Corporate Commission (3)
April looked up at me with her bright, sparkling eyes.
"I'm April! You're Benjamin, right? So, what's the name of that kid next to you? Black panther? Whoa, I've never seen one of these before! Dragging around a black panther like it's a puppy! This is so cool! Can I pet it? Yeah? Come here. Come on over. I don't bite, so don't worry, come here."
"……."
-Gr, grr?
Benjamin's black panther backed away.
"Hmm, not coming? Guess it's shy. Such a bashful little guy. Well then... maybe it likes this? These are premium coffee beans, you know? I even shared some with big bro Damian, and black panthers eat stuff like this too, right? Yeah?"
"W-wait a sec... Coffee beans for a black panther? What the hell does that mean?"
"Oh, doesn't eat them? Then what does it eat? The dogs I used to raise sometimes munched on these... Guess big guys like this are different. So, what should I give it to make it come to me... Hmm... Could you tell me?"
"...N-no, better not give it anything. You fed coffee beans to dogs?"
Benjamin, who had been sidling up to April with a sly grin, now backed away alongside his black panther. Sweat was beading on his forehead. I couldn't help but smile at the sight.
'So she's not that friendly with just anyone.'
April kept cooing and trying to approach the black panther, while Benjamin desperately tried to keep her away from it. Not just the panther—he seemed eager to put some distance between himself and her too.
"Well, looks like you've all introduced yourselves. So, let's get along from here on out. These materials are really precious to me."
Logan bowed lightly, his request carrying no air of formality—just genuine sincerity. With that, he returned to his office.
"Now that we've got more people, how about we run through the briefing again?"
"Sounds good. We need to tweak the assignments anyway."
Elisa replied in her sultry voice.
"Y-yeah, let's get to it! Feels stuffy hanging around here. Ahem."
Benjamin hurriedly agreed, hiding his black panther behind him.
"Alright. We've been holding this place for three days now, and it's been quiet so far. But intel says the ones targeting us are around Gold Rank 1. I trust you get what that means."
Gold Rank 1. Ranks from Silver up divide into stages 1 through 3. Graduate from Silver, and you're Gold—which means their levels are at least 30.
'Not gonna be easy. And these aren't small fry; it's a Gold-rank commission squad.'
A squad that's been together for ages. Beyond raw power, their synergy would double their threat. No way to take them lightly.
"Assignments stay the same for now."
Deron spread out the building blueprints and continued.
"Hmm, even with two more people? I'd love to stick with this guy."
Elisa's arm slid smoothly over my shoulder. I'd faced every kind of flirting in the real world, but this was next-level.
"No. We'll keep the current setup and add these two to new spots..."
Deron stroked his chin beard, lost in thought. What was there to think about? The best move was adding us to existing positions. Should I suggest it?
"How about me on the rooftop and April at the front gate? Better than new spots—feels more stable."
Deron snapped his head up and stared at me. For a split second, I caught a faint killing intent in his eyes. It softened back to a friendly gaze soon enough.
"Not a bad idea. But two or more in one spot might just get in each other's way."
"Get in the way," huh. Straight-up dismissing me.
"Hmm? I think it's fine, Deron. Sharing space with him sounds great. Don't you think so? You want that too, right?"
"No. It's not efficient. And Benjamin doesn't seem keen on it either."
"Huh? Well, yeah, solo's more comfy. Ahem."
Benjamin glanced at April and replied. He'd been all "I'll protect you" earlier.
Poor April might end up hurt over nothing. Anyway, Deron had no intention of pairing us up.
'...No change to the quest details yet.'
That confirmed it. Deron's role hadn't shifted.
"What about in front of the president's office?"
With Deron's intentions clear, I needed to prepare. That spot was prime.
"......The president's office."
"D-do we really need to guard the president's room? No reason for those bastards to go there. Unless you're worried about blackmail or something?"
Benjamin snapped back irritably. Maybe he didn't like my input. Or April wasn't matching his expectations.
"Hmm, not bad. They might target the president. With extra hands, better to cover all bases."
"Well, then I should go over this guy. Doesn't look that strong."
"No. The rooftop's crucial, and you're the sniper—it's yours. And..."
Deron eyed me quietly.
"I believe he can handle it."
He'd eyed me with distrust just moments ago. No way his mind changed that fast. His game was obvious now: stick us where we'd be least disruptive. President's office wouldn't cramp his style.
"Got it. April and I will guard the president's office."
"Good. We start tonight. Elisa, link them up with your power?"
"Of course. Wonder what it'll feel like to be one with you."
......I got what she was going for, but Elisa was getting overwhelming. She placed her hands on my head and April's at Deron's request.
Then.
Connection
A low hum vibrated through my skull, like something burrowing in.
Connection. This skill linked party members' minds for telepathic chat. A staple for mental mages.
Elisa's lips didn't move—she just beamed. But her voice echoed in my head.
Elisa tilted her head and winked. Ugh, seriously overwhelming. April grimaced too, like she couldn't watch.
Elisa assumed I'd need her help by default. 'Hmm.'
Might actually be a good thing. Underestimating me meant dropping their guard. They'd stop watching my moves.
That night, we moved to our assigned spots. April and I were right in front of the elevator to the president's office. Five guards with machine guns were there too.
"Hey, can I ask something?"
"What is it? Go ahead."
April questioned one of the burly guards standing ramrod straight by the elevator. Probably something pointless...
"Doesn't it hurt standing so stiff like that for hours? I'm great at walking, you know? But standing still is just... (omitted)."
"......Pardon?"
While April distracted the guards with her nonsense, I slipped into the empty president's office. No one noticed, thanks to her.
'The spot she fiddled with was around here.'
I'd mapped the office during our first chat with Logan. Why the president's office? Because the real classified docs were here—not fakes.
Exact spot? Unknown. Quest just said "classified docs in the president's office." But Logan gave a hint.
'Logan seemed polite to ability users, even bowing. Why snap over April touching his stuff?'
Odd for someone so courteous.
Clatter.
I checked the drawers. Books lined the shelves. I ran my fingers over each one. Nothing yet...
Then the spot April had touched.
'There it is.'
Clearing the books revealed a small door. A locked safe. Tricky in reality, but...
'Not here.'
Shing.
I summoned a two-handed sword. Pulled back, then thrust at max speed.
Thud.
Lock shattered easily.
Creeeak.
Inside: documents. The real ones, as expected.
I grabbed them without hesitation. Per the quest, attackers hit tonight. They'd spot the basement fakes and head here.
'Can't hand over the real deal.'
Corporate war loomed. It'd reshape the board. Hao Fen getting this would add headaches.
'No need to make more giant corp enemies.'
Time to turn foes into allies. I'd protect the real docs here.
Screeech!
Then—tires skidding outside. Not just once.
Screeech! Screeech!
'...Things have changed.'
I peeked through the curtains. Trucks piling up at the front gate. Hooded figures spilling out.
Familiar faces.
'Descartes is involved.'
Descartes' lunatics. Targeting this place. Not in the quest—originally just ability users infiltrated.
So they replaced the intruders?
Thump. Thump.
"Huh? What's that? Why'd the lights go out!"
"Hey, someone check! Blackout's bad news!"
Whole building plunged into darkness. Guards murmuring in the hall.
This wasn't a power cut. Someone absorbed the light.
One of the attackers' powers.
Tricky. Original ability users plus Descartes' crew.
Screeech! Boom!
Explosion below. Sounded like they rammed a truck straight in.
These guys had no chill. City center, late night or not—empty streets, but this racket would draw eyes.
'Lunatics. They know Divine Guard's distracted elsewhere.'
Guards would've stopped this normally. But their focus was on the outskirts. They timed it perfectly.
......Situation sucked.
"......"
I glanced at the docs in my hand. One win: real ones with me.
So.
'No need to fight them all.'
If they went nuts, I'd match it. Not a game—my options unlimited.
'Time to use the Divine Guard.'
I'd bring public forces here.