Two days later...
Frizz was reading his new list of possible acquirable talents while eating breakfast. Though not a single one of them piqued his attention. He cursed, noting that it was probably bad RNG today.
For the past two days, he wasn't able to complete any of the talent prerequisites. The requirements proved to be difficult. He was getting restless, the contract provided him with better selections but with also greater difficulties.
(Why don't I have some cheat skills or something? This is ass.)
"Frizz, was that your girlfriend last time? I apologize for barging in." Weng broke Frizz from his thoughts, drinking coffee.
"No, that wasn't my girlfriend. Please stop thinking that."
Weng nodded, acknowledging. "Well, listen. I have several new tips for you, there's another shady agency here. They're not scamming but they're always delaying their employee's wages."
Frizz kept on eating his breakfast, savoring the juicy steak that his father cooked. Beside his plate was a brand new phone, bought yesterday. It was the latest model of the iPhone.
"I got work today. Maybe tomorrow."
"Well okay. I will keep you posted."
An hour later...
Frizz was inside the convenience store, silently stocking the shelves while humming a tune. Meanwhile, a focused glare from behind kept him on edge, it was Mina.
He didn't have the energy to deal with her today, he had a lot of things on his mind.
"Frizz?" Mina called out, fiddling with her fingers.
(Here we go.) Frizz rolled his eyes as he faced her, not bothering to hide his mentally fatigued face. Mina was taken aback, she could tell his stress.
"Maybe we can talk later in the break room. When you're free." Mina softly smiled, walking away while glaring
"Sure." Frizz smiled, agreeing and slightly glancing at the window.
Outside of the convenience store were several busy shops and snack stores. While he couldn't pinpoint the exact number of people spying on him. He was certain that there were several.
(Who are these pricks? More of those drug gangs? That heavy guy? This is making me anxious.)
Frizz sighed. Heading into the breakroom and gesturing for Yani, who was tinkering with the cash register, to follow.
"What's the haps? Is there anything wrong?"
"Yes, several. First things first, someone is spying on me. I don't know who they are but I can tell."
Yani peeked outside the breakroom door, glaring outside the convenience store. "Any theories?"
"I don't know. I've made a lot of enemies."
"I got to go deal with them, confront them. These pieces of shit. I will beat their ass in broad daylight, to hell with them." Frizz cursed, surprising Yani.
Yani smiled, eyes gleaming. "Exactly, nip this in the bud. I fully support you!" As soon as she said that, she held out both her hands and chanted a spell.
"What're you doing?" Frizz inquired as his body glowed, feeling light and quick. "What was that!?"
"Feetstrider! It's a spell that slightly increases your movement and reaction speed. The effects will stay until you sleep." Yani announced, feeling proud of herself.
"I have several spells and most of them are for buffing and debuffing. I took your words to heart and I avoided any flashy spells, sticking to utility and practicality."
"What's your level?"
"Fifteen," Yani said with confidence, hoping for recognition.
⟐
Detective Micah Tiu coughed, choking on a hot noodle. "This brand is ass."
"It's okay. It's not that bad."
The two detectives chittered while staring outside the convenience store, inside a civilian vehicle. They're accompanied by other two undercover police, keeping an eye on a convenience store clerk.
"How did he break an arm with grip strength alone? I find that troubling." Detective Soon added, observing the target and a woman enter the breakroom.
"This year is full of mysteries. I swear to god, there are multiple reports of flying people, people disappearing, people pulling things out of nowhere, and the most outlandish of all. A military base ransacked by multiple terrorists." Detective Soon added, scratching his nape.
Detective Micah cracked his knuckles. "There's also that missing cargo ship, vanishing somewhere in the South China Sea."
"I wonder what happened to the crew."
The target finally came out of the breakroom, exiting the convenience store and heading towards them. The convenience store clerk was on high alert, fists clenching.
"What's he doing?"
"Relax, he doesn't know why we are here."
In eerie timing, their target: Frizz Jay Sadies, glanced at their vehicle. Their hearts skipped a beat as the target approached the snack shop and bought two hamburgers.
"Haha, that made my heart jump. He was just buying lunch." Detective Soon joked whereas his partner's gaze intensified.
(No... that wasn't a random glance. It was focused like he knew we were here. I know that look.)
Detective Micah exhaled, keeping a close eye on Frizz. (What are you hiding?)
⟐
Frizz entered the breakroom, brows furrowing. He tossed the two hamburgers on the table, then rubbed his temples. Yani noticed his stress.
"Who was it? Anyone, you recognize?"
"It's the cops. The police. I don't know why they're after me. Why is this happening to me?" Frizz frustratingly declared, closing his eyes as Mina entered the breakroom.
"Yani, Mr. Sim is looking for you," Mina added, not even looking at Yani as she exited the breakroom.
Mina noticed that Frizz was frustrated, she approached her while holding her hands together. Anxious.
"Is there something wrong?"
[System]
New Objectives for New Name.
Stop the surveillance: 0/1.
Rewards: [Shadowhide] perk.
Frizz exhaled a deep breath upon reading the new objectives. He knew that it was a bad idea to try and stop the spying on him. Noting that it's significantly better to leave it alone and instead let the authorities stop on their own accord.
"I reject. Not happening." Frizz denied it, planning to resume his work until he instantly felt another presence staring. This time, it was malicious and threatening. He couldn't help but gulp.
He looked around the breakroom, looking for the source but there were no windows inside. Nowhere to spy on him. He reached a single conclusion.
"Remote viewing."
Later that night...
The windows were closed and covered, save for a small gap to peek outside. Frizz's room was covered again. The police weren't the only people spying on him, there was something hostile too. He wasn't ready for a fight.
He pulled out his new phone and contacted Divine Hesoyam Rosa. The phone rang for several seconds.
"Hello, who is this?"
"This is Frizz. I need some help."
"Frizz! I was wondering when you'd call and what kind of help you need?"
Frizz then explained everything to Divine. The police surveillance and the malicious spying. She listened to his words, nodding in every sentence.
"Frizz. The world is wising up to our existence. Every day, there are more and more people awakening with a system. Ever since you awakened, there have been at least three other people that awakened."
"Also, believe it or not. Hei is also trying to talk with some politicians. He's trying to make a deal that's good for us levelers."
Divine confessed, revealing everything that the 'Status Quo' group was busy with for the past few weeks. From guiding new levelers and opening new dialogues with several politicians.
"Look. What I am suggesting is that you lay low for now and we'll come back to you." Her words were genuine, she couldn't spare some time for now.
"Hello? Frizz?" Divine asked as Frizz stopped responding.
Inside the room was fear, pure fear. The air was thick, and the floor becoming slippery. A single bead of sweat dripped from Frizz's jaw. There was someone behind him. A person whose presence caused him to have difficulties breathing.
"End the call." The person behind advised as Frizz unquestioningly obliged. The voice was undoubtedly a man, the voice was soft yet every word spoken seemed like it was carried with venom.
"Who are you?" Frizz inquired, voice shaking.
The person smiled, revealing a huge grin.
"You've caused enough problems for us." The door then opened, it was his older brother Weng.
"Frizz, I have some leftover cake." His brother stopped, eyeing the figure behind Frizz.
"Frizz? Who is that?" A sharp speed object hurled straight at Weng, piercing his heart.
"W-what?" His older brother said, dropping to the floor.
"WENG! You piece of shit! Surge!"
[System]
Skills: Silenced.
Frizz collapsed to the floor, losing consciousness, feeling that he was then carried away. His older brother lying dead on the floor was his last thought.