Mutant Organization

As dawn broke, Max was already awake with the first light of day. He didn't have any particular preference for where he slept; battlefield missions had accustomed him to rest anywhere. Last night, he had a lot on his mind and couldn't recall when he had drifted into a restless slumber.

Leaving his room, Max noticed that Sonia's room next door was still closed, indicating that she was likely still asleep. As he emerged into the common area, he found that John and Lorna were not yet awake. Only Jenifer, Roar, was monitoring the situation on the computer.

The previous day, they had played a game with the Sentry Secret Service, successfully retrieving their guns. However, they knew that the Sentry Secret Service wouldn't simply let the matter slide. The only lead they had to contend with was likely related to Sonia.

"Good morning!" Jenifer, while monitoring the police channel, greeted Max. "Having trouble sleeping? You'll get used to it; it was the same for me when I first arrived."

"Good morning!" Max replied. He observed that Jenifer was monitoring the police channel, a practical strategy since in many cases, the police would discover Mutants first and then notify the Sentry Secret Service. Monitoring the police channel allowed them to intervene and save people before the Sentry arrived.

"Do you rescue people this way?" Max asked.

Jenifer nodded. "Yes, it's effective. Do you have a better idea?"

Max smiled but didn't answer directly. "By the way, can you look up information on the Yashida Group for me?"

"Yashida Group? Isn't that the largest conglomerate in Japan?" Jenifer inquired as he started searching for information on the Yashida Group.

"The Yashida family's founder, Yashida Ichiro, participated in the Battle of Hiroshima during the war. Afterward, he established the Yashida Group, which has since become one of Japan's leading conglomerates. It's reported that the company is currently under the control of Yashida Ishiro due to his illness. His son, Yoshida Shingen, manages the business, and Yoshida Shingen is considered the heir to the Yashida family..."

"Thank you!" Max expressed his gratitude after reviewing the information.

"You're welcome, but may I ask what you intend to do with this information?" Jenifer inquired with curiosity.

"You will find out soon," Max replied.

"My first mission in this world is dedicated to the Yashida Group," Max mused to himself.

Shortly after, John, Lorna, and Sonia woke up one by one. They shared a breakfast of nutritious cereal, which Max found unappetizing, but he wasn't particular. Food consumed during wartime was often far less palatable than this.

"Do you have any plans? Do you want to stay?" John asked straightforwardly after breakfast.

Max remained silent, and Sonia didn't speak either.

"If you decide to stay, it will undoubtedly be a great help to more Mutants. However, if you choose to leave, we can assist you with that as well," John reiterated.

Max spoke slowly, capturing everyone's attention. "I was a mercenary before, and I have no intention of changing my profession. So, I won't be joining your organization. But if you ever find yourselves in trouble, I'm more than willing to lend a hand."

"You're not staying?" Sonia began to express her thoughts, but Max interrupted her gently. "Given the current circumstances, the safest choice for you is to stay here. You are the only lead to the Sentry Secret Service. It's safer to remain here rather than venture out into potential risks."

"Are you leaving then?" Lorna inquired with a furrowed brow.

Max nodded. "I'm headed to Japan, and I'll be leaving shortly."

"So soon?"

"Is there anything we can do to help?"

John and Lorna, although disappointed, had come to terms with the fact that Max was unlikely to stay.

"Money!" Max replied with a smile. "In exchange, I can offer you a piece of advice."

Max had entered this world innocently, but he didn't want to accrue debts, as it would prove troublesome.

"What's the advice?" John asked.

"Relying solely on cops communications to locate targets is too passive. There are still Mutants hidden in this world, undiscovered, right? Consider finding a partner, like a hotel or a bar. It might help Mutants who haven't been identified by the police yet."

"Will that work?" Lorna asked with skepticism.

Max smiled and explained, "Do you know the easiest place to gather information? A bar! Whenever I find myself in a new place or need to disappear, my first choice is to hit a bar to gather information or find a local contact. Not only will this help more Mutants, but it will also provide you with a source of income. As more people gather here in the future, you'll need funds for sustenance."

"You're absolutely right; this is a fantastic idea. Thank you!" John responded with enthusiasm. He had just embarked on this mission and lacked experience in this realm. Max's advice felt like a revelation to John, dispelling the fog and revealing the sunrise.

"No need to thank me," Max said, extending his hand. "Just give me the money!"