It was only when Brian left that Jack finally got to mull over what Brian said. She would be living with a woman 24 hours from now on: a literal stranger in his house and who knows where? Jack couldn't even begin to fathom if this was truly happening. How would the set-up even be?
Would they really just move on like this, as if everything were normal—just like in those novels? What would his family and friends think? And what about hers? How could they leave such a beautiful young woman in the care of someone of the opposite sex?
Jack wanted to bash his head to the concrete from just thinking, but for now, he has priorities. 'Even without the system telling me, I need to see it for myself….what my life's really like now. Once I step out of this room, I'll finally know where I am.' Jack thought carefully.
"Hello." Jack was the first to speak as she looked at Lucy with a smile.
While his current lifestyle wasn't exactly glamorous and respectable, he'd grown up and gone through school with a great self-esteem not only because of his personality but because he did not exactly lack praise and confessions from the opposite sex.
Instead of replying however Lucy glanced over her shoulders. When realized she was the only one in the room with him, her face turned pale before she greeted him back embarrassed.
Jack light shood his head as she was still trying to make sense of her. 'She's more beautiful than most girls I've met… so why is she lke this?'
"Lucy, right? Are you hungry?" Jack asked, maintaining that same charming smile he'd perfected over the years. But Lucy looked around once more, checking over her shoulders as if still expecting someone, which was starting to annoy Jack.
At that moment, he almost believed that the girl must not be shy and was deliberately conducting some masterclass in the art of pretending he didn't exist.
"Hungry? No, no, I'm not sir. You do not need to worry about me." Lucy started stammering, making Jack sigh inwardly and shook his head in response.
'There's no point talking to this girl. It's not like I need her permission anyway, right?' Jack wondered and prepared to leave.
"S-Sir… wait! Where are you going?" Lucy stammered again, eyes wide as she saw him slipping on his indoor slippers. "D--do you need help?"
After a short conversation, they agreed to go outside. However Jack sighed. He could still smell the sweat and smoke from yesterday despite the care they seemed to have given him while he was asleep.
Thankfully, the room actually had a bathroom. Inside, Jack removed his clothes and as the warm water poured over him he couldn't help but feel like a special person. Not only was the shower great, the bathroom had its own closet when his room back at his place didn't even have one.
Inside, he saw neatly folded clean clothes and he had to admit it impressed him since this level of service was usually only found in luxury hotels. Even the closet was nice.
While showering, Jack had a lot of thoughts about Lucy. He still couldn't figure why someone so timid had been assigned to him. By his own reasoning and from what Brian had said, her role was to monitor his movements and report back to Brian. But how could someone who could barely hold eye contact and seemed to shrink to her own skin if she could carry out such a task?
But after mulling over it he figured that this was better than having someone who would be up his business all the time or someone always asking him where he went to. After all Lucy seemed like a total pushover and most importantly she was not a killer.
Soon they stepped out of the room, making Jack breathe in relief.
Outside, He saw a corridor lined with identical doors which were bristling with high-tech security. Every so often, someone in a black office uniform would pass them by.
The system couldn't stop notifying from time to time.
[First mission in progress: Advancement detected.]
[You have gained knowledge about yourself.]
[10 exp received]
[70/100 exp]
'So I will gain this 'knowledge about myself' as long as it concerns that guy's previous life.'
Occasionally Jack could see Lucy stealing glances at him, and a sly and self-satisfied grin couldn't help but secretly form in his face. He was no stranger to such looks but when it comes, it always made him embarrassed.
'To think she has already fallen for me.' Jack thought, shaking his head in weary disbelief.
But Lucy was thinking differently. She couldn't help but notice that despite Jack acting nonchalant and unbothered, his eyes were practically twinkling.
'Him being Vice-Executive Brian's grandson was a shock, but is this her first time visiting Branch 5. According to his profile, he is 24 years old, have had field experience and training in various kinds of martial arts and techniques, but now he's like a kid,' Lucy assessed, stifling a laugh as she watched him wiggle with contained excitement.
Lucy led him to what looked like a nondescript delivery door.
Lucy, like all the others in the place, seemed to have an access card. She would just swipe it on a rectangular holo-tech and with a quiet click, doors would be automatically unlocked. That was how the door in his room also opened.
They soon found themselves walking in a pristine hallway of steel and cold linear lights. The air was cool and controlled, making Jack wonder how expensive this place was.
"Um… Sir, it seems to be your first time in Branch 5."
Lucy then said, catching Jack off guard, surprised that she actually knew how to start a conversation. Honestly, it was hard to believe this girl was someone trained.
However, Jack did not reply.
'She can tell?' he thought in sudden panic. He also actually couldn't say it was indeed his first time. Who knows how many time the previous user had gone here? What if she reports this?
After quick thinking, Jack smiled and looked at Lucy's eyes making her uncomfortable.
'Bingo!'
"Is it really my first time? I don't know." He said laughingly, and added, "Would you tour me then?"
"Understood Sir!"
Jack didn't expect her to answer so quickly but he didn't complain.
"Um, Branch 5 has six sectors. We are currently in Sector B: surveillance and data management. Most of the Organization's intel passes through here before it's filtered upward. The room earlier was also Sector B."
'Does that mean I was also under surveillance?' Jack thought, a chill creeping up his skin, though he kept his reaction to himself. He was actually surprised about another thing. He was sure that the girl had communication problems, but the way she spoke now made him realize she must be the type who was good at studying.
Through a glass wall, Jack and Lucy watched as rows of analysts worked at a half of terminals while holo-screens were floating in the air filled with maps, dossiers, transaction logs.
Then at the center there was a map of Province C and D of the country which were rotating while dozens of red and blue markers were blinking in various points.
For a brief moment Jack's mouth had slipped open but instantly regained his composure.
'This is honestly… like a spy movie,' he thought, as another notification appeared, saying he has gained exp upon learning about the previous user's life.
"Further ahead is Sector C: training grounds, the biggest sector in Branch 5."
This time, there was a hall which opened into a cavernous space where agents sparred in rings, others scaling obstacle walls, while some practiced firearms in a sealed, soundproof chamber.
They were underground, yet it didn't look the part. Jack then couldn't help but wonder how such a place could stay intact or even survive during an earthquake. Wouldn't it just cave in?
But of course, he knew that this place were here for a reason.
Afterwards, they headed toward a place that had more reinforced doors than the others and was even guarded by suited men with earpieces.
Just one look, and Jack could see that they were garding something important.
The walls in the next sector felt colder and heavier.
"This is Sector D and E. Access is restricted to Agent III and below. With my access card, we can't go even if I want to," Lucy explained.
Just like Lucy said, all Jack could see were closed, reinforced doors.
"What they do here is weapons research, detention, and other classified projects."
"Important stuff I guess." Jack commented.
"Very important!"
Lucy replied, her tone clearly more enthusiastic and passionate than before, catching him off guard.
The next place was a wide observation deck, but it was underground.
They were inside a glass room which overlooked a subterranean hangar where armored vehicles, motorcycles, and even drones were being loaded by teams in uniform.
"This," she said, her suddenly passionate face catching the sterile light, "is Sector F. Deployment. Most field operation in Province C and D begins here."
Jack subconsciously gripped the railing and could hear his heart hammering excitedly.
'Holy shit!!! How did they even get these things to the country? No, I didn't even know this country have these things.'
Jack could see luxury cars, ships, and just high-technology vehicles. Jack do not know how to feel. Now, he could understand why Crifforth Orgs was a private organization. It has to be.
At that time though, new notifications had appeared again, but this time, it was different from usual.
[First mission in progress: Advancement detected.]
[You have gained knowledge about yourself]
[10 exp received]
[100/100 exp]
[You have reached a new level. All of your stats have increased by 2.]
[You are now Level 2.]
[You have acquired a new skill: Map.]
[Map (Passive Skill)]
[Effect: Automatically displays the layout of the current area you are in, including rooms, exits, and notable points of interest and reveals hidden pathways and restricted zones gradually as you explore.
Additional Notes: It is open to updates and can be accessed even if the user is not currently in the area.]
Jack 's eyes studied the new notification and couldn't help but nod in astonishment.
"A map, huh." Jack had expected some kind of reward from the system after seeing his EXP bar rise just by walking but for it to be a map was out of expectations. That caught him off guard. Not that he was complaining.
Jack didn't let go of the opportunity and instinctively looked at the layout of Branch 5, and then, as if by magic, faint outlines of nearby corridors, doors, and alcoves, all those they have been to, shimmered into view in his mind.
'This… this is insane! This is like hacking!'
However, his stomach had been groaning like a dying animal. If not for the EXP bar steadily rising and the tour being surprisingly interesting, he wouldn't have managed to keep quiet for this long.
"Um, Lucy, miss, ma'am?"
"Yes Sir. Lu--lucy is fine." She replied, her voice light, clearly enjoying herself.
"We've been to so many places didn't we? but when are we going to see the cafeteria?"
Lucy froze as if an iceberg just fell at her head.
"I—I am sorry!" she immediately apologized. "I will lead you there at once!"
"It's fine. No need to rush." Jack replied smiling.
When they arrived, however, Jack was puzzled. He expected the same cold metallic and concrete walls and a canteen filled with imposing individuals, but as the doors slid open, sunlight flooded in, making him blink in astonishment.
'Sector A is outside?' Jack said.