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Chapter 4: Sins of the Father
🕑 Added 2025-07-21 16:05:57 +0000 UTCAlright, better slow down before she starts hyperventilating.
Not everyone gets to have a Gamer’s Mind, which keeps them calm 24/7.
I’d used the stick enough. Time for the carrot—or something close to it.
"Oh, don’t start acting like the fucking victim here," I said, keeping my voice even but sharp, just enough to shift her focus. “People love doing that these days.”
She stiffened.
Her breathing slowed slightly. Still on edge but no longer spiraling.
Progress.
"You’re the one who tried to brain-fuck me for a free ride. So don’t even pretend like you’re innocent," I added, watching as the realization hit her.
Her expression faltered. She couldn’t even argue.
Someone suddenly realized the irony of her actions.
But it looked like she still didn't want to give up.
"What do you want?" she asked, her voice steadier now but still cautious.
I grinned.
"What do I want? Just the fare for the ride, obviously." I shrugged, all casual-like.
"After all, I’m just an honest guy trying to make an honest living. Unlike you, who uses her powers to rob hard-working men of their well-earned money." My smirk sharpened.
She pressed her lips into a thin line.
"So you’re not handing me over to the cops?" she asked after a long pause.
I let a beat pass before answering.
“I will… if you don’t pay me the taxi fare. With a generous tip. For my mental damage,” I replied with a mock, threatening tone.
I watched her eyes widen. It's like something finally clicked.
"You… don’t care that I’m a mutant?" she asked. Her voice held genuine disbelief.
Ah. There it was. That desperate little desire almost all mutants had—the need to be accepted. To belong.
Too easy.
I kept my expression bored.
"What the fuck does that have to do with anything?" I scoffed like she’d just asked the dumbest question in the world.
Kara hesitated. "You’re not afraid of me? Of my purple skin?"
I laughed.
"Afraid? You were about two seconds away from hyperventilating in my backseat. Why the hell would I be afraid of you?"
Her cheeks flared red, and she looked away, clearly embarrassed.
Now we were getting somewhere.
“Why did my powers not work on you?” Kara demanded.
It was the first time in her life that she could not manipulate someone, which completely threw her off.
I grinned. “Maybe my mind is too strong,” I said playfully.
Kara narrowed her eyes.
“Are you also a mutant?” Kara asked, not backing down. She made an expression of looking forward to the answer.
That expression, desperately trying to find some belonging.
That small, pathetic hope. That need to find someone like her.
“Sorry for the disappointment, but I am not,” I replied with a smirk.
Her expression fell. I could see the exact moment the disappointment hit.
But hey—truth is truth.
Gamer’s Mind is a hundred times better than any mutant power.
She looked like she wasn’t convinced but didn’t push it.
Instead, she shifted tactics.
“Do you know who my father is?” Kara asked.
Did she want me to give her clues about her father? Since her purple skin does not freak me out, did she think I may know someone with similar skin to hers?
“No, I do not. Is he someone famous?” I asked, feigning ignorance.
Kara’s jaw tightened. “No, he is not,” she said, with a bit of hatred though a tinge of sadness hidden deep in her emotions.
Is she here to confront Zebediah?
Interesting.
I leaned back, smirking.
"Wait, did you just play the ‘Do you know who my father is?’ card on me?"
I clicked my tongue.
"What? The little princess needs daddy dearest to save her ass?"
First, she was caught using her powers to do something illegal, something she despised her father for doing the same.
Now, she was mocked for using her hated father’s name to escape the mess she had created.
Her entire body tensed after I said that.
For a moment, I thought she’d lunge at me.
"I don’t need his help," Kara snapped. Her voice was sharp, almost a growl.
Her fingers curled into fists, nails pressing into her palms.
"I don’t need his name, power, or help to fix my mistakes. Unlike him, I don’t run from them."
Ooh, looks like someone has heavily repressed daddy issues.
“Okay, that's cool. Then, you can pay me if you don’t run from your mistakes like your father,” I smirked.
Her expression once again changed. Her pained expression screamed that she was not used to paying, and maybe she didn’t even have much money.
“Fine, I will pay you. There is no need to repeat yourself repeatedly like a broken radio,” Kara said with gritted teeth as if she were being robbed.
I smiled inwardly when I saw the fare update on my system screen. Though, the tip still made me scowl.
Fare: 22$
Tip: 0
Oh well, just getting the fare was already a win.
But am I letting the tip go? Of course not. If not in money, she’ll pay in some other way.
The car fell into silence. Her destination was still far away as I continued driving.
“By the way, what’s your deal with your father?” I said it casually like I wasn’t prying at all. Which, of course, meant I was.
"None of your business," Kara snapped.
She turned toward the window, staring outside like I didn’t exist.
Oh, we’re playing that game?
“Oh, come on. I’m doing you a favor here. Allowing you to share your thoughts with someone,” I glanced at her, grinning.
"The way you’re traveling all covered up? The way our conversation went? You clearly have little to no friends to share your problems."
"Who said I have no friends?" Her head snapped toward me, eyes narrowed. "I have many!"
“Oh, really? Then tell me, other than me, is there anyone who knows about you being a mutant and calmly accepts it?” I asked, still with a casual tone, like I wasn’t pushing her toward the edge of a cliff.
“Of course, my mom,” Kara smirked like she’d just won the game.
“Oh, good for you,” I said.
Her smirk widened—
"But anyone other than her?"
Silence.
Kara’s smile froze. Her lips pressed together. Her jaw tightened. She didn’t answer. She couldn’t answer.
I grinned. Her silence was more than enough.
“Oh, don’t be so sad,” I said in a sympathetic tone—just enough to comfort her.
“You are lucky that your mom accepts you. Many mutants are directly disowned by their parents when discovered. You are fortunate in that case.”
Breaking someone too fast makes them useless. Slow and steady—mold them right, and they'll never even notice.
Kara exhaled softly. "Thanks," she muttered.
But she still felt bitter regarding her mother’s past actions.
I smiled. “How about it? I will be your friend,” I offered.
Kara’s head snapped toward me.
For a split second, her eyes lit up with something I’d seen before. Hope.
But it was drowned in suspicion almost immediately.
"Really?" she asked, cautious.
“Yes,” I nodded.
She hesitated. Then, slowly, she nodded back.
"Then… yes." Her voice was quiet and shy, as if she wasn’t used to the situation. Getting a friend sure made her happy.
Then, her expression shifted to something playful. She asked, “If we are friends, does that mean this ride is free?”
“Haha, nice try, but no,” I laughed.
“Can’t blame a girl for trying,” Kara sighed dramatically and then laughed together with me.
The rest of the time, we talked about each other. We got a lot closer in just a single taxi ride. We even talked about our past.
From what I understood about her past, it was not the same as the stories, but it was not that different either.
And those daddy and abandonment issues?
Oh yeah, those are going to be fun to work with.
A loyal, mind-controlling minion?
Sign me up for that.
As we reached our destination, Kara got out of the taxi.
By the time we reached her destination, she was comfortable.
She got out of the taxi, waving casually. "Bye, Kevin. See you later."
She turned to leave, walking a little too fast like she was running from a crime.
I rolled my window down.
"Ahem, Kara."
She froze.
I held out my palm, grinning. "Are you forgetting something?"
Kara’s face twisted into a pained grimace.
Reluctantly, she marched back, slapped the $22 into my hand, and turned around immediately.
Yep, this bitch didn’t give me a tip.
"Bye, Kara," I called after her.
She sped up.
"Bye, Kevin!"
She didn’t look back once.
She all but sprinted into the hotel.
I leaned back in my seat, watching her disappear inside.
That was... fun.
Congratulations! Feat Achieved!
Surviving First Encounter with a Superhuman
Reward: Dungeon Unlocked
—
“Hey Kevin, have you heard? There is a new vigilante who is aggressively taking down criminals. He calls himself Spider-Man and is seen wearing a themed costume,” Marko’s voice dripped with excitement as he spoke between bites of his lunch.
I barely acknowledged him because I was looking at Peter—or, more specifically, at the walking pity party he’d become.
Gwen and MJ sat on either side, whispering comforting words. Unexpectedly, even Liz Allan was there, sitting across from him.
Then there was Flash. Sitting at his usual table, glaring. Seething.
Peter had stolen his girlfriend, and he couldn’t even do shit about it, not after getting his ass kicked.
I turned back to Peter. Look at this player. Drowning in more pussy than he knows what to do with and still sulking. Some people just don’t appreciate what they have.
Oh well. Not my problem.
But judging by his gloomy face and what Marko just said…
Ben Parker’s probably dead.
So, currently, Peter is in extreme rage mode, hunting criminals one by one. Desperate to find the bastard who pulled the trigger.
Once he finds him, he will finally find some inner peace and officially start his career as the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.
Shouldn’t take long.
“Hey, are you listening?” Marko’s voice pulled me back.
“Yeah, I listened. A wannabe superhero is running around kicking thug asses. That it?” I asked.
Marko looked at me, stunned. "Don’t you find that cool?" He sounded almost offended.
I shrugged. “Meh, he's okay,” I said to rile him up. It was fun.
Before Marko could retort, a girl walked into the cafeteria.
The cafeteria was always buzzing with students. A girl entering wasn’t exactly a headline event.
But this one? She turned heads.
Platinum blonde hair. A figure that made people do double takes.
She stood out. Effortlessly.
She was-
"Felicia Hardy!" Marko slapped my arm, nearly making me drop my fork. His voice boomed across the table.
"She finally came to the cafeteria! I was waiting for this!"
A bit of drool glistened at the corner of his mouth.
"She joined our university and is in our year. Saw her in another class. Knew she’d come eventually, and here she is." He grinned like he’d just won the lottery.
Looks like someone has a crush.
It is understandable. Her beauty was on par with Liz, Gwen, or MJ. Our university had barely adjusted to the third great beauty, and now we had a fourth. The boys were practically vibrating in their seats.
Felicia, of course, ignored them all. She walked confidently, never faltering under the weight of the stares. Even the so-called "elite table" guys tried to get her attention. She brushed past them like they didn’t exist.
I leaned back.
How far along is she in her burglary career? Is she just starting? Or is she already pulling jobs that make the Kingpin sweat?
If it’s the former, I can try to recruit her. A formidable burglar can be a valuable asset if used properly.
If it’s the latter, forget it. I know my current worth. I would be ignored the same way those pathetic boys were dismissed.
As if Felicia felt something, she turned towards me. Our eyes met. I smiled and waved at her without feeling flustered or removing my gaze.
She paused for a second, then smirked and waved back.
Ha. Peter, are you ready to lose the first of your future love interests?
The moment passed. We went back to eating.
This was only the first meeting. Being in the same college meant many opportunities to interact with and influence her.
—
It's time to wrap up the day.
Juggling classes, combat training, taxi driving, and planning world domination? Exhausting.
I closed the taxi network app after I dropped my last passenger.
When I was about to reverse to leave the area, a man suddenly barged into my taxi.
I froze. For a second, I felt a strong sense of déjà vu.
Wait a minute…
Ah. Yes.
Not too long ago, a criminal entered my car and put a gun to my head.
Such a pleasant memory. How could I forget?
The man who entered this time was different. He was middle-aged with a receding hairline, fat, dressed in a black windbreaker. He sat there scrutinizing me.
I sighed. “Sorry, man. I am done for the day. You can find another taxi,” I said to my mystery passenger, hoping he would get the clue and fuck off.
The man grinned. But he didn’t move.
“That’s too bad, Mr. Kolt. I was hoping to chat with you,” the man said with a grin.
Huh? Mr. Kolt?
Then he pulled his windbreaker slightly to the side. A pistol tugged in his waist.
Of course, a fucking gun. The only thing missing in the equation.
Motherfucker. He came for me.
But why? I haven’t done anything that should put me on someone's radar.
“Can we have it tomorrow? I am feeling pretty tired.” Worth a shot.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Kolt. It won’t take long,” the man said, his grin widening.
He sounded so casual as if he were ordering coffee. He thought he had all the control.
I took a deep breath. This was going to be a long night.
"Sure." I kept my voice even. "What do you want to talk about, Mr.…?" I trailed off, fishing for a name.
The man chuckled. “Oh, look at my memory. I forgot to introduce myself,” he said in mock embarrassment.
Then he took out something from his pocket and flipped it open. A fucking police badge.
“I am Captain Robert Davis,” Robert introduced himself smugly.
…Motherfucker.
After a thug, now a cop? Fuck my life.
"What can I do for you, officer? I believe I haven’t broken the law," I kept my voice neutral, adding the last part in my head.
Robert tilted his head slightly. “Really? But how did I find that you aided an infamous criminal to get medical attention,” he asked.
My stomach tightened. How did he know?
“Mr. Kolt, it's not that difficult to find out?” Robert chuckled. He read my reaction like an open book.
I exhaled. Fine. Let’s play this game.
"I didn’t do it willingly," I said, keeping my tone even. "He put a gun to my head. I’m the victim here."
Robert nodded. "I believe you, Mr. Kolt," he said.
I wanted to feel relieved but could sense a ‘but’ coming.
"But, you see… my associates aren’t happy,” he said calmly, almost apologetically, as if discussing bad weather.
"Because of what you did—whether willing or not—he survived.” He sighed. "And we finally had the chance to take him out of the picture."
Awesome. A fucking corrupt cop. What my life was just missing.
What to do? I have a dangerous gang and a corrupt cop on my back.
Should I ask Uncle Niko for help? But I don’t want to trouble him when he and his family are helping me more than enough.
Even my newly unlocked dungeon isn’t of much help in this case.
When I was calculating my next move, Robert leaned forward slightly.
“Mr. Kolt, when I was looking through your file, I found something interesting,” Robert said with a smile, suddenly switching the topic.
Oh, I don’t like where this is going.
Robert’s grin widened. "Who knew?" He chuckled. "You’re Desmond Kolt’s son."
I stayed silent.
"A renowned name in organized crime in Liberty City."
His voice was almost… impressed?
"Your father’s something of a legend there."
“He left the life of crime after I was born,” I countered.
"Oh, he did," Robert sighed, shaking his head. "But he never got the punishment due for his crimes."
I exhaled sharply. "He’s already dead. Died three years ago. You’re a bit late."
“Yes, he did. I am sorry for your loss,” Robert said, looking sorry, though it didn’t reach his eyes.
I only nodded in return. My fingers were clenched on the steering wheel. A bad feeling was crawling up my spine.
Should I ask Kara to mind-control him? No, we are still not that close that she would help me mind-control someone with an order, much less a police captain.
“Mr. Kolt, have you heard the saying? Like father, like son,” Robert asked, changing the topic again.
My chest tightened. Alarms went off in my head.
“What do you mean, officer?” I asked with a steady tone.
Robert smiled. But this time, it was sharper.
"What I mean, Mr. Kolt, is that as the son of such a dangerous criminal…” he trailed.
He leaned in slightly and continued, "You may very well follow in his footsteps."
“Bullshit. I never broke the law. I am studying seriously to get my degree and find a respectable job in society,” I retorted. It might be far from the truth, but it was the truth on the surface.
Robert nodded slowly. “Yes, I know. I really appreciate a hard-working, honest kid like you.”
He leaned back, casual and relaxed.
“You study at the famous Empire State University and work hard as a taxi driver in your free time to cover your expenses. A modal citizen, indeed,” Robert said appreciatively. But I didn’t buy his nonsense.
Robert sighed dramatically.
"But…" He clicked his tongue.
"What would happen, I wonder, if some… evidence… suddenly appeared? Evidence that linked you to a serious crime?” His grin widened, enjoying the game.
"Maybe something, tying you to a dangerous criminal. Like the one you helped the other night. It would be so sad,” Robert said, shaking his head as if feeling sorry for me, but the mocking smile on his face was grating my nerves.
“Bullshit, no one will believe such fake evidence,” I said with a low simmering voice.
“You think so? But who will people believe? A respectable police captain or the son of an infamous criminal,” Robert chuckled as his eyes glinted with amusement.
“Even if, after many years of fighting in the court, you will somehow clear your name, though it is doubtful… your future? Already ruined. You can forget about ever getting a respectable job in the country. Your bright future will be crushed and replaced by a desperate and cruel reality,” Robert said, feeling pleasure for cornering me.
I controlled myself from lashing out, as it would only worsen my situation and give him more ‘evidence’ against me.
I forced myself to breathe to calm down the murderous thoughts.
“Get to the point. What do you want?” I asked in a steady voice, feeling impatient with how he talked in circles.
“Ah, a straight-forward person. I like it,” he said. His grin stretched further like he’d been waiting for me to ask.
“As I told you, my associates were quite… displeased… when you foiled their plan.”
Robert sighed dramatically. “But I stopped them from putting a bullet in your head when I told you how you can be useful,” he said, looking as if to suggest that I lick his feet to show my gratitude.
Did I feel happy that I dodged a bullet to my head? Yes.
Did I appreciate the fat fuck for his ‘help’? Absolutely no.
The fucker was already second on my kill list. The only gratitude he would get from me was a slightly less painful death.
His grin became wider, looking at me. He liked this game of cat and mouse.
I flashed a fake smile. “Thank you so much for saving my life,” I said sarcastically. “How can I be useful to you?”
“Oh, you can be useful. As a taxi driver, it is your job to roam the city. So, it won’t look out of place if—once in a while—you stop by certain locations… to deliver some packages,” Robert said, introducing the ‘job’.
“And I believe you will not tell me what will be in those packages?” I asked with a flat voice, knowing the answer.
Robert beamed. "This is why I like working with smart people. They know their boundaries," he said happily.
Then his voice lowered slightly, and his eyes darkened. "Yes. And let’s just say, Mr. Kolt, finding out what’s inside won’t be good for your health."
I gritted my teeth. Fucking figures.
“How long do I need to do it? I will not be your personal mule who you can order for life. If this is a lifelong gig, I’d rather roll the dice in court,” I said.
“Of course not, Mr. Kolt. You just need to pay back the damages you cost me and my associates. After that, you will be free to leave,” Robert said reassuringly.
A big fat lie.
You and your associates will use me until I am no longer useful and then discard or finish me.
Of course, I would not say that. But your associates are already third on my kill list.
“Fine. Then what do you want me to deliver,” I said impatiently.
Just give me the package and get lost.
Smiling, he took a package from the inner pocket of his windbreaker and handed it to me. It was not very heavy. I had the urge to look inside it later, but I curbed my urge. My life is more important than my curiosity.
“Deliver it to this address by midnight. Don’t be late,” Robert ordered.
Received a classified package for delivery. Delivery mission activated.
Mission: Delivery
Description: Complete classified deliveries securely under strict time constraints
Objective 1: Complete 20 classified deliveries securely under strict time constraints
Reward: Endurance (F3)
Objective 2: Complete 50 classified deliveries securely under strict time constraints
Reward: Stamina Regen Increase (+100%)
Objective 3: Complete 100 classified deliveries securely under strict time constraints
Reward: Endurance (E1)
I smirked internally. Looks like his death date just got extended.
