In the middle of the starless night, I needed to take the subway since my car was utterly destroyed bu the monster incident this morning. For once, I was actually thankful for the government since they cover expenses related to monster incidents. It looks like the high taxes aren't such a waste of money afterall.
I was browsing through the Internet using my phone but the connection isn't that smooth since my train is currently underground. Since I can't afford the commodities of having a high end internet service, I need to settle for this kind of service.
The salary from being a journalist is great but considering how expensive things are currently, I'm just above average in terms of lifestyle. Plus, I put 30% of my salary into my bank account so it's a bit hard to call my lifestyle easy.
"Ah, my stop is here. I need to get some cigars soon since I can't sleep without them. Hina's habits really did get stuck-"
My murmuring was interrupted by someone bumping into me while exiting the train. I sighed since bumping into someone is not a rare occurrence in the subway. I was about to walk away from the subway when I realised that my pocket got a bit lighter than before. Since I have an ability now, my senses must've improved too. At least improved enough to be above average humans.
"Huh? That fucker, he stole my wallet?! Shit, tomorrow's salary day too..."
I took out my phone after sitting down on a bench to calm down. I opened an app that let's me track the location of a device. It was a metal card that I slid into one of my wallet pockets. I did it as a measure in case of situations like this. That's why I wasn't too panicked like a normal person would.
Seeing the moving location of the wallet, he definitely boarded on the train I just got off. From the slight glimpse I had when I bumped into him, he was wearing a business suit most likely back from work. He doesn't have any laptop cases like most employee has so he might be wearing that suit as a disguise.
"Alright, from the direction he's heading, I predict he's going to stop at Geyshar station"
I stood up from my seat and began sprinting towards my destination. It wasn't that far since it only took half an hour to get there by foot. If I can get a bike or taxi, I should arrive in 10 minutes. The train should arrive in 2 minutes. There's an 8 minute gap so he shouldn't be far from the initial location.
After getting a taxi to drive me to Geyshar station, I looked constantly between my phone and my surroundings to make sure not to miss the man.
Following the location of indicator in my phone, I saw that he entered an alleyway and went along following behind him. However, what I found in the alleyway was no man dressed in a business suit at all. Finding the culprit would've been difficult if it wasn't for the help of my phone. I saw the indicator showing that the homeless man beside me is the criminal that stole my wallet.
I walked towards the homeless man while filled with anger. I don't know how he had changed instantly, but there's no escaping now. After noticing my clear hostility towards him, the homeless slowly stood up and backed away from me.
"Let's not make this harder than it needs to be. Hand me back my wallet and I won't hurt you, deal?"
I said in a firm and angry voice. Although I said that, I have no intention of letting this man completely off just like that. He did steal after all and that's a good enough reason for me to pass judgement, don't you think?
I could tell from the way the man staggers and the way his expression contorted and twisted showed how much distress he's feeling in his current situation. He's probably already thinking of various excuses ro run away. He was just that predictable.
"Seeing as how you're already scared before even proven guilty, you must be new to stealing. Then let me ask you this, do you have an ability? If you answer honestly, I'll give 100 Eris"
100 eris is enough to make sure a homeless survives for at least 5 days so it shouldn't be a tempting offer. Plus, it's a cheap price to pay if he does has an ability since I would be able to benefit from it.
Reaching his back against a wall, the homeless guy began to sweat bullets. In the current panicked state of him, my offer just now is definitely a godsend. There's no way for him to refuse.
"I-I do..."
He answered my question while stammering. His body was shivering too. Seriously, if you're too weak to even withstand mental pressure then don't even begin getting involved in crimes.
"Is that so... Then, my wallet?"
He reached for his pocket with his shivering hand and took out a wallet slowly. From the brown distinctive colour of the wallet, I could immediately tell that it was mine. I grabbed the wallet from his hands and took out a bank note worth 100 Eris over to him.
After he took the money, I kicked him in the stomach causing him to gasp from the sudden pain. He fell down to his knees while struggling to breath air since I kicked him where it hurts, the diaphragm causing a temporary paralysis.
I kicked him again causing him to fall down on his back. His face was pale from my first kick and his eyes were teary.
"Here's a piece of advice, don't get involved in crime if you can't handle at least this much beating"
I slowly reached out my hand towards his face. His heart must be beating like crazy from the fear and anxiety of what I'm going to do next to him. He might be a poor little homeless but that's no reason to back down is it?
I placed my palm above his forehead accidentally covering his vision with my hand. I used my extraction ability and light enveloped his face. I felt a surge of energy flowing into my arm.
'Ahh~ yes~! This surge of energy is like ecstasy to me! This feeling, I can never get enough of it~!!'
A grin appeared on my face but the darkness of the alleyway managed to cover my face partially. I didn't even care about the condition of the homeless man anymore and kept my hand on his face even after I finished extracting. I was completely drunk on the ecstasy of gaining power.
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I was brought back to reality when a loud bang came from deep within the alley. It was most likely from some stray cat or a rat in a trash can. It wasn't uncommon for them to be in an alley after all.
"Well, you can keep the money as promised. Consider it a payment for your ability. Remember my advice, don't get involved in crime again okay~?"
I was in a good mood due to the ecstasy I felt from the extraction. The man's complexion was pale and his eyes were colourless. It must be the side effect of using extraction on a human. However, it seems like nothing more than just a minor inconvenience completely overshadowed by the benefits.
I waved the man a goodbye as a gesture of good will before disappearing into the crowd on the bustling streets. It was a short encounter but a beneficial one definitely. I hope I get presented more opportunities like these so I can gain that ecstasy of gaining power again. It was just too addicting of a moment to be forgotten just like that.
Be warned as I am not a fool that would risk myself just to feel the same ecstasy again. It was a joyful moment but not enough to overcome my whole rational thinking. I still have more important priorities than just gaining pleasure for myself.
A feeling deeply rooted enough to make the ecstasy I felt seem like nothing more than just a fleeting feeling. It's revenge and hatred. The feelings that I can't forget no matter what. Now that I think about it, I really do look pitiful don't I? Being this mad over some trivial matter like revenge and such, but the little do matter. It's the little things that make up the bigger picture after all.
"Well then, time to go home quickly to check my newfound ability ~"
I was in such a good mood that I completely forgot about buying my pack of cigars.
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I sat down on the sofa and laid my head back on the neck rest. House had never been as pleasant as it is now and the reason must be due to all the stress I accumulated when sister got into the hospital.
"Well then~ let's what we got here, shall we~?"
I waved my hand on the transparent screen. My eyes were full of anticipation expecting of the ability I obtained from the kind homeless. I read through the ability description and when I thought my smile couldn't get any brighter.
[Ability: Subterfuge
Grade: D
Effect: allows the user to change appearance
Conditions: only changes the user's clothes]
Although the ability can only change the user's clothing, it was still as valuable than any other since I almost got caught during the monster incident. With an ability such as this, I wouldn't have to worry about my identity being caught anymore.
"Ahh~ I just got an amazing idea! Instead of recruiting members from scratch, I can use this ability to become a one-man organisation"
With this ability, I can make an organisation consisting of only me. This is really useful. All I need now is just a cloning ability and my masterplan is as good as finished.
I held out my hand and produced a pill containing the ability of [Subterfuge]. The pill this time wasn't colour mixed unlike the last one however. It was only a single coloured pill. A light blue coloured pill that's smooth and shiny enough to reflect light.
I swallowed the pill and it bursted inside my stomach. Although I couldn't tell if it actually bursted or just dissolved, I could tell that the energy inside the pill had spread out to every part of my body. I could feel my body becoming warm yet a chilling feeling passing through my body.
It's a whole lot different than extracting abilities but the similarities are definitely present. The difference is that the ability doesn't concentrate on a singular point, which is my heart, but instead spread out all over my body.
I stood up from the sofa and walked towards the full body mirror in my sister's room. She always like stand in front of the mirror in a dress and I would compliment her dress from the bed. Now that I think about it, she's quite the narcissistic person isn't she?
"Sigh, all the good times we had together are making me want to kill that Ice bastard more"
I stood in front of the mirror and pictured myself wearing a suit. A suit that businessmen from prestigious companies would always wear to meetings. A black and silky suit with a white shirt on the inside to look more eye-catching.
My current clothes began to dissolve into particles while a suit took place of the particles. The transformation began from my feet all the way to the top. The way it changes seem like something that came out from a sci fi movie.
"Oho~? This is amazing. I won't need to go laundry anymore and I can get any clothes as long as I can imagine the look. Then..."
My head began to be covered by particles and my face was covered. From the particles, a mask began to appear. It had the aesthetic of a plague doctor mask along with a few tweaking here and there. Round metal plate buttons were used to stitch the leather together and metal eyelets were used to make sure for ventilation on the underside of the mask.
The mask gave off a medievalpunk aesthetic which is exactly what I was aiming for. If Hina was here, she would definitely call me childish with the mask and vibe.
'Yeah, she'll definitely laugh till her stomach hurts...'
A person wearing a plague doctor mask that gives off medieval punk style while wearing a suit is now gonna be one of my identities. I have decided to keep my identity hidden and to never expose myself.
"From now on, your name is Crow. May the world tremble in fear"
Under the masks, a nervous smile broke out on my face. My face was red and embarrassment washed over me. I took off the mask and covered my face with my hand.
"Fuck, that was embarrassing even for me"
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In the middle of an alleyway, a young boy around the age of ten was panting from exhaustion. His face considerably pale and his face was sweating bullets. His eyes were terrified.
He leaned back against a wall and took a deep breath to calm himself down. His clothes was ragged and his body was full of scratches and dirty. He fell down on the floor and held his head in a terrified manner.
"W-what the hell was that?! That, that man was dead but there was no blood at all. That mysterious person also thanked him...? What the hell is he, a psychopath?!!"
The boy couldn't get the scene out of his head. The scene of the homeless man being beaten by a mysterious man. The scene of the mysterious man smiling until his face seemed like it was splitting into two...and the homeless dying despite no fatal damage done at all.
"And... And that guy smiled when the man died?! I didn't hear it completely but he definitely said something about ability. D-did he kill him with an ability? But, but aren't you supposed to save humans with those abilities instead of killing them?"
The boy was confused to no end. His neighbouring homeless was killed by a mysterious man. The man was a psychopath smiling after killing a person.
The boy was lucky that the man didn't chase after him when he accidentally bumped into a trash can. However, what disgusted the boy the most was the fact that the mysterious man threw a money to the corpse.