A normal supply run
Just how difficult could it be to find one connection not under the government eye? It turned out that it was next to impossible in the present time.
Since every network needed to have an ID code for working, there was no chance for the network to be government-proof and still have access to the internet and neural network.
Besides, Milles's bad luck had managed to strike once again and their group had gotten stuck with the worst possible overlookers possible.
"What are you even looking for? Whatever it is, hurry up so that we can get back on track" the female from the day before, the one who had chased Milles across the campus was here.
According to their overlooker, Kathy Rowdwerg had been assigned to look after their group as part of her punishment.
Milles had to wonder if this was the principal's way of punishing him.
The deer girl, Kathy, had taken one look at the group and had decided to tail him throughout the outing.
Between her persistent stalking and his lack of luck at being able to find the right network, it was a frustrating outing for him.
"Fine, I give up. Let's start heading back now" there was stubbornness, and then there was a point where one had to give up.
There was no point in continuing this futile attempt at trying to find a secure network not under government surveillance.
"You seem like a cool guy. I wonder why the principal asked me to keep an eye on you" Kathy admitted once they were out of the library.
It had been Milles's last effort at typing to find an unguarded network. He had tried most of the other places already but there had been no success.
"I don't know" Kathy's words did surprise Milles but they also made sense to him. The principal had been distrustful of him and wanted to keep an eye on him.
He did not know why Kathy was here though. She seemed like the least likely choice to keep an eye on him.
"Anywhere else you might want to go? And please do hurry. We do need your original supplies as well" Kathy's comment made Milles aware that his work had not gone unnoticed from her eyes.
The female had been keeping a close eye on him and he did not doubt that she would report it all back to the old principal once they were back.
He had to take this chance to get what he wanted or he would lose his advantage.
Looked like there was no other choice but to step into the lawless area. That was the only palace that could help him now.
"There is one more place I wish to check out. You can follow me or chose to return now" Milles did not doubt the choice Kathy would make.
"Go back? Of course not. I will follow up after you" Milles did not try to stop the sigh that was leaving his lips.
He had expected the other to follow and he already knew it was not a good idea. But the girl seemed determined to follow after him.
So he walked and let the girl make her one decision regarding him and his destination.
He could already feel her eyes on him, judging him for coming to this lawless back-alley of the town.
"Are you sure you want to go there? You would be eaten alive and I refuse to take responsibility for you" the female sounded agitated but she did not try to stop him.
She looked curious more than anything else.
Good. Milles could use curious. Curious was good. Curious he could use.
"Desperate times call for desperate measures. I will try one shop here and if I don't find what I want, I will call it to quit for today" Kathy looked unsure of his decision but followed him nonetheless.
Not that it helped.
One shop was all it took for Milles to know that even this place was heavily regulated by the government with the help of the neural system. The security here was even tighter than in the other parts.
Luck just doesn't seem to be on Milles's side today.
"Let's go back. I can't believe you wasted all this time here" Milles could not believe it either. He had been so sure of his success, but he was likely going to go back empty-handed.
Milles had made sure not to go too deep into the lawless part of the town since those places could be dangerous. The shop he had chosen had been on the periphery of the town, only a few steps deep into unfamiliar territory.
However, that seems to be of no consequence to someone looking to make a quick profit.
"Hey, look what I got here boss. Looks like a pair of kids from that super-rich school. The one for the magic folks" oh god, this was a real-life grunt.
Milles had faced all kinds of people in his past life but facing a local grunt was a first for even him.
Maybe he just had higher standards than these small fries.
Not that they looked so small right now.
"Hey, back off or I would be forced to deal with you. Getting zapped with lightning would not be fun for you" Kathy took a stand in front of Milles.
She likely had orders to protect him from harm and Milles was happy enough to take this time and hide behind her.
He had no intention of facing those grunts head-on.
"Oh, little missy here thinks she can protect her little friend from us. How cute. But don't be mistaken, missy. You are not the only mutant capable of wielding magic. Your fancy school education would not prepare you for a fight with us" the grunt taunted.
And Kathy fell for that taunt.
"System, activate enhancement magic for me"
[Enchantment magic cast successfully. The user had been enchanted for the next five minutes according to their body limit]
The rays of magic converged on Kathy's body and she lunged at their attacker.
"Oh, you think you are the only one? The system, enhance me as well" the grunt ordered and similar magic overtook his body.
[Enchancement cast successfully. The user had been enchanted for the next fifteen minutes according to their body limit]
This was bad. The grunt was bigger and had more body strength. Kathy would be able to hold him back but only for the next five minutes.
Milles needed to do something.
Somehow, the fight had remained physical rather than magical. But Milles could see the other grunts thinking of joining in on the fun as well.
If only they could exist in the main street, they would be safe. But getting that far would be difficult.
"Can you shut down everyone else's access to their magic except mine and Kathy's for a few minutes?" this was a risky gamble, one that could expose Milles if he was not careful.
But he had to try it.
[Access code affirmative. Disconnecting the surrounding network of magic for the next five minutes]
Milles felt the magic die down. There was static before everything stilled.
"This useless piece of trash. I knew I should not have trusted that lier to get me a second-hand phone" the grunt-fighting Kathy cursed as his magic died down.
The phone was thrown right in front of Milles and he picked it up as fast as he could. As if he was giving it back to the grunt.
"Kathy, let's run for the road now" there was a flutterby of moments around them. People had their phones out to try and catch them.
But the lack of magic was likely messing with them now.
"Yeah sure. But what happened there? They all look like they cannot cast their magic but I can still feel mine" Kathy asked but she was not stupid enough to sit back and wait for the grunts to recover.
"I think now would be a good time to start focusing on those supplies you were talking about" Milles panted out his words. His new body was not used to all the physical labor he had subjected it to.
That small run had managed to knock the wind out of him pretty fast.
"Don't try to change the subject. You did something back there that caused those grunts to lose control of their magic. I want to know what you did" Kathy seemed like she was onto him and Milles felt his blood run cold.
The female was not going to let it go, was she?
Milles was sure he was sweating too heavily from the small exercise he had just done. It likely made him look even more guilty than he originally was.
But he was saved from having to answer Kathy because of a call.
A timely call from their instructor who was asking them if they had their supplied secured site or not.
Kathy finally let the matter drop but Milles knew she had not forgotten it at all.