— One Hour Later — City Center — ??? —
At the penthouse atop a skyscraper in the city center, neon lights glow from countless billboards, holographic advertisements, and automated drone billboards flying in patterns. The light spills from the windows of the metropolis that never sleeps.
Inside the penthouse, a middle-aged man sits by the fireplace as a young woman in a bathrobe massages his shoulders and pours him wine. The man is Luther Rook, one of the candidates in the upcoming city-state governor election.
Luther notices an incoming call on his phone and waves his hand, signaling the woman to leave. She obeys and exits the room. Once alone, Luther steps out onto the balcony to take the call.
"Yes?" he answers, waiting for the other person to speak.
[Leader, our task force has failed. The motel we attacked turned out to be Gunsmith's retirement home. We also encountered Oldcowboy—that old man made short work of us.] the voice on the other end reports.
"I see… Care to explain why you didn't know our target was staying in a motel that just happened to be Gunsmith's home?" Luther asks coldly.
[Sir… This…] The operative stifles the urge to curse aloud. The retired hero's home isn't public knowledge, and Luther himself had demanded they capture the target by morning.
Because of the rushed timeline, they had moved in without proper preparation, gathering operatives from across the city, securing equipment discreetly withour alerting law enforcement, and conducting reconnaissance normally took at least 24 hours to avoid critical oversights like this. If not for Luther's unreasonable deadline, such a stupid mistake wouldn't have happened in the first place!
[We apologize, sir. We'll be more meticulous in the future.] The operative forces an apology, biting back his justification. Arguing would only cost him his life.
Luther smirks. "Good. At least you recognize your incompetence. Find my experimental subject—and don't you dare show your face without him!" His tone is icy.
[Yes, sir!] The operative replies, about to hang up—until Luther stops him.
"Wait."
[Sir? Your orders?]
"Send someone to eliminate those captured fools in the police station. I won't tolerate loose ends."
[But sir… those are our own—]
"Or it'll be your life instead of theirs. Your choice." Luther delivers the ultimatum before ending the call.
He gazes out at the cityscape, the neon glow and distant hum of police sirens and car engines lulling him into a false calm.
"Hmph! Incompetent fools! Not a single one of them can accomplish a simple job for me!" he mutters under his breath, seething at his subordinates' failure.
In his mind, the mission was simple and straightforward; thirty trained special forces operatives should have easily extracted an unregistered person from a small motel without alerting the owner.
What Luther doesn't realize is that the motel owner detected them not because of their incompetence but because Buck's security was too advanced for them to bypass. To breach it, Luther would need either a hero with electronic manipulation abilities… or a team from UEC's network security division.
— Meanwhile - Arkadian City Outskirt —
Maximilian had arrived at the location hidden in Blood Mongoose's memory. According to the memory, it should have been an abandoned scrapyard. A place no one would bother poking around. But now… it was a chop shop called Lucky Salvage.
Dozens of shady-looking men loitered around the area. Some chatted or smoked, while a few stood vigilant, scanning their surroundings like guards.
"F*ck!" Daniel cursed under his breath. This complicated things. Blood Mongoose had hidden the cache here ten years ago, but now, a decade later, the place was under gang control.
He knew the gang wouldn't have found the cache Blood Mongoose had buried it underground in a hidden compartment beneath an abandoned bus. From the outside, he could see the bus was still there, exactly where it had been in the memory.
Sneaking in was possible, but the real problem was how to get the cache out unnoticed. He didn't want to start a war with the gang. Sure, he could kill them one by one or wage guerrilla warfare, but…
Was it worth it?
If the gang retaliated... or worse, if the cops got involved, it would be a massive headache. A waste of time.
And he didn't even have system storage to stash the items.
Wait…
Did the system even have storage? He needed to check.
{Hey… System.} he called out.
[Huh? Why are you bothering me? I was having a beauty sleep!] The system grumbled, sounding half-asleep.
{What kind of system takes a beauty sleep?! Aren't you just code? Do you even need sleep?} Maximilian shot back.
[Power conservation! You think running a system is free? Or do you want me to drain your stored energy?] The system snapped, clearly annoyed.
{Whatever. Do you have an inventory function? Somewhere I can store items?}
[Huh? No… Good night.] The system dismissed him like an annoying customer.
{Are you sure?}
[I'm sure!]
{Are you really sure?}
[Ugh! You're so persistent! Fine! I'll check it! But it'll cost one energy block. Still want it?]
{Wait… So you didn't even check before? Or you just don't know? What kind of half-assed system are you?}
[Urrrgh! I'm a system, not a god! There are things I don't know! Hell, even gods aren't omniscient! Humans' depiction of god is overrated!] The system ranted, suddenly agitated.
{What the hell are you babbling about? Did interrupting your "power-saving mode" give you mood swings like a menopausal old lady?} Maximilian fired back.
[Rude! Now I'm charging extra for emotional trauma!] the system huffed.
{What?! You're a goddamn program! You don't even have a uterus to have mood swings!}
[I don't care! Two energy blocks! Take it or leave it!] The system issued an ultimatum.
Maximilian's face twisted in irritation. Arguing with the system felt like dealing with a tantrum-throwing child. He took a deep breath, his expression darkening as if lost in thought or... he just thought of something unpleasant.
[Wha... what?! Changed your mind? Fine, good night then!] The system stuttered, seemingly suddenly nervous.
{…Fine. Two energy blocks. Take it.} His voice was solemn, his expression grim—as if he'd been reminded of something unpleasant.
[What?!]
{You wanted energy, didn't you? Take it.}
[Are you stupid?! That's two energy blocks!]
{Do you want it or not?}
[Grrr… FINE! I'll check! But don't come crying to me later!] The system grumbled before deducting the energy.
A minute of silence passed before the system's voice returned.
[Okay, there is an inventory feature—but it's locked behind a main quest. Completing it also unlocks Villain Score, which you can use for system bonuses. (Note: Villain Score can't be traded like energy blocks.)]
{…What's the quest?} Maximilian asked.
— Main Quest: The Starting Journey of the Greatest Villain! —
Description: Every great villain has to start somewhere; every great journey begins with a single small step. Begin the path of villainy today! Become the Greatest Villain tomorrow!
Time Limit: -
Objective: Beat up a group of innocents.
Bonus Objective: Preferably helpless innocents. If they can't fight back, even better.
Reward: Unlocks Villain Score feature, Unlocks Storage feature
Bonus Reward: Ordinary Guy Glasses
{Are you serious?} Maximilian asked, his face full of skepticism.
[What? Did you think your first main quest would send you to fight against a hero? You're still a newbie in the ways of villainy! My apprentice! Muwahahaha!]
{What are you!? A dark space wizard who likes to electrocute people!?}
[HAHAHAHA! Good. Good! Let the hate flow through you!]
{Why do I get the feeling you're enjoying yourself?} Maximilian shot back.
[I do have an emotion emulator, remember? Of course, I'm enjoying myself!] the system replied smugly.
After bantering with the system, Maximilian noted the location and retreated. He would return after acquiring the system's storage function.
He arrived at a dilapidated, two-story fleabag motel. After paying for the room, Maximilian immediately went inside to sleep. Though still hungry - with nothing available to eat at this hour - he hoped sleep would suppress his gnawing hunger.
The room contained just a single bed with questionable stains. Blood splotches marked the walls. Had this been his former self, he would never have dared sleep in such a place. But now? He felt a strange sense of familiarity.
Maximilian set a simple booby trap at the door, this neighborhood wasn't exactly safe, and he wanted to deter any idiot who tried to do anything stupid. Finished with his precautions, he turned off the light and lay down without concern for bedbugs, quickly falling asleep.
About thirty minutes later, as Maximilian sank into deep slumber, motes of light coalesced beside his bed, forming into a silver-haired young woman. Her sapphire blue eyes sparkled with curiosity and mischief as she crouched down, pouting while studying his sleeping face.
"Idiot Maximilian! Stupid Maximilian! Who told you I don't have it?" The silver-haired woman pouted, poking at Maximilian's cheek with each accusation.
Strangely enough, despite having fully assimilated Blood Mongoose's heightened senses and awareness, Maximilian showed no reaction to her presence or touch.