Another Ambush

[System]

Name: New Name

Level: 9

Experience: 20/160

Health: 40/42 (+10) [SL+2] [RF+2] [IP+6]

Mana: 39/39 (+2)

Fatigue: 18/100 (peak)

Class: None

Physical Prowess = [near 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 Hands]

Talents: None

Frizz stared at the floating system bar before him, enjoying his root beer. Earlier, he had met the new hire—a young woman he recognized. He remembered her staring intently at him during their last encounter. Does she know me, or something? he wondered.

"Hey there, are you busy?" The new hire asked, lightly putting her hands down on the table, slightly leaning towards Frizz.

Frizz blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. "Uh, no, do you need something?" he replied, noticing the scars on her arms. "Yani, right?"

The girl politely nodded. "That's my name and I just wanted to talk to you for a while."

"Uh, sure, have a seat." Frizz gestured towards the opposite bench as the convenience store bells chimed, signaling the arrival of two new customers.

"Be right back." Yani excused herself, going behind the counter.

Frizz yawned, tossed the empty can straight into the trash, and walked towards the beverage section. His throat still felt parched. He encountered the two customers, who were whispering amongst themselves.

The man and woman were startled by Frizz's sudden appearance, as though they hadn't expected him to materialize in front of them. The woman stepped forward as Frizz opened the cooler door, trying to decide what to drink next.

"Scan." The woman muttered as she looked up, causing Frizz to turn to her with a confused face. "Can I help you?" He asked, noting that they probably needed help.

The woman's eyes widened as she focused her sights. "Do you need help?" Frizz asked in a soft tone, slightly smiling.

The man behind her interjected. "Sorry, we're both drunk right now." The man excused as he chuckled. "We thought you were someone we knew. Apologies."

(Ah, that's why.) Frizz nodded in acceptance, understanding the situation. "I see, drink well and moderately." He greeted as he took out a Conk can and walked towards the counter.

"What the heck were you doing? I thought we agreed to keep a low profile." The man said in disbelief, fearing that they could be revealed.

"I am." She replied. "I just wanted to see his stats."

The man sighed as he scratched his head through his beanie. "Well, what did you see?"

The woman lowered her head, deep in thought. "He had around ten perks and I think a few of them were combined." (So he really is second rate.) The woman concluded.

"A perk each level," the man said, then paused. "A perk each day until you hit the level cap," he whispered to himself, envy creeping into his words.

(However, a lot of time had passed since he acquired a system and he is still below level fifteen. He should have some sort of daily quests or objectives that should help him.) The woman mused.

"Even if he were to avoid combat and be generally pacifistic, he should be more than level ten by now." The woman let her thoughts out. "Don't you think he's a bit slow when leveling up?" She asked.

The man paused for a while, glancing at Frizz who sat near the window of the convenience store. "Whatever it is, we'll know soon enough."

"We should tell him now, I appraised him and guess what?" The woman paused, emphasizing her question.

"His combat aura is green!" The woman loudly whispered, having an accurate idea of Frizz's capabilities since she has a talent that allows her to assess and gauge a person.

"That fits, he doesn't really have any combat experience outside of drunks and hooligans." The man added, opening the cooler in front of him and looked for something to drink. (Zero sugar....)

"He's going to die if we don't stop him." The woman assessed, worry formed on her face.

"Hei said to let him be, to let him discover his own potential and grow!" The man said back. "Let's observe for now. If he's going to die then we intervene, until then let's just watch."

Mina then exited the break room and walked towards Frizz. "Let's go." Frizz nodded and walked outside with her, bidding their goodbye to Mr. Sim and the new hire.

(No....I've yet to talk to you!) Yani internally cried as she watched both of them walk away.

One hour later...

Frizz ordered another tempura while still eating a hotdog bun while Mina periodically shifted her gaze, watching for anyone suspicious.

"Why do we have to wait until tonight? If we had left earlier while the sun was still out, I would be safe and home."

"Call it an intuition but I don't think Baron is holding back now, for sure he is doing everything he can to get me. That includes spying on us."

(They'd also shift their priorities from possible kidnapping to just straight up execution on the street had we gone on daytime.)

"He wants to capture us—or me, rather. It's hard to kidnap someone in broad daylight," Frizz stated, thanking the vendor as he received his tempura. "What do you think would happen if we left during the day? If he can't catch us, killing us in a drive-by is a solid option…I think?" he mumbled. (That's my logic anyway.)

"Let's play along with their plans." 

"You mean, you play along with them." Mina corrected him. "I want no part of this." She picked up her hotdog bun and ate it, trying to calm her nerves.

[System]

[Gluttonous Approach] is active!

(That should be a plus four modifier on my health and strength. Too bad it only lasts for two hours though.) Frizz thought as he effortlessly ate his sixth serving of tempura.

The roar of two loud motorcycles caused Frizz to look forward at the entrance. Four men unmounted their vehicles as they walked past by the two and sat at the table beside them.

The four of them shifted their sights to Mina and Frizz and looked at each other in confirmation. The street vendor's assistant approached them and asked for their order.

"We have a tempura special today, buy ten and get two for free."

"We'll have that." One of them replied with a gruff voice, uninterested about the specials.

Mina spotted their gazes as soon as they sat down, triggering her anxiety and fear. However, Frizz didn't notice since he was occupied with drinking the sauces. "Frizz..." Mina whispered, her voice breaking as a single drop of sweat rolled on her forehead.

"Yeah?" Frizz replied nonchalantly. "What's wrong?"

Frizz noticed her anxiety, he could tell her shaking uneasily with wide eyes as if she'd seen something horrible. Mina shifted her eyes to the left, signaling him. 

Frizz looked at were Mina was signaling and found four men on another table, staring at them both. For a moment, he thought nothing of it until his system chimed in.

[System]

Defeat the assassins: 0/4

Rewards: Enough experience to advance.

"Shit." Frizz cursed as his eyes bulged in fear.

"TAG!" "TAG!" "TAG!" "TAG!" The sudden yelling of 'tag' surprised the four men.

In a split second, the closest one pulled out a pistol and aimed it at Frizz. In a moment of pure adrenaline, Frizz whacked away the pistol and activated his force field.

*Bang!* The pistol accidentally discharged, causing the people around them to panic and flee. Mina screamed in terror, clutching her ringing ears.

Frizz stood up, pushing the gunman toward his table. The force sent both the table and the other three men sprawling. One man fell further backwards, into a shallow crevice. Mina quickly crawled under the table, scratching her shirt.

Two of the assassins managed to stand, but before they could fire their weapons, Frizz telekinetically grabbed the large frying pan of hot sizzling oil and hurled it at them.

"AGH!" "AHH FUCK!" Both men, along with the one Frizz just pushed yelled as their bodies burned from the oil. He then attracted the discarded beer bottle to his hand.

The last man, who'd fallen into the crevice, was able to climb out, only to be met with a beer bottle to the face. It shattered, thick shards embedding themselves into his flesh.

*Huff* *Huff* Frizz looked back and could see people hiding from their stalls and vehicles, waiting for the chaos to cease. He grabbed Mina's arms from the table and lead her outside.

Mina accepted Frizz's hand and looked back, spotting four men on the ground. "Please call the police, these four people just tried to attack us! They have guns!" Frizz shouted.

The vendor approached them, surveying the damage done to her makeshift store. She grabbed a knife and took out her phone. "I'll call them."

As people slowly crowded the vendor's stall, Frizz helped Mina mount one of the motorcycles their assassins rode on. Frizz turned the already present keys and sped away.

Mina's breathing was erratic as she clutched Frizz, her chest pressed against his back. Frizz paid it no mind, focusing on getting away.

[System]

Objectives Completed.

Received: Enough experience to advance.

New name is now level 10.

Select a perk: [Morale Strength] [Feline's Sight] [Sex Change] [Poisonous Words]

"Not right now." Frizz thought as he sped away, almost colliding with a car.