Deep within the Gaea nation's vast desert, A large building stood tall as an oasis of innovation
The building's gold T logo gleamed atop its sleek architecture, surrounded by smaller structures and endless dunes.
This was T.R.I.A.D global headquarters
On the topmost floor, a man sat in his expansive office, surrounded by symbols of his success. However, his usual poise was replaced by boredom and dishevelment. His typically immaculate purple hair was now rough and messy.
His gaze was fixed intently on a piece of paper, his mind consumed by thoughts. The sudden ring of his transmitter broke the silence.
"This better be worth interrupting my busy period for," Chris answered gruffly, eager to return to his mental contest with the paper.
"Apologies, Director. We've received updates on the Iris City Science and Technology Institute incident," a voice replied.
Chris's impatience grew. "Well, go on!"
"The museum attackers weren't villains, sir. Xavier Marshall confirmed they were from O.D.D., and they exhibited abilities," the voice explained.
Chris's eyes widened in shock. "Impossible! How can O.D.D. members possess abilities?"
"The camera's footage from before they were disrupted shows them using abilities, and Xavier claimed that they spoke their mantra,"
"Hmm, interesting. Anything else?" Chris asked
"Yes, the institute also confirmed that the stolen conch shell is authentic," the voice clarified.
Chris's intrigue deepened. "This could be Black Rose's doing, exploiting the artifact's value."
"Well, Xavier also said the artifact might have been stolen by one of the attackers, as they were six when they arrived, but one of them had entered the main part of the museum," the voice replied
"Hmm, that so? Alright, just make sure to get valid info on this case, and let me know of it's progress,"
"Of course, we're investigating further already. I only thought you should know," the voice replied respectfully.
"Good. I'll make inquiries as well. But do tell me, Xavier alone during the incident?" Chris asked, curiosity piqued.
"All civilians were freed before Xavier engaged the attackers. However, a teenager was present when our agents arrived... He was the same kid that leader Jade claimed from us," the voice replied.
Chris raised an eyebrow. "What was he doing there?" he thought
"Alright, i believe you have orders not to engage the kid, and I also believe you know why," Chris replied
"Ye... yes sir, i do. All case files on him have been erased," the man replied
"Good, i trust you will do your job as the new commander, Orion."
"Positive sir, i will do my very best." Orion replied before ending the transmission
Chris sunk back into his seat, his thoughts now more active
"What the fuck is that old man up to, and how do they suddenly have abilities? Last i checked, their entire organization was created for the purpose of eradicating mana, so isn't this just hypocrisy? Unless it's not mana at all." he muttered to himself
I have to figure out their plans quickly and make sure it doesn't compromise mine. I better inform that idiot, we need to act fast." Chris muttered with a worried look.
*******
A week had passed since the museum incident, and Henry was jogging through Iris City's streets, his eyes fixed on the coordinates displayed on his bracelet. The sun cast a warm glow over the urban landscape as he sprinted, his breathing steady.
After what seemed like an endless marathon, he finally arrived at his destination, the bracelet indicating his point at the inputed coordinates on the map
"Huff! huff! huff! I really should have taken my car, who knew her house would be 10 miles from the hotel, huff!" Henry muttered as he tried to catch his breath
He was exhausted, he hadn't run that far before, but the system message relieved him a little with it message
*Daily quest complete
[Run a mile]
*Reward: 20km/hr boost
[Congratulations you have received a 20km/hr increase in speed]
[Speed Rate: 430km/hr]
Henry smiled, clearly happy with his current speed rate "Just a little bit more to reach 500 kilometer per hour," he thought
He had been going on his mile run everyday for the past one week, Xavier hadn't reached out to him at all since the day he had followed the agents, but Henry didn't care much, he hadn't gone to the hunting ground either and just chilled out in the suite. Until Jane returned a few days ago and told Henry to visit her in her home
After 45 minutes of non-stop running from the hotel, Henry finally arrived at his destination; a grand mansion with lush gardens and a small water fountain. The silver gate securing the property gleamed in the sunlight.
"Wow, this is Jane's house? It's pretty... elegant," he muttered to himself, admiring the building structures
A voice interrupted his reverie "Are you just going to keep standing there, gazing from the outside?"
He turned to look at the person who owned the voice and was met with a beautiful girl putting on glasses and looked his age
Henry was first attracted to her long red hair that was tied into a ponytail, as red was his favorite color. Then his gaze shifted not to her face but rather to her exposed abs, which made her figure attractive. She was wearing a pink sport crop top and black yoga pants. She had almost the same height as Henry.
"Why am I suddenly starting to feel attracted to girls who wear glasses?" he thought as he began to check out her facial structures
She had honey coloured eyes and looked like a smaller version of Jane, she had impressive curves and breas... bosoms for her age. And looked very cute in her glasses
"Uh... hello! You're Henry right?" She waved at Henry who still seemed to be dazed by her curv... cough*... Beauty, definitely beauty.
But he quickly snapped out of his daze and responded
"Um, yeah i am, Would you... like to go out sometime," Henry said but immediately regretted his words
The girl raised an eyebrow looking at Henry like he was on drugs or something
"What! why the fuck did i just say that... unless, fuck! That brat's awa....
[Are you a bloody fool? you can't just ask a girl out like that] Miley said cutting off his thoughts
"Of course I know that! I don't know how the words came out," he retorted
But the girl suddenly began laughing, much to Henry's surprise
"Hahaha, mother didn't tell me that you were the funny type," she said
"I'm sorry... i meant to ask of your name," Henry said with a wry smile, but he already took a guess at who she was
"Oh," the girl said, her smile dropping
"So you don't want to go out with me?" she asked, sadness visible in her tone
But Henry wasn't buying any of it
"No, i don't," he said calmly
"Great, i see she has her mother's talents for teasing," he thought
She had a surprised look on her face, she didn't expect Henry to outrightly reject her, but she quickly recovered and returned to her usual serious expression
"Alright, I'm Alicia carter, nice to meet you," she said stretching her hands
Henry reciprocated the gesture, as their hands touched, Alicia widened her eye, letting out a soft gasp. All of which Henry saw but shrugged away.
"She must already be dazed by my charms, but wait... she said carter, Is that her father's last name? That name sounds very familiar. Come to think of it Xavier's last name is Marshall, same as Jane so does that mean... nahh, it'll be too weird," he thought
He was about to speak when Alicia moved towards the gate and placed her eye in front of a small screen on the wall beside the gate.
It scanned her retina and the gate slowly opened
"Come in, mum has been expecting you," She said, inviting Henry into the mansion
Henry walked in and followed closely behind her, admiring the inner surroundings of the compound that was even more bigger on the inside.
Alicia led him into the main building through a rather large door. Henry was met with a gracious combination of gold and black
Golden chandeliers that adorned the ceilings, paintings with gold cases, a black marble stairs with gold plated railings
The living room was not an exception, with black sofas, gold centre table, and other gold-plated accessories placed around the place
His eyes explored the entire place, taking in the majestic view of a paradise-like residence
"Wow, i knew Jane had to be very rich to be the owner of a guild, but I didn't think she'd be this rich," Henry muttered to himself
Alicia directed him to the sitting room where he took his seat and further glanced around the house. She stood there watching Henry like a hawk, her sharp gaze made him uneasy
"Something wrong?" he asked
She smiled "No, nothing much, I'm only wondering how you're so fast, mother said you were ordinary," Alicia said, her eyes piercing into Henry's soul, staring at him like he was a broken toy
Henry's heart skipped a beat he panicked "How the hell did she know how fast i am, perhaps she saw me when I was running here, yeah that has to be it," he calmed himself, but was dumbfounded by her next words
"Hmm, 430 km/hr. That's too fast for a normal human. No," she continued
Henry froze, "That... how is this possible?She was too accurate! Can she tell i have a system?" he uttered inwardly, but quickly composed himself, trying to look calm
"i don't understand what you're talking about, yes I admit i am quite the athlete," he replied with a smile
"But that kind of speed is impossible for me to reach, you must be mistaken," he defended himself
Alicia shook her head "Nope, I'm sure of it, my analysis are never wrong. It's 98 percent accurate, besides i have scanned your entire body. I didn't sense anything unusual, apart from a certain kind of energy, one i have only sensed in... never mind."
"Is she talking about celestial energy? But I don't have that yet, perhaps that of the system," Henry thought
"And besides i could detect a shift in your heart rhythm when you spoke just now. It means you were lying. Look I'm not the kind of person that can be lied to, I know you're different. Your entire body reeks of this energy," she continued
"What analysis is she talking about? she can detect the system's energy but what does my body have to do with this? Who is she? unless... ," Henry suddenly came to a realization and quickly activated his 'eye of horus' inspect skill, which immediately displayed information on Alicia
*Name: Alicia Carter
*Age: 18
*Rank: A
*Ability: Inner machine, metal manipulation
*Hp: 500/500
*Strength: 90
*Speed: [3000Km/hr]
"Just as I suspected, she's a techno with inner machine," Henry thought
"She's a walking, living computer... no, she's even more powerful, her ability is said to be one of the most mysterious types in the world, there's nothing they can't figure out instantly," he conceived in his mind, remembering the information he had learnt about those with the inner machine ability
Alicia flashed a faint smirk, seeing as Henry was silent. Now was her chance
"Don't worry, i won't tell anyone. Truly i have nothing to gain if Triad takes you away,"
Henry frowned "Nothing to gain? Of course she wants something. Everyone always does," he muttered to himself
"As long as you do as i say," she added with a devilish smile confirming Henry's thought
"My analysis also tells me that there is only two possible outcomes for this situation, and I'm sure you already know,"
Henry gritted his teeth "This girl, i should kill her right now and run, but even with my current stat, i can't. She's too strong, and even faster than me, i thought technos were supposed to be weak in physical feats," he pondered, resisting the urge to rip Alicia's throat out
"Sigh... Moreover she's Jane's daughter, i can't do that to her, there's too much risk and losses for me. I better just play along and see what she wants," Henry muttered to himself
"Alright fine, what do you want," he asked
Alicia clapped happily "Good, i only need you to get faster," she said
Henry was confused, this was something he wanted to do anyways, there was no way it was the only thing she wanted
"Why don't you skip that part, and get to what you really want from me," he asked, his eyebrow raised
"You are a smart one, aren't you? Yes I do want more. But that's all I can reveal for now, I'll be in touch with you. And don't try anything funny, i have a very intimidating family." She replied with a smile
Henry was furious, he had just wanted to live a better life in this new world, but these people seem to be in his way; Jane, Xavier, or Felicity. He had never trusted any of them to begin with, and just wanted to use them to his advantage, but now he was being used like a servant
"I can't let her have me in her grasp for long, i have to find a way to get rid of her. I will not be manipulated so easily," he muttered to himself
"Normally i should help you with it, but I have to prepare for the mage academy exams," She added
Henry's interest piqued "She's trying out? Maybe i could ask a few things," Henry thought, he was about to open his mouth to speak when Jane walked into the sitting room
"Ahh, i see you're both getting along," Jane said as she walked towards Henry
"Yes mother, Henry is quite the comedian, he's been telling me all sorts of jokes since we met," Alicia said with a smile
Henry also forced a smile on his face, staring daggers into Alicia "Oh i will take pleasure in ripping that smile off her face," he thought, grinning inwardly
"Indeed, Alicia was quite the audience, she laughed happily at my every joke," he replied
"Oh, it sounds like I've ruined your fun," Jane chuckled
"No, not at all, i think Alicia was just about leaving to take a shower. Yes," Henry said flashing a smile
Alicia reciprocated the smile, her expression displaying that of
"Yeah bummer, guess we'll have to continue our little... chat some other time," she said as she started to walk out of the room
Henry nodded with a smile, and watched her leave the room with an innocent smile on her face. He hated it
"Alright aunt ja..."
"Hey Henry!" Before Henry could
complete his words, Alicia suddenly called out from the doorstep, she had returned to give a message
"I would love to go out with you," she said with a wink
Henry quickly forced a smile "I already rejected you, damn it!" he thought, but he couldn't do it again, not in front of her mother. He didn't have a death wish
"Lovely, i would look forward to it then," he said,
"I as well," Alicia replied with a smile or rather a victorious smirk before leaving the area for good
"Well played little red, well played," Henry muttered to himself
Jane just stood there, wondering what really went down between the two, but immediately shrugged it off
"Hm, kids will be kids," she thought before turning to Henry
"Are you ready?" she asked to which Henry nodded
"Alright, though I have to ask, did you really ask my daughter out?" she asked with a wide smile
Henry had an embarrassed expression on his face, for some reason only Jane could get through him and truly taunt him.
"It... It was only a slip, I'm sor...
"No, don't apologize," Jane chuckled "She kind of sensitive so just be patient with her, okay
Henry's face twitched "Sensitive! No offense Jane, but I don't think you know your daughter too well. That girl is anything but sensitive, she's a diabolical little devil,"
"Sure, I'll be gentle with her," Henry said with a soft smile
Jane nodded before they both left the building. She led him to her training ground, a vast field within the mansion.