Hulk : The Thunderstrike

Rex, the director of the Huxi Police Station in Chicago, received a call from Sam.

On the phone, Sam reported that Antonia, a newly recruited police officer, had apprehended both a petty thief and a Class A wanted criminal during their patrol.

Initially, hearing about the thief, Rex didn't even flinch. His expression was calm, and he gave Matt, the instructor, a shrug—a silent gesture of "Sam's overreacting about some minor theft again."

But then, Sam dropped the bombshell.

Antonia had also captured a Class A wanted criminal.

"Marco?" Rex's voice rose with disbelief.

That same Marco who had murdered an entire family of five during a botched burglary three years ago? The very criminal who had been evading capture for years and whose case had baffled law enforcement across the city?

Rex's disbelief turned to shock as Sam elaborated. He couldn't believe it. Antonia, the rookie who had only just joined their station, had managed to capture Marco—on his very first day of patrol.

Sam didn't claim any of the credit for himself and reported everything truthfully. The evidence was irrefutable; the entire operation had been recorded by their law enforcement cameras, and there was surveillance footage from the bus to back it up.

When the call ended, Rex, still stunned, turned to Matt. "Matt, assemble the team immediately. We need to head to Dinglong Street and pick them up. And inform the higher-ups about this immediately!"

Matt's curiosity was piqued. "What's going on, Rex? What happened?"

Rex, still reeling, quickly summarized the situation.

When Matt heard the details, his scalp tingled. He stared at Rex in disbelief before exclaiming, "Marco? The Class A wanted criminal?"

He paused, his expression serious. "The last time our station encountered a Class A wanted criminal, wasn't it during that operation two years ago?"

Rex nodded gravely. "Yes, and we paid a heavy price—one officer killed, three seriously injured, and six with minor injuries. All that just to capture one man."

Matt sighed deeply. "And now, Antonia—a rookie—managed to catch Marco without even breaking a sweat?"

The two shared a moment of stunned silence before springing into action.

---

Meanwhile, on the bus at Dan Street, Antonia stood motionless, lost in thought.

Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind:

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for catching a petty thief for the first time. Reward: +1 Speed.]

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for catching a Class A wanted criminal for the first time. Rewards: +5 Strength, +5 Speed, +5 Temperament, and the identification skill radius expanded to ten meters.]

The system rewards had arrived.

Antonia couldn't help but notice the immediate changes in his body. He clenched his fists, feeling the surge of power coursing through him. His muscles tensed, his strength and speed heightened, and even his demeanor seemed to exude a newfound confidence and authority.

His stats, according to the system, now read:

Strength – 21,

Speed – 20,

Temperament – 36.

These numbers far exceeded those of an average person and even rivaled elite special forces.

Antonia's transformation didn't go unnoticed. Max, the petty thief who had been handcuffed to the bus pole, shrank in fear. The sight of Antonia's enhanced presence made him tremble uncontrollably.

Sam, who had just finished his call with Rex, glanced at Antonia and felt a chill run down his spine. "What's with this guy?" he muttered to himself. "Did capturing Marco boost his confidence or something?"

Sam turned his attention back to Antonia and said, "Do you even know what it means to capture a Class A wanted criminal like Marco?"

Antonia gave him a blank look, prompting Sam to continue.

"This isn't just some ordinary arrest," Sam said, his voice filled with awe. "Do you realize what you've just achieved? A Class A wanted criminal like Marco has been on the run for three years. Capturing him is a huge deal."

Sam's tone grew more excited. "Second-class merit. That's what this means! You're about to receive an individual second-class merit!"

Sam paused for emphasis. "Do you know the last time our station earned a second-class merit? It was two years ago, during a large-scale operation. Back then, it took an entire team, and we suffered heavy losses. But you—Antonia—you managed to achieve this all on your own!"

Antonia remained calm, though inwardly, he was thrilled.

As Sam spoke, the faint sound of police sirens echoed in the distance. Moments later, several patrol cars, their lights flashing, sped toward the bus.

---

When Rex and Matt arrived at the scene, they were greeted by the sight of Marco, handcuffed and subdued, and Antonia standing tall and composed.

Rex immediately approached Antonia, clapping him on the shoulder. "Incredible work," he said, his voice filled with pride. "Antonia, do you understand the magnitude of what you've just done?"

Matt chimed in, his tone equally impressed. "This isn't just a victory for you—it's a victory for the entire station. You've made history today."

As they escorted Marco into one of the patrol cars, Rex turned to Sam. "We need to prepare for a press conference," he said. "The higher-ups will want to commend this achievement, and the media will be all over it."

Sam nodded in agreement. "Antonia deserves all the recognition he's about to get. Catching Marco is no small feat."

Antonia, ever modest, simply nodded. "I was just doing my job," he said.

But as the team drove back to the station, Antonia couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. The system's rewards had not only made him stronger but had also set him on a path to greatness.

And this was only the beginning.

---

Back at the Chicago Police Station, Rex and Matt wasted no time briefing the team on the day's events.

"We've captured Marco, the Class A wanted criminal," Rex announced. "This is a monumental achievement for our station. Thanks to Antonia's quick thinking and bravery, we've brought a dangerous criminal to justice."

The room erupted in applause, and Antonia found himself at the center of attention.

But as the celebrations continued, Antonia's thoughts drifted to the system and the rewards it promised. If capturing a single criminal could bring such significant gains, what other opportunities lay ahead?

For now, though, Antonia focused on the present. The recognition and praise from his colleagues were well-deserved, and he was ready to take on whatever challenges came next.

This was just the start of his journey as a police officer—and he was determined to make every moment count.