Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth

Orty asked, "Do you intend to throw the match and let Natasha win one?"

"Not necessarily throw it, maybe she can win the third one, that way everyone saves face."

"What if she loses again?" Orty had been watching the match from the sidelines, and as an observer, she could tell that Natasha had been on the defensive the whole time.

"I had no idea your boxing skills were that advanced."

Luke laughed, "Are you starting to admire me?"

"Hehe." Orty chuckled lightly, then swiftly changed the subject, "How about we discuss what you're going to treat me to?"

The two got into the Mercedes, and Luke said, "The host will accommodate the guest, you pick the restaurant, I'll take care of driving."

"Is an expensive one okay?"

"Of course."

"Looks like you made quite a bit of money on this mission."

"You're still hung up on that?"

"Is it that obvious?"

"Hehe." Luke laughed, started the car, and slowly drove into the street.

"Boom..."

Suddenly, a loud explosion came from not far away.

Luke felt a piercing pain in his eardrums, followed by a brief ringing in his ears.

Moments later, screams rang out as pedestrians fled in panic.

Luke looked at the passenger seat, "Are you hurt?"

"No, you?"

"I'm fine." Luke got out of the car and looked toward the source of the explosion.

He saw the wall of the Vaughan Jujutsu Club had collapsed, emitting thick smoke.

"Damn it, the explosion happened at Vaughan Jujutsu Club!"

Orty also cried out in shock, "Natasha is still inside!"

Luke pulled out his gun, scanned the surroundings, but saw no suspicious figures, "Call 911, I'll go find Natasha."

He rushed back to the club with his gun, the smoke was thick, and the dust was everywhere—rushing in like this could easily lead to suffocation from the dense smoke.

Luke went back to the car to get a wet towel from a bottle of mineral water, tied it around his head and across his mouth and nose, and carried half of the remaining bottle of water back to the club's entrance.

Entering the first floor of the club, he saw that the blast had caused severe damage, walls had crumbled, training equipment and cabinets were broken, and some flammable items had caught fire.

"Ah..." Luke faintly heard cries of pain.

He turned and saw through the rubble and debris that a person seemed to be buried.

He quickly went over, moved the rubble aside, and found a Latin youth who had been injured in the explosion, with wounds on his face, head, and legs.

Despite the blood on the youth's face, Luke recognized him—it was the same boy he had sparred with at the club today.

Luke shouted, "Christian, can you hear me speak?"

"Yes."

"Can you move?"

"No, it hurts, everything hurts."

Luke pulled out another wet towel, moistened it again and placed it over the boy's mouth and nose, "Can you breathe?"

"Yes."

"Good, take deep breaths."

"I will."

"Where's Natasha?"

The boy said with a choked voice, "She's in the office on the second floor, hurry and save her."

Luke realized that the situation was dire, as the second floor had suffered even more damage from the explosion. The blast likely originated from there, meaning Natasha's situation could be even more perilous.

He didn't stop to ask more questions and quickly climbed the stairs to the second floor.

The staircase between the first and second floors had collapsed in parts, Luke grabbed the bent railing to pull himself up, and the second-floor corridor was covered with debris and shattered glass.

The smoke on the second floor was even thicker than the first; Luke wet his towel with mineral water again to prevent inhaling too much dust.

He found the office of the Jujutsu Club, the door had been blown off, and the windows shattered. A strong scent of blood wafted from the office.

Luke glanced inside the office, and saw blood and flesh on the walls, the floor, and the debris,

"Fuck!" Luke clenched his fist and his face showed anger.

Luke had seen many crime scenes before, some even bloodier than this, but those victims had no direct relation to him.

Natasha was Luke's jujutsu instructor, and though they hadn't known each other long, she had genuinely taught Luke, a familiar friend blown to death in an instant—no one could remain calm.

Orty had also come to the second floor, urgently asking, "Did you find Natasha?"

Luke looked at her, "You should go downstairs."

"I want to see her." Despite his protest, Orty insisted on walking into the office, upon seeing the gruesome scene, her voice broke,

"My God, is that Natasha?

Why would someone do this?"

"This is a crime scene; you should head downstairs.

Check on the boy's condition." Luke patted Orty's shoulder, trying to offer some comfort.

Orty glanced back at the office one more time, her expression filled with sorrow, and then she silently went downstairs.

Luke did not leave with her; he stood staring into the office for a moment before he proceeded to search the other rooms for survivors.

"Woo woo..."

A siren sounded outside.

Police cars, ambulances, and fire engines were arriving one after another outside the Vaughan Jujutsu Club.

And, of course, there were news vans. Such big incidents always attracted their presence.