The King of City

11 K.O.

"And tell me, Larson, did you study enology or is your talent empirical?". Katy asked, openly interested in knowing more about Lionel.

"I haven’t studied any of that, I just like to experiment and with wines, everything is possible, besides ...". Replied Lionel, who before finishing his sentence was pushed by the muscular man who had contacted Chris minutes before.

"YOU THINK YOU ARE VERY HANDSOME, SEDUCING THE ENGAGED GIRLS, THEN LET ME TELL YOU THAT YOU ARE A DAMN WORTHLESS". The man shouted as he continued to push Lionel, who still hadn’t got up from his chair and was surprised by that unknown guy who was attacking him.

"Calm down brother! You must be confused, I understand that you are drunk, but I’m not who you are looking for”. Said Lionel in a friendly tone.

"Don't come give it to me as a good man, stupid!". The man even more exasperated continued shouting. "NOW IF YOU ARE SCARED, BUT TO CONQUER YOU AREN’T SO SHY". It didn't take long for more people to come to the table to see such a show.

"Dude, I'm not patient at all and you're attacking me for no apparent reason". Lionel replied.

"We are only drinking some wines; nobody came here looking for a girlfriend". Corrine said trying to calm down and thus dispel that discussion, despite this the muscular man refused to leave and continued with the insult towards Lionel.

"OHH WITHOUT APPARENT REASON, THEN WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH A ENGAGED GIRL? YOU ARE A DAMNED SACK OF MANURE”. He continued screaming, Katy knew immediately that Chris was to blame for that embarrassing spectacle, for the muscular man pointed at her.

Lionel wasn’t willing to attract more attention because that would jeopardize his new identity and they could easily recognize him, so he didn’t want to dialogue with that man anymore, therefore, he proceeded to punch him in order for the man to calm down and withdraw.

"SO, YOU KNOW HOW TO FIGHT!". was the man's response to the attack, who responded with another punch that Lionel quickly dodged, consequently Lionel decided to end the matter once and for all and gave the man a blow to the knee that soon bowed him, after that, Lionel moved nimbly and took him by the back and squeezed him neck until the man was suffocating.

"DO YOU WANT MORE FONDLING?" Lionel yelled at the man releasing him so he could breathe.

"No way," said the man as he coughed as he was still short of breath.

Since the man refused to surrender, Lionel chose to use one of the techniques that had been very useful in some of his missions, which consisted of hitting the man's ears until he lost his balance and fell unconscious, no more than two minutes passed and the muscular man was already lying on the bare floor.

"My God, how could you do that? That man is almost two and a half meters”, said one of Katy's friends in surprise.

"I’ve seen that technique, it’s very similar to the one used by a figure of the oriental martial arts who was called The King of Fighters," said Katy who was still very surprised by the way Lionel had knocked out the man.

On the other hand, Corrine wasn’t surprised because she was convinced that the training that Blackwing gave their men was quite dangerous and she had to study it in order to be able to counteract this type of attack.

“Are you related to The King of Fighters? Did he train you?”.  Katy continued with the interrogation.

"Calm down Katy, let me process all those questions". Was Lionel's response to so many questions.

Meanwhile, Corrine, thought about requesting information about The King of Fighters, because it didn’t seem far-fetched that this talented character was the coach of the members of Blackwing.

Later, after catching his breath, Lionel looked at Katy:

"Since you mention it, I think I do know of someone they call The King of Fighters, but I'm not sure he’s the same martial arts expert you're comparing me to". Lionel replied to Katy's concerns.

"I don't think you don’t know The King of Fighters, you’re surely kidding me, apart from being a good wine mixer you are also a good comedian". Said Caty, distrusting that Lionel really knew that great martial arts idol that she admired so much. However, taking a closer look at the fight she had just witnessed and Lionel's agile movements, it didn’t seem far-fetched that Lionel himself was The King of Fighters, even if he had that gangster look, which deep inside maybe he used to avoid being recognized by his enemies.

It was already very late in the morning, so Lionel and Corrine decided to leave the bar for the villa, therefore, they said goodbye to Katy and her friends. They didn't hear from Chris again, so they assumed he ran away from the bar after seeing the beating Lionel had given the muscular man.

On the way home, Lionel thanked Corrine for leading him to distract himself a little:

"Thanks Mary, I had a great time at the bar".

"Are you crazy! If that violent man almost destroys your face”. Corrine said.

"Don't be silly, this blow will disappear tomorrow. It was also fun to test my reflexes with that man and in the process, I trained”. Said Lionel smiling.

Once at home, they sat for a while in the living room to rest and chat a little more:

"Do you really know The King of Fighters?" Corrine asked.

"I don't really know who that Katy girl was referring to, even if I was with a man who called her that, but I'm really not sure it's the same person". Was Lionel's reply.

“Are you interested in The King of Fighters? If you want, I can get back in touch with him and present him to you”. Said Lionel, laughing at Corrine, noticing her interest in the character of the night.

“Don't be an i***t, only that girl really spoke highly of the guy. Rather tell me how did you learn all those techniques to knock people out?”. Corrine expressed trying to figure out Blackwing's training methods.

"Since I was 5 years old, I practice martial arts, I’m simply not afraid of anything, so it’s easy for me to be physically agile" was Lionel's answer trying to close the subject because he didn’t want to give any further explanation about his way of fighting.

“Mary, I already feel exhausted, I going to sleep a little. Thank you for helping me to relax”. Said Lionel, who after that, started to go up to his room to think about how to start his investigation into Elizabeth's whereabouts, but the dream overcame him.

"Of course, Larson, I’m also really exhausted and it is too late. Good evening Larson” Corrine said goodbye.

Once in his room, Corrine decided to call his agents, despite the time:

"Agent, I need you to track me down to a man they call The King of Fighters, age, background, place of residence, anything that can help to find out the identity of that man," was Corrine's request.