Hail Hydra

Melanie continued, "When the infection level exceeds 100%, the infected person may awaken extraordinary abilities. "The manifestations can be quite varied."

"Like what?" Charlie asked.

"Elemental control, enhanced perception, greater physical strength, or other more unusual abilities..."

"Superpowers," Charlie said, catching on quickly.

This is easy to understand; like superheroes in DC or Marvel comics, individuals can possess abilities ranging from incredibly useful to downright bizarre.

Charlie mused about this, thinking of the comic book heroes and their outlandish powers. He even wondered if there were any infected who could talk to fish.

"The strength of an ordinary infected person remains within the limits of modern technology and weapons. We've found that thermal weapons are particularly effective against them. But the real challenge comes from those with unique abilities. Their powers can be unpredictable and hard to defend against."

Charlie nodded. Although Modern firepower is far beyond what's shown in movies. No carbon-based life form could survive a full-on assault. But those with superpowers are different. Without knowing what kind of abilities you're facing, it becomes much harder to deal with.

"Infected individuals can be very dangerous, especially those with an infection level above 100%. They often lose mental stability, exhibiting all sorts of unpredictable behaviors. But this doesn't mean they've lost their minds completely. Many retain clear and orderly thought processes, making them even more dangerous as they can plan their actions meticulously."

Charlie understood. "A madman with a plan is far scarier than one without."

But what a coincidence, When it comes to lunatics with a plan, who dares claim to be superior to the residents of Arkham Asylum?

Unfortunately, Charlie only has access to Batman's character and not his wisdom and experiences.

Melanie nodded. "But not all infected develop mental problems. Some, despite being exposed to the infection, remain mentally unaffected. They gain physical strength, enhanced vitality, and sometimes special abilities without any mental side effects. We call these individuals 'idiosyncratic' or 'specialists'."

Charlie quickly digested the information. "So, these idiosyncratic individuals are crucial for dealing with the infected and eliminating the source of the infection?"

"Exactly. Our Ninth Special Service Division was established for this purpose. We often risk contact with infected individuals, so our team mainly consists of specialists. Even those without combat abilities are integrated as civilians within our organization."

Specialists are different from infected people. Conventional scanning equipment can roughly detect an infected person's infection coefficient, but a specialist's infection coefficient cannot be detected by a simple hand-held device. If you want to know a specific person's infection coefficient, you must conduct a detailed physical examination.

Hearing this, Charlie immediately thought of the physical examination he received yesterday. He pointed to himself tentatively: "You mean...me?"

"That's right." Melanie smiled, "through yesterday's incident, you have proved that you are an idiosyncratic individual. Although the results of the physical examination show that your infection level is below 10%, you may not have extraordinary abilities, but just by being an idiosyncratic individual, you have obtained the qualification to join the Ninth Division."

As she spoke, she leaned back, causing her graceful figure to sink into the soft cushion; her ample chest stood out, highlighted by the outline on her windbreaker.

The F*ck, is this old hag trying to seduce me? Charlie could sense that Melanie was testing him, trying to gauge his reaction. He wasn't going to be easily swayed. Of course, if the one doing it was Tara, the situation might be a little different.

"Joining is entirely your choice," Melanie continued. "But you should know that infected individuals and special people are natural enemies. Once an infected person identifies a special person, they will attempt to eliminate them."

Charlie recalled the aggressive looks he had received from the infected students on campus. could it be that they had sensed he was different.

"So, joining the organization offers protection," Charlie deduced. "But it also exposes me to greater danger."

Melanie nodded. "Exactly. It's a personal choice. Joining us provides access to more resources, intelligence, and learning opportunities. In a world as dangerous as ours, preparing for the worst is a wise decision."

Charlie considered the implications. Joining the organization would offer him a chance to better understand and navigate this extraordinary world. Plus, it would help him manage his unique abilities and potentially avoid unwanted attention.

In addition to the above benefits, Charlie has another reason for considering joining the organization.

The game

In said game, manipulating a hero to go out to do things will inevitably attract the attention of other forces—especially the so-called Ninth Special Service division.

However, if he, the manipulator behind the scenes, can sneak into the organization, he will have a better chance to know what they think of the heroes he manipulates and what actions they plan to take, which will also facilitate Charlie's preparations.

"And there's more," Melanie added. "The organization's treatment is quite good. Not to mention that we're a formal government organization, there is comprehensive insurance, and a starting salary of $50,000 a month, not including bonuses."

Charlie's eyes immediately shone with a greedy hue.

"I'm willing to shed my blood for the organization!!!" Charlie immediately expressed his loyalty. "Hail Hydra."

Melanie noted his enthusiasm. Although confused by his final declaration, She appreciated his desire for wealth, recognizing it as a manageable trait.

As they drove out of the city, Charlie had one last question. "What if I had said no to joining?"

Melanie, still maintaining her smile, replied, "We would still take you to the headquarters. According to regulations, civilians cannot know these details. If you refused, we would have to erase your memory of this encounter."

Charlie understood the seriousness of his situation. It seemed that he had made the right decision.

---

If you're enjoying the story and want to see more chapters

- 50 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter

- 100 Power Stones = 2 Extra Chapters

- Anything above 100 = 3 Extra Chapters

If you'd like to support my work even further and get early access to chapters, please check out my Patron at Patr_eon.com/OneSword (remove the underscore). Currently, I am two chapters ahead on Patron.

Thank you, and Sword out!