Chapter 55: The Bigger the Scene, the Greater the Rewards
Locke found himself intrigued.
The next moment, the system intervened to heighten his sense of presence.
**"Ding!"**
**"Task Generated."**
**"Mission: 'Junior Assassin'"**
**"Quest Rewards: Achievement Points * 500, Potential Points * 500, Treasure Refresh Ticket * 1"**
**"Mission Description: You know the identity of the Junior Assassin, but she remains unaware of yours. What will you do?"**
**"Task Description: This task follows movie mode principles; bigger scenes yield greater bonuses."**
**"Task Notes: The player's interests are the system's reason for being. Your motivation drives the task."**
**"Accept/Reject!"**
...
Locke smirked and accepted.
That was the system's modus operandi.
It always piqued his curiosity, triggering whenever he was intrigued or interested. The system couldn't initiate tasks independently; it relied on Locke's triggers.
And Locke believed more was better than less, like the ogres he hadn't encountered in the Texas wilderness.
But now?
Locke studied the mission details, already forming a plan.
This was tied to SHIELD, and he'd been tasked with investigating its significance.
Interesting.
Moreover, this mission mirrored the textile factory's approach, activating movie mode.
Movies.
The pursuit was in the spectacle; the bigger the scene, the louder the audience cheers.
So...
This was the rhythm between him and SHIELD.
Locke chuckled to himself. Interesting. He liked it.
Besides, for players, with ample rewards, dismantling SHIELD wasn't a multiple-choice question—it was a certainty.
At that moment...
Locke snapped back to reality, noticing Kahn being nudged over by Cindy.
Their eyes met briefly, and they exchanged helpless smiles.
Locke grinned and looked away.
It was understandable.
Cindy outshone Morgan in appearance and hailed from a wealthier family. She'd just started dating Kahn and was likely in the honeymoon phase.
Naturally, whatever the girlfriend said held sway.
Soon after, Kahn approached Locke's table. "Morgan?"
Morgan didn't respond.
Gwen frowned, recognizing the preamble to Cindy's mischief.
Across from Locke, Morgan seemed lost in thought, seemingly contemplating her words carefully.
And Locke was right.
Morgan was indeed pondering this—Nick Fury, or whom she believed to be Chief Hardman, had made it clear: if she could confirm certain information from Locke, she could remain at the school.
Kahn glanced at Morgan, who remained silent with bowed head, then blinked and turned to Cindy.
Cindy made a gesture.
Kahn sighed and turned back. "Cindy."
His tone grew firmer, nudging Cindy's back.
But Kahn had seemingly forgotten a lesson from another male classmate.
**"Boom!"**
**"What!"**
With a scream, Kahn's head slammed onto the dining table. Morgan had pressed down on his arm with both hands and locked his back with one, firmly pinning Kahn in place.
Gwen sat nearby, utterly stunned.
Cindy, not far off, mirrored her astonishment.
Locke...
Locke sprang to his feet the moment Morgan moved, holding his plate high to prevent Kahn's head from hitting it.
Morgan quickly released Kahn upon realizing what she'd done. "Kahn? Oh my god, I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were standing behind me."
Kahn winced, feeling his right arm was out of joint.
Locke sighed and approached. With Kahn still dazed, Locke swiftly maneuvered, clicking twice to reset Kahn's arm. As Kahn yelped in pain, Locke glanced at Gwen. "Let's go."
Gwen blinked, then turned to Locke. "How did you..."
Locke shrugged. "I'm a cowboy, remember?"
A Texan cowboy, a bit roughed up, with a rudimentary knowledge of first aid. It wasn't unusual.
"Kahn!"
From afar, Cindy saw her boyfriend in agony, his eyes watering, and rushed towards Morgan. "You bitch, what have you done!"
Morgan gestured quickly. "Wait, let me explain..."
But before she could finish, an enraged Cindy swung her backpack, shouting into Morgan's face.
Girls brawled in three zones—
Hair, face, and chest.
But...
That wasn't how assassins or agents fought.
The next moment, Cindy was also subdued, courtesy of Morgan—without lethal intent.
The cafeteria erupted into commotion.
Locke watched the spectacle with a blank expression.
Gwen, unable to bear it, covered her face with her hand.
In the afternoon...
Locke waited in the parking lot for Gwen.
After a while, Gwen emerged from the Academic Affairs Building, flanked by Cindy, Kahn, and Morgan.
Locke glanced at Gwen, sensing her displeasure. "How did it go?"
During lunch, footage of Morgan's quick takedown of Kahn had gone viral online. By afternoon, someone had shown it to Locke during baseball practice.
The views were off the charts.
Midtown College was buzzing.
Gwen rubbed her temples. "Morgan's suspended for three days, Cindy and Kahn for two. As a ninth-grade assistant, I might get demoted."
Locke arched an eyebrow. "How's that your fault?"
Gwen sighed. "I was there."
Locke: "..."
Okay.
Gwen was in for a rough time.
Approaching from the side, Cindy greeted Locke before addressing Gwen, clearly remorseful. "I'm sorry, Gwen, I never expected..."
Gwen waved her off, glancing at Cindy. "It's okay. Let's just leave it at that, Cindy."
Cindy started to speak—
Gwen didn't want to hear it, heading to the R8's passenger seat and climbing in.
Though her tenure as a ninth-grade assistant wouldn't be revoked, it still stung for a diligent student who'd been praised since nursery school.
As they drove off...
Locke glanced at Gwen, clearly downcast, and suggested, "How about that diner downstairs? My treat?"
Gwen met Locke's gaze.
He smiled. "A gentleman's duty to cheer up his partner in distress."
Gwen: "..."