"Mr. Ethan, are you certain you sensed a presence?" Emma inquired in her usual tone.
Ethan remained silent, having just purchased needles from the store for 10 points and was still gazing out the window.
"Young miss asked you something!" the Manager interjected in a constrained voice, though his anger was palpable.
Without warning, Ethan blurred and materialized right beside the window.
"Swishhh."
With a needle in hand, his movements were lightning-fast, and a groan echoed.
"Aghhh."
A figure in white attire and a mask tumbled into the room from outside.
"Night rover!" the Manager exclaimed, astonished by Ethan's ability to detect him.
Emma, meanwhile, stared at Ethan, recognizing that her lackey was no ordinary individual. Despite being an adept guardian, he couldn't sense the approaching threat.
Ethan already knew the person's identity but remained uncertain about the organization. Judging by the Manager's expression, it was not an entity to be trifled with. Yet, Ethan was undeterred, having already committed himself.
"Aghh, Who are you? What did you do to my body!?"
The hoarse voice of the assassin filled the room. Ethan had immobilized him with a steel needle, utilizing techniques from an acupuncture manual.
Though tempted to kill for experience, Ethan hesitated, considering the young miss's presence.
"He won't be able to move. If you want to ask him something, go ahead," Ethan stated coolly, leaving the Manager speechless. Emma, too, grappled with thoughts of Night Rover and Ethan simultaneously.
The Manager escorted the assassin outside, leaving Ethan and Emma alone in the room. A lingering silence filled the air as Emma scrutinized Ethan without blinking.
Ethan was about to speak when...
"Mr. Ethan, would you please be my bodyguard?" Emma asked softly, as if on a whim.
"What? I'm sorry?" Ethan was taken aback by the sudden request from the girl he considered out of his league.
"Mr. Ethan, would you please be my bodyguard?" she repeated, calming Ethan by mentioning payment.
"Of course, you will get paid," she added. Ethan composed himself.
"Umm, Young miss—"
"My name's Emma Macloy. You can call me Miss Emma," she said in a soft voice.
"Okay, Miss Emma, I need some time to think," Ethan replied politely.
"Okay, no problem with that. But I'm hoping it wouldn't take much time," Emma said.
Ethan nodded and left, aware that the Manager was waiting outside.
...
"Miss, why did you ask him to be your bodyguard? We know nothing about his background," the Manager tried to dissuade the young miss.
"Can't we just search for his background? You didn't notice the Night Rover member, but he did. So it's not a bad thing," Emma replied in a low voice. The Manager sighed and shook his head, oblivious to the smile on Emma's face.
...
Ethan returned home, completed his daily mission, and earned around 40 points. The assassin lingered in his thoughts.
"That assassin was good... If I hadn't learned acupuncture, I wouldn't have been able to stop him."
"And what's with that Emma lady! Asking me to be her bodyguard."
Upon further reflection, he considered it might not be a bad thing.
"Because if I become her bodyguard, I'll be able to complete my mission!" With this realization, he looked forward to the opportunity.
"I should go and say yes, maybe after some days."
.....
Midnight, in the dimly lit room of a hotel, a lone man sat sipping coffee. Before him stood two figures – a girl of exceptional beauty, her expression icy cold, and a young man, clearly a subordinate of the enigmatic Lord Benjamin.
"Yes, it was killed in the water, not the alley. No traces of energy," Lord Benjamin narrated, the tension in the room palpable.
"None whatsoever, my lord," Bill responded cautiously, knowing his lord's temper.
Lord Benjamin turned to the girl, Jenny, whose title remained a mystery to Ethan when he first encountered her.
"Did you notice anything or any smell?" Lord Benjamin inquired, maintaining his unwavering tone.
"No," Jenny replied bluntly, to which Lord Benjamin made no comment.
"Keep searching, both of you. Jenny, if you want money and a place to live, you better do a good job," Lord Benjamin exclaimed, his frustration evident.
"Excuse us, my lord," Bill said politely, leading Jenny out of the room.
"Nothing is going my way these days!" Lord Benjamin shouted, the echoes lingering long after the two had left.
---
In a grand mansion that same night, a young girl, Emma, read a book until a gentle knock interrupted her. A maid, accustomed to calling the lackey "uncle," delivered files from Emma's uncle.
"Put them on the table and you may leave," Emma said softly. After the maid departed, Emma examined the files containing information about a man.
---
The next morning, Ethan contemplated his daily mission when an unknown number called. It was the manager.
"It's me, the manager, if you still remember," he said, grinding his teeth.
"Yeah, of course, I remember. Why did you call me?" Ethan lazily answered.
"It's not me, but my young miss. She wants you to think a little quicker," the manager conveyed, trying to hide his frustration.
"I got it. So where can I meet the young miss?" Ethan asked, deciding to discuss the matter face to face.
"At the construction site around 11 am. Be there," the manager instructed, not harsh but firm.
"I'll be there," Ethan affirmed, sipping his coffee as he contemplated his future plans.
Now armed with a system, Ethan knew he had to power up quickly. The encounter with Lord Benjamin and the mysterious events around him heightened the urgency.
Today's free lottery yielded a brown key – a C-ranked dungeon key. Ethan was pleased; it was a step in the right direction. The system explained that he could open the dungeon door anywhere.
Ethan debated whether to meet the young miss today or postpone until after leveling up. The young miss had specifically called for today, and Ethan didn't want to miss his chance to complete the mission.
Deciding to seize the opportunity, Ethan got dressed, preparing for the convergence of fates.
---