Chapter 4: Inside the Ability Union Headquarters

For Ability Union headquarters:

The building stand like palace—concrete, iron, old bullet marks still dey some wall. Every step I take, ground dey echo. Sun dey shine, but the air cold like rain just fall. The air get that old generator smell, mix with disinfectant and sweat—like hospital and police station join together.

As I land under the building, air ripple around me.

People notice me from window. Some dey whisper, some dey shift chair. Na me, Timi, the border guard—some dey fear, some dey envy.

Inside, dem don already dey talk about last night wahala.

Na their way. Before person reach gate, matter don enter roundtable. E be like market talk—everybody get opinion.

All the blame just dey point one direction—my side.

Every sentence na my name. E dey pain, but na so e be for this life.

"With Timi power, e no suppose make this kind basic mistake."

Person for back just dey shake head. Some dey nod, like say dem be teacher for school.

"From wetin I hear, na only ten small demons enter last night. Even if Timi power no strong reach, e suppose handle ten demons. Maybe after too much demon fight, e don dey compromised..."

If you hear this kain talk, you go know say dem dey plan set person up. Na so dem start before dem remove chairman for old union.

"No talk that kind thing if you no get evidence. No matter how, Timi don help humanity well-well."

One old soldier try talk for my side. But small voice no dey carry for market.

"See ehn, make we do am like this: when Timi reach here, make e apologize for public, then write report give Union. After that, make we leave the matter."

Another person try form peacemaker, but na so Union dey—everybody dey protect e own interest.

"..."

Na silence follow. E get as e be. When wahala too much, people dey fear to talk.

My ear sharp die.

All this talk, I hear am. If I talk say I no hear, na lie.

I hear everything clear.

Even the whisper wey dey follow for corner, I dey catch am. Training don sharpen my sense.

But one question dey disturb me:

Why person talk say na only ten demons?

For this kain big fight, who go count demon reach ten, come stop? My mind dey suspect say person dey hide truth.

As I wan enter, plenty defense team people with gun rush come out.

No be play, these ones dey ready. Guns up, boot dey ground, eyes dey shine like torchlight.

"Stop!"

Dem voice carry. Everybody for corridor freeze. Even one cleaner drop broom, run commot.

"This place na Ability Union and Defense Team Headquarters. No unauthorized entry!"

I look am, just dey reason. Me wey build this place? But I calm. I remember when we build this place—na old market land before. Now na power people dey run am.

Dem surround me, dey size me up.

If na before, dem for greet me, call me chairmo. But today, dem dey flex muscle, dey act movie.

Musa lead them.

Musa wear new uniform, badge shine like say na gold. E dey look me, eye no blink.

When he see me, he just form smile. "Timi, you finally show face."

E talk am with voice wey no get joy. Na that kain politeness wey dey pain pass slap.

"Na him be Timi?"

Some of them mouth open. Some dey frown—dem never believe say na me.

Everybody shock.

Person wey never see lion before go always think say lion small like dog. Now dem dey see with their eye.

I no dey show myself for public, so most people only sabi my name.

True true. I no dey waka up and down like star. Many of dem only dey hear legend.

One team member hiss, "SSS-level ability user? Wetin be the big deal? Oga Musa, you sef don reach SSS-level now, abi?"

For my mind, I just dey laugh. See as small pikin dey talk to elder.

I just look Musa with small surprise.

I see pride for e face. I never too watch am since, but today e dey form lion for my side.