Hulk : The Thunderstrike

Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Buy One, Get One Free, My Regrets Are Endless!



Antonia's sudden action brought an eerie silence to the bus.

Earlier, Sam had been watching with growing unease as Antonia, without any clear evidence, detained Max in front of everyone. It was an act that could easily offend both the suspect and the passengers.

Sam, who had been a seasoned officer for years, found this rookie's behavior reckless. He understood that young officers were often eager to make a name for themselves, but there was a line between enthusiasm and proper procedure.

Arresting someone without evidence was crossing that line. Even if there were suspicions, the protocol required careful confirmation before making an arrest. What if they caught the wrong person?

In today's world, where information spreads online like wildfire, a mistake like this could have serious repercussions. The Chicago Police Department's reputation would be on the line, and both Sam and Antonia would face backlash.

At that moment, Sam deeply regretted bringing Antonia along. Perhaps it would have been better to let him patrol for a few weeks first to temper his enthusiasm.

But reality had other plans.

In one swift move, Antonia subdued Max. His towering height of 6 feet 5 inches and his commanding presence were enough to overwhelm the suspect. Max, under the weight of such authority, quickly broke down and confessed his crime.

He admitted to being a thief and offered to return the stolen items.

Antonia, confident in his assessment, released his grip. The passengers watched as Max swallowed hard, too scared to even think of running.

Reaching into his pocket, Max pulled out a brand-new smartphone and handed it over to Antonia with trembling hands.

"That's my phone!" the owner cried out, his voice filled with relief and gratitude.

The bus erupted with reactions.

"Wait, he's really a thief?"

"I can't believe it! He looks so honest!"

"This officer is incredible! He caught the guy right away!"

"Amazing!"

Sam was stunned. Just moments ago, he had assured the phone's owner that recovering the stolen property would be nearly impossible. Antonia's bold move had completely turned the situation around.

Not only had the suspect confessed, but the stolen phone had been returned on the spot.

Antonia had achieved this on his very first day on the job!

Sam felt a swell of pride. Although he had initially doubted his rookie partner, Antonia's success reflected well on both of them. After all, they were a team. This victory meant a bonus—not a large one, perhaps—but the honor and recognition were what mattered.

Sam could already imagine bragging about this incident to his friends over a few drinks.

With a smile, Sam approached Antonia and clapped him on the back.

"Great work, Antonia!" Sam praised. "I underestimated you. To catch a thief on your first day—impressive!"

Antonia responded modestly, though there was a glint of pride in his eyes. He quickly cuffed Max, ensuring the thief couldn't slip away.

Sam, still amazed, asked, "How did you know he was the thief?"

Max, equally curious, looked up at Antonia.

Antonia shrugged nonchalantly. "I have a knack for spotting criminals. Plus, his behavior was off—he seemed nervous, and his eyes kept darting around. But the biggest giveaway was his pants. They were bulging, as if he was carrying something more than just a phone."

Sam nodded, satisfied with the explanation. As Antonia's mentor, he felt it was his duty to temper the rookie's enthusiasm with a word of caution.

"Antonia," Sam said seriously, "it's good to be motivated, and I won't scold you today. But in the future, remember this: as police officers, we must follow procedures. Don't let your instincts lead you to act impulsively. Discipline is key…"

Before Sam could finish, Antonia's eyes darted to another passenger. Without warning, he lunged forward and grabbed the man, lifting him effortlessly as if he were a sack of flour.

"Antonia!" Sam yelled, his voice cracking with shock.

The bus descended into chaos.

"What's happening now?"

"Why is he grabbing someone else?"

"Let me go!" the man shouted, struggling in Antonia's iron grip.

Sam's heart raced. The thief had already been caught—why was Antonia arresting another passenger?

The man Antonia had grabbed was Marco, and he was squirming desperately to break free.

"Antonia, put him down!" Sam demanded, panic seeping into his voice. "We've already caught the thief. You can't just grab random people!"

Sam's mind raced. If Antonia was wrong this time, the situation could spiral out of control. The passengers were already on edge, and another mistake would tarnish their success.

But then, Sam's sharp eyes caught a glint of metal.

"Be careful!" he shouted, his voice filled with urgency.

In Marco's hand was a dagger, and he was aiming it directly at Antonia's chest.

Regret washed over Sam. Why hadn't he stopped Antonia sooner? If Antonia got hurt—or worse—it would be his fault.

Time seemed to slow as Sam braced for the worst.

But Antonia didn't miss a beat. Without even turning his head, he raised his free hand and slapped Marco's wrist with precise force.

The dagger clattered to the floor.

"Ahhh!" Marco screamed in pain, clutching his broken wrist.

The bus fell silent once more.

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