At the storefront, the young saleswoman froze at the sight of Axel.
Moments ago, she had seen off a wealthy customer, but now, shirtless and smirking, Axel had appeared from nowhere behind the car.
"Am I seeing a ghost?!" she whispered, covering her mouth.
When Axel looked back at her and grinned, her heart skipped a beat.
She bolted into the shop, slamming the door shut behind her.
Axel stepped over the idling car and approached the glass door she guarded.
He tapped it lightly.
"Come out and serve a customer."
"I won't! Waaah!"
The saleswoman burst into tears, unable to process the man in front of her.
He wasn't human—he had to be a demon or the Talon from Gotham's nursery rhymes.
Even as a fleeting thought, it made her legs weak.
Axel, of course, didn't know or care about her mental gymnastics.
He merely knocked on the glass while glancing at her legs clad in black stockings.
Not that he was a pervert—he wouldn't waste energy on a woman who clearly was terrified to the point of losing control.
Rolling his eyes, he drew his pistol and tapped the glass.
"Let's try another approach. This is a robbery. Open the door, or I'll shoot."
The saleswoman's fear, surprisingly, lessened.
Relief washed over her—he wasn't a demon or a mythical killer.
He was just a human thief.
"Don't shoot! This door is very expensive!" she stammered, pushing it open.
"I… the cash register?" she added, trembling.
"It's just me. The boss isn't here, and my colleague went shopping… please don't hurt me."
Axel pointed the gun at the counter.
"Go change your clothes. That smell is strong—hurry!"
"I…"
"What 'I'? Move!"
Axel tapped her head with the gun stock.
Standing at 1.86 meters, he dwarfed the 1.7-meter saleswoman.
Startled, she rushed toward the staff lounge to compose herself, stopping only briefly to open the cash register.
Clang!
Coins and small bills scattered.
Axel didn't care for money yet—he needed clothes.
While she changed, he selected a black suit and disappeared into the fitting room.
When he emerged, the saleswoman was mopping near the door.
Axel's voice froze her motion.
"You'd better take the money and leave quickly. Someone's already called the cops," she said.
"I didn't press the alarm, but… they saw you threatening me."
"Ha, thanks. Wrong occasion, though. Otherwise, I'd have toasted your cooperation."
Axel glanced at the surveillance cameras, then walked over and shot all three monitors.
The saleswoman clutched herself, nearly wetting herself again.
Axel's next question distracted her.
"Are these the only cameras in the store?"
"Uh… one more in the staff lounge. Is… something wrong?"
"Nothing."
Axel moved to the cash register.
The shop was mid-luxury; most customers paid by card, so the cash was minimal.
He grabbed a handful of small bills and stuffed them into the saleswoman's chest.
She froze.
"Consider it a reward for your cooperation. If anyone asks, just blame me."
Axel fired a few haphazard rounds in the store for effect, emptied the magazine, reloaded, and stepped outside.
People scattered like birds at the sound of gunfire.
Only two burly men remained, pistols drawn.
"Buddy, relax," Axel called, raising his gun skyward.
"I haven't hurt anyone. I borrowed less than a thousand Dollars and a suit, that's all."
They checked inside the store—she was fine, the clothes untouched.
Satisfied, the men holstered their weapons.
One middle-aged, balding man ran inside to check on the saleswoman.
The younger man addressed Axel.
"The cops usually hang out two streets south. If you steal another car, you might get away. Everyone has a bad day sometimes. Good luck, Buddy."
"Ha, thanks. Still some good people in Gotham," Axel said with a grin.
He glanced in the direction the man indicated and approached a parked car, ready to smash the window with his gun stock.
The young man dashed after him, yelling, "You motherfucker, that's my car!"
"Damn it, why didn't you say so sooner!" Axel muttered, pulling back his hand.
"Almost hurt an ally," he grumbled, shaking his head.
---
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