Hei de la Roxas, after his speech, glances towards Frizz with restrained excitement. It was finally the moment to ask the crucial question: the specifics of the contract.
"Frizz, how do we sign a contract like yours? Your system is very unique, how'd you do that?" Hei asked, anxiously tapping his finger on the table, waiting with bated breath. Everyone turned their attention toward Frizz, half-curios.
Frizz sighed, shrugging his shoulders.
"I honestly don't know. All I knew was that I was frustrated due to failing those daily mini-objectives. I cursed my system out. Frizz explained, munching on a powdered donut. "I guess the system pitied me, so it added something new, and after some time, a contract."
(I don't see why Hei is interested. Frizz is a second-rate leveler; he's bound to have anomalies. It was the same for that woman from before.) Rylai Capones, disinterested, preferred to stare at the night sky instead.
"It's probably a rare function that's unique to second-grade levelers." Justing Hang added, half-interested about the contracts.
The rest of the Status Quo members sighed, shaking their heads. Hei de la Roxas and Divine Hesoyam Rosa were especially disappointed; the chance to become stronger has eluded them. Hei knew that Frizz's words were true, no deception, his [Informed Opinion] said so.
Hei kept his determined glare at Frizz but eventually decided to drop the topic for now. There was something else that needed to be done, an unofficial operation. Their first test was to gain the favor of their government.
"Thank you, Frizz. We'll revisit this matter. For now, let's discuss our approach to this possible election interference." Hei added, lightly slamming his hands on the table. The rest of the group members listened, albeit reluctantly.
Hei pulled out several brown envelopes from a ripple in the air and handed the envelopes over one by one.
"That's what they would call a dossier, read it."
One day later...
It was a lazy afternoon, Hei announced last night that they would all be picked up from their improvised base of operations via an armored vehicle. Afterward, they would be dropped at an undisclosed location to commence their first operation.
The Status Quo members were surprised to find themselves delivered to a military camp. The situation was tense and nerve-wracking for both sides.
(One wrong move and they're all dead.) A military captain thought, eyeing the Status Quo members.
(This is no joke. It's a whole division, primed and ready to kill if they don't like us.) Justing Hang thought, clicking his tongue.
⟐
In the distance were two uneasy men, talking with hushed tones. The senator restlessly tapped his heels on the ground while the major general finished his third cigarette in a row.
"Why are there only six of them? I thought there were more." The senator asked, scratching his head.
"I've been informed that some members needed time to adjust. The middle-aged man in front is the leader; he assured me that all things are optimal," Major General Merisi Gonzaga answered, also uneasy.
"Optimal? What the fuck is an optimal result in this situation!?" The senator sneered, glaring.
"We're supposed to trust his words? You can never domesticate a wild animal; you can only tame them. What we're doing right now is trying to be friends with a fucking animal." The senator sneered loudly, kicking away a rock.
"I sympathize with your sentiments, senator, but let's not be overreactive; let's not give them a reason to turn away. The other countries already have a heads up when it comes to servicing their 'levelers'."
The Major General affirmed the uneasy senator, aware of the boons that these levelers can provide. "Besides, I can't do much since even the president is willing to give these 'levelers' a try."
"Inform me of their every move." The senator scoffed, walking away and heading to his vehicle. "Keep an open eye. You personally saw that leveler we currently have imprisoned."
⟐
The loud whirring of the military helicopter was all Frizz could hear. The Status Quo members were airborne, en route to the designated location. Frizz was conflicted, expecting to guard polling stations, not enacting a black ops operation, and couldn't help but restlessly shake his legs, uncomfortable with how close the military were.
(I'm sure those jets hovering from above already have a lock on this helicopter, not hesitating to obliterate us the moment we do something funny.)
"Very grim..." Frizz muttered
(If it weren't for my ability to fly, I'd be impressed in finally riding a helicopter.) Frizz mused, adjusting his headset; it was loose.
"Remember, no fatalities. The government wants to see our restraint and control when it comes to utilizing our powers." Hei said, shouting. "Think of this as our debut, and we want to make one hell of a good impression."
"We're here!" The helicopter pilot shouted as the soldiers opened the side doors. "Drop down now!"
"At this height!? Do they think we're indestructible?" Rylai scoffed, rolling her eyes.
"We've got no choice." Divine added as all the members removed their helmets and headsets.
"It's convenient this way." Justing Hang said, summoning his giant rifle and then jumping out of the helicopter. He landed with a big thud from below, cracking the ground.
Hei glanced at Frizz and then gave him three experience shards, surprising the soldiers who hadn't seen that before.
"Oh?"
"You're our ace. We need you to be capable." Hei said then summoned four flying eyeballs, latched them onto his back, and jumped away, his descent slow yet graceful.
Divine grabbed Nathaniel and flew away, circling the helicopter for a moment with a mischievous expression before finally landing.
Nathaniel became nauseous, causing him to puke. "What'd you do that for!?"
"Tehehehe."
Rylai Capones sighed, jumped away, summoned her scythe, and rode it, whistling as she went.
That's cool." Frizz said while munching the crystal shards, glaring at the soldiers. The two soldiers cringed at the sight, thinking that must've hurt.
"Well then, time to impress the government, I guess...?" He said, his tone uncertain.