Since the shot has been fired, everyone was in commotion. The lounge of TV-N station building was crowded by workers or civils that was just passing to seek protection. Some murmuring in despair, some even crying. Rei blend in and sat in one of the couch near the lift.
He observed the surrounding as in to make sure no one was watching him.
Yesterday, he has been learning the layout of this building. TV-N building consist of 3 floors, in which the broadcasting room was on the second floor. He retrieved his fake ID-card and walked towards the receptionist who was hiding below the table.
"Hello, Miss. I'm sorry to disturb you. I know there is commotion outside, but I need to relay this news today as to make the first headlines. Can I borrow the keys?"
The frightened receptionist couldn't think straight and pointed to the drawer in the receptionist table.
"The keys are there. There's room numbers in each keys."
Rei nodded and grinned.
"Thank you, Miss."
He stood up and rummaged through the drawers. He already knew the room numbers, thanks to the stolen building layout. After founding what he looked for, he walked briskly towards the lift and pressed 2.
<How could she give keys to strangers easily?> System popped up.
<It's a basic psychology. The anxiety could cause brain fog that make someone cannot think clearly.>
Rei smiled in triumph.
<And of course I should take advantage of every opportunity.>
Ding
The door opened. This floor was deserted. He looked around to make sure it's safe. He then stepped out and walked towards the third room on the left. Rei inserted the key and with a click, the door opened.
He entered and locked the door. When he looked around, he stared in awe. The room was filled with dozens of screens attached on the wall, including a big screen on the table.
All of the monitors were in sleep mode.
He walked towards the main PC on the table and moved the mouse. The monitors then displayed the main screen. He looked at his watch. 06.45 am.
<System, could you try hijacking these PCs and broadcasted the recording?>
<This one will try.>
Like before, a hologram was appeared from thin air. It was then transformed dozens of thin cables from it's own body and attached them to the monitors.
Some minutes later, all the monitors showed the deleted footage. Rei released his breath and felt relieved.
He looked at his watch. 1 minutes into 07.00 am. He waited for a while, then started the countdown.
<Broadcasted the footage in 3, 2, 1>
Bzztt
The big screen outside TV-N station building suddenly switched on and displayed a recording. The commotion halted and focused on the screen.
The footage showed the police chief and mafia from District-X doing some transactions. Both person shook hands and discussed something at the table in a room that looked like an office. There's no voice in the recording, but the acts were clear.
The police chief was doing transaction with a drug dealer.
There could be seen some packages pushed towards the chief and was well received. The footage then stopped there.
The police officers looked confused. After processing the information, the officers then looked at the mobs and resumed arresting the gang members one by one. The mobs were paled.
Before, they were making ruckus as in believed that their Boss would bailed them out soon when they were jailed. However now, since the proof was out and clear that their Boss was doing some drugs transaction, they got scared and tried to ran away.
The officers chased the gang members one by one and put them into the prison truck that was parked in front of the TV-N station. The mobs could only resigned to their fate and tried to not anger the officers any more.
Back in the broadcasting room, after finishing the plan, the hologram slowly disappeared.
Suddenly, shots were fired to the door, and in a minute the door was kicked open.
In front of the broken door stood a man in black suit. Rei recognized him.
"Hello, police chief." Rei smirked at him.
The chief directed his gun towards Rei.
"You'll follow my downfall!"
As the chief pulled the trigger, a shadow suddenly flashed between Rei and the chief.
The figure received the shot then fell down on the floor. Red could be seen oozing from the body.
Rei was shocked. He stood still for a moment, then with pale face he approached the lying figure. His face was hidden. Rei knelt down and put his head on Rei's lap.
"Levin!" Rei choked up.
Seeing the person getting shot was his own son, the chief was trembled. His condition was unsteady. His mad eyes were unfocused.
"You! You shall die here!"
Just as he directed his gun towards Rei, a fired could be heard. However, this time, the one that was fell on the floor was the chief. Blood sipped through the chief's leg. Behind him stood a man around his late 30s. He wore black suit, just like the chief.
"You are under arrest!" The man kicked the gun out of the chief's hand. The chief could only groan in pain.
The man then approached Rei. He knelt down beside Rei.
"Are you okay?" His voice was full with concern. Rei did not answer.
Rei looked like he didn't give a care about what just happened in front of him. A flashback replied before his eyes. Blood. So many blood. Rei's body trembled. His eyes were unfocused.
A cold hand reaching out and touched his face. Rei awoke from his trance.
"That's fine." Levin reassured him with a weak smile.
Rei cupped Levin's hand on his cheek.
"What are you doing?" Rei asked. A flow of tears wetted his cheeks.
"Don't cry." Levin said. His face paled. He started to loss conscious.
Rei shook his head.
"Wait.. wait.. Help! Bring him to the hospital!"
The man beside Rei pulled out his radio transmitter and called the officers to the broadcasting room. He also instructed them to bring the health workers.
In five minutes, some officers and nurses then entered the room. They put handcuff on both of the chief's hands and helped the chief out of the room towards the awaiting ambulance. The nurses helped Levin and put him on the scoop stretcher.
Rei suddenly snatched the gun out of the man who knelt beside him and ran towards the chief that was carried by the two officers. He shot the chief on his back.
One.. two.. three shots were fired. The chief screamed then fell onto the floor. The officers who held the chief cannot support the sudden collapse.
Everything happened so fast that everyone cannot react in time. Someone yanked Rei's hand and pulled him in an embrace. That man tried to comfort him.
"I'm sorry you should face this thing." Rei looked up.
"Who are you?" Rei asked in confusion.
"I'm your father."
****
Rei walked aimlessly in a void. His surrounding was dark, except for the glow that shone his pathway. The glowing light shifting into a pixie form. It's fluttered wings created magical bright dusts.
"Is this your true form?"
The pixie turned its body and flied towards Rei. Its height no taller than Rei's palm. It floated inches from Rei's face.
"This one usually has its pixie form in the Border World."
"Border World?" Rei repeated.
"Yes, this is like the resting place provided for the host before dived in to the next task."
Rei nodded his head.
"Then, what prize I got from the previous succeeded task?"
"Because host has completed his tasks two times in row, he could choose to change his character, becomes protagonist or the villain." The System flied away from Rei's face and spinning in the air.
'What a show off.' Rei thought to himself.
"Or.." the pixie flied towards Rei's shoulder. It sat there with crossed legs.
"Or?" Rei was curious.
"Host could activate the death system once."
"What does it mean?"
"This is a villain system. The rule still the same, to kill or to be killed. If host choose the protagonist role, there's a possibility host would be killed." The pixie explained.
"The same with the villain, anyway." Rei added.
"But, protagonist won't be forced to take someone's life." The System glanced at the host.
"The next tasks would be more challenging. There's a possibility that host would meet real people and forced to kill each other."
"I've killed too many." Rei stared at his hands.
"Did the previous person a real people?" Rei asked.
"No, he's an NPC."
Rei breathed in relief.
"What would happened if I choose Death System, and then die?"
"The progression would regress. But host's real body won't be affected."
Rei thought in deep.
"Host could think as long as he wants in this Border World. No need to be in haste."
++++
"So you want to say that you are a higher up all along and disguised as mafia to investigate drugs dealers. But then ended up as the boss because you fell in love with the previous boss' daughter?"
The older man in front of Rei bowed his head.
"I'm sorry."
"And you have the gut to drag your own son into this mess?" Rei folded his hands in front of his chest.
His father slashed mafia boss slashed police higher ups cannot answered his question.
"I don't want to. That's why I didn't tell you about me being in jailed."
"Right. Too bad I returned in a wrong time. But what can I do? One day mother suddenly disappeared and left a mere short letter saying that she wanted to meet father."
Rei directed his sharp eyes towards the mother who quickly bowed his head. Half peeled skin of apple on her hand.
Father put his hand around his wife's shoulder.
"Don't get mad to your mother."
Rei ran out of words. He pushed his seat and left the dining room. His head fumed in anger.
<Host, you have completed your tasks. What are you doing in here?>
<I want to visit Levin's graveyard before leaving this reality for good.>
<But you are under home arrest. Your case was being investigated.>
Rei remembered about him killing the police chief three days ago. His father with his power defended Rei for being emotionally unstable seeing his friend being shot in front of his eyes.
<I don't care. I won't be here for long, anyway.>
At midnight, Rei sneakily got out of his house and walked on the road. The moon shone his way.
'Levin resembled Alden too much. Is there anyway that Alden still... No, he couldn't be.'
Rei shook his head. The tranquil night made his heart bitter.
<Hey, System. Can I ask you something?>
<Sure, host.>
<Am I the first person you assisted?>
<Yes, you're right.>
<Has this System been created for long?>
The System hesitated for awhile.
<That, this one cannot tell, host.>
Rei turned left and crossed the road. At the furthest pavement he could see high fences gate. He stopped and swallowed the lump in his throat.
<Why you stopped, host?>
<I don't think I've got any courage to meet him. I'll just follow you, now.>
<Are you sure, host?>
Rei stared at the far away gate. Behind the railings laid Levin buried in a coffin.
<Yes, I'm sure>
<Then, let's go!>
Everything growing dark.
++++
<Welcome to the next assignment, host!>
Rei stood up at the edge of a cliff. Deep sea could be seen from below. A mop of people shouted behind him. He was surrounded. The tranquil night was shattered by the commotion.
Rei turned his body towards the guards in front of him.
"Surrender, now!" the leader directed his swords towards Rei.
Rei showed his wicked smile.
"You wish!"
He then spread his hands and dropped his body into the abyss. A Mocking smiled directed towards the crowded.
The guards gasped in surprise. When they ran towards him, his body already fallen, followed by a loud splashed sound.
The commotion above was muffled by the calm sea. The deep blue surrounding him. The silence calming his throbbing heart.
Rei closed his eyes, welcoming the death.
Then another splash could be heard. Someone tugging on his hands. Begrudgingly Rei tried to release the hold, but to no avail. With anger in his eyes, he was dragged into the surface.
"What do you think you are doing!" Rei shouted in anger.
Someone stood before him with black veil covered their face. That person approached Rei and cupped his faces between their hands.
"I found you."
*****
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