Locke couldn't help but feel a flicker of genuine curiosity.
The next second, the system chimed in to assert its presence.
[Ding!]
[Task Generating...]
[Task: "The Assassin Junior"]
[Task Rewards: 500 Achievement Points, 500 Potential Points, 1 Treasure Refresh Voucher]
[Task Description: You have already uncovered the identity of your assassin junior, yet she remains ignorant of yours. So, what will you do?]
[Task Specification: This mission follows Movie Mode—the bigger the scene, the greater the bonus multiplier.]
[Task Remarks: The player's interest is the raison d'être of this system. Let your curiosity become the fuel for your mission grind.]
[Accept / Decline]
"..."
Locke's mouth twitched slightly as he selected "Accept."
The system was like this—always hyper-fixated on his curiosity. Whenever he felt intrigued or interested, it would jump out to remind him of its existence. After all, the system couldn't issue missions autonomously; it relied on Locke to trigger them.
In most cases, Locke preferred to mind his own business. Back in Texas, he'd act as if he hadn't seen the cannibals or demons lurking in the wilderness.
But now?
Scanning the mission description, Locke already had a plan forming. It seemed Megan had successfully made contact with S.H.I.E.L.D. and was now under orders to investigate him.
Fascinating.
Moreover, this mission had triggered "Movie Mode," just like the textile mill incident.
Movies, by definition, craved spectacle. The bigger the scene, the louder the audience's cheers.
'So... the system wants me to go head-to-head with S.H.I.E.L.D.?'
Locke smirked inwardly. 'Interesting. I like it.'
It was the same old gamer logic: as long as the rewards were high enough, going up against S.H.I.E.L.D.—or even wiping them off the map—wasn't a moral dilemma; it was a gameplay choice.
(T/N:- How I felt after murdering non aggressive cute animals in genshin to get natlan and fontaine character lvl up mats)
...
Just then, Locke snapped back to reality and saw Kahn being shoved forward by Cindy.
Kahn's eyes met Locke's, and he gave a helpless, sheepish grin.
Locke let out a short laugh and looked away. He understood. Cindy wasn't just beautiful; her family was wealthier than Megan's. Moreover, Kahn had just started dating her and was likely currently lost in the throes of teenage infatuation. At this stage, if his girlfriend said jump, he'd ask "how high?"
Kahn walked over to their table and called out, "Megan?"
There was no response.
Gwen frowned from the side; she knew this was the prelude to Cindy's prank.
Locke, however, watched with great interest as Megan kept her head down, focused on her food as if she hadn't heard a thing.
In all likelihood, Megan was busy calculating how to squeeze information out of him.
Locke's guess was spot on. Megan was indeed fixated on the task. Nick Fury—or "Hardman," as she knew him—had been very clear: if she could confirm certain details about Locke, she would be allowed to remain in school and live her "normal" life.
Kahn blinked at the silent Megan and turned back to look at his girlfriend. Cindy made a punching gesture in the air.
Kahn sighed and turned back. "Megan!"
This time, his voice was louder, and he reached out to tap her on the back.
Unfortunately, Kahn had clearly forgotten the lesson learned by another male student earlier that month.
'CRASH!'
"AAAGH!"
With a sharp cry of pain, Kahn's head was slammed face-first onto the cafeteria table. Megan's hands were a blur—one pinning Kahn's arm behind his back, the other pressing down on his spine, locking him in a ruthless hold.
Gwen was frozen in shock. Nearby, Cindy was equally stunned.
Locke, on the other hand, had stood up the very instant Megan moved, lifting his meal tray high into the air. If he hadn't, Kahn's head would have smashed right into his lunch.
Megan snapped back to reality, staring at Kahn pinned to the table. She froze for a heartbeat.
The next second, she hurriedly released him. "Kahn? Oh my god, I'm so sorry! I didn't know... you really shouldn't stand behind people like that."
Kahn felt as though his right shoulder had been completely dislocated.
Locke let out a sigh and walked over. While Kahn was still dazed from the shock, Locke gripped the arm. 'Snap-crack!' With two quick motions, he popped the shoulder back into place. As Kahn let out a second scream of pain, Locke looked at Gwen. "Let's go."
Gwen blinked, staring at Locke. "How did you..."
Locke shrugged. "I'm a cowboy, remember?"
He was a cowboy from Texas. Getting injured and knowing basic field medicine was perfectly normal in his "backstory."
"KAHN!"
Seeing her boyfriend screaming like a stuck pig, Cindy's eyes turned red with fury. She charged straight at Megan. "You damn bitch! What did you do?"
Megan waved her hands frantically. "Wait, it wasn't—"
Before she could finish, an enraged Cindy swung her heavy backpack, aiming it directly for Megan's face.
When girls fight, they usually go for three targets: hair, face, and chest.
But... that's not how assassins or agents are trained to fight.
The next second, Cindy was also neutralized—and that was with Megan deliberately holding back from using lethal force.
The cafeteria erupted into a frenzy.
Locke watched the farce with an expressionless face, while Gwen simply buried her face in her hands.
...
Late afternoon.
Locke was in the parking lot, waiting for Gwen. After a while, Gwen emerged from the administration building, followed by a somber Cindy, Kahn, and of course, Megan.
Seeing Gwen's obvious bad mood, Locke asked, "How did it go?"
By now, the video of Megan single-handedly taking down the couple in two moves had already been uploaded to the internet. While Locke was practicing baseball earlier, someone had already shown it to him.
The click-through rate was massive. It was going viral. Midtown High was trending.
Gwen rubbed her temples. "Megan got three days of detention. Cindy and Kahn got two. And as for me... I'm probably going to lose my position as the ninth-grade student assistant."
Locke raised an eyebrow. "What does that have to do with you?"
Gwen sighed. "I was right there."
Locke: "..."
Well, it seemed Gwen had been hit by a stray bullet of administrative frustration.
Cindy walked over and nodded to Locke before speaking to Gwen. "I'm sorry, Gwen. I didn't think..."
Gwen waved her off. "Forget it. Let's just leave it at that, Cindy. No more."
Cindy opened her mouth to speak but stopped. Gwen, done with the conversation, pulled open the door to the R8 and slumped into the passenger seat.
Though her assistant position likely wasn't actually in jeopardy, a "good girl" who had been praised by teachers since preschool was bound to feel miserable after being lectured by the administration.
As they drove out of the lot, Locke glanced at the dejected Gwen. "Want to go to that restaurant under my apartment? My treat?"
Gwen looked up at him.
Locke smiled. "My date is in a bad mood. It's my responsibility to cheer her up."
Gwen: "..."
***
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