⟐
Several days later...
Two military personnel were talking to each other, and an executive officer was summarizing the results of a previous operation with a tablet in hand. They were outside the military base since the major general was expecting someone.
"Within five days, both the military and police have captured several remaining holdouts. We're now searching for the stragglers." The executive officer said, pausing for a moment.
"The Korique Cartel is now dysfunctional, effectively eliminated, General." The executive officer announced, a soft smirk on his face. An armored vehicle, arriving precisely on time, parked a distance away in front of the military camp.
"You are dismissed." The major general said with a disinterested salute, flicking away a smoked cigar before entering the armored vehicle.
The major general immediately noticed the warm temperature inside the vehicle; it was uncomfortable. The major general, while sweating anxiously, asked the passenger inside the armored vehicle, "Is this true? What the president is saying?"
"Yes, as of now, you'll be in charge of handling a new task force. TF-LUPIN." The passenger answered, handing over a classified marked file.
The major general sighed and opened the classified file, spotting the highlighted word: LUPIN.
"This could've been an email. Why all this?" The major general asked, confused.
"Too sensitive, the previous presidential administration had a pro-CCP sentiment. We're still removing their influences, both private and public."
"The Americans aren't any better." The uniformed personnel retorted, reading the classified files.
"Task Force - Level Up Phenomena Investigation and Naturalization."
The major general read the file, letting out an anxious breath. There were already rumors of people with abilities, and this file has confirmed his suspicions.
"I can't believe these people exist." He said while flipping through the pages, anxiously skimming through everything.
"As of now, Merisi Gonzaga, you'll be in charge of these people of interest, handling the monitoring and neutralization." The passenger leaned in, revealing his full-suited figure.
It was a politician, a senator, that Gonzaga recognized.
The senator smiled, adjusting his graded eyeglasses, before handing Gonzaga another classified file. This time, it was a list of the known levelers in the country.
Below the leveler's names and profiles, there was a threat assessment. Gonzaga flipped through the pages, and most of the levelers were marked as extremely dangerous.
Except for a few.
One of them was a leveler named Hei de la Roxas, assessed as COMPLIANT.
"You mean naturalization?" Merisi Gonzaga inquired. "Some of these people are useful."
The senator remained quiet for a moment, glaring daggers at Gonzaga. "Yes, some."
The armored vehicle started, driving away, surprising Gonzaga.
"Senator, I have an urgent meeting in two hours, and I have to prepare."
"You can make time; this is important. We've managed to capture one, and I think you'll want to see this."
The senator insisted, pulling out a tablet and showing an image of an imprisoned man, restrained with chains. "He's partly Mongolian, named Cheng Guo."
⟐
Election Day.
Frizz glanced at his newly renewed voter's identification. The first and main reason to get one is that your ID expires after missing a single election. He sighed while waiting in line; he didn't like politics unless it involved violence.
(An armed rebellion, now that's my kind of politics.)
The elementary school was packed with voters since every election day, the school turns into one big voting station with the teachers acting as both the vote counters and handlers.
The waiting line was long and arduous, vendors were selling refreshments, and the voters were just as frustrated as Frizz; they, too, didn't want to wait this long. The oppressive heat caused several people to give up and instead decide to vote later that night.
(Should I also come back another time? Yeah, I should come back another time. I can't bear this.)
Frizz said, walking away from the line and heading home.
(It's been almost two weeks, and there are still no decent talents to acquire. This is just bad RNG.)
Frizz mulled while checking his phone. He has received multiple notifications from his several social media accounts. It was his family, trying to reach him, trying to get him to come back.
He felt a pang of pain in his heart after abandoning his family in an instant. However, the pang soon vanished, erased by his suppression perks.
[System]
Long-term objectives completed.
Long-Term Objective - Bring down the city's drug trafficking ring: 1/1.
Long-Term Objective - Bring down the city's organ trafficking ring: 1/1.
Long-Term Objective - Bring down the city's sex trafficking ring: 1/1.
Rewards: Nothing, the user's participation wasn't enough.
"Oh, there it is. That cartel is finally gone for good. At least in this city."
Frizz said with a disappointed tone, the idea of letting the military and the police handle everything didn't sit right, and not only that. The whole group were now under government surveillance.
Frizz, sighing and closing his eyes, tried to recall the heated meeting held in the abandoned building that served as one of Status Quo's makeshift base.
⟐
Hei de la Roxas willingly gave over all the group's information to the government, their abilities, and levels. Justing Hang was especially furious about the revelation.
Nathaniel Macaraeg, Divine Hesoyam Rosa, Danna Young, and Rylai Capones agreed with Justing Hang. Angrily stating that this breached the group's core ideals and that they were supposed to keep the status quo, not break it.
"You're a piece of shit. I respect you, but what the fuck!? This was not what I agreed on." Justing Yang exploded on Hei, pointing his huge rifle at Hei.
"This is the only way to save all of us. Think about it, with our power, we could be ostracized and hunted down. I made sure to avoid that, giving us all a chance to live normal, fulfilling lives."
Hei explained, and Frizz could tell that there was some genuine truth to his words, but Hei was not stating the full picture.
"What makes you think you can deliver that?" Rylai Capones barked, disappointed with Hei.
"I don't have proof, but China is already exploiting their levelers along with the United States and also Russia. I want what's best for everyone, to avoid the worst possible outcomes for us."
Hei explained, but most of his words fell on deaf ears; the situation remained tense.
"Everyone please, Hei deserves the benefit of our doubt. His Informed Opinion talent has saved us several times, united us several times." Nacky Ping tried to defend Hei despite his doubts.
⟐
"Frizz, what happened to you?" A familiar voice asked, interrupting Frizz's thoughts.
"Huh? Mr. Sim?"