In the Grand Auditorium, the applause was thunderous.
On stage, Locke wore a modest smile, officially crowned as the President of the Midtown High Student Council.
Simultaneously, a series of notifications chimed in his mind:
[Ding!]
[Mission Completed: "I Am the President!"]
[Base Rewards: 10,000 Achievement Points, 10,000 Potential Points, 90% Off Treasure Refresh Card (Guaranteed)]
[Final Multiplier: 20x!]
[Final Rewards: 200,000 Achievement Points, 200,000 Potential Points, 90% Off Treasure Refresh Card!]
...
Status Update:
[Name: Locke Broughton (Sole Player)]
[Class: Assassin (Current) / Witch (Switchable)]
[Achievement Points: 278,000 (For use in the Achievement Mall)]
[Potential Points: 280,000 (For upgrading owned skills)]
[Supreme Talent: Limitless (Gold/Level 1): My energy is infinite!]
[Transcendental Talent: Tenacity (Red/Level 3): Even in combat, your stamina recovers continuously, and your physique is significantly enhanced.]
[Transcendental Skills:
Gun Kata (Blue/Level 1): Your marksmanship is profound and unmatched.]
[Falconry (Advanced): Your tamed hawk becomes your eyes. Where it sees, you see—but where is your hawk?]
[Concealment (Intermediate): If you take it slow, you can pull off a real-life "Empty House" act.]
[Affiliation: Land of Light (Nebula M78)]
[Members: 1/1 (Infinite energy can currently only be shared with one person)]
[Name: Carrie White]
[Class: Witch]
"Nice!" Locke thought, his mood soaring as he saw his points skyrocket toward the 300,000 mark. He looked down at the front row, where Gwen was clapping along with the crowd, and gave her a brilliant smile.
During the entire election process, Locke had barely lifted a finger. Gwen had arranged everything—from the campaign posters to the strategy meetings with Betty and Carrie.
She was, without a doubt, a "Virtuous Assistant." If Locke ever decided to marry, Gwen would be the lady of the house. As the saying goes: Choose a wife for her virtue.
...
As he stepped off the stage, Gwen stood up. "Congratulations—"
Before she could finish, Locke pulled her into his arms and kissed her. The auditorium erupted into a second, even louder wave of cheers and whistling. Nearby teachers watched with indulgent smiles. In some cultures, this would be scandalous, but here, youth was synonymous with passion. No love was purer than campus romance.
Besides, Locke and Gwen were the pillars of Midtown High. The school would protect them at all costs; they certainly weren't going to ruin this moment.
It was fortunate George wasn't there, or his eye would have twitched so hard he'd need surgery.
...
Later that evening: Chester's Lovers Restaurant
Gwen raised her glass—filled with a soft drink—and beamed at Locke. "Congratulations again."
Locke clinked his glass against hers. "Thank you, Gwen. I couldn't have done it without you."
Gwen took a sip, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "So, that's finally wrapped up. Maybe this weekend we can grab Cindy and Kahn and relax at an under-21 club?"
Locke chuckled. "Wrapped up?"
"What? Don't tell me..."
"I've got another lawsuit on my hands, Gwen."
Gwen immediately thought of Nina Bell. "Oh, right. How did the legal proceedings go today?"
Locke was the plaintiff, but his legal team handled the appearance for him. As for Nina Bell? Locke smiled coldly. "Lawyer Laun told me her attorney is some human rights lawyer from the backstreets of Queens."
It was a joke. The specialties didn't even match. Even if they did, most lawyers would have weak knees the moment they saw Lawson Laun across the aisle. Most would settle for "half a loss" rather than step into the ring with him.
In fact, Nina's lawyer had suggested exactly that.
"And the result?" Gwen asked.
"She refused."
"What?"
Locke looked at the surprised Gwen and laughed. "It's normal. Nina still thinks she's playing by the rules she grew up with. She thinks her 'status' protects her."
Locke always provided a sliver of hope. If Nina could have produced ten million dollars, he wouldn't have minded an out-of-court settlement. But she chose the dead end.
Locke felt a bit of mock pity. He was so "kind," always offering a way out, yet people kept sprinting toward their own demise. Victoria Knox was like that. Megan Walsh was like that.
Gwen looked into Locke's clear eyes. "So, what do you plan to do next?"
Locke snapped back and smiled. "Everything has a price, Gwen. If you make a mistake, you admit it. If you get hit, you stand tall. That's the first thing I learned."
He'd learned another thing, too: If the top beam is crooked, the lower beams will follow.
"This time it was me," Locke said. "If it had been anyone else, Nina Bell would have dragged them through the mud and ruined their life."
Gwen nodded, a shiver of fear running down her spine. "True. If someone were actually framed for discrimination, the school would likely expel them just to appease the public."
She straightened up. "She should face the judgment of the law. This country is free and equal; her identity shouldn't be a shield for malice."
"I couldn't agree more," Locke said.
A moment later, he checked his watch and wiped his mouth. "I'm going to have a quick word with Chester."
"Go ahead. I'll wait for you."
...
Inside Chester's Office
Locke walked in, and Chester immediately flicked his wrist. Locke caught the flying cigar with practiced ease.
"Been to Cuba again?"
"You can buy anything in New York, Locke. So, did you get what I asked for?"
Chester opened a drawer and pulled out a file he'd received that morning. "Fifty thousand. The rush order you wanted."
Locke took it. "I had to go through you. If I went to him myself, he'd probably charge me a million. We have... history."
Chester shook his head. "I told you, never mock the 'Giant Farmer' about his height. You were fine when I introduced you, but the moment you went back alone, you just had to make a comment."
Locke shrugged. The Giant Farmer—a brilliant hacker—ran an organization that served governments, crime syndicates, and the underworld. They specialized in spreading fake news and manufacturing evidence that was indistinguishable from the truth.
"After I finished his contract," Locke explained, leafing through the 'gift pack' prepared for the Bell family, "he insisted on a drink. The bar had one of those height-measurement charts on the wall. I just wanted to see if he was 5'5" or 5'6", so I carried him over there. He seemed fine then, but the next day, he blocked me."
At least he waited until the final payment cleared before blocking him.
Chester leaned back, his cigar glowing. "Why the change in style? Why use a hacker instead of the Peerless Assassin?"
Locke looked at the documents—phone logs between the Bell family and extremist groups, falsified financial trails, etc. "This is different. Nina Bell and her family don't deserve a notice from the Assassin. My notices are for sinners."
"This is 'murdering the heart without shedding blood,'" Chester mused. "Your killing intent is getting heavier, kid."
"Heavier?" Locke looked up, a thin smile touching his lips. "Old friend, we're from the Lone Star State. If I killed one every day of the year, it would still take me two years to match your body count in the Grand Canyon."
Chester chuckled. "Fair point, try to show a little restraint."
"Whether it's humans or animals, I always give them a chance," Locke said as he closed the file and turned to leave. "They just never know how to take it. See you, old man."
***
Read 40 Chapters early on P-atreon.com/Redestro666