent at Antonia's outburst, his fierce tone and demeanor quelling any hint of resistance.

"Alright, alright! I surrender!"

One of the thieves, who had not yet been identified by Antonia, suddenly knelt, hands on his head, sobbing uncontrollably.

His surrender set off a chain reaction. Two more thieves stepped forward, confessing their guilt and begging for mercy.

Sam and John, though satisfied, were slightly annoyed. They had been hoping for the thrill of catching these criminals themselves.

---

Within minutes, the temporary anti-theft team had apprehended all seven suspects.

"Good job, everyone," Antonia praised, his deep voice steady as he surveyed the subdued group of thieves.

Sam grinned. "You've got an eye for this, Antonia. It's like you can see through people."

Antonia shrugged. "Experience, Sam. Once you've dealt with enough of these situations, you can spot the patterns. These guys thought they could outsmart us. They were wrong."

John, still catching his breath, shook his head in amazement. "I doubted you at first, Antonia. But you've earned my trust today. You're the real deal."

Antonia smiled faintly but said nothing. He was already thinking ahead to their next challenge.

As the thieves were led away, the crowd slowly dispersed, murmuring about the unexpected display of police efficiency.

And at the center of it all, Antonia stood tall, his presence unforgettable to everyone who witnessed his command that day.

---------------–––--––--------------------------------

Visit our Patreon for more:

patreon.com/Samurai492