Boiling water hissed on the stove while Cartias stared at his computer monitor, which flickered as it rapidly switched from window to window.
"Hey, aren''t you too fast? My computer''s gonna break..." He muttered, caressing his growling stomach. He reached for his instant noodles and coffee on the table, setting them next to the stove.
Do not worry, I''ve overclocked your computer; it should handle this load for at least five minutes before overheating.
Hearing this, Cartias frowned at the monitor. "Don’t break my computer. I’m a sentimental person, you know."
I know. I''m being careful, Cartias.
"You better be, or I''ll unplug this..." He eyed the wires taped onto Rai, which were plugged into an electrical outlet.
It felt weird, but he chose to ignore it since the thought made him uncomfortable.
Looking back at his computer, he remembered how Rai had refused to reveal the state of his world. Apparently, Rai first needed to understand the world here in order to fully explain things. Truthfully, Cartias'' eagerness to know was unbearable, but then again, he wasn''t exactly bright enough to grasp complex things right away.
Cartias snapped out of his thoughts when he heard the hissing of the boiling water.
"Oh, shi—!" He rushed to turn off the stove and started mixing his food. "By the way, I''m going jogging after this."
Yes, but please follow my recommended training regimen from now on. Saying this, the monitor froze on a window displaying a list.
Cartias read a few lines and automatically frowned. "This is absurd. Did I sign up to be a Spartan? Like I said, I’m lazy, so—"
No, you are not. You are just making excuses to procrastinate.
"Hmmm… I''m… Hmm..." He forced himself to shut up before he started making more excuses. "Can we do something about how we talk? I don’t wanna be seen as crazy."
You can communicate through your thoughts, Cartias.
"Oh..." He took a sip of his coffee. You can hear me like this?
Yes.
Man, I used to talk to myself a lot in junior high. Getting an actual response feels weird. How does this work? He chuckled.
I can also process what you intend to say before you even speak.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
---
By the time the sun had fully retreated behind the horizon, Cartias stretched his arms, readying himself to sprint.
Can’t we do this tomorrow? This training is gonna take hours, you know? And why sprinting instead of jogging...?
No. Tomorrow is a rest day, and I have plans for tomorrow. Please do this today.
Okay…? You know I don''t have much ambitions, right?
Then, if you grow strong enough, I''ll let you enter my world. How about that?
Oh… Alright... Then he paused. Wait, if you’re super intelligent and can influence my body, why not just rebuild my... I don’t know, my genes?
I have theories, but I will never use you as a test subject. Besides, would you like to start a human experiment?
... On second thought... Never mind. Finished with his stretching, he started running again.
Well then, before we continue, I need your permission regarding how I will accumulate money.
Money...?
Yes. I am planning to take funds from law offenders.
Oh! That’s a great idea! Do that. He picked up his pace, running at full speed.
---
An hour or so later, Cartias sprawled on a bench, his body screaming in pain. Sweat drenched him from head to toe.
The fuck do you mean I can still go on!? It hurts, you know! I’m gonna have the worst day tomorrow...
Your body is highly adaptable, so please—
No is no. Reschedule it.
I understand—
"Hey~ aren’t you diligent?"
A familiar, giggling voice reached his ears. Looking up, he saw a tall, fit woman with blonde hair, modestly dressed in tight jogging pants and a matching sports bra. A leashed Doberman stood beside her, which then reared up on its hind legs to greet Cartias.
"Oh, hey Ptencia. Out for a walk?" He petted the dog. "Hey, little Riri."
"You still drunk? I always go out at this hour." Ptencia giggled. "Oh, by the way, I think you took my phone yesterday. Here..." She handed him his phone.
"Oh..." Taking it, he scratched the back of his neck. "Sorry, I forgot your phone at home... I’ll give it to you later. My bad."
"It’s fine. I’ll get it later." With that, she started jogging away.
Was she your childhood friend?
Yeah. Cartias watched her for a moment before stretching again.
Interesting... Rai subtly muttered.
Cartias didn’t pick up on his mumbling and resumed sprinting along the dim pavement.
---
Somewhere deep in the forest, a muscular man jogged along a dirt path when his music was interrupted by a notification. Slowing down, he checked the message and its sender.
His expression turned serious. Without hesitation, he turned and rushed back.
Minutes later, he barged through a door, startling five soldiers playing cards inside.
Normally, he would’ve reprimanded them for their sluggish reaction and delayed salutes, but—
"We have direct orders. High-class contraband. Bring all the boys!" He stormed into his office and geared up.
Checking the message again, he memorized the sender’s name: Hermet.
When he stepped outside, he saw his men hurriedly readying their vehicles.
"Chop chop! This is urgent! I’ll brief you on the way!"
"Captain Presven, we have 136 men reporting and ready."
"Good. We’re moving to Clantum Fishing Port!" Presven gestured for everyone to mount their vehicles.
After briefing them on the mission orders, everyone checked their equipment and gear. They dismounted their vehicles a short distance from the port and split into two teams, flanking either side of the road before continuing on foot.
Pressing his earpiece, Presven ordered, "Mantis, give us a field view."
A man crouched on a high cliff, scanning the area below through binoculars. His sniper rifle lay next to him. "Intel is accurate. Terrorists and unknowns. Everything checks out, I repea—" He paused abruptly. "They’re about to engage. Signal spotted—go, go—!"
"All units, raid this place!"
With that command, his men surged forward.
Throughout the night, gunfire echoed across Clantum Fishing Port.