chap 21: guilty blackie

Alexa opened her eyes to the familiar sight of her office. The space, though comforting in its familiarity, did little to ease the turmoil brewing inside her. The soft hum of the air conditioner, the steady ticking of the wall clock, and the faint scent of lavender from the diffuser on her desk were all constant reminders of a routine that seemed distant and irrelevant after her latest mission. She sat there, feeling a dull ache that seemed to seep into her very bones, trying to process everything that had just transpired. Her mind was a whirlwind of confusion and frustration, each thought more jumbled than the last. The recent mission had taken a toll on her, leaving her mentally and emotionally exhausted.

As she struggled to make sense of her emotions, a familiar presence materialized before her: Blackie, the embodiment of the Mafia System. His sudden appearance added to her already frayed nerves. Blackie, with his usual enigmatic expression, floated before her, his dark eyes glinting with a mix of concern and anticipation.

Before Blackie could utter a word, Alexa shot him a withering glare. Her anger was barely contained, simmering just below the surface. She was ready to unleash her fury, but Blackie, perhaps sensing her volatile state, quickly spoke up, trying to preempt the storm.

[Well, my dear host😅, I was just about to say congratulations🎉 on your first successful mission😁,] Blackie said, his tone a mixture of forced cheer and nervousness.[The rewards are being issued to you according to the degree of completion🙃. Points: 100. Grade: B.]Alexa's eyes narrowed, her anger momentarily overshadowed by confusion. She felt a fresh surge of frustration as she processed Blackie's words. "Blackie, can you tell me why a hunter killed me, and you did not tell me anything about a hunter and the danger?" she asked, a smile on her face that was more threatening than friendly.

Blackie's expression shifted to one of awkwardness. [Silly me😬, I forgot to mention that in some worlds, there may be hunters trying to kill you and stop you from completing your mission😅. But don't worry, I'll make sure that in the next few missions, there are no hunters.❤️]

Alexa tried to relax, taking deep breaths to steady herself, but a sinking feeling settled in her stomach. The realization hit her hard: the points awarded were only 100. This meant she would have to undertake many more missions before she could even think about going back. She glanced at the grade again and frowned deeply, frustration evident in her features.

"Why is the grade so low and the points so few?" she demanded, her voice tinged with disbelief. The low points and grade felt like a slap in the face after everything she had endured. Blackie's response was immediate, almost rehearsed.[Silly host🫣, the grade is low because the client's wish was for her brother to have a happy and healthy life. You are already dead in that world, so how can you ensure he is healthy? 😑After you left, the client's brother was robbed and beaten, which resulted in him being hospitalized again. The grade is still high because Tang Fei helped resolve your family issues.😜]Alexa's frustration grew. Each word from Blackie seemed to add to her sense of helplessness. The realization that her efforts had not only fallen short but had potentially caused more harm was a heavy burden to bear. She had tried so hard, yet it felt like the universe was conspiring against her.[Now, if the host doesn't have any more questions🥴, I'll let the next client enter,🥲] Blackie said, eager to move on to the next task, his tone indicating a desire to escape the uncomfortable conversation.

Alexa sighed and nodded, her shoulders slumping. She watched as Blackie spun and disappeared from sight. Moments later, the door to her office creaked open, and a new client stepped inside. The girl appeared to be around sixteen, with big round eyes that sparkled with curiosity. Her short, shoulder-length hair framed a face with beautiful features, and she wore a simple skirt and T-shirt.

The girl smiled upon seeing Alexa and sat down in the chair opposite her. "My name is Julie," she began, her voice tinged with a mixture of hope and desperation. "My only wish is that I want my parents to see the real face of their adopted daughter."

Alexa nodded, trying to push her own frustrations aside. She wasn't in the mood for talking, but she knew she had to focus on her new client. "I'll make sure to fulfill your wish," she said, forcing a smile. They shook hands, sealing the agreement, and then Julie disappeared.

Alexa found herself enveloped in a mist, watching the unfolding scenes of Julie's life as if it were a movie.