Chapter 63 - Gift

Mutou Ryuuji the current Patriarch of the Mutou Clan continued to look at Loki. Seeing the old man staring at him made Loki panic a bit. Ryuuji then pointed at Loki's left forearm that was hidden underneath his long sleeves. 

"Young man, can I see your arm?" 

Loki knew that if he refused someone like Ryuuji, it might get even more troublesome later, so he quietly extended his arm to the old man. Loki decided to risk it since his bruise was already mostly healed due to his regenerative abilities. Making it hard to tell that he got it yesterday. 

When Ryuuji took hold of Loki's hand he raised Loki's sleeves which revealed the bruise on his arm. Matsuri was shocked to see this, but this was not what Ryuuji was interested in. Ryuuji then inserted a bit of his internal energy into Loki's arm. 

The moment Loki felt Ryuuji's inner energy invade his body he quickly stopped his mana from automatically defending. 

"I see... So that's what it was. Young man this bruise of yours has been infected by someone else's inner energy. I wonder why a normal person would have a bruise with inner energy? Who was it that attacked you?" 

"Loki did a martial artist attack you? What happened, who was it? Tell me so that I can catch whoever it was and lock him up for assault and since he was a martial artist we could also add attempted murder in that person's case."

"Detective, I think you have some misunderstanding here. Any crime caused by a martial artist falls under our jurisdiction, not yours. So tell me Mr. Loki where and how did you get that bruise?" 

Loki looked at the three people that were eagerly staring at him. He felt relieved as he already had an answer ready for that. 

"I saw some kids the other day getting heated up and were about to brawl, so as a respectable adult I tried to stop them. Unfortunately, I didn't know they were martial artists so when I tried to block one of their punches this was the result." 

"Damn those sh*tty punks! This is what happens when little kids have too much power. Why didn't you report it?" Matsuri spoke holding back her anger. 

"It's like you said, they're just kids so of course, I didn't report them. You know even adults make mistakes so kids even more so."

Loki answered with a bright smile on his face. When Matsuri heard Loki's reply she was impressed by his answer, it was not only her even Tang Ao was quite impressed and Ryuuji was moved a tiny bit.

They were truly impressed since it was Loki an ordinary person that said it. If those words were said by another martial artist the effect wouldn't be the same. Tang Ao then approached Loki and without saying a word he grabbed Loki's left hand. 

"Hey what are you doing?!" Matsuri shouted about to reach out for her gun when she noticed that the bruise on Loki's arm was starting to disappear. 

"This is my gift in honor of your bravery. Even though you most likely faced a rank one martial artist that has little control of his inner energy, that was still a rather brave thing to do."

Loki looked at his wound and immediately bowed his head. His timing, his actions, and the expression on his face gave nothing away as he truly looked extremely grateful. 

"Thank you very much." 

"It's nothing much, just a simple thing." 

"Even so I truly appreciate it." Loki shook his head as he answered. At this moment his acting was perfect. 

"That's rather surprising, the high and mighty Captain Tang Ao helping someone out." Matsuri released her on her gun and smiled. 

"Well, it is my job to help the citizens of this country." 

"Young man, I am of the same mind as the Captain. I'm truly impressed by the bravery and kindness you showed to those younger than you. So seeing you as an example I better show my benevolence to the younger generation as well. Here you can have this."

While Matsuri and Tang Ao were going back and forth, Ryuuji once again stood before Loki. He then took out something from his pocket and handed it to Loki. When the man standing behind Ryuuji saw what he gave to Loki, he reacted rather aggressively. 

"Father isn't that gift a bit too much to give someone you just met?! He isn't even a martial artist why would you give him a spiritual herb?" The moment the man's words came out of his mouth it attracted everyone's attention. They then looked at the herb in Loki's hands. The man then looked at Loki while glaring at him, not only that he was even emitting a faint scent of killing intent. 

Loki had already noticed the other person's hostility, and so did the others. Tang Ao and Matsuri frowned at the man, but before either of them could say anything Ryuuji spoke. 

"That's enough Kazuki, do not embarrass me!" Being scolded by his father, Kazuki could only grit his teeth and take a step back. 

"Everyone I'm sorry for my son's outburst."

"No, it's alright Sir Ryuuji. I might not know what this thing is, but it must be truly precious. I'm sorry but I cannot accept such a grand gift."  Loki quickly responded as he bowed his head. 

"Please just accept the gift as an apology for my son's rudeness. Also, that spiritual herb can no longer aid me, but it seems like it could aid you." 

"What do you mean?" 

"When I touched your hand, not only did I sense the inner energy of someone else, but I also sense a faint hint of your own inner energy." 

When Loki heard what Ryuuji said, this time he was truly surprised not only him but everyone else that was present to hear that. Loki was sure that he had hidden his mana from the old man, and he was also sure that the old owner of this body had no inner energy based on the memory he received before. Every child was tested at a young age to see if they had the potential to become martial artists, and unfortunately, Loki and his siblings didn't have that potential. Yet now this old man was telling him something different, of course, he was rather shocked by the revelation.