4

Chapter 4: Women Only Slow Down Hand Speed

About two years ago, a killer known as "Wu Shuang" emerged in the Federation's assassin circles, catching everyone's attention.

In just two years, Wu Shuang had completed over fifty missions.

From Texas smugglers, to Texas felicity, to Texas underworld figures.

Fifty missions, and not a single failure!

Yet, no one had seen the true face of this "unrivaled" assassin. It was certain, however, that no matter how well-guarded the targets were, they would eventually meet their end.

Locke...

He was truly unrivaled!

In this life, he was an orphan. Despite the Federation's many laws protecting minors, life wasn't a paradise for orphaned children. It was pure fiction. The so-called paradise was reserved for middle-class families.

Orphaned?

He was treated worse than the street children. At least street kids had families and were spared the vultures who exploited orphans for subsidies, or worse, those with ulterior motives, even towards boys.

Locke chose to fend for himself.

Too young and undereducated, becoming a killer was the quickest path to wealth.

Locke felt no guilt.

Morality?

Good and evil?

He no longer believed in such concepts. If anyone were to judge him, only the people could. In this world, no one had the right to impose their sense of morality on him.

Not to mention...

Assassination was also an efficient way to earn achievement and potential points.

And make money?

A win-win situation.

Why not?

Moreover, Locke didn't target good people.

Although Locke sometimes thought of this world as a game, he knew it was real. Yet, he felt out of sync with it.

Nevertheless, Locke adhered to his own moral code.

No killing of innocents.

Besides, if a target was good, the system wouldn't turn it into an assassination mission.

"Puff!"

"Boom!"

"Mission accomplished!"

"Assassination Mission: Alan Wood"

"Quest Reward: Achievement Points * 300, Potential Points * 300"

Wearing sunglasses from the system, Locke steadied the dying target against a wall. He slipped a small card into the target's pocket, then disappeared into a dark alley.

Some time later...

A street girl planning to meet a benefactor in the alley screamed at the sight of the target's body.

Baxter Building.

Locke connected his phone to his computer and sent proof of the target's demise to the Continental Hotel system.

After a while...

The computer screen changed.

A message appeared:

"After receiving and verifying the details, a bounty of 100,000 will be automatically transferred. Thank you for your exceptional service and support, Unrivaled!"

"You're welcome."

Locke's lips curved slightly as he softly replied, closed the computer, and sipped the bourbon before him.

Truly, the Big Apple.

It was indeed the ideal place for completing missions.

Compared to Texas, where missions were scarce, New York welcomed Locke with numerous daily and assassination tasks on his first day.

If not for his recent arrival, Locke felt he could take on all the hundreds of missions posted by the Continental Hotel.

The next day.

Upon waking, Locke found the promised 100,000 bounty from the Continental Hotel in his account. However, after legal transfers and laundering fees, only 80,000 remained.

After all...

The bounty didn't cover money laundering costs.

Midtown High School.

Student corridor.

Locke greeted Gwen, who arrived before him, "Good morning, Gwen."

Last night, he'd observed Peter Parker.

But...

Peter Parker attended City College in Queens, not Midtown College.

Curious.

Initially, Locke thought he'd identified the wrong person. However, the information confirmed otherwise.

Could Peter Parker be a transfer student?

Gwen returned his greeting before heading upstairs.

Locke smiled and shrugged it off.

He came to New York for one purpose.

To complete missions.

To complete them diligently.

To trade the Blood of the Sun God and the Blood of the Superman three years ahead of schedule, and then rest easy as an immortal slacker.

At present?

Women would only hinder his mission progress.

Arriving at the English classroom he taught in, the bell rang, signaling completion of yesterday's mock exam task.

"Mission completed!"

"Daily Task: Mock Exam"

"Task Reward: Triple reward for scoring A+ sent, Achievement Points * 1500, Potential Points * 1500"

Ness!

Name: Locke Broughton (Solo Player)

Achievement Points: 3800 (usable in Achievement Mall)

Potential Points: 2800 (for upgrading skills)

Skills: Driving (Beginner), English (Grade 9), History (Grade 9), Mathematics (Grade 9), Shooting (Intermediate), Sniper (Advanced)...

Current Task: None (system issues no mandatory tasks; all tasks generated through daily life exploration)

Remarks: Enjoy the game, happy gaming, and best wishes to the players!

Locke glanced at his A+ paper, eyebrow raised.

Beside him, Gwen, holding her head in her hand, glanced at Locke's paper, slightly surprised.

Locke sensed her gaze and turned.

Their eyes met.

Gwen looked at Locke—three parts handsome, three parts poised, three parts extraordinary, and one part mature. Panic flashed in her eyes before she smiled, "Great results on the exam."

Locke grinned, "Luck's always on my side."

Gwen: "..."

She understood the gap between them.

Gwen earned her A+ through effort.

Locke got his A+ with a little help from plugins.

Without those plugins, Locke believed getting a C would already be commendable.

After class.

Locke stopped Gwen, curious, "Gwen, which pre-med courses did you choose?"

Gwen: "..."