"J-Just what is that kid…?" asked a well-dressed middle-aged man in the Hospital.
Meanwhile, Von was staring at the pathetic excuse for an Awakener passed out beneath him.
He debated killing the worm.
However, after some thought, he figured this wasn't the time to be murdering humans. After all, his little 'trick' of presence may have worked on this lot, but they were either weak or inexperienced to the extreme.
If it came down to an actual life-or-death battle with a true B-Rank Hunter, he would die without a shred of a doubt.
And killing humans in public would certainly warrant at least Hunters of that level chasing after him, demanding his head.
"I need to regain some of my strength first."
At this understanding, Von mercilessly pulled out his stolen scalpel knives.
"A-Ahhhhh—!"
Ignoring the screams of the hollering idiot, he slapped him in the face.
"Shut up and give me everything you own."
A demand.
"W-What are you talking about!?" Matt senselessly shouted, pain and anger consuming his existence. "You fucking crazy bastard!! Just you wait until my Father hears about this!!"
SLAP!
"I don't give a damn about your father, your grandfather, or your goldfish," Von coldly said, his hand still smoking a little from how hard he hit Matt. "But if you want to make it out of here with your life intact, I suggest you empty those pockets."
Tears bubbled up in Matt's eyes as he clutched his sore cheeks.
He wanted nothing more than to skin the bastard before him.
However, that scary look on his face and his emotionless tone was all that was needed to quell his thoughts.
"F-Fine, take it!" Matt mumbled as he unwillingly emptied his pockets.
After collecting all the dropped items in one quick scoop, Von shifted his icy gaze to the two trembling not far away. "Your turn," he said, more a demand than a request. "Or… did you think you would be getting away scotfree?"
"!!!" "!!!"
None of them could comprehend how the once submissive and timid Von had become like this—but he was terrifying now!
"O-Of course we weren't planning to leave you with nothing, Boss Von…!"
Steven and Priscilla appeared before Von, rubbing their hands with expressions meant to appease.
Without a moment of hesitation, they dropped everything out of their uniform pockets. They did so while smiling at Von, praying that what they had was enough to spare them.
Though they didn't quite know why they needed to be spared by someone who should've been an Unawakened Trash…
Still, they felt they would be in huge trouble if they didn't comply, so that's exactly what they did.
While counting through the wads of cash in his hands, Von finally dispersed that invisible pressure.
Immediately after, Matt and the other two Awakeners subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.
"Alright, you can fuck off now," Von shooed them away without even looking at them. He was too busy calculating his gains.
"A-As you wish…!"
Steven and Priscilla had already accepted their losses. Matt did so as well but not before giving Von a particularly nasty glare.
The two Lackeys helped the limping blonde man get away from the Hospital's parking lot.
At some point, a black-tinted car showed up where the three were walking. They got into the car and sped off into the technologically advanced city, which seemed to stretch endlessly in every direction.
Von knew they'd be back—and not alone—but he couldn't find even half a fuck to give.
"5100 Earth Alliance Credits," he stated as he flicked through the wad of cash he organized. "It's enough to cover a month of Mom's hospital bill. Not bad."
After the expansion of Prime Earth into Blue Star, most currencies ceased to properly function. Therefore, a new currency system was put in place, where everyone would use "Human Alliance Credits", which came in both physical and digital forms.
For the average family in America, 2000 Credits was enough to get them by for a month.
This also emphasized just how expensive the Hospital Bill was—and for the lowest-tier treatment at that.
"I plan to regain my strength, and money in abundance will come as a result," said Von. "I'll ensure Mom receives the best treatment."
Although he'd love to take his Mother away from that dreary Hospital room altogether, he knew that wouldn't be possible. After all, he possessed neither the power nor capital to take care of her by himself.
Permanently curing her so she no longer required treatment was also outside of his capabilities. After all, even he, with all his knowledge of the future and the secrets of the Universe, knew not of a way to permanently cure the Everstill Affliction.