Chapter 7

The Book Peddler cracked a smile at Dante's bewildered expression. "So, what do you think? A fair exchange, right?"

The books looked ancient and worn. Dante had never heard of any of the titles, even as a long-practicing Seeker. He recognized grimoires and instructional texts for the Path, both mystical and physical.

"Yes! Take this!" Dante pushed the third steak toward the man.

The Book Peddler, or at least his stomach, had been waiting for this moment. He devoured the food with a speed matching Dante's own and finished in less than a minute.

Dante remained fixed on the books.

Noticing his hesitation, the Book Peddler asked, "Which one would you like?"

Dante considered the options. "Um… The Lesser Kicks of Solomon sounds cool!"

The Book Peddler rose to his feet with a flourish. "Ah, a fine choice, young man. Practice wisely. I hope you surpass Solomon himself one day. Farewell."

He barely managed to leave before several cars screeched to a halt. A mob emerged.

Their leader, a bald man with a menacing face, pointed at the Book Peddler. "Finally found you, you shit!"

The Book Peddler frowned and tried to turn away, but the mob closed in.

The bald man tossed a book at his feet and roared, "You've got balls selling junk like this to me!"

"Now, now. Why blame the Book Peddler or the book that offers wisdom instead of your own failure to practice?" the Book Peddler said calmly, jostling Dante behind him. "Do you blame a celebrity because your girlfriend left you after a poor performance?"

The bald man glared at Dante. "Who are you, pipsqueak? One of his associates?"

"I—"

"He's a martial arts genius… Something I sadly cannot say about you all. My apprentice is the sort of prodigy the world sees once a century!" the Book Peddler interjected. "I strongly advise against fighting him. Walk away. Don't make the wrong choice."

The bald man snapped. "Fuck your bravado! Get 'em, boys!"

The Book Peddler shut his eyes and shouted, "Help me, my apprentice! I'm still recovering!"

The bald man swung a bat, and Dante reacted with one lightning-fast kick that sent him flying backward.

The mob froze. It happened so fast that no one saw it coming. The Book Peddler was right—this young man was a martial artist. A very good one.

"What the hell are you brainlets waiting for?! Get 'em!" the bald man groaned.

The mob finally raised their bats and charged.

Dante snickered and dismantled them in a melee. How much threat could a bunch of ordinary thugs pose to him?

A minute later, the street lay littered with groaning, whining men.

"Time to blast!" the Book Peddler declared. He grabbed Dante's hand and ran as fast as he could.

Dante had no idea where they were headed. They stopped only when the Book Peddler could no longer run. He bent over, catching his breath. "Ah… we're… safe now!"

"Why didn't you fight them yourself, sir?" Dante asked.

"Uh…" The Book Peddler feigned thoughtfulness. "I'm too powerful for garden-variety thugs. If I attacked, they'd only end up dead or near-death. That's why I swore never to fight unless absolutely necessary."

"Incredible! You're as humble as my master! I wish I could be like you. All I can do is throw the most basic punches and kicks," Dante said, torn between awe and regret.

Everyone knew that putting a dozen men with baseball bats down in under a minute was far from "basic," but the Book Peddler didn't argue. He saw Dante's potential and knew he would remain his mark a little while longer.

He smiled. "Alright. Now that you know who I really am, there's no point hiding it. I am an expert martial artist. Life at the top was lonely, so I decided to descend—both literally from a mountain and figuratively—to experience the world."

Dante's heart soared. His instincts had not failed him. "Can you teach me The Lesser Kicks of Solomon?"

"You helped me, so I may consider it. But there's one condition."

"What is it?"

"My lessons do not come free."

"Money? That's no problem!" Dante immediately handed the Book Peddler a bank card. Gwendolyn had given it to him some time ago, and Dante had never asked how much was on it.

The Book Peddler's eyes glinted. He slipped the card quietly into his pocket.

"Can you teach me now? Please!"

Athos had always said Dante lacked both talent and the intelligence to master anything. In turn, Dante had complained that Athos' famed Seven Mystical Arts were far too difficult for an average person to grasp.

By his own admission, Dante was just such an "average young man." He could manage the basics of the Physical Path, but only enough for self-defense. Anything deeper eluded him. He had mastered nothing until now.

This was his chance to change that. Dante could finally learn another powerful technique from an unknown expert.

The problem was that The Lesser Kicks of Solomon was nothing more than a kitschy, thematic zine the Book Peddler had snagged at a yard sale. Dante's naivety was already staggering the Book Peddler. The mark was so simple-minded that he did not know what to do with him.

The Book Peddler cleared his throat. "Haste makes waste, my apprentice. First, I must test your character. Virtue walks hand-in-hand with the Path. You understand that, don't you?"

Dante nodded eagerly. "Yes! You're right! What must I do?"

His phone rang. It was Gwendolyn. "Danny? I'm leaving the office. Let's go home together."

"Alright!"

A thought flickered across his mind. Why not introduce this expert to Gwendolyn?

He dismissed it immediately. There was surely a reason this expert kept his identity hidden. He had to respect that.

"How should we contact each other, sir? Perhaps your number?" Dante asked.

The Book Peddler nodded and left his contact before Dante skipped away happily.

A swindler met many marks, but a mark this naïve, stupidly powerful, and obscenely rich? That was as close as one got to sharing a night with Lady Luck herself. What a catch.

A Porsche had been silently observing the exchange nearby. Its owner and his companion watched in stunned silence.

After a long pause, Eric finally blurted, "What the fuck?! How moronic is he?! That guy's a swindler, I swear!"

He ground his teeth. "I can't believe this is the same idiot who humiliated me! This is bullshit!"

His companion remained calm. "Calm down, Mr. Wagner. You have me now, don't you?"

"Ha. Now that's the enthusiasm I love! Don't let me down!"