Frizz sneezed as he drove at a moderate pace, the cold air stinging his face and making visibility difficult. He cursed himself, regretting not stealing the helmets. "Those helmets looked expensive too," he muttered, speeding up. "Too bad this motorcycle is such a crap brand."
Frizz slowed down and parked the motorcycle near an empty lot, covering it with a tarp. He then walked towards his house, entering and heading straight to his room.
"Dinner's ready!" Ryan, his youngest brother, called out. "I'm not hungry," Frizz replied, collapsing onto his bed.
"What a stressful day," Frizz muttered, fluttering his eyes and then sleeping.
The next day...
Frizz woke up feeling invigorated by his past successes, ready to face the day. He entered the bathroom, took off his clothes, and observed his body, pleased to see that his wounds were healing well.
(This stab wound, it still hurts when I move quickly but I'm glad it's healing well.) He thought as he caressed it, grateful that it was a small pocketknife. (The laceration on my back looks fine too. In three days, these wounds will be healed. I think?)
"System!" he muttered while washing his face and gargling.
[System]
Name: New Name
Level: 10
Experience: 40/170
Health: 45/45 (+10) [SL+2] [RF+2] [IP+6]
Mana: 42/42 (+2)
Fatigue: 04/100 (peak)
Class: [Fighter]
Physical Prowess = [exceptional human]
Magical Prowess = [above average human]
Mental Prowess = [below average human]
Telekinetic Prowess = [novice]
Perks: [Serene Life], [Righteous Fury], [Gluttonous Approach], [Telekinetic Shield], [Alcoholic Advantage], [Mark of Decrepitude], [Iron Peak], [Chameleon], [Survivor], [Soothing Touch], [✬Efficient Recovery✬], [✬Single Minded Fool✬], [✬Unique Battle Sense✬]
Talents: None
Spitting into the sink, Frizz smiled as he read his stats, knowing his goal of becoming strong was a step closer. (Should I mix perks today?)
"System, combine efficient recovery and survivor. I feel like if they're combined, they'll be powerful."
[System]
Cannot combine class-related perks. [✬]
"Oh, okay." (Bummer.) Frizz grumbled as he tried to click on the class section. (Hmmm... My skills aren't showing; I guess they have a separate tab.) He rubbed his chin. "System, show me my skills."
[System]
[Fighter] =
(These parenthesized numbers, what do they mean?) Frizz thought as he quickly showered. (Mana cost or cooldown?)
"System, what are these numbers next to the skills?" Frizz paused for a moment, anticipating an answer but received no reply. (Figures.)
"One way to find out." Frizz decided to chant the name of the skill instead. "Lesser power!"
[System]
Frizz felt a minimal but noticeable surge of power throughout his body. "Mana."
[System]
Mana: 42/42
"So, those numbers stand for cooldown. Good to know," Frizz commented, wiping the fogged mirror.
"Frizz! Ryan! Breakfast's ready!" Weng shouted from the kitchen, causing Frizz's stomach to rumble.
"Whatever, I can experiment later; I have to go to work." He then hurried downstairs.
Thirty minutes later...
Frizz parked his electric-bike in his usual spot and then entered the convenience store, greeting Mr. Sim and Yani at the entrance, waving at them.
"Morning Frizz, please mop the floors," Mr. Sim ordered.
Frizz nodded, cracking his neck, and headed to the breakroom, lightly bumping into Mina with the door as he opened it. "Oof!"
"Oh, hey, I'm sorry," Frizz apologized as he walked past but was suddenly tugged by the sleeve. He turned to Mina, sensing that she had something she needed to discuss. (She looks intense.)
Frizz's expression darkened. "They came back didn't they, after I left?" He reached for Mina's arm, dragging her inside the breakroom and closing the door.
"No, not that." Mina shook her head. "Besides, I don't think they'll be coming back after what they did yesterday."
*Knock!* *Knock!* A knock at the door interrupted their conversation; slowly Yani opened the door and pretended to ignore the sight of Frizz holding Mina's arms. "A cop is looking for you two. They're outside."
Frizz and Mina briefly looked at each other. "Mina, follow my lead and let me talk first." Mina nodded as they both walked towards the entrance, spotting a uniformed officer.
The officer greeted the two, smiling at them. "Frizz and Mina, right? I am Detective Micah Tiu from the city police department." The detective greeted the two, shaking their hands.
"Yesterday, around nighttime, four people, near the town center, entered a food stall and tried to shoot you two, correct? Eyewitnesses recognized two convenience store clerks as the victims."
"Yes sir, that's right," Frizz answered as another detective appeared from the police car and approached Mina. "Ma'am, could we talk over here?" Mina nodded and followed the uniformed detective, briefly glancing at Frizz.
Detective Micah cleared his throat. "Could you please tell me what happened?" The detective asked, holding a notebook in one hand and a pen in the other.
"Yes, uhm." Frizz paused. "Yesterday, Mina and I were enjoying a quick snack, then four people sat beside us and pulled out a gun. In a moment of pure adrenaline, I managed to whack the gun away, then grabbed the hot boiling pot of oil and threw it at them. Then I hit someone in the face with a bottle, a beer bottle."
Detective Micah listened as Frizz gave his recounting of yesterday's events, taking notes and nodding his head. "Four of them are now being treated, three of them for burns and the other one surgery because of the shards on his face."
The detective paused, scanning Frizz's expression, then continued. "The four of them are quite tight-lipped, not even saying anything, but it's only a matter of time," he commented with a neutral expression. "Do you know why they were after you two?"
Frizz sighed, scratching his nape. "I don't know. I'm just glad to be out of there."
Detective Micah sensed Frizz's apprehension towards the topic. "After you stopped the four of them, eyewitnesses said that you fled on a motorcycle."
Frizz subtly trembled at the question; it went unnoticed by the detective. "Look, there was also CCTV footage; we saw you flee with one of the suspect's motorcycles."
"The motorcycle is in an empty lot," Frizz confessed, surprising the detective. "Just two, maybe three, minutes away from our house. I was afraid that they'd go after us, so we took their motorcycle and drove away," Frizz explained.
"But you already stopped them; it would be better to just stay in the scene, no?" The detective probed.
"Should I get a lawyer?" Frizz asked, annoyed. "I was defending myself; that stall vendor can vouch for me. I took their motorcycle in a moment of haste; I just wanted to get away." He asserted his innocence.
Detective Micah waved a hand, chuckling apologetically. "I'm sorry, I was a bit too direct. For now, just give us the exact location of the motorcycle, and we'll be on our way. However, you need to come and talk to us tomorrow."
Frizz gave the exact location of the motorcycle, just as Mina was finished with her interrogation. The two detectives then left, reminding Frizz again to show up at the police station tomorrow. The two then reentered the convenience store.
"What did you tell them?" Frizz questioned, breaking the silence.
Mina looked up to him, shaking her head. "Not much; I told them that I didn't see a lot and that I was under the table when it all happened," she answered. "Then they asked me where I brought you. I told them it wasn't far and that you took me home shortly after that."
Frizz sighed, mentally exhausted from the interrogation. (This kind of attention hinders my growth. All because of that piece of crap, Baron.)
"What was all that about?" Mr. Sim asked, approaching the two with Yani trailing behind, also curious.
Mina was about to answer, but Frizz held out his hand and interjected. "It's related to that incident yesterday, near the town center."
"That shootout? You two were there?"
(Shootout? That's what they're calling it?) Frizz mused, surprised.
"Yes, we were there. I was walking her home, then suddenly, trouble." Frizz answered, picking up the mop. "The police also wanted me to go to the police station tomorrow."
Mr. Sim nodded, not prying any further, only asking due to a passing curiosity. However, Yani's expression gloomed; she wanted to hear more.
"Well, get back to work then," Mr. Sim added as he walked away, heading to the break room.
"Let's talk later," Frizz reminded Mina as he continued to mop the floor. Yani approached Frizz and poked his back, catching his attention. "I have something to tell you, later." She whispered then walked away.
(Okay?) Frizz raised a brow but nevertheless continued on the cleaning, mopping the dirtied tiled floor.
Eight hours later...
Frizz sighed deeply, leaning on a chair with both of his legs raised on a table. (Should I go tomorrow? It's too much of a drag, honestly.) He asked himself about his sudden appointment with the authorities.
The breakroom door creaked as Mina peeked inside. "Oh good, we're alone," she said in relief. "I've an idea of what you should do," she added.
Frizz gestured for her to sit, intrigued by what she had to say. (She's rather assertive today; I wonder what got into her?) He internally commented.
Mina sat down and focused on Frizz; her piercing gaze was shadowed by her bangs. She contemplated for a while until bluntly declaring.
"You should kill Baron, right now."