Revived: The Archmage's Return to the Urban World

Chapter 7

Five hours had passed since the kidnapper called them.

“What are we going to do?!” Mr. Drummond demanded an answer from Jake. “Time is ticking! Who knows what that man is doing to Caroline, now!”

Jake looked at his father then he walked towards the small table where the whiskey was on. “I know, and I am worried, too. But panicking won’t help! They need something from us, so they won’t kill her.”

“How sure are you?!” his father shouted. The old man then sagged on a swiveling chair, grasping his head with two hands. “You know how much I love your sister.”

He sighed and looked at his father. He couldn't remember his father ever being like that for him. He grimaced and poured whisky into a glass, recalling painful memories with his father.

He was ready to drink when his father's phone rang. It was from Caroline's phone. His father made a troubled face before answering the call.  He gave his father the go-ahead and asked him to turn the phone to loudspeaker, which the old man did.

“Hello,” Mr. Dummond answered while breathing heavily. “Where is Caroline?” 

“She’s fine,” the man on the other line answered. “Maybe sleeping inside a container right now.”

“What the hell do you need?!”

The man giggled, then burst out laughing. “You have to be polite when asking me. I have anger issues and you won’t like what I can do when I am angry.”

“Enough with the nonsense!” the old man shouted. “Tell us what you need!”

Once more, the man laughed. Jake used his enhanced senses again to try locating the man. And he heard nothing different from the first call, indicating that the man did not move. 

"I need $50 million in cash." Then have someone bring it to the address I will send. You must bring it as soon as you receive the address. I'll be there before the sun comes up. And remember, no cops or bodyguards! Or your beautiful daughter will die." then the line then abruptly disconnected.

“Hello! Hello!” Mr. Drummond shouted while holding the mouthpiece of the phone near his mouth. “Damn it!”

Then his phone bleeped. The old man took a look at it and then read the message before showing it to Jake. 

“So, my guess is right. He is in a cargo terminal near a seaport.” Jake said while looking at the phone. “I am going,” he continued before looking at his father.

His father stopped and gave him a dirty look.

“I am serious,” Jake made a smirk-covered remark. “Let me handle this. I’ll bring Caroline safe and sound and I will find out the one behind this.”

“What can you do?! Huh?!” his father pushed him. 

“What? Are you getting worried that I might die?” 

“Who said that? I am worried that your sister might be in more danger if I let you handle this.”

Jake sighed heavily before nodding. He drank some whiskey and then set the glass on the table. He glared at his father before walking towards the door. 

“I see that I haven’t fully convinced you despite what I’ve already done,” Jake said while walking. “I’ll see you again before sunrise. You better prepare my rewards.”

He raised his right hand then snapped his fingers in his right hand.. And right after that, his father fell unconscious. He stepped outside and clapped his hands once. And the metal door closed and locked by itself. His father’s bodyguards became furious, but before they could come to get him, they all lost consciousness. 

“Sorry, but I can’t let you interfere,” he said.

He made a quick check to make sure no one was around.  He then raised his hand and performed a teleportation spell. A symbol appeared beneath his feet and above him,  illuminating a dazzling orange light. He then closed his eyes.

“With the powers of the stars above. Bring me to the place I have in mind!” he said as he pondered the location's address, and in an instant he vanished, and when he opened his eyes, he was already in a cargo terminal near the seaport. 

He began to walk. Only the faint sound of metal clanging, ocean waves, his footsteps, and the fierce wind could be heard. The area was also bordered by tall stacks of shipping containers, which formed several alleyways. He could also feel the cool breeze of the ocean.

“Are you the one from the Drummond Pharmaceutical and Cosmetics Corporation?” It was the same manly voice he heard over the phone. That made him peered in front of him then a tall skinny man with black pushed back hair emerged from the darkness. Then lights began to turn on.

“Yes. I am the one they sent,” Jake replied while staring at the man. “Where is Caroline? I want to know if she is safe first.”

The man snickered. “You’re a smart one. But what if I tell you that she is not safe?”

Jake's eyes widened, but he tried hard not to lose his cool. He approached the man gently and placed his face in front of him. “Then there will be no deal. And you’ll die here.”

The man stared at him in the eyes before bursting out laughing. “Scary,” the man said this before heading backwards and approaching a stack of shipping containers. He unlocked the one at the bottom then opened it. There, Jake saw his sister lying on the floor and unconscious. 

“So where’s my money?” the man asked. “I don’t have all day to chitchat with you.”

But Jake didn’t reply. He just stared at the man then he heavily sighed. “Who’s behind this?” he asked.

“It’s not important, is it?” The man pulled the gun from his waistband and pointed it to Caroline’s head. “Just give me what I am asking you.”

“What about… I double that price? Just tell me the one behind this.” 

The man chuckled and scratched his head with his gun. “Are you serious? That’s a good deal! But I don’t betray clients. That’s how I do business. Now, where is the money?”

“I don’t have it.”

“What?! Are you kidding me? Do you know what that means?!” The man suddenly became furious. His eyes bulged and veins appeared on his neck. Then he pointed the gun to Caroline again. 

“I’m serious, I don't have even a single cent here,” Jake continued.

“Then it will be the end of both of you!” 

The man was ready to pull the trigger when his hands began to shake and he was unable to do so.  Then his arm moved on his own until the gun was pointed at his own temple. He turned pale and his breathing started to get heavy while just staring at Jake. 

“I am asking you nicely but you won’t talk.” Jake said while walking towards the man. Then he touched the Aetherlock. “I guess I have no choice but to know it myself.” He put his right hand on the man’s neck and squeezed it tightly. 

“W-what are you?! Who the hell are you?!” 

Jake closed his eyes and whispered a spell, after which a sigil appeared on the man's head. He was then able to enter the kidnapper's head. And what he saw made him stop. He recognized a very familiar face. A medium-sized man with light skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes. The visage of a person who tormented his teenage life before.

“So it was Anthony Smith,” he said before releasing his grip on the man’s neck.

“H-How did you do that?” With a shaky voice, the man asked. Sweat began to form on his forehead, and his finger on the trigger of the gun began to move in preparation for pulling it. 

But before Jake could cast another spell to completely incapacitate the man, a swarm of men appeared from the shipping containers around them, all armed with rifles and pointing them at him.

Then the man started to laugh. “You might kill me. But my boys will bury hundreds of bullets in your and sister’s bodies!” Then the man spat on Jake’s face. “Now boys! Let it rain! Make this man’s body disappear with your guns!”

Jake's expression hardened. He was about to wipe the spit off his face when a swarm of men sprayed bullets at him.