The question gnawed at him, unanswered and tantalizing. His lack of knowledge left a gap he couldn't ignore. Still, the potential was too alluring to dismiss. He thought back to a blackboard he'd seen during his visit to the post office while searching for Kalisto.
The board had been plastered with names and faces of wanted Walkers and Ruiners. Alongside their photos were their crimes—murder, arson, theft, and some even more disturbing offenses.
'Perfect'
He thought, a grim determination settling in. If he could track down these criminals and defeat them, their artifacts might give him the firepower he so desperately needed.
But it wouldn't be that simple.
'They're wanted for a reason,' he reminded himself.
'And I'm not the only one hunting them. The competition will be fierce, and their abilities could easily outclass mine.'
His thoughts circled back to Williams. The man was dangerous, driven by a twisted sense of opportunism. Williams had even admitted to hoping innocent Walkers would perish during missions just to collect their artifacts.
'That button of his... future sight would be invaluable for finding these people,' Ivaim thought, the edges of a plan sharpening in his mind.
'But he won't give it up willingly.'
Justifying his next steps came almost too easily. 'Someone like Williams shouldn't hold that kind of power anyway. If I take it, I'm doing everyone a favor.'
But finding Williams would be its own challenge. Narrowing his options, Ivaim considered what he knew: Williams attended the same school as the dead teenager he had encountered earlier.
Unfortunately, entering that school was out of the question. The authorities were likely already aware of his identity.
Frustration gnawed at him as he mulled over the obstacles, his fingers drumming against the revolver's handle. Then, a spark of inspiration lit up his mind.
'Why investigate myself when I have Walkers to do it for me?'
A notification blinked to life before him, glowing softly:
[Would you like to deploy a mission to your Walkers?]
Ivaim's lips curved into a grin. He could assign the investigation to Kalisto. Considering how he had saved Kalisto during their last encounter, the man would likely agree without hesitation.
"Time to delegate," Ivaim said to himself, selecting the option.
Ivaim quickly drafted the mission:
Mission: Investigate the whereabouts and activities of Williams, a Reality Walker known to possess a future-sight artifact in the form of a button. Collect as much information as possible without drawing undue attention. Williams is a high school student at Strathmore Academy.
Satisfied with the details, he sent the mission to Kalisto. Now, all he had to do was wait.
But as he leaned back, a new thought crept into his mind.
'Kalisto might agree, but he isn't a fool. He'll question my motives if I'm not careful.'
Ivaim began preparing a plausible explanation, weaving just enough truth into his lies to make them convincing. This wasn't just about survival anymore—it was a game of strategy and manipulation, and he intended to win.
...
Kalisto leaned against the worn kitchen counter, arms crossed as he faced his daughter, Alina. The room was small but cozy, the smell of freshly brewed tea still lingering in the air.
Alina stood opposite him, her expression calm yet firm, her arms folded in a mirror of his stance.
"I still don't understand why you quit your job without discussing it with me," Alina said, her voice steady but tinged with concern.
Kalisto sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Look, I told you—I have things under control. Our income isn't something you need to worry about."
Alina raised an eyebrow, her intelligence evident in the subtle shift of her gaze. "Not something I need to worry about? Dad, we live together. If you can't pay the bills, that affects me too. How can I not worry?"
"I didn't quit without a plan," Kalisto said, his tone softening. "I've got some opportunities lined up. Things I can handle. Trust me, alright?"
Alina pressed her lips into a thin line, staring at him with the quiet intensity she always carried.
"Opportunities?" she repeated, skepticism lacing her words. "Like what? Some scheme that'll leave you overworked and underpaid again? Or something that'll drag you into more danger than it's worth?"
Kalisto opened his mouth to respond, but Alina's calm intensity cut through him.
"Dad, you've always had a knack for surviving the impossible, but sometimes... I feel like you don't think about the long term. You can't keep risking yourself like this."
He sighed heavily, leaning against the counter. "I know you care, and I appreciate it, but you're underestimating me. I'm not some reckless fool. I know what I'm doing."
She shook her head, exhaling sharply.
"I'm not underestimating you, Dad. I just think you're... impulsive sometimes. Too willing to take the hard road when you don't have to. You're trying to handle everything on your own, and it's going to ruin you."
Kalisto's jaw tightened, but he said nothing. Alina's words stung, not because they were harsh, but because they came from a place of deep worry.
Finally, she unfolded her arms and stepped back.
"You know what? Fine. Do whatever you think is best. Just don't come crying to me when it all falls apart."
Her tone lacked the bite of anger, but it carried the weight of disappointment. She turned and left the room, her footsteps soft yet deliberate.
Kalisto remained where he was, staring at the space she had just occupied. The tension lingered in the air like a thick fog. He reached for his tea, the warmth of the cup doing little to ease the cold knot in his chest.
As he took a slow sip, a faint chime broke the silence. A glowing notification appeared in the corner of his vision.
[Reality Master, Spirit With Good Luck, has assigned you a mission.]
Kalisto frowned, setting the cup down. He tapped on the notification, bringing up the mission details.
Mission: Investigate the whereabouts and activities of Williams, a Reality Walker known to possess a future-sight artifact in the form of a button. Collect as much information as possible without drawing undue attention. Williams is a high school student at Strathmore Academy.