Damon raised his head, his eyes locking onto Mr. Steele's with a mix of uncertainty and curiosity. "I don't know," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Mr. Steele's smile grew wider, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he nodded knowingly. "That's fine," Mr. Steele said, his voice low and soothing, like a gentle breeze on a summer day.
"I have an offer for you."He walked towards the table, his movements deliberate and calm, like a predator stalking its prey.
Damon's eyes followed him, wondering what could be the offer that Mr. Steele was about to present.
"You know, even with all that talent, your skills are still not par," Mr. Steele said, his voice measured and calculated. "Today's knockout could be called a fluke."
So here's what I'm going to do." He paused, his gaze intensifying, like a laser beam focusing on its target. "From what I've seen, you're good, but I need convincing. I want you to win your next three fights."
Damon's eyes widened, his mind racing with the implications.
Three fights? That was a tall order, especially considering his last fight was a knockout.
But Mr. Steele's confidence was infectious, and Damon found himself wanting to believe.
"And I will make sure you get the best training," Mr. Steele continued, his voice dripping with conviction. "I'll bring in the top coaches, the best sparring partners. You'll have everything you need to succeed."
He paused, his eyes glinting with determination. "You'll be a contender, Damon. A real contender."
Damon couldn't believe it. This was an opportunity of a lifetime, one that he couldn't afford to pass up. But why was Mr. Steele doing this for him? What did he want in return?
"Why?" Damon asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Mr. Steele ignored his question, his expression unreadable. "Not only will I do that, I'll make sure you get paid for your fights. You'll be well taken care of."
He pulled an envelope from his suit pocket and held it out to Damon. The white envelope seemed to glow in the dim light of the office, its edges crisp and sharp.
The sun was setting, casting a golden light over everything. He smiled to himself, thinking about the offer Mr. Steele had made.
He walked across the parking, he couldn't help but mumble to himself, "I'll run through them." He felt a surge of determination and confidence. He was going to win those fights, no matter what it took.
He settled into the worn leather seat of the cab, the soft creaking of the cushions enveloping him in a sense of familiarity. "To the Sunset Motel," he said, his voice firm and clear, as he gazed out the window at the passing cityscape.
The drive took its time, the cab crawling through the evening traffic like a slow-moving beast.
Damon decided to open up his status interface to pass some time. He focused his mind, and a holographic display flickered to life in front of him.
The interface materialized, its sleek lines and minimalist design a testament to its advanced technology.
[Congratulations for completing the quest]
The first notification read. He smiled, a sense of pride and accomplishment washing over him like a warm wave.
[A dramatic finish]
[Reward: Striking move, and proficiency feature]
He grinned, feeling a surge of excitement at the new abilities and upgrades.
He spent the next few minutes scrolling through the interface, taking in the details of his reward.
The cab ride seemed shorter now, his attention focused on the holographic display.
The cab driver's voice broke the silence, "We're arriving at the Sunset Motel, sir." Damon nodded, his eyes still fixed on the interface.
He closed the interface, the holographic display flickering out of existence, and looked up at the motel's neon broken sign, its bright colors glowing like a beacon in the evening light.