Lincoln was silent for a moment and answered. "Let's just say...I was...lucky," Lincoln hated that word. Since what happened years ago with Lynn and after the Louds understood their fault, this word had become taboo in the house, and its residents preferred to replace it with more far-fetched synonyms.
"But now you can face him, right?" Troy asked, clearly desperate.
"You mean can you all? We're a team, Lincoln. We'll take it together," Clyde said.
"Besides, if this man kills you, he will take my revenge from me," Andy said.
Lincoln was touched by his friend's words. Not much for Andy, but at least he was excited. "Alright guys, we'll protect these guys from Hideki's wrath."
"Hey, wait a minute. I didn't say I'd do it for free." Andy's answer left everyone speechless. "To tell the truth, this whole case is bothering me and what's happening to these idiots makes me angry. But if we're going to do this, I want something good in return."
"Andy, we're not doing this to make money."
"Andy's right, Lincoln."
Both boys turned to Clyde.
"I don't know what Andy wants, but if we help them, I want them to stop being criminals. Chandler should publicly admit that he started the rumor and apologize for it."
"Great. That's a good idea, Clyde."
"Do you really like my idea, Andy?"
"Yes. Well, to tell you the truth, I was going to order some burgers. But public humiliation and having the stage fall on him sound better and funnier."
"When I do that, my reputation will collapse."
"Well, if that's what you choose, there's the door. I wish you luck so Hideki doesn't find you."
"OK, I will do it!"
"You didn't have to do that, Clyde."
"Of course I had to, Lincoln. It's not fair that they keep judging you and talking bad about you because of this scum. Remember what you told me? The cave and values metaphor? Well, the fire is already burning."
"Well, you're right. Well, we'll help you in exchange for you admitting that the rumor is false. Also. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't doing this for my own good."
"So you wanted to get something out of this situation?" Clyde asked.
"Yes. But it's not a physical thing. It's something else. Something much bigger than that."
"What could it be?"
Lincoln clenches his fist and responds in an emotionless tone, "Revenge, Clyde. I want revenge."
The boys decided not to ask further, as this was clearly a very personal matter.
"Good. You stay here at Clyde's house."
"Clyde, Andy. Let's go to this warehouse."
"Wait! Are you going to leave us here alone? What if this crazy Japanese finds us?"
"Don't worry, Troy. You can lock yourselves in the panic room my fathers built in the basement. The password is 0, 6, 1, 5, 2, 4, 3, 3. But just in case, I'll give you my number so you can call us if there are any problems."
"Do you have a panic room in the basement? Don't fuck with me!"
"Okay, enough small talk. Let's go."
Lincoln left the house, followed by Clyde and Andy. They got into Clyde's car and headed to the warehouse.
"This car is really cool."
"Thanks. It was a gift from my fathers for making the honor roll at school. Although I only use it on special occasions,"
"Hey, Lincoln, what can you tell us about this guy, Hideki?"
"His fighting style is a type of ninjutsu called kakuryu, which means hidden dragon."
"I've heard of this style. It's very similar to the 'Coverless' fighting style."
"Who taught you how to fight, Andy?" Clyde asked.
"I learned from my mother, and she learned it in turn when she was conscripted into President Guevaro's army when she lived on the island of La Serna."
"Are you from La Serna, Andy?"
"I am part of La Serna. My mother was from La Serna. She met my father when he traveled to Spain to study medicine. She trained me at the age of four. The rest I learned on my own."
"I'm so sorry for your loss."
"Thank you, buddy. You're a very nice guy, Clyde. Even though you're too soft."
After a few minutes of chatting, the boys arrived at the Chandler gang's warehouse.
"well. We're here. Park your car twenty meters away, so we have the element of surprise on our side."
"Hey Clyde, how did you know where Chandler's lair was?" Lincoln asked his friend.
"Everyone at school knows it. We just avoid coming here."
"Ok. Well. Let's walk."
The boys got out of the car. Lincoln tapped his shoe onto the ground, creating a mental image of his surroundings. After that, the boys headed to the warehouse.
The door was still open. A quick glance showed that the hinge had not been torn from the wall but had been split in half, with its ends pointing outward. And with a very noticeable shoe mark.
The boys entered into a triangle formation just as they fought Chandler's gang. They walked slowly into the building with their eyes wide open, or, in Lincoln's case, his ears alert.
When they finally reached the bottom of the basement, where the basement was located, this door had a steel door as thick as a bodybuilder's arm with a lock of the same thickness. This was once a metal ladder that descended to depths of twenty feet. Next to the door were three hammers, which must have been used to defend against Hideki and knock down the ladder. Since he was absent and the iron that once held him was dented and broken, this made it impossible to get out of there once it entered.