Missing Persons
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Block.
Jab.
Block.
Deflect.
Hit.
With every move, Jesse countered Alexander's attacks, while his own were parried away. Both fought without their abilities, and with Alexander holding back, Jesse was able to dish out attacks of his own.
In less than three weeks, Jesse had mastered all the known pressure points, or at least the ones Alexander knew of.
The system's knowledge about pressure points was limited since it refused to give out information, as always.
"Enough," Alexander patted Jesse's shoulder. "You're ready for your death match now."
Jesse's forehead creased. "I have no wish to compete in a death match."
The duel request on his wristband still rang an alarm every morning, and the system's quest hung in a tiny sky-blue tab in a small corner above his line of sight.
"Great," contrary to Jesse's expectations, Alexander nodded in agreement. "Then, I'll be handing a mission over to you." A smile played across his lips.
Jesse had reached the top fifty in the rankings since he needed subjects to test his newfound powers on. Therefore, he was allowed to take on missions, even though he was just in his first year.
[You have received a new quest.]
[Complete the mission given to you by Master Alexander.]
[You have received a new quest.]
[Find Gilbert Brent.]
The system also addressed Alexander the same way Jesse did. However, it gave its host a quest even before the mission was issued.
"I've sent it to you. Check it out when you get to your dorm," Alexander ordered before leaving the combat class.
Jesse was filled with curiosity, but he only opened the message box when he was in the comfort of his single-person room. The room, more advanced than his last one, was impressively spacious and comfortable.
Jesse sat on his couch as the holographic message played in front of him.
The mission class was not on display, but the owner of the mission was—Alexander Zephron. All credit would naturally go to him once the mission was completed.
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*Mission Title:* Operation Phoenix - Missing Persons Investigation and Recovery
*Mission Statement:*
Conduct a thorough and expedient investigation into the disappearance of five individuals from the academy—two students in the second fifty rankings, two students in the hundred rankings, and a security staff member. Utilize all available resources and expertise to locate and recover the missing persons.
*Objectives:*
1. Gather and analyze intelligence related to the disappearances.
2. Conduct thorough searches of designated areas using ground and air assets.
3. Identify and interview witnesses, suspects, and persons of interest without raising suspicion.
*Scope:*
- Geographic area: First-year section, SSAD Academy.
- Timeframe: 72 hours
- Resources:
- 1-person investigation team
*Investigation Priorities:*
1. Identify potential abduction or foul play.
2. Determine circumstances surrounding disappearances.
3. Locate and recover missing persons.
*Search Priorities:*
1. High-probability areas (last known locations).
2. Areas with potential evidence (surveillance footage, witness reports).
*Investigation Team:*
- Alexander Zephron
- Jesse Louis (Student scouted by Sir Alexander Zephron)
*Authorization:*
This mission is authorized by the head of the first-year section.
*Effective Date:* March 10
*Termination Date:* March 20
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A two-person investigation team? No, why was he even involved in such a mission?
Jesse frowned. The hologram still glowed in midair.
Five people were missing, and nobody knew about it, not even their friends. And how could a search be conducted in ten days? No, it was already the 16th of March, which meant he had less than five days to deal with this.
The mission seemed to be a highly confidential one; hence, he couldn't let anybody know about it.
His wristband pinged again, and a new message popped up—a list of the names and ranks of the missing people.
- Genevieve Jackson: Rank 79 - Resident of the Seventh Wall City. Age 16.
*Time of last appearance: Two weeks ago.*
- Cain Hilter: Rank 152 - Resident of the Seventh Wall City. Age 17.
*Time of last appearance: Three weeks ago.*
- Mercy Anderson: Rank 188 - Resident of the Seventh Wall City. Age 19.
*Time of last appearance: One week ago.*
- Jacques Patricklad: Watchman-level security personnel - Resident of the Seventh Wall City. Age 39.
*Time of last appearance: One week ago.*
- Gilbert Brent: Rank 96 - Resident of the Seventh Wall City. Age 18.
*Time of last appearance: Three weeks ago.*
- Investigator's note: Similarity: All are residents of the Seventh Wall City.
The photos of the missing people appeared along with their information. Their blank expressions and ordinary appearances spoke volumes.
Jesse frowned. All the victims were residents of the Seventh Wall City, poor slum rats whose absence no one would care about. This was why the school authorities had kept it from leaking out to the public and why they cared so little about it.
In a prestigious school like this, people still thought only about hierarchy. Jesse closed his eyes in disgust—humans seemed more inhuman the older he became.
[Steel Mentality has been implemented.]
A calm sigh escaped his lips as he glanced at the list again. The last name struck a chord in his memory—Gilbert Brent, Gary's friend, the kid he had left in the woods that day.
Jesse jerked up from his couch. Why was Gilbert also missing? Jesse remembered checking up on him that same day, but the report stated that he had been missing for three weeks already.
His heart picked up pace again when a sudden thought crossed his mind.
[Steel Mentality has been implemented.]
"Do you think this is Billy O'Malley's doing?"
[...]
[If I were to give my opinion: A lot of things can lead to disappearances, one of the top causes being a high-level infected.]
Jesse resisted the urge to bang his fists against the table. If only he had fought Billy in that death match three weeks ago, if only he had chased after him in the woods that day.
-Bang!
He slammed his fists on the table, denting the strong metal. However, he couldn't jump to conclusions just yet.
"What else could cause something like this?" Jesse asked again, sitting back down on the couch.
[In an academy with such security...]
[...]
[High-level beasts, and humans themselves.]
Jesse pinched his forehead—it was impossible for high-level beasts to enter the school. Even entering the Seventh Wall City was impossible for them. And why would humans kidnap other humans, especially poor ones like these? The answer was clear: a high-level infected who could gain more power from what it ate would be the only thing responsible for this. The probability of his victims still being alive was almost zero.
And if Billy O'Malley was truly responsible, how would Jesse make it known to the authorities without implicating himself?
-Ping-
"-You have received a duel request.-"
Jesse pressed the reject button, and another holographic message popped up.
"-You have rejected 8 duels.-"
"-A first fifty ranker cannot reject more than 8 duels in a row.-"
Jesse sighed in annoyance. What he needed most at this moment was a way to relieve his stress before going after Billy O'Malley, and he could really use a good fight.