She's glaring at me so intensely that I can't help but stare at her in complete confusion.
"What?" I said.
I kinda have a feeling that she's angry about something. But I don't know why.
'Did I miss something? But my points have gone up. So it should be fine, right?'
Then she approaches me in wide strides, but Jake immediately stands between us.
"No, no, Amy!" Jake said.
"But he's—!"
"We're still on a mission. If you have anything against him, put it in the report." Jake said.
Oh yeah, her name's Amy. And she goes back to glaring at me.
"Just what is her problem…?" I mumble.
Jake seems to hear what I've just said, because he turns around and whisper to me to be quiet. And I do just that. But it's only because I don't really want to waste my energy on her either.
'Haa… I wish the hoverboard is faster…'
I was just wondering about that, but thankfully, it comes just a few seconds later. The tight atmosphere turns lighter immediately because we have to help the workers get on it.
"W-Wait." One of the workers stays behind. It's the man who spoke up earlier about the injured cadets. "Can any of you come with me to the 10th floor?"
"What is in the 10th floor?" Jake asked.
"One of the Connector Crystals. The tower has three of these crystals in 10th, 20th, and 30th floor respectively and each of them is maintained daily. Since the terrorists raided us so suddenly this morning, the technicians haven't been able to check them at all. It would be bad if the terrorists use it for their own gain!"
I remember this part. This crystal maintenance thing is cannon to the story. Even if the players don't rescue these workers in 9th floor, they would still be investigating the 10th floor and eventually receive a mission to deactivate the Connectors.
In the game, Rean would figure it out by reading a manual in the room outside of the Connectors. Then it's just solving a very simple light puzzle, which patterns are different with each crystal, which even without the manual, any Terrace cadet would be able to solve. But I highly doubt that will still exist in this plotline now.
I mean, logically thinking, this place is like a radio station with 32 floors. It should have its own offices, stages for people to be broadcasted, even make up rooms or pantries, anything down to its details to function like a proper communication center or a job field. The workers wouldn't just arrange a simple minigame that kids like us can crack in a matter of seconds, right? It won't be secured and anyone can become technicians if that's the case!
But then again, I can't blame the developers since they're just trying to make their 'game' more interesting. But that doesn't mean I can take everything in the game to be true now that I'm here experiencing it myself.
That's why when Ozzie gave me the 2nd mission, I immediately put this in my list. Because this man in front of us, the worker of this tower that I just saved, is one of the technicians who knows how to deactivate it right without the manual. He can explain and show me how to do it, so I can deactivate the other two in the upper floors faster.
"Will you help me check crystals?" The man asked.
Jake is still thinking about it, but he'll take too long to decide. So I said excitedly. "Sure, no problem!"
Jake and Amy are surprised. And I don't know why but it's like they're looking at me with faint blush on their cheeks. I wonder what's that look on their face other than surprise.
But Jake recovers quickly and tries to explain. "I-I'm sorry. We're in the Rescue Team. Our job is to come and rescue you. Amy here is from the Go Team, but she injured her hand and has to be treated. We cannot help you check the crystals."
I stare dumbfoundedly at this laughing stock of a senior. What the actual frick is going on with his mind? Refusing to help just because you're not in the Go Team that only fights the enemy head on? What are you? A pussy?
"A-Ah… Then, how about this young man?" The man points at me. "He can protect me."
"Huh? You mean Terrence?" Amy frowns. "This kid can't protect you. He's a lame gunner!"
Jake glances at me rather pitifully. He must've remembered when I punch the terrorist in that first house and think that I was a poor kid who was introduced to violence too soon. But I was actually doing it for my own sake and I'm very much sane. He looked like he trusted me before, but why the sudden look now?
Anyhow, I don't like it at all.
I frown at this Amy girl.
I don't know what this girl is unsatisfied for. While Terrence is already known to be weak, and an even more quiet person after I take over his body, I've never spread any rumors about anyone in my class. I've never talked impolitely to anyone including her.
The only time I was impolite was when Rean invited me to the sweeping mission yesterday. Those two jerks are looking down on me, so I need to give them a lesson. But for her to insult me while I have never bothered her at all… I can't let it go.
I was about to start an argument, but the worker speaks again. "Eh? But he's so amazing back there! He's a hero! He rescued us without injuring any of us at all!"
The other workers also join in. "Yes! He surprised all of us and took the terrorists down easily!"
"He's very good with that fire extinguisher and the bat. I didn't notice he has a gun at all…"
"In fact, he doesn't have to use the gun in the 10th floor. If he misses, the bullets can ricochet on the wall and hit the crystal. It's will be very bad if these Connectors are broken. The communication in the North district will likely suffer and these things might happen again." The man then begs to Jake. "Please, if you can't come, let him come with me to the 10th floor. I really need to check on the crystal!"
Jake is faced with a hard decision now. He's in charge of a junior whom he's supposed to supervise, and yet this junior hasn't been doing the things according to their team's job. Rescue Team should just rescue the citizens, not beating the enemies to the ground. Moreover, this junior is very good at it and has only suffered minor injury.
It's not an easy feat for a third year, especially a shooter. Amy and Greg are the hard proof of that. Even though they're the Go Team, they come out in a more pitiful state. But maybe because they've also been fighting on the entrance, so they've reached their limit. That must've been why his classmates were also injured, they were trying to protect the two juniors they're paired with.
"Uhmmm…" Jake is trying so hard to decide.
I was getting sick of waiting for this idiot's decision. He's wasting SO much time! But then our Arrows lit up and the Base comes through.
"There has been an update. Cadet Jake, stay in the 9th floor and guard the injured Go Team until backup arrives. Cadet Terrence, escort the technician to the 10th floor and deactivate the Connector. Over."
Jake immediately protests. "But my junior will be alone! He can't—"
"It's an order. Over." The Arrows turn off.
I cannot thank the deities in this world enough. I guess that much Luck is working un may favors so well.
"Um… So? Which one of you is Terrence? Who will go to the Connector with me?" The man asked. "We need to hurry."
Jake looks at me worriedly. Again? What the hell, man? You were looking at me with all those faces. Why can't you trust me to guard my own ass already? I'm more capable than you here.
I don't want to waste more time, so I point to myself. "I'm Terrence. Don't worry! I will protect you at all cost!" I said confidently.
The man looks grateful. "I'll be in your care! Let's go!" Then the man runs upstairs.
"Yes!" I nod. Before I follow him though, bid Jake goodbye. "See you again, Senior Jake! Good luck!" Then I left.
Jake looks at Terrence's retreating back with concern. "Dear God… Please protect my junior…"
"Don't worry too much, Jake. Maybe he is talented just like other talented third-years. I'll return in a bit. Please watch your hands and feet, sirs and madam." Patrick, the one on the hoverboard, said before he takes the two workers downward.
"Seriously. Who does he think he is? Doing whatever he wants and acting like nobody cares?" Amy grumbles after both Terrence and the citizens are gone.
"But the hostages are praising him. They saw him first hand so he must be actually good." Jake said.
"But he's weak, senior! He lag behind most of us in physical activities. And he's not that smart either in literacy. How come suddenly he's so good here?! Those workers must've been just too helpless when he rescued them, that they see him as a hero. In any way possible, Rean is more suitable to be called a hero!"
Jake leans on the wall with a helpless smile. "I don't know… Maybe he's actually good but no one care to notice?"