Hearing the commotion outside, Cardo respectfully bowed to Peter and said, "Thank you for your help, boss. I'll be right back!"
Without waiting for a response, he turned and strode out, a surge of eagerness in his steps. This was the moment he had been waiting for—a chance to test the full extent of his strength after receiving the super soldier serum.
Peter stood up from his seat, curiosity twinkling in his eyes. He followed Cardo at a relaxed pace, wanting to witness firsthand the effects of the serum he had provided.
After all, this serum had once transformed a frail young man into Captain America—a legend who went from a scrawny 1.6-meter-tall weakling to a towering 2-meter powerhouse. His physical strength, agility, and endurance had reached superhuman levels.
Cardo's physical condition before the injection wasn't far off from that of Captain America before his transformation. Peter was eager to see just how much power Cardo could unleash now.
---
Outside the building...
A group of about thirty rough-looking bandits wielding long knives crept cautiously toward the house. They didn't dare rush in recklessly. There was something strange about this place—an ancient-looking building in the middle of such a remote area? Suspicious didn't even begin to cover it.
"Boss, should we go in?" one of the bandits asked nervously.
The scar-faced leader glanced at the building again, then cursed under his breath. "Damn it, let's go! Finish this job, and we're done for good!"
His words ignited a flame in the bandits. They tightened their grips on their weapons, preparing to charge.
They had heard rumors—there was a wealthy merchant from the Land of Waves traveling to the Fire Country for trade. The merchant was said to be carrying a massive fortune. Capturing him and seizing his wealth would mean a life of comfort and indulgence for all of them.
At first, they had hesitated, suspecting danger. But after trailing the merchant and seeing that his bodyguards were nothing more than ordinary men—no ninjas among them—their confidence had soared.
Just as they prepared to storm the building, the front door creaked open.
Out walked a towering figure, nearly 1.9 meters tall, muscles bulging beneath his fitted shirt.
The bandits halted in their tracks, eyes widening in disbelief.
Wasn't this the same rich merchant they saw earlier? The short, timid man who had scurried into the building?
What in the world had happened? Had he... transformed?
"Did he just upgrade himself?!" the scar-faced bandit muttered in astonishment.
The others behind him looked equally stunned, some even gasping aloud. The change was so dramatic that they could hardly believe their eyes.
Cardo walked forward slowly, each step heavy and filled with confidence. His gaze was calm, almost indifferent, as he faced the group of stunned criminals.
The bandits froze, unsure of what to do.
Cardo came to a stop directly in front of the scar-faced leader. Now standing half a head taller, he looked down at the man with a quiet intensity.
A flicker of fear crossed the bandit leader's face, though he quickly shook it off. How could a seasoned killer like him be afraid of a merchant, no matter how big he had suddenly become?
Gritting his teeth, the scar-faced man roared, "Brothers, kill him for me!"
With that, he raised his knife high and slashed toward Cardo's chest.
The others rushed in after him, a chaotic flurry of blades aimed to cut Cardo down.
Instinctively, Cardo raised his arms to shield himself.
CLANG!
The sound of metal striking metal rang out, sharp and startling.
The scar-faced man stared in disbelief. His knife had struck Cardo's forearm—and bounced off.
The younger bandits behind him skidded to a halt, stunned. The knife had clanged against Cardo's arm like it was hitting solid steel.
"This can't be real!" the leader growled. Enraged, he swung his blade again and again at Cardo's arms.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
Each strike sent up a spray of sparks. The metal clanged against Cardo's skin like it was colliding with iron.
By the time the bandit paused, panting, the blade in his hand had fractured, pieces of it littering the ground. Meanwhile, Cardo hadn't moved a muscle.
Cardo casually looked down at his forearm. A few shallow marks were visible, but no real injury.
"As expected," he murmured to himself. "This strength... is incredible."
Then he looked up and smiled.
To the bandits, that smile was anything but comforting. It was the grin of a devil.
"Run! Ghost!" the scar-faced man shouted in panic. He dropped the broken knife and turned to flee.
The rest followed without hesitation, scattering in all directions.
But Cardo's eyes flashed coldly. "Did I say you could leave?"
In a blur, he appeared behind one of the fleeing bandits and delivered a single punch to the man's back.
Boom!
The bandit flew through the air like a ragdoll, smashing through several trees before crashing to the ground, unmoving.
The remaining bandits screamed in terror.
"Help! He's killing us! Help!"
Cardo raised an eyebrow. "Wasn't that what you said earlier when you came after me?"
He lunged forward again and struck down the shouting bandit with a single punch. The man collapsed instantly.
From the doorway, Peter watched the one-sided massacre with fascination.
"Wow. One punch, one kill," he murmured. "Impressive."
One by one, the bandits fell. Those who tried to fight were crushed. Those who tried to flee were caught. Cardo's movements were like a hurricane—unstoppable, merciless.
Within minutes, only one man remained—the scar-faced leader. He stumbled through the forest, breath ragged, terror written across his face.
When he sensed a presence behind him, he turned—and found Cardo standing there, expressionless.
With a cry of desperation, the man dropped to his knees, kowtowing frantically.
"Please! Please spare me! I was wrong, I was wrong! I'll never do it again, I swear!"
Cardo stared down at him, unmoved.
His mind wandered back to the day when his own bodyguards had knelt in front of him, pleading for mercy. But unlike now, no one had come to save him back then. No one had stopped them from killing him.
If not for Peter and the serum, he would have ended up a lifeless corpse in some ditch.
His rage surged.
"You think begging will save you?" Cardo whispered.
Without another word, he raised his hand and struck.
Smack!
The force of the slap was monstrous. The scar-faced man's head twisted violently—and was torn clean off. Blood gushed in all directions as the body crumpled.
At the doorway, Peter flinched at the gruesome sight. He closed his eyes briefly, muttering to himself, "What a mess. What a sin... Make sure to clean up the bodies, will you? I've still got work to do."
"Got it, boss!" Cardo called out.
He began gathering the corpses one by one, dragging them off into the woods for disposal.
---
A few minutes later, Peter returned to his store, feeling rather satisfied. He now had confirmation: Cardo's physical strength was unmatched in the current ninja world.
Not even trained ninja elites could withstand a punch from him. Unless someone truly extraordinary emerged, Cardo's life was no longer in danger.
Just then, Cardo stepped into the store, wiping his hands on a cloth. "Boss, I've taken care of everything."
Peter smiled. "Good job. Is there anything else you need?"
Cardo shook his head. "No, boss. I don't need anything else right now."
Peter looked slightly disappointed, but quickly regained his cheerful tone. "Alright then. If you ever need anything in the future, you know where to find me. Like I said—if the money's right, I can get you anything."
Cardo bowed deeply. "I definitely will, boss. Thank you again."
Peter nodded and watched him go, a small grin playing on his lips. Things were just starting to get interesting.