Under the bus

I was stunned when I saw the Mission Window pop up. I felt a mix of different emotions.

On one hand, I was happy because I really needed more XP. But on the other hand, I was shocked that the system was asking me to do something so dangerous.

It felt like a bad joke. The mission was telling me to punch a guy who was way more powerful than me, almost ten levels higher. It seemed crazy and impossible.

Perhaps there's a way to outsmart the system here?

The mission just says to punch the guy; it doesn't specify that I need to actually defeat him. Maybe I can just throw a punch and then make a quick getaway? There must be police around in this bustling street, and I could also consider another option... Yes, that's it.

"Boss, I could hand over some cash, but would you mind doing me a favor?" I whispered to him, trying to mimic those secretive scenes from movies. I even covered my mouth with my hand, attempting to give off that hushed vibe.

Naturally, my shaky and nervous voice revealed my lack of smooth talking skills. But that's alright; appearing weaker might just boost my chances of convincing him.

"What favor, kid?" The thug's face broke into a grin the moment the word "money" slipped from my lips. It's like his voice turned all warm and fuzzy, as if we were long-lost buddies finally reuniting after ages.

I mean, they say money can turn even your worst enemy into your best friend, right? Haha, well, that might be a bit of a stretch in this situation, but you catch my drift.

"You know, I've got my girlfriend here with me, and I'm fairly certain she's watching us," I say, trying to sound confident.

"Could I put on a little tough guy act and give you a good slap across the face? I'm ready to throw in 500,000 won if you're up for it."

The thug paused and exchanged glances with his buddies who were tagging along.

"Sure thing, kid," he finally said. "But let's be clear: if you don't hand over that 500,000 won, I won't hold back from giving you a good beating. Got it?"

"Absolutely, no problem," I replied, mustering a forced chuckle. "You could even go ahead and rough up my aunt and uncle if I don't hand over the money. Haha!"

"Why your uncle and aunt?" The thug raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.

"They're the ones who adopted me and give me my allowance," I explained.

"You're quite the odd one," the thug sighed, shaking his head. "Alright, go ahead and throw that punch so I can collect my cash."

I gave a nod in response, remembering the first part of the mission: "Show this street thug your pride as a man."

"Hey, watch it!" I raised my voice, trying to sound tough. My confidence was building since I was certain I wouldn't get hurt.

"Do you want a taste of my fists, huh?" I added, extending my middle finger towards the thug. I noticed a shift in his expression, but he was playing along with my act.

"Sorry," he grumbled, sounding like he meant it.

"Think I'm gonna just swallow that sorry ?" This was my cue.

I tightened my fist, ready to throw a punch. I knew my strength wasn't much, so I didn't hold back, because I was pretty sure it wouldn't hurt him too badly.

Just as my fist's momentum hit its peak, I heard something that nearly made me feel like I'd cough up blood.

[System: Cheating Detected]

[System: Punishing Host for Cheating]

[System: Temporary Attribute Increase +10 Strength]

Those words flashed before me, and suddenly, my fist felt like it had turned into a brick. It wasn't just me who noticed the difference; even the thug's eyes widened as my punch gathered an incredible force. There was an actual whooshing sound, believe it or not.

SWOOOOSH

BAM!

I swear, I could practically feel the guy's face bones in my fist. It was like the sound of munching on popcorn or cracking a nut – that kind of crunchy.

And then, like a ragdoll in the wind, he was sent soaring. Even his buddies were caught off guard as they scrambled to catch him.

CRASH!

[Mission Complete ]

[Level up]

"What the heck just happened?" I was utterly stunned as I stared at the guy sprawled on the ground. Blood oozed from his mouth, and I could even spot a few of his teeth lying there.

"Damn it, no time to stand around being shocked. I've got to get it out of here ASAP." It finally hit me how serious things were, and I took off running.

"You little jerk, come back here!" One of his buddies made a grab for me, but I was too quick for him. The street was bustling with people, and the moment they saw me sprinting, they parted like I have the corona virus or something.

I can't let him catch me. I'm almost certain they'll beat me up, or worse, maybe they'll try to sell my organs on the black market like in those movies.

This is crazy! I need to run for my life. It feels like this system just threw me under the bus. I thought you were on my side?

Thankfully, I had used most of my previous attribute points on speed. It allowed me to shake him off after just a few meters of sprinting. He probably assumed I had the stamina to keep up with my speed.

Little did he know, my endurance was terrible, and I was already struggling to catch my breath. The only reason I could run this fast was the sheer terror of what might happen if I got caught.

I pulled off a classic maneuver and slipped into a store, where I swiftly changed my outfit. Phew, talk about a close shave! But hey, I wasn't about to let them sell my organs.

On top of that, I bought a pair of shades and a hat to give my face a much-needed disguised. With his buddies probably on a manhunt for me, I'm not taking any chances – gotta keep 'em guessing about who they're chasing!

Now, here I am, incognito behind these shades and a hat, hiding from those guys. The streets is like a maze out there. What's my next move in this wild chase? Well, I'm about to find out...