They walked side-by-side in a silence that no longer felt awkward, but rather charged with anticipation. Liana felt marginally lighter, the weight on her shoulders seeming to lift slightly now that someone else knew and was offering help—however bizarre that person might be. Leo, on the other hand, his mind was racing, planning the next steps, analyzing potential threats, and occasionally glancing at Liana to ensure her immediate well-being.
'Primary mission: Protect Liana AND resolve the debt. Secondary mission: Attempt normalcy. Difficulty level: Extremely high.'
As they turned onto the quieter street leading towards Liana's housing complex, Leo's bad feeling was confirmed. Four tall figures in black suits suddenly emerged from a dark alley ahead of them, their steps synchronized and menacing, clearly blocking the path. Leo's survival instincts, dormant for decades, roared awake. Their postures were tense, their gazes cold and focused on Liana.
'Damn it, the bastards showed up early,' Leo thought bitterly, cold adrenaline starting to flow. 'They appeared earlier than in the original timeline. I knew they wouldn't wait a full week. Shit!' He instinctively pulled Liana slightly behind him, positioning himself between the girl and the threat.
"What is it, Leo?" Liana whispered, sensing the drastic change in Leo's demeanor, the tension suddenly radiating from him. Her hand gripped his sleeve.
"Stay behind me. Don't move," Leo hissed softly, his voice low and dangerous, his eyes locked on the four men, assessing their every micro-movement.
One of the men, the largest with a thin scar on his cheek, took a step forward, a cynical smirk playing on his lips. "Who the hell are you, kid?... Pretty Miss Liana, pay your damn debt, bastard!" His voice was flat, machine-like. "You said you'd pay last week, damn it!"
Two men on the left moved in unison, their hands shooting out quickly, trying to grab Liana from Leo's side.
Leo's reaction was like lightning. No hesitation, only cold execution honed by brutal experience. Muscle memory from thousands of hours of training and real combat took over his agile but not yet fully strengthened teenage body.
WHISH! Leo's right leg shot out in a perfect Taekwondo side kick (Yeop Chagi), slamming into the first man's solar plexus with surprising force. The man gasped, doubling over in pain, his advance halted.
PAK! DUK!
The first two thugs tried to launch a counter-attack with their fists.
Leo's left hand moved in a swift boxing parry, deflecting the second man's arm as he reached for Liana. Without pause, his right elbow slammed hard into the man's jaw in a vicious elbow strike. A faint cracking sound was audible, and the second man staggered back, eyes glazing over. 'Pathetic. That blow wasn't even 70% of my old strength... Tch, their pay must be crap.'
The remaining two men, clearly better trained or at least more desperate, were momentarily shocked to see their comrades downed so quickly by a high school kid. But shock quickly turned to anger. They attacked simultaneously from the front. One threw a wide right hook, the other attempted a straight kick towards Leo's stomach.
Leo moved like a shadow dancer. He ducked under the right hook with a smooth bob and weave worthy of a pro boxer, his shoulder nearly brushing his knee. As he came up, he slipped inside the attack range, hammering the hook-thrower's torso with two fast, brutal body shots to the ribs. 'Oops.'
For the fourth attacker, Leo deflected the straight kick with a solid forearm block, then immediately countered. He pivoted his hips, unleashing a spinning heel kick (Dwi Hurigi) that connected squarely with the man's temple. The man collapsed instantly, unconscious before he hit the ground.
It was all over in less than a minute. Four grown men in black suits lay groaning or unconscious on the dimly lit street, defeated by a teenager who had been awkwardly ordering coffee just minutes before.
Liana stood frozen behind Leo, her hand covering her mouth, eyes wide with disbelief. Her heart pounded violently from a mixture of overwhelming fear and... awe.
"Wh-what... how did you..., Leo?" Liana stammered, her voice trembling.
Leo didn't answer. He regulated his breathing, which was slightly ragged—this body definitely tired more easily. He glanced coldly at the four men. 'Too easy... probably just low-paid pawns.' Leo felt a sliver of pity for them. 'The source of the problem must be dealt with.' A crazy, reckless, and possibly very stupid idea formed in his mind.
"We have to go," Leo said, his tone calm again, though his eyes remained vigilant.
"Go? Where?" Liana asked, still in shock. "The police?"
Leo shook his head. "No. Straight to the source." He looked at Liana with strange conviction. "I'm going to talk to their boss."
"WHAT?!" Liana practically screamed. "Are you crazy?! Hah?! They just tried to—argh, whatever—they're dangerous! You just beat up their guys!"
"Exactly," Leo cut her off. "Now they know I'm not a soft target. And they want their money back. I'm going to give them an... interesting offer." He started walking in the direction he knew led to the small office of the loan shark, Pak Beno, where this debt chain likely began.
"Leo, this is suicide!" Liana tried to pull his arm, but Leo gently but firmly brushed her off.
"Trust me, Liana. Running only delays the problem. I have a plan," he said, though the 'plan' felt more like a mad gamble based on future knowledge and confidence in BTC. "Wait here for a bit. I won't be long." Without waiting for an answer, he walked quickly towards the dark alley where Pak Beno usually operated, leaving Liana trembling with fear and confusion.
Leo walked into Pak Beno's small, dimly lit, smoke-filled office without a shred of fear. Pak Beno, a portly man with a thick mustache, was counting money when Leo entered. He looked up, surprised, then his eyes narrowed at the teenager standing calmly before him. Perhaps he'd already received a report from his failed goons.
"Who the hell are you, ugly?" Pak Beno growled, his hand moving towards a desk drawer, possibly reaching for a weapon.
"I came to talk about debt," Leo said flatly, his tone cold and unnaturally confident. "About Liana's family's debt."
Pak Beno laughed cynically. "Debt? What does an ugly brat like you know about debt or money? That debt has been transferred. Not my problem anymore."
"I know," Leo said. "And I know who holds it now. I want you to deliver a message. Better yet, call your boss now. Tell him, I, Leo, have a life-changing offer for you." (Translator's note: "tawaran nyawa untukmu" is tricky. "Life-changing offer" or "an offer he can't refuse" fits the context better than a literal translation).
Pak Beno hesitated for a moment, intimidated by Leo's strange calm demeanor. He finally picked up the phone and contacted someone presumed to be the organization's boss. After a few minutes of tense, low-toned conversation, he handed the phone to Leo.
Leo took the phone. "Yes?"
The voice on the other end was deep and cold. "So you're the damn kid who caused the trouble earlier?"
"I'm Leo," Leo replied curtly. "I know you want your money. I have a better proposal than hurting Liana's family."
"Oh?" The voice sounded skeptical, but tinged with curiosity.
"Give me another loan," Leo said bluntly. He named the amount, large enough to cover Liana's debt and give him significant starting capital. "In three years, I will return triple the total loan amount—the old debt plus the new one."
Silence stretched on the other end. Then a hoarse laugh echoed. "Are you fucking stupid or what? What collateral do you have?"
"I have no material collateral," Leo said honestly. "My collateral is my knowledge. I know how to multiply this money quickly. Consider it a high-risk investment with potentially phenomenal returns for you." 'I'm betting on their greed and their confusion about me.' "If I fail, you can do whatever you want to me. But if I succeed, you profit massively without getting your hands dirty..."
Silence again. Leo could feel the doubt and greed warring in the boss's mind. It was a crazy gamble. But Leo maintained his most impassive, confident expression.
"...Interesting," the voice finally said. "Three years. Triple the amount. If you're off by a single day or a single rupiah, your life is forfeit. Deal?"
"Deal," Leo replied without hesitation. He hung up and handed the phone back to Pak Beno, who stared in disbelief.
"This kid is fucking crazy," Pak Beno muttered.
Leo just gave a faint smirk. "Transfer the money to this account tomorrow morning." He handed over a slip of paper with the account number he'd set up earlier that day. Then he turned and walked out, leaving Pak Beno still bewildered.
Leo found Liana still waiting anxiously at the mouth of the alley. Her face was pale.
"Leo! Are you okay? What happened?" she asked frantically.
"Everything's handled. For now," Leo said, taking Liana's hand. "Come on, I'll walk you home."
They walked in silence towards Liana's house. Liana wanted to ask so many questions, but the words caught in her throat. How could Leo do that? Negotiate with dangerous people? Promise triple the amount? Is he possessed or something?
When they arrived at Liana's modest house, the lights inside were off. "My parents are probably working overtime again," Liana said quietly.
"Are you sure you'll be okay alone?" Leo asked, a little worried.
Liana shook her head. "It's okay. Come inside for a bit, Leo. I... I um... want to thank you."
Leo hesitated for a second, but finally nodded. He couldn't just leave Liana after everything that had happened.
Inside, the atmosphere was quiet but slightly somber. Liana turned on the lights. The house was small but tidy. Several of Liana's paintings adorned the walls.
"Sit down," Liana said, gesturing towards an old sofa in the living room. "I'll get you something to drink. And... maybe I can treat your hand?" She had just noticed the slight scrapes on Leo's knuckles from the fight.
Leo sat, feeling slightly awkward being inside Liana's home. He looked around. It felt... normal. A stark contrast to his empty, luxurious life in the future, or the cold headquarters of the assassin organization.
Liana returned with a first-aid kit and a glass of water. She sat down beside Leo on the sofa, their proximity noticeable. Carefully, she began cleaning the small scrapes on Leo's knuckles with an antiseptic wipe. Her hands trembled slightly.
"I'm sorry," Liana whispered. "This is all my fault."
"No," Leo said firmly, looking at Liana. "It's the risk I take for loving you." He watched the gentle way Liana cleaned his wound. Her touch felt... warm. Something he hadn't felt in a very long time.
"But... that negotiation... triple the amount? How is that possible?" Liana asked again, her eyes full of worry.
Leo gave a small smile. "I have a plan, remember? I'll make that money. Legally." 'Well, mostly legally.' "You don't need to worry about that. Just focus on yourself."
After applying a small bandage, Liana didn't immediately pull her hand away. She looked up at Leo, their eyes meeting. "Thank you, Leo. Really. You... you saved me today. More than once."
Leo fell silent, captivated by Liana's sincere gaze. "You're welcome." It was all he could manage.
"I... I'm hungry," Liana said suddenly, breaking the tension. "You must be too. Can I make you something? There's only rice and eggs, maybe some vegetables."
Leo normally didn't care much about food, but the thought of eating a home-cooked meal made by Liana felt... appealing. "Okay."
They moved to the small kitchen. Liana began efficiently gathering ingredients—leftover rice from last night, a few eggs, garlic, soy sauce, and some slightly wilted but still usable mustard greens. Leo stood awkwardly near the doorway, feeling like an intruder in a foreign habitat. He was used to sterile, industrial-style kitchens in headquarters or his luxurious apartment, not this tiny kitchen smelling faintly of onions and shrimp paste. He watched Liana start slicing onions with surprising speed and precision. 'Efficient movements. Minimal wasted energy. Interesting.'
"Want to help, Leo?" Liana offered with a small smile, amused by Leo's expression as he seemed to be analyzing her onion-chopping technique. "Maybe... peel the garlic?"
Leo blinked. "Me? Peel garlic?" He considered it for a moment. 'Simple task. High success probability. Could increase positive interaction with my future wife?... excellent!!.' He gave a stiff nod. "Okay. Give me the instructions, my wife."
Liana suppressed a giggle at Leo's strangeness. She handed him a few cloves of garlic. Leo accepted them as if they were complex bomb components. He tried to mimic the way Liana flattened the garlic with a knife but ended up squashing it slightly irregularly. When trying to peel off the skin, he did so with intense concentration, as if defusing a landmine.
"That's not quite it, Leo," Liana said gently, chuckling. She showed him an easier way. Leo watched intently, then tried again, this time slightly more successfully, though still looking rigid. That small moment, somehow, managed to melt another thin layer of ice between them.
Soon, the fragrant aroma of fried rice filled the air. Liana served two plates of simple yet appetizing-looking egg fried rice onto the small dining table in the corner. Thin wisps of steam rose, carrying the tempting scent of garlic and soy sauce.
Leo sat down, his gaze fixed on the plate before him. It wasn't fancy, but it looked... honest. He picked up a spoon, scooped a small portion of rice, and brought it to his mouth.
His eyes widened slightly.
It tasted... incredible. Savory, slightly sweet from the soy sauce, with the perfect rice texture and perfectly incorporated egg. Far more complex and satisfying than the protein bars or MRE rations he often consumed on long missions. Far warmer and more real than any multi-million rupiah fine dining dish that felt hollow in his future life.
"Is it good?" Liana asked, her voice slightly hesitant, anxiously watching Leo's reaction.
Leo swallowed, then looked at Liana with the same seriousness he'd shown while peeling garlic. "This... This is exceptionally good, Liana. Exceeds expectations. Satisfaction level: 9.5 out of 10. You truly are my future wife!!"
Liana burst out laughing at Leo's analytical assessment and bizarre comment. "Glad you like it! I was worried it might taste weird." Her laugh was light and genuine, causing the corner of Leo's mouth to involuntarily twitch upward—a micro-smile, barely perceptible, but real.
Leo began to eat with efficient yet appreciative speed. He didn't talk much, focusing on his food, but occasionally he'd murmur, "Salt levels are optimal," or "Egg texture is consistent." These odd comments, instead of unnerving Liana, only amused her further. This Leo was so different, yet somehow, he was more... human.
"So..." Liana started the conversation after a comfortable silence filled only by the clinking of spoons. "Your hand... is it really okay?" She glanced at the small bandage on Leo's knuckles.
Leo glanced at his hand briefly. "Minor abrasion. Full recovery expected within 48 hours," he replied flatly, then returned to his fried rice.
Liana shook her head, smiling. "You're really something else..." She didn't finish the sentence, just watched Leo eat. "And... about your plan... the investment... are you sure?" Lia's worry resurfaced.
"Completely certain," Leo said between bites. "I've conducted extensive research. The market will move according to my predictions." 'Because I've already seen it happen.' "Don't worry about it, Lia."
"But still... triple the amount in three years? That's..." Liana still looked incredulous.
"Ambitious? Yes. Impossible? No!" Leo cut in with absolute conviction. He paused eating for a moment, looking at Liana. "Your focus now should be staying safe and... maybe continuing your painting? Or marrying me."
Liana's face immediately flushed at the unexpected praise and the strange suggestion. "Oh... th-that..."
"Your talent isn't 'for fun,' Liana," Leo stated firmly. "It's an asset. Don't waste it, okay."
Silence fell again, but this time it felt more comfortable. A silence filled with quiet understanding and acceptance of each other's oddities. Liana felt her guard against Leo slowly crumbling. This boy might be strange, blunt, and have a mysterious past (or future?), but he was sincere, he protected her, and he appreciated her art.
Leo finished his food first, cleaning his plate until not a single grain of rice remained. He leaned back in his chair, observing Liana who was still eating slowly. The kitchen's fluorescent light, which usually felt cold, now seemed warm on Liana's face, highlighting a peaceful expression rarely seen there. A strange feeling—calmness, contentment—crept into Leo's heart. 'Analysis: This domestic situation yields unexpected positive emotional responses. Stress levels significantly decreased. Interesting phenomenon.'
Liana finally finished eating. She looked up and met Leo's gaze. For a few seconds, they just looked at each other. No words were spoken, but a silent conversation passed between their eyes—gratitude, confusion, a promise of protection, and perhaps... a tiny spark of something new.
"Thank you for the meal," Leo said softly, breaking the silence. "It's the best food I've had... in a very long time. Thank you, my future wife."
Liana's cheeks flushed again. "You're welcome, Leo. I'm glad you liked it."
That night, amidst the shadows of loan shark threats and the uncertain promises of the future, a new bond began to form between the former assassin and the girl he sought to protect. A bond forged in danger, a crazy confession, an awkward garlic-peeling moment, and a simple plate of egg fried rice that felt incredibly warm. Leo's secondary mission—attempting to be a normal human being—was having an unexpected side effect: he was starting to feel a little normal. And that... wasn't as bad as he'd thought.
'Secondary mission: Attempt normalcy... maybe it's not so bad.'