Chapter 20: Ambush
<strong>Chapter 20: Ambush</strong>
<span style="font-weight:400">[Robert “Bobby” Drake - Iceman. Affiliated with the X-Men]
<span style="font-weight:400">Hooh, an X-Men huh?
<span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin raised a brow at that.
<span style="font-weight:400">Captain Holt looked at his resume and asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">“It says here you can turn into and control Ice. Can you demonstrate?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Sure thing pops.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...Pops?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Captain Holt’s face slightly twitched at that.
<span style="font-weight:400">Robert ignored him and activated his ability.
<span style="font-weight:400">All of a sudden, the temperature in the room dropped by several degrees.
<span style="font-weight:400">The next moment, Robert’s skin, hair, and clothes became a hue of whitish blue like an ice sculpture.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Tada!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...Alright, that’s good enough. Power down.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Roger!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Robert did an exaggerated salute and powered down.
<span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin turned to Captain Holt.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well, I suppose he’s in. Though he needs some behavioral training.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’ll leave it to you then.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin chuckled as he thought this was probably what that Professor X wanted him to do…what a bother…
<span style="font-weight:400">Still, he’ll definitely make great use of this guy in the meantime…
<span style="font-weight:400">An evil smile slowly formed in his mind but he still kept a straight face.
<span style="font-weight:400">Robert suddenly felt an unknown chill even though he wasn’t supposed to feel cold…
<span style="font-weight:400">“Alright, thanks Robert, we will contact youter.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“You can call me Bobby too.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Bobby then. Call the next one in.”
<span style="font-weight:400">What followed next was a bunch of…nobodies.
<span style="font-weight:400">It seems these guys are just here for the fun and didn’t actually have powers…
<span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin and Captain Holt shooed them away and even detained some of the ridiculous ones for disrupting police work.
<span style="font-weight:400">Suddenly, the room lights went off for a second.
<span style="font-weight:400">Immediately after, four people stood in front of them as soon as the lights went on.
<span style="font-weight:400">Seeing these four, Benjamin stared at one of them with half-closed eyes.
<span style="font-weight:400">“...You do know there’s a door right there right? Was it really necessary to shut the lights, go in, then turn on the lights again for the drama? Daredevil.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“See, I told you we can just go in.”
<span style="font-weight:400">An African American bald man with robust body wearing a yellow shirt said in exasperation.
<span style="font-weight:400">[Luke Cage - Power Man.]
<span style="font-weight:400">“Daredevil said it’s necessary to enter with style.”
<span style="font-weight:400">A blonde-haired man wearing a yellow mask and a green suit that shows his dragon tattoo-ed chest said.
<span style="font-weight:400">[Daniel Rand - Iron Fist.]
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ugh, boys, can you stop being so embarrassing?”
<span style="font-weight:400">A ck-haired beauty wearing…well, normal clothes and a ck scarf said while her palm touched her face.
<span style="font-weight:400">[Jessica Jones - Jewel.]
<span style="font-weight:400">“...I cut the lights since I didn’t want to get seen entering the building.”
<span style="font-weight:400">The familiar man in a devil suit sighed.
<span style="font-weight:400">[Matthew Murdock - Daredevil.]
<span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin didn’t continue bantering with them and asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Since you’re all here, I assume that you guys want to join the EPD?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“That’s right. I simply do not want to waste my time trying to run from the cops every single time I needed to catch a criminal.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Daredevil nodded.
<span style="font-weight:400">Well, as expected of the EPD, the ‘legal’ way for vigntes to work.
<span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin had already expected this and didn’t have a problem with it as long as they exercise restraint and caution.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’m sure you already know this but once you join, even if you don’t want your identities to be known, you must still exercise restraint. This means no killing and no torture. If there’s intel that you need, bring the guy to me and I can find it out for you without needing to break them.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“How?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Luke asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well, let’s just say that I have my ways.”
<span style="font-weight:400">If HUD Contacts fails, he can always turn to magic. It should be easy to gain intel without the need for torture.
<span style="font-weight:400">Daredevil and the rest looked at each other.
<span style="font-weight:400">After some time, Daredevil turned back to Benjamin and asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Can we trust you?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“No one else knows who you are right? Listen to my heartbeat and you can tell if I’m lying.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“But what if the higher-ups decide to restrain us or force us to do their dirty work?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Hearing this, Captain Holt frowned and was about to say something but Benjamin shook his head.
<span style="font-weight:400">“That won’t happen.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Are you sure?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Even if they do so, I’d know. And once I do know…well, let’s just say that if they want to bend thews to work for them, then they would also find out that thews can be bent by others to work against them.”
<span style="font-weight:400">It was a very roundabout way of saying he can ckmail the higher-ups himself if they try to do the same to them.
<span style="font-weight:400">After all…Benjamin holds their secrets just by his HUD Contacts.
<span style="font-weight:400">It sure is convenient to have a system that can hack into anything.
<span style="font-weight:400">[Now you know how powerful this System is!]
<span style="font-weight:400">In a manner of speaking, this could be considered a sort of technomancy.
<span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin chuckled in his mind and stopped stroking the System’srge ego any further, lest it gets full of itself.
<span style="font-weight:400">[...]
<span style="font-weight:400">Daredevil didn’t expect such an answer.
<span style="font-weight:400">He listened very closely to Benjamin’s heart and knew he wasn’t lying.
<span style="font-weight:400">“...In that case, I’ll take your word for it.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Pleasure to work with you.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Likewise.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin and Daredevil shook hands.
<span style="font-weight:400">He knew that Daredevil would normally not consider joining if it were anyone else even with the benefits. However, they had already met before without the masks and based on his few interactions with Benjamin, Matt knew what kind of person he was and decided to take this leap of faith.
<span style="font-weight:400">The others looked at each other and just shrugged.
<span style="font-weight:400">They also agreed and shook hands with Benjamin.
<span style="font-weight:400">When Benjamin shook hands with Jessica, she leaned closer and ask.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I remember I still owe you dinner. Do you have timeter?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Sure.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“See youter then.”
<span style="font-weight:400">After that, Benjamin continued with the interview and met a few more interesting people.
<span style="font-weight:400">Then…
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hey there. I’m Deadpool.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...What are you doing here? Don’t tell me you want to join the EPD?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“No no no! I’m not here to join your boy band group. I’m here to look for Francis! Have you seen him?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin sighed and used his HUD Contacts.
<span style="font-weight:400">[Wade Wilson - Deadpool. Affiliated with himself.]
<span style="font-weight:400">…Of course he’s affiliated with himself…
<span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin shook his mind and continued to look through his data and also pulled up data on Francis.
<span style="font-weight:400">After figuring out his location, Benjamin pulled out his sling ring.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’ll send you to him then. Now shoo.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh wow! I didn’t think you’d really know! Wait, did you watch my movie!? As expected of a Transmigrat- HOLY BENEDICT CUMBERBA-”
<span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin didn’t bother with him anymore and directly sent him away through the portal and closed it.
<span style="font-weight:400">Captain Holt was shocked.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What was that?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh. That’s magic.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Magic?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yeah. I learned itst night.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...I’m not even going to be surprised anymore.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Captain Holt shook his head and stopped bothering about it.
<span style="font-weight:400">Meanwhile, in a certain location.
<span style="font-weight:400">“-TCH!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Deadpool just reappeared through a portal and stretched.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Phew. My line’s done right? Woah wait, the focus is on me again!? Was there another scene after that? What’s my line again?”
<span style="font-weight:400">AN: You don’t have a line yet after that. You’re supposed to wait for Francis to speak to you.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh, right right. Let’s go again. I’ll start from my previous line then?”
<span style="font-weight:400">AN: …Start!
<span style="font-weight:400">“HOLY RYAN REYNOLDS!”
<span style="font-weight:400">AN: That’s not…you know what, forget it.
<span style="font-weight:400">Suddenly, Deadpool heard a familiar voice.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Wade fucking Wilson. I see you found a way to hide that testicle face of yours.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Deadpool turned and saw Francis. The man responsible for turning him into a mutant and damaging his handsome face.
<span style="font-weight:400">DP: You mean extremely handsome face.
<span style="font-weight:400">AN: …
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well well well. If it isn’t Hugh fucking Jackman’s evil twin brother.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...I don’t look like Hugh Jackman though? But thanks for thepliment.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“What do you mean? You’re both annoying to look at! Enough talking! More fighting!”
<span style="font-weight:400">AN: Aaand cut! Next scene!
<span style="font-weight:400">DP: Hey! We’re just about to get to the fight scene!
<span style="font-weight:400">AN: Everyone can watch the movie Deadpool. Let’s move on to the story.
<span style="font-weight:400">DP: But this wasn’t in the movie!?
<span style="font-weight:400">AN: Back to the novel!
<span style="font-weight:400">Time passed and soon, work hours were over.
<span style="font-weight:400">When Benjamin left the precinct, he saw Jessica’s familiar figure leaning on the side.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hey Capt. You good to go?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...It feels weird to get called Captain…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Jessicaughed at that.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Haha! You better get used to it!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ugh, at least don’t call me that outside of work…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Alright. Ben it is then.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Shall I call you Jess then?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Sure.”
<span style="font-weight:400">The two of them talked as they walked and found a small hidden ramen shop in a nearby alley to eat dinner.
<span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin knew Jessica wasn’t that well off in money so he didn’t force her to go to a big restaurant.
<span style="font-weight:400">What’s important is the ambiance.
<span style="font-weight:400">It was these types of hidden stalls that often have the most delicious and cheap food after all.
<span style="font-weight:400">They bothughed and chat through the whole time and even drank some soju to liven the mood.
<span style="font-weight:400">Just as they were about to sink into a very ambiguous mood, Benjamin frowned as he started to notice something.
<span style="font-weight:400">The customers…were slowly getting cleared out!
<span style="font-weight:400">Even the cook and other employees were leaving…
<span style="font-weight:400">Jessica also sobered up when she saw Benjamin’s serious look and noticed the surroundings getting quiet.
<span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin didn’t say anything and waited for the civilians to leave before downing another shot.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Are you going to show yourself or what?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Heh. Should I say, as expected of the currently renowned Captain Freed? You noticed us so soon.”
<span style="font-weight:400">From the shadows, a figure of a woman slowly walked out.
<span style="font-weight:400">She wore a tight sleeveless and backless green suit with a sort of scaly texture to it like a snake’s. Her long dark green hair covered one of her eyes as it fell onto her shoulders.
<span style="font-weight:400">At her waist was a whip and gun attached.
<span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin frowned when he read her details.
<span style="font-weight:400">[Ophelia Sarkissian - Viper. Affiliated with HYDRA.]
<span style="font-weight:400">Viper. A master of the whip and poison.
<span style="font-weight:400">What a troublesome enemy…is what anyone would normally think.
<span style="font-weight:400">This time, Benjamin no longer hesitated and quickly bought the Poison Immunity in the Store.
<span style="font-weight:400">[Bought Poison Immunity x1]
<span style="font-weight:400">Instantly using it, Benjamin sighed in relief in his mind.
<span style="font-weight:400">Although he wasn’t afraid of getting poisoned as he can still heal, he didn’t want to risk being so sure that it would absolutely have no effect.
<span style="font-weight:400">At the very least, he won’t feel pain or any other effect on him once the poison is applied unlike simply relying on his super healing where he would still feel every bit of it.
<span style="font-weight:400">It was a pain to lose 20k worth of MP but…
<span style="font-weight:400">[Main Quest: HYDRA Ambush!]
<span style="font-weight:400">[HYDRA has been made aware of your existence and wishes to nip you while you’re still developing. Even if Z’s algorithm says you won’t be a threat, Viper thinks it’s best to kill you to be absolutely sure. Defeat Viper and escape from the ambush!]
<span style="font-weight:400">[Rewards: 50000 MP, 10 Free Gacha Draw, Unknown Ability]
<span style="font-weight:400">[This quest has no penalty as there is no point if host fails. Failure means the host will die in the hands of HYDRA.]
<span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin grinned.
<span style="font-weight:400">There’s actually an additional reward aside from MC and Free Gacha Draw!
<span style="font-weight:400">He was looking forward to it.
<span style="font-weight:400">As for there being no failure condition…well, this is obvious. Failing means that he dies and there won’t be a point in still sending failure penalties to him.
<span style="font-weight:400">Still…Benjamin wasn’t worried.
<span style="font-weight:400">He was confident that he won’t fail.