Unprecedence

Chicago, the bustling metropolis of Illinois, is renowned for its rich cultural heritage and diverse art scene, making it a hub of creativity and innovation

Nestled within the city is the prestigious Arcane Academy, a world-renowned educational institution that boasts unparalleled infrastructure and facilities.

In fact, few other institutions can even compare to its calibre.

Furthermore, the Academy is not merely a school, but a college, and gaining admission to the former is a surefire way to pave one's way towards the latter.

Presently, I find myself residing in a magnificent two-story building in Reyley Park, which overlooks the vast expanse of the sea.

The building is constructed in a Western traditional style and is located in close proximity to various amenities such as markets and transportation.

Conveniently, the Academy is just a short walking distance away.

The Academy does not offer dormitory services but instead owns several vacant residences reserved for international admissions.

The sole means of gaining admission is by successfully passing an entrance examination; bribery and references are strictly forbidden.

"Quite a respectable living environment," I remarked.

"Indeed. While we cannot showcase the extent of wealth and power you possess, given your recent release from detention, any form of assistance is at your disposal. There is no location in the world that restricts you," Viper responded.

"So, are you saying I have to live a normal life and conceal my true identity?"

"Absolutely not. You are free to do as you please, and if you desire, we can remove all restrictions and transfer you to a more comfortable environment at this very moment."

"This is fine for now," I replied.

"Very well, young master. If you require any form of assistance, simply call my name," he said before vanishing with a glitch.

"Okay," I murmured in the empty room.

The residence had a rustic charm, with wooden accents throughout the house, complete with a functioning furnace to keep the space cosy.

Modern amenities such as a television, refrigerator, and even a bedroom projector were readily available.

As I surveyed the living space, I noticed that all my clothes were neatly arranged in a spacious wardrobe, while the kitchen was fully equipped with utensils for cooking.

However, there was a noticeable absence of food, vegetables, and spices in the pantry.

[Food will be delivered to you in a moment, Kael.]

"Cancel any food order. I'll go to the market myself," I replied.

[Noted.]

With the sun already gone, the sky was painted with shades of purple and orange, and the street lights illuminated the path ahead.

The chilly wind coming from the sea brought a salty scent with it, filling the air with freshness.

As I strolled towards the market area, the silence of the night was only interrupted by the sound of my footsteps echoing through the empty road.

As soon as I stepped out of the residential sector, the bustling market area came into view. Food stalls and street performers filled the streets with life, and the sound of chatter and laughter echoed through the air.

I headed towards Anytime Burger, a popular quick-service restaurant in the area.

With a push on the glass door, I stepped inside, immediately feeling the warmth of the air conditioning hit me.

The restaurant was bustling with customers, but not overwhelmingly crowded. I made my way to the counter where a young, blonde woman, who appeared to be a part-time employee, greeted me with a smile.

"Good evening, sir. What can I get for you?" she asked politely.

"I'll have four Crisp Chicken burgers, please," I said.

"Absolutely, that will be eight dollars, sir," she replied.

[Processing transaction…8$ transferred to Anytime Burger]

"…"

"…"

We exchanged a glance at the seamless transaction that had just taken place.

Without requiring any physical card or PIN, the payment had been effortlessly transferred and a receipt was generated from the machine.

"There you go", I said with a smile.

"Uh, yes sir", she replied coming out of her stupor as the sound of sizzling burgers could be heard from the kitchen in the back, adding to the lively atmosphere of the place.

As I waited for my order, I glanced around the restaurant and noticed a group of teenagers in one corner, laughing and joking around, while a couple sat in another corner, lost in their own conversation.

After a few minutes, the woman handed me a brown paper bag with my order inside.

"Thank you, enjoy your meal!" she said cheerfully.

I nodded in response, grabbed the bag, and exited the restaurant.

'Next time, ask for my permission before making any kind of decision'

[Affirmative]

'As of now, I have spotted eighteen officers on patrol, do you know the reason for this unusual security measure?'

[A group of small-scale terrorists has recently become active in the city, there has been news of kidnapping cases, murders, and thefts, and the city is now under alert]

'Any Idea who is responsible for this?'

[While I don't have a specific answer, it's plausible that these individuals are working under the ones who came back from the dead. Unfortunately, I've lost track of their whereabouts as they've chosen an underground location that's completely off the grid]

I took a bite of my burger and strolled towards a nearby park. Along the way, I noticed several groups of teenagers who appeared to be students of Arcane Academy, chatting excitedly as they walked.

[Be cautious, you've entered a radioactive zone]

'A radioactive environment? But we are outside a park!'

[There's a bag beneath the fourth bench on the right side of the park's entrance that's emitting over 5000 millirems of radiation]

'So, is that a bomb?' I asked calmly.

[Precisely]

As I made my way towards the entrance of the park, I noticed a man walking past me.

Without a second thought, I swiftly reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his phone, turning on the screen which displayed no signal.

'Unlock this'

[Sure] Vulture replied, swiftly bypassing the phone's lock screen.

'Dial an emergency number'

[Are you sure about that? Informing the police would put you under suspicion, while your personal contacts can easily deal with the bomb]

'That is exactly what I want

[Understood]

I walked towards the bench, pulled out the bag, and opened it, only to see a timer on an old-style bomb, which looked pretty simple, but in reality, was the worst design a bomb squad would handle.

"9-1-1, What's your emergency?", a feminine voice resounded from the speakers of the phone as I brought it near my ear.

"I think there's a bomb in front of me," I calmly reported.

"A bomb? Can you give me your location, sir?" the operator asked.

"I'm at a park near Arcane Academy," I replied, scanning the surroundings to give the operator a more accurate location.

"Okay, stay calm, sir. Can you tell me what the bomb looks like?" the operator asked, her voice still calm but with a hint of urgency.

"It's an old-style bomb with a timer. It looks pretty simple with wires and stuff I don't understand", I said, trying to give as much information as possible.

"Thank you for your cooperation, sir. We're dispatching a team right away. Can you stay in a safe location until they arrive?" the operator asked.

"Sure, I'll find a safe place," I replied, hanging up the phone.

"Hello there, need some help?" I turned around to see a group of five curious teenagers. One of them, a girl with purple hair, was trying to take a peek into the bag I had kept my hand on.

"Yeah sure, you know how to diffuse a bomb?" I asked, raising an eyebrow in amusement.

The group looked at each other and then burst into laughter.

"Are you kidding? We're not superheroes," said a boy with thick-rimmed glasses, grinning.

"Yeah, but we did learn how to make a bomb in chemistry class," added a girl with white hair and a mischievous smile.

"Wait, are you serious?" asked the boy with brown hair and brown eyes, looking at me in disbelief. I couldn't help but chuckle at his expression.

"Of course not," I said with a grin. "I was just messing with you guys."

The other teenagers let out a collective sigh of relief, and the girl with black hair and round specs muttered something looking at the bag as she held her friend's hand tight.

The emergency alarm suddenly blared through the park, interrupting the moment of levity.

We turned to see police officers running towards us.

"Get everyone out!" one officer shouted to his colleague as they pushed us back and instructed us to leave the area.

Several black SUVs marked with the seal of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) pulled up outside the park in a rapid and coordinated fashion.

Within seconds, a swarm of DHS personnel descended from the vehicles, armed with high-tech equipment like radiation detectors, cutting-edge automated rifles, and other advanced defensive tools like shields and body armour.

They moved with military precision, sealing off the park and ordering all bystanders to vacate the area immediately.

Separating from the group of teens I walked away from the park.

'Scan each and every device in the vicinity and inform me if any of the devices are connected to the frequency holder of the bomb' I instructed Vulture, my trusty AI assistant.

[A man in a brown check shirt and navy blue pants in the northeast is your target]

"He looks like a drunkard", I muttered as I started walking towards him, and noticing my gaze, he turned around and started running. He weaved in and out of alleys and side streets.

I picked up my pace and darted towards the alleyway. As I turned the corner, I saw the man crouched behind a dumpster, fiddling with what looked like a detonator.

'Can't you trespass his detonator?'

[The process would require at least five minutes since I have been trying for the past two minutes, I require three more minutes]

Suddenly, I heard a deafening explosion coming from the direction of the park. My heart sank for a second as I realized that I had failed.

As I turned to face the man Vulture had identified as the potential suspect, I noticed a grin etched on his face. "Anything for the lord," he said.

[Be cautious! Three thousand millirems of radiation detected from the target's body]

"I would love to have a conversation with your lord," I said to the man, my eyes returning to their original colour. In an instant, black chains erupted from the ground, surrounding him in a tight grip.

The man's body exploded, sending shockwaves across the surrounding area.

As the dust settled, I stood there for a moment and adjusted my coat and cap before turning to leave.

"I miss my burger", I muttered.