"That is the thing. Those that come in as three-star beings hardly ever advance past that level. You will notice a big difference between people like people and me like Mi Dong."
"What do you think will happen to him now?" I asked, and then let a small smile slip across my face. "While I feel bad for doing it, I don't think that it was a bad thing. That guy was clearly way too full of himself."
Jim chuckled, nodding in agreement. "You're right. In a way, this might be a valuable lesson for him. He'll have to face the reality of life without his divine abilities and influence, which could lead him to become more humble and grounded. If he can learn from this experience and grow as a person, there's a chance he might regain his star power someday."
"With all that being said," Jim continued, standing up and dusting sand off of himself, "we should get you back to your little goddess. I think that she might be good for you, but just be careful. I want you to be prepared for whatever comes your way."
As we got ready to leave the peaceful beach of Euphoria-9 behind us, I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and apprehension about my future in this new realm. There was still so much to learn about myself and the complex society I was now a part of, but with Jim in my corner, I felt certain that I would rise to meet any challenges ahead.
After our conversation on Euphoria-9, Jim transported us back to the bustling city. We stood in front of Aquaria's office, which was situated in a part of town known as the Starless District – an area where good divine beings searched for targets to feed chaos.
The building itself housed the Good Divine Being Dispatch Office (GDBDO), responsible for assigning divine beings their targets whose lives would soon be filled with chaos and danger. This chaos would eventually lead to their deaths, after which they would be guided by divine beings into new realms to find salvation.
As we stood outside the office, I couldn't help but feel uneasy about everything I had learned so far. The knowledge that I was now entangled in this morally ambiguous world weighed heavily on my conscience, and I wasn't sure what to make of it all.
"Jim," I said hesitantly, "do you think I'm doing the right thing here? It all feels... complicated."
Jim sighed, his expression serious. "I understand your concerns, Halberd. But remember, not everything is black and white. Sometimes we need to navigate through the shades of gray to do what's best for ourselves and others. Just keep your wits about you, and trust your instincts. You're stronger than you realize."
With a nod of encouragement, he left me standing there, contemplating his words as I turned towards Aquaria's office. Taking a deep breath, I decided it was time to face her and learn more about the job she wanted my help with. After all, I needed answers.
As I entered the GDBDO, I saw Aquaria behind a desk, looking worried. When she noticed me, her eyes lit up, and she hurried over. "Halberd! You're awake! I was so concerned when I heard what happened."
"Thanks, Aquaria. I'm doing better now," I reassured her, trying to put on a brave face despite the lingering confusion inside me.
Aquaria led me to a more private area of the office where we could talk without being overheard by others. As we sat down, she looked at me intently. "Halberd, about the job I mentioned before... you should know there's more to it than meets the eye."
I raised an eyebrow, curious but cautious. "What do you mean? You said you needed my help with something important, right?"
She nodded. "Yes, that's true. But as you've no doubt started to realize, things in this realm can be quite... convoluted. What I need your assistance with isn't just some simple task – it involves a dangerous world and going against powerful beings who won't hesitate to use their power for selfish gains."
I felt a shiver run down my spine, suddenly understanding Jim's earlier warning. "Are you saying that this job could put me in danger?"
Aquaria hesitated for a moment, looking genuinely concerned. "Yes, extremely dangerous. Your target is not only your target given by me, but you will entering the world as a bounty hunter with the same target. Only to make matters worse, somehow, a three-star DDB got a hold of the other contract for this job. That means that they will be coming in as a bounty hunter as well, but their job is to rescue the target."
"Wait... what? Why would you be sent to kill him, and the bad guy gets sent to save him?" I asked in confusion, and Aquaria sighed.
"This is what I was talking about. Good and Bad are just words around here. I know how most worlds pair good with good deeds, but that is not how it works here. You get a job, and you do it so you can survive. There is also the fact that the target is a non-human and a killer with very little conscience."
I shook my head, trying to wrap my mind around this twisted concept. "So let me get this straight – we're supposed to hunt down and eliminate a target while a divine being with malicious intentions is trying to save that same target? And all the while, the lines between good and evil are blurred?"
Aquaria nodded solemnly. "Yes, that's the situation we find ourselves in. However, I believe that with your skills as a Chaos Trigger and my knowledge of this realm, we have a chance at succeeding. You see, I've been gathering information about this target for some time now. Every job has its reasons and consequences; we just need to figure out what they are and how to navigate through them."
Jim was right, and I needed to be careful. While on the one hand, I could go and try, and then if I failed, I would pay for damages. On the other hand, was the fact that I would not only be failing myself but Aquaria as well. I would really just be making her situation worse by trying to help.