Hulk : The Thunderstrike

The bus fell eerily silent following Marco's blood-curdling cry of pain.

Moments ago, chaos had engulfed the vehicle. Now, everyone's eyes darted between Marco and Antonia, their disbelief palpable.

Marco's arm, which moments ago had held a dagger, now twisted unnaturally—an unmistakable testament to Antonia's sheer strength.

The silence stretched.

Passengers exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions a mix of shock and fear.

They first looked at Marco, whose face was pale and drenched with sweat, then turned their gaze to Antonia.

Good grief—how much force was behind that seemingly effortless slap? If Antonia had aimed for someone's head instead of Marco's arm…

The very thought made everyone shudder.

For a moment, no one dared to breathe too loudly. Then, all at once, their gazes fixed on Antonia as if they were staring at a supernatural being.

Sam, who had been rooted in place, was no exception. His initial intention to rush forward dissolved mid-step. Instead, he froze, his mind racing.

What kind of monster is this rookie?

As a seasoned officer, Sam prided himself on being physically stronger than most, but he knew such power was beyond even him. To twist a man's arm with a single slap—it wasn't just strength; it was precision and control.

Sam's earlier skepticism toward Antonia evaporated in an instant. He now stared at his partner with a mixture of awe and disbelief.

Antonia, however, seemed completely unfazed.

Sam's gaze shifted back to Marco, and the longer he looked, the more uneasy he felt. Something about Marco was nagging at his memory.

"Marco?" Sam muttered aloud, his voice uncertain. "Is this... is this Marco? The Class A wanted criminal from Chicago—the one who murdered a family of five during a burglary three years ago?"

The mention of Marco's name hit the bus like a thunderclap.

Passengers who had been too stunned to move earlier suddenly erupted into panicked whispers.

"Did he just say Class A wanted criminal?" "No way! This guy killed a family of five?" "And we've been sitting here with him this whole time?!" "I was sitting next to him!"

Marco, who had been writhing in pain, stopped his howling. His expression twisted into one of fear and anger as he realized his identity had been exposed.

Antonia gave a calm nod toward Sam and said, "That's him. Marco. I've seen his picture in the papers. There's no mistake."

This, of course, was a lie. Without his uncanny identification skills, Antonia wouldn't have recognized Marco at all. But he needed to give Sam an explanation, and this one would suffice.

Sam, still staring at Marco, let out a sharp breath. "Everyone off the bus!" he barked. "Clear the area—now!"

He needn't have said it twice.

If Marco had been an ordinary thief like Max, the passengers might have stayed to watch the drama unfold. But upon hearing Marco's name and realizing he was a Class A wanted criminal, the passengers bolted for the door.

In seconds, the bus was empty, save for Antonia, Sam, Max—who was still handcuffed—and Marco, who was subdued and in visible agony.

Once the bus cleared out, Sam handed a pair of handcuffs to Antonia, who swiftly secured Marco to one of the bus's metal poles.

Given that Marco's arm was mangled, Antonia cuffed his uninjured wrist, ensuring there was no chance of escape.

A quick body search confirmed it—this was indeed Marco, the Class A wanted criminal who had evaded capture for three years. His crimes had been horrific—breaking into a family home with the intent to steal and ending up murdering all five occupants.

Faced with undeniable evidence and realizing there was no escape, Marco reluctantly admitted his identity. He demanded medical attention for his injuries, but neither Sam nor Antonia paid him any heed.

Sam, who had been tense throughout the ordeal, suddenly broke into an excited grin. "We did it! Antonia, do you realize what this means? We caught a Class A wanted criminal! This is huge!"

Antonia, still composed, shrugged. "Didn't you say these criminals are hard to catch? And even harder to encounter?"

Sam froze mid-celebration, momentarily lost for words. He wanted to argue, but something about Antonia's tone made him pause. Was his rookie partner subtly mocking him?

Unable to respond, Sam waved the comment away and focused on the bigger picture. "Stay here," he said. "I'm calling for backup."

---

Meanwhile, at the police station, Chief Rex was in his office discussing station matters with Instructor Matt.

"Our station's performance has been mediocre for years," Matt began, his tone serious. "If we don't improve, we'll fall further behind. The competition is only getting tougher, and we can't afford to sit idly by."

Rex sighed, his frustration evident. "Do you think I don't know that? But what can we do with limited resources? We're already working our team to the bone."

Matt nodded sympathetically. Grassroots policing was no easy task. Major cases required extensive resources, which they lacked, while smaller cases often went unresolved due to manpower constraints. It was a constant balancing act with no easy solutions.

Changing the subject, Matt asked, "What do you think of the new recruit—Antonia?"

Rex chuckled, clearly amused. "Calling him 'little' Antonia seems a bit ironic, doesn't it?"

Matt smirked but said nothing, letting Rex continue.

"He's a good kid," Rex said. "Top of his class at the academy, excellent grades, but he's young. No experience yet, and with his size and demeanor, he's bound to face some challenges. That's why I paired him with Sam. He needs guidance. In a few years, maybe he'll…"

Before Rex could finish, his office phone rang. He picked up the receiver, his tone casual.

"Hello, Chief Rex speaking."

The voice on the other end spoke rapidly.

Rex's expression changed almost instantly. His calm demeanor was replaced by shock, his eyes widening as he gripped the phone tighter.

"Are you sure?" he asked, his voice rising. "Is it confirmed? Marco—the Class A wanted criminal?!"