Outside, Ben and Donna headed straight to Nelly’s room. As fate would have it, they encountered Alpha Kilian just outside the door. “Daddy!” they both called out in unison.
Alpha Kilian turned to look at them, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. “What are you two doing up so early today?”
The siblings exchanged knowing glances before Donna eagerly replied, “We want to keep Nelly company!” Alpha Kilian nodded, a soft smile forming on his lips. “Okay, go inside then. I have to step out for a little while.”
Donna nodded in acknowledgment, but as Alpha Kilian began to leave, Ben and Donna shared a quick, silent conversation through their eyes, a fleeting moment of understanding passing between them. They rushed up to Alpha Kilian, their voices filled with a mix of excitement and urgency. “Daddy, are you busy today?”
He paused, turning his head slightly to gaze at them while continuing to walk. “What’s on your mind?” he asked, his tone curious.
“I heard Alpha Dave has an armory. Can you take us there for a visit?” Ben piped up, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm.
Alpha Kilian stopped in his tracks, clearly intrigued by the request. “Why do you want to visit an armory?” he inquired, raising an eyebrow.
“I just really want to see it! I’ve always been interested in that stuff, so I thought it would be cool to check it out,” Ben explained, his excitement palpable.
Alpha Kilian narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing his son. Sensing his father’s hesitation, Ben quickly added, “It’s okay if we can’t go. I didn’t mean to pressure you.” His casual tone only made Alpha Kilian feel more conflicted. It was rare for Ben to ask for anything, and with their relationship slowly improving, he didn’t want to deny his son this small request.
“We’ll need to ask Alpha Dave for permission first,” Alpha Kilian finally said. Ben’s eyes lit up with hope as he nodded eagerly.
“Let’s go!” Alpha Kilian stated, leading the way downstairs.
Once they reached the lower level, they found Dave engaged in a phone call. Alpha Kilian and Ben exchanged glances, deciding to wait quietly rather than interrupt.
When Dave finished his conversation and turned around, he noticed the pair watching him. “What’s going on?” he asked, his tone curious.
Alpha Kilian took the lead. “Dave, what’s the status of your armory?”
Dave’s expression shifted to one of suspicion. “Why do you want to know? What are you planning?”
“I’m not the one who’s interested,” Alpha Kilian replied, gesturing toward Ben.
“It’s me! I want to see the armory!” Ben exclaimed, his enthusiasm unmistakable.
Dave chuckled, his skepticism evident. “Why does a kid like you want to see the armory?”
“Because I’ve always been fascinated by that kind of stuff! I’ve never seen a real armory before, and I really want to check it out!” Ben insisted, his sincerity shining through.
Dave studied Ben closely, his doubt evident. While he recognized the boy’s intelligence, it still surprised him that a child would have such an interest in firearms.
Noticing the scrutiny, Ben spoke up. “Alpha Dave, do you not believe me?”
“Honestly, should I?” Dave retorted, raising an eyebrow.
“Of course! It’s a dream for every kid to own a gun!” Ben declared, his tone earnest.
“Kids usually prefer toy guns. How many actually want to see real firearms?” Dave challenged.
“I do! I want to see the real ones!” Ben shot back confidently.
“Is that so? I was just checking if you were normal,” Dave replied, a smirk playing on his lips.
Ben raised an eyebrow defiantly. “I’m my daddy’s son, so it’s only natural for me to be extraordinary!”
Alpha Kilian couldn’t help but smile at his son’s boldness. He raised an eyebrow at Dave, prompting, “So, what’s the verdict? Are you going to let him visit the armory or not?”
Dave stared at them for a moment before responding. “Do I even have a choice, now that you’ve asked so nicely?” Alpha Kilian smirked, clearly pleased with the outcome.
“Let’s go then!” Dave said, leading the way.
Once in the car, the three of them sat in anticipation, the atmosphere charged with excitement. After what felt like an eternity, the vehicle finally came to a halt. They had arrived at a large, imposing basement.
As soon as the car stopped, a man approached and opened the door. “Dave,” he greeted with a nod, acknowledging the presence of Alpha Kilian and the boys.
Dave responded with a brief nod before the man led them inside, guiding them to an elevator that took them to the sixteenth floor. Inside the elevator, Ben looked up at Alpha Kilian, a mixture of excitement and nervousness on his face. Neither of them spoke, but a shared anticipation filled the air.
When the elevator doors slid open, they were greeted by the sight of over ten people standing in the corridor. Upon seeing Dave, they all greeted him in unison, “Dave!”
As Dave strode forward, Ben felt a swell of admiration for his father’s presence. It was clear that he commanded respect.
“Ben, do you know what kind of gun this is?” Dave suddenly asked, pointing to a firearm nearby.
“It’s a P1A907 made in Granatano,” Ben responded confidently.
Dave’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Didn’t you say you’ve never seen one before?”
“Alpha Dave, while I’ve never seen one, I know that this gun has a powerful recoil and can be dangerous if misused. That’s why it’s a limited edition,” Ben explained.
“Then how do you know so much about it?” Dave inquired, genuinely curious.
Ben smiled proudly. “I told you before, I love guns! I’ve done a lot of research on them, and I can name all the guns here if you’d like.”
Dave glanced at Alpha Kilian, then back at Ben. Without further ado, he picked up another gun nearby. “What about this one?”
Ben examined the firearm closely. “That’s a PA903. It’s also manufactured in Granatano, but it’s less popular due to its poor shooting range.”
Dave grabbed another weapon. “And this?”
“That’s a ZB-93, manufactured in Jetroina,” Ben replied without hesitation.
“What about this one?” Dave asked again, holding up a plain-looking gun.
Ben narrowed his eyes, studying it carefully. He walked closer, taking the gun from Dave’s hands to inspect it more thoroughly. “Why can’t you answer me?” Dave prompted, slightly amused.
Ben raised his head, meeting Dave’s gaze. “Alpha Dave, this gun looks like it has been modified. There’s some wear and tear, but I can tell it’s an Irushean gun. Am I right?”
Dave was taken aback, his expression one of disbelief.
“Am I correct, Alpha Dave?” Ben pressed, eager for validation.
After a moment of silence, Dave finally nodded. “You’re right.”
A proud grin spread across Ben’s face as he soaked in the praise.
“However, Alpha Dave, I have to point out that the modifications on this gun are subpar. It lacks precision for short-range use, but it can be quite dangerous if fired from a distance,” Ben noted.
Dave’s eyes narrowed again, glancing at Alpha Kilian, who wore a contemplative expression. After a brief silence, Alpha Kilian murmured, “You even noticed that?”
“Yes!” Ben replied eagerly.
“How did you figure it out?”
“I’m not sure how to explain it, but I can show you,” Ben said confidently.
“Show me?” Dave asked, intrigued.
He passed the gun to Ben, who then asked, “Do you want me to modify it?”
“Go ahead and try,” Dave encouraged.
With a grin, Ben walked over to a nearby table, quickly examining the gun before beginning to dismantle it. Alpha Kilian and Dave watched from a distance, their expressions a mix of curiosity and admiration.
After a few moments, Ben meticulously reassembled the gun, tightening bolts and adjusting loose parts as if he were playing a game.
Finally, he smiled with satisfaction, putting the gun back together. “Alpha Dave, it’s done! Please try it out now.”
Dave looked at Alpha Kilian, who nodded in approval. Then he walked to the shooting range, taking aim at a distant target. He fired twice, and both shots landed precisely in the center.
“Alpha Dave, you have great gun skills!” Ben exclaimed, his face lighting up with excitement.
Dave turned to him, a meaningful smile breaking through. “What’s wrong, Alpha Dave?” Ben asked, sensing a shift in the mood.
Dave’s expression grew serious. “Do you remember when I told you about your daddy’s injury?”
Ben nodded, suddenly somber. “Yes, I remember.”
“Your father got injured because of this gun. If he hadn’t used it, he wouldn’t have been hurt by others.”
Ben’s gaze shifted to his father, the weight of Dave’s words settling in.
Alpha Kilian stepped forward, taking the gun from Dave’s hands. “If you hadn’t mentioned it, I might have forgotten about this.”
“You may have forgotten, but I remember it clearly. I know who modified this gun, and when I meet him again, I’ll make him pay,” Dave vowed, his voice low and intense.
Alpha Kilian remained unfazed, yet there was an unmistakable glint in his eyes as he looked at Ben. “When did you pick up these skills?” he asked.
“I…” Ben hesitated, then continued, “Daddy, if I told you it was just natural talent, would you believe me?”
“Yes,” Alpha Kilian replied, his tone serious.
How could he not believe him after everything that had happened?
Dave snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Alpha Kilian, then back at Ben. “Alpha Kilian, your son has extraordinary talent!” he said sincerely.
Alpha Kilian glanced at him, appearing calm. “There’s not much I can do about it; genetics can be quite powerful.”