[1st POV]
"Renee!"
I burst into the room.
"I've got fantastic news!"
Renee nearly choked on her breakfast.
"Cough, cough! Don't startle me like that,"
She grimaced, "So, what's the news?"
"It's about our case. Lucifer managed to dig up some information on the group we're after."
"And what did he find out?"
"A couple of days ago, several containers were smuggled into Los Angeles, filled with the same type of ammunition used in the convoy attacks. There's a lot of it. That means they're planning a big operation here. They're not done in this city yet, so we have a chance to catch them red-handed. However, I have a feeling this is going to be especially dangerous."
"But what exactly are they after?"
She asked with a hint of concern in her voice.
"And I know that too!"
I grinned, handing her a report.
"Hmm. There is a former soldier being held here and key here who might be connected to them somehow? And they couldn't get him to talk? Aren't there, you know, certain… methods for that?"
Renee asked, her brow furrowing.
"That's the whole point. None of it worked. He's not mute, but he just refuses to talk, just keeps smiling. That's why an attack hasn't happened yet. These guys are carefully planning this prison invasion. They won't risk moving him, so there's a ninety nine percent chance they're going to go for a full-on prison break."
"Madness."
Renee murmured, clearly taken aback, "It's absolute madness on their part!"
"Nevertheless, we have a chance to catch them, if not catch them, we'll at least be able to eliminate a good number. We'll have SWAT with us. so we've got decent odds."
"Faaaantastic... I think. I mean, I'm a little lost here."
"It happens. After we take some information from them, we should be able to understand why they wiped out the Chinese group and how they're connected to our fallen colleagues."
"So, once we get the information out of them, we'll be able to figure out who's the mole in the department, right?"
Renee asked, her voice sharp and focused.
"Exactly. We'll nail the mole."
I nodded and sat down beside her to finally have breakfast.
Over the past week, after our heart-to-heart and drinks, we discovered a mole among the cops leaking information and covering for the smugglers.
I strongly suspected it was Malcolm, the one who had caused Chloe Decker's misfortunes and had recently "come back to life."
We had been digging for evidence and searching for clues ever since, not to mention the results of Lucifer's investigations.
As for my apprenticeship with him, it's paying off.
In just a week, I've achieved significant results, including my status.
I also realized that the more I fight with Mazikeen, the more I understand that Deathstroke didn't beat me.
He gave me a loving little pat on the ass, like a son or grandson.
And this... bitch, she beat me up so badly that my regeneration is now at level fifteen...
Lucifer is laughing and enjoying it.
The most important thing is that I only lost in Luck.
I had forty-seven Luck before I sat down to play cards with him, and now I have forty-five.
I lost to him five times in a row but I did get an extra five levels in 'Cheater' for it, it's still frustrating.
I can't beat Lucifer.
It's obvious that The Devil incarnate, and I can't outplay him.
"Today, I'm probably going to take care of some things, and you rest for now."
Rene said after finishing her meal, "I've already dumped a lot on you these past few days, and you're still training with Mazikeen."
She knows about the training with Mazikeen and sees how I drag my body back.
"You should rest."
"She's a martial arts master. I can't just walk past her."
"You're so stubborn."
She sighed, "Fine, if you want to get new bruises and emotional trauma for what she did to you, go ahead, but I'm heading to the station."
"Watch out for Malcolm."
"I know!"
Well, I feel like everything is about to come to an end.
Although... for me, today is just the beginning of the headache. After all, Lucifer himself decided to train me in combat today.
I'm screwed!
After five hours of being beaten by Lucifer, my health dropping to one hundred and fifty, and the floor of his house being drenched in my blood, I was lying on something, reading messages from the system:
[+1 Level Up]
[You can now unlock your first subclass]
[You have crossed the threshold of ten levels. With every tenth level, all your skills will increase by one level. You will also receive an additional ten attribute points.]
...
[+5 Regeneration]
[+3 Hand to Hand Combat]
[+2 Martial Arts Mystery]
[+1 Dinklage Style]
'Wait, stop! This doesn't matter, what's important is how many points I have?'
"Eighty?! Yes-yes-yes! I did it!"
I shouted in joy because my expectations were met!
"What, already?"
Lucifer asked me.
"Yes, now I can buy Shadow Clone Technique from the system. I'll lose seventy five damn points, but I'll get this miracle that will help me become a powerhouse. Yes! My suffering has paid off."
I couldn't even hold back my tears.
"This needs to be a celebration!"
Lucifer said joyfully but became a little sad and said, "Although, considering your condition, it's not recommended. But don't worry, I'll drink for both of us and screw beautiful women for both of us as well."
"You're a real friend."
I weakly smiled and started to fall asleep, ignoring what Lucifer wanted to say.
...
An hour and a half later, I woke up.
I saw my health had recovered halfway, and I could confidently choose my subclass and buy the technique.
At the same time, as I understood, I wouldn't have to 'study' it.
I would automatically learn about the technique and how to use it, and that's precisely what happened.
After purchasing it, I immediately used the technique, and my clone appeared before me.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu"
"Hello, original!"
He waved at me.
"Hello, copy!"
We hugged... and then he popped.
"Looks like your clone is missing some vitamins."
Mazikeen said, handing me a glass with some liquid.
"Drink it, it'll help restore your health faster, or whatever you and Lucifer call that crap."
"Thanks."
As for the subclass, I chose 'Assassination Mastery,' just as Lucifer had suggested.
As a result, I got a nice bonus from this subclass:
[+3 Martial Arts (Peak Human)]
[+3 Hand-to-hand Combat]
[+5 Strength]
[+5 Endurance]
[+5 Agility]
I felt even better after that.
However, Rene called me, interrupting my wonderful moment.
"Hello, Isaac? Come to the local prison. There's no time to explain, try to get here as quickly as you can."
"I'm already on my way. But when I get there, you owe me a detailed explanation of what happened."
"Alright. Just hurry."
She sounded worried.
"Sorry, Maze, but I have to leave. They "want" me at the prison."
"Take care of your ass, detective."
She smiled at me as I left.
She really has a good sense of humor.
At first, I didn't realize she was teasing me instead of wishing me to stay safe and sound.
I got into a taxi and gave the driver the address I needed to go to, but they didn't respond.
I called out to them several times, but there was no reaction.
I even wanted to tap him on the shoulder, but my hand was stopped by a smaller yet much stronger, delicate female hand.
Then I noticed that a pale-skinned, dark-haired girl was sitting next to me.
She was wearing black jeans and a top. Her hair was styled in a bob cut, and her eyes were dark brown, almost black.
A silver pendant with an unknown shape was around her neck, and a tattoo on her right eye looked like an ancient symbol—the Eye of Horus.
"Hello, Isaac."
She smiled at me.
"We need to talk seriously."
That's when I realized I was in big trouble...
To be continued...
...
A/N: PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO DROP SOME POWER STONES... THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
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