Just as he lifted the mask toward his face, the doorbell rang.
Kevin paused, dropping the items onto the bed. "Coming!"
He walked to the front door and opened it. Standing outside were Cobra Bubbles and Dr. Rebecca Holiday.
"Uh… what can I do for you?" Kevin asked, still in his Toon Form.
Dr. Holiday blinked, clearly taken aback by his appearance. "We are looking for Mr. Kevin Harlan. Is he here today?"
Kevin chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "Well, I am Kevin, Dr. Holiday. This is just my other form."
"W-What?!" Dr. Holiday's eyes widened in shock. Even the usually stoic Cobra raised an eyebrow.
Kevin stepped aside. "Come in. I'll explain everything inside."
Inside the living room, Holiday and Kevin sat opposite each other while Cobra stood silently on the side like a bodyguard. Kevin calmly explained that he could freely transform between his Noid and Toon forms at will, though he carefully avoided mentioning the System, simply saying he had gained these powers after arriving in this world.
Hearing this, Dr. Holiday's expression shifted from shock to intense interest. "That confirms it."
"Now that I've explained myself, care to explain why you're here?" Kevin asked.
She leaned forward, her light green eyes sharp. "Mr. Harlan. The Nexus Collective wants to recruit you."
She continued without pause. "Toon Force users are extremely rare. Only a handful of individuals on this planet can wield it effectively. Those who can are incredibly valuable, they can create impossible technologies, bend reality for practical use, and develop tools that science alone cannot achieve. Because of your demonstrated stability as a Traveler and your ability to access Toon Form, the federation sees you as a high-priority asset."
Holiday's voice grew more serious. "We can offer you anything within our capabilities, resources, protection, funding, land, technology, if you agree to work with us. We need people like you."
Kevin listened carefully, then started firing questions.
"Before we talk about 'anything,' let's be practical. Is there a salary? What exactly would I need to do if I join? Are there fixed work hours?"
Dr. Holiday answered smoothly. "Yes, there is a salary. For someone with your potential, we're prepared to offer $4.5 million dollars per year, with performance bonuses and additional project funding. Your duties would be flexible based on your strengths. You could help develop new technologies using Toon Force, assist the military on special projects, or work on civilian applications, whatever you prefer. Work hours are mostly up to you, though you may be called for urgent matters. We will also assign a dedicated instructor to help you master and unlock your Toon Force abilities."
Kevin nodded, thinking it over. The offer was extremely generous. Even though his Toon Force was currently locked, he had The Mask and other tools that might help him unlock it soon.
He made his decision.
"I'll join."
Dr. Holiday smiled, clearly pleased. "Excellent. What are your requests?"
Kevin thought for a moment. "Can I get an advance of over three million dollars? Completely separate from my salary."
"Done," Holiday replied without hesitation.
Kevin blinked. "I should have asked for more…"
Holiday stood up, extending her hand. "Welcome to the Nexus Collective, Mr. Harlan. We'll send the formal contract and transfer the funds shortly. Cobra will remain as your liaison for now."
Kevin shook her hand, still a bit stunned by how fast everything had moved.
As they left, Kevin sat back down on his bed, still in his Toon Form, staring at the six rewards that had materialized in front of him. The colorful bag of seeds, the neatly folded papers, and the bright green wooden mask lay on the bedsheet. He picked them up one by one, his eyes scanning each item with growing excitement.
First, he opened the small bag and examined the Truffula Trees Seeds. They were vibrant, almost glowing with pastel colors, pink, orange, yellow, and red. Each seed looked soft and fuzzy, like tiny pompoms. According to the description, these would grow into tall, striped trees with those iconic, silky tufts on top. Kevin's mind immediately raced with possibilities.
"These could be huge for business," he muttered. "The tufts are supposed to be incredibly soft. If I can grow a whole grove, I could produce luxury fabrics, stuffing for furniture, or even high-end clothing."
Next, he unfolded the Thneeds Blueprint.
The detailed schematic showed how to knit the versatile multi-purpose garment from Truffula tufts. The blueprint emphasized that a single Thneed could morph into almost anything the wearer desired, a shirt, a hat, a hammock, even a blanket. Kevin whistled softly.
He set the blueprint aside and picked up the Sponge Sauce & Bobby Sauce Formula.
The recipes looked simple but promised unique flavors that could elevate his menu, one savory and tangy, the other sweet and versatile. These would pair perfectly with the Krabby Patties and other dishes.
The fourth item was the Shop Lease Contract for an abandoned commercial property in Springfield. Another location meant he could expand the Krusty Krab brand or open a second restaurant.
Then came the Loompaland Map. Kevin studied the detailed map carefully. It showed the hidden route to the land of the Oompa-Loompas and their rare, legendary cocoa beans. He remembered the Willy Wonka stories, those cocoa beans were said to produce the finest chocolate in existence.
"Good thing I have money coming," Kevin said aloud, his voice carrying a slight cartoonish reverb. "With that 3 million dollars, I can finally start building a proper factory, buy more land around the farm, and pay down the bank loan. This map could be the key to a chocolate line or even a premium dessert brand."
He leaned back, feeling a rush of excitement. The rewards were perfectly timed. The farm was already producing, the restaurant was growing, and now he had the tools to scale everything dramatically.
Just as he was organizing the items, his phone beeped loudly.
Kevin picked it up and smiled wide when he saw the notification.
[Bank Alert: $3,000,000.00 has been deposited into your account.]
"Speaking of the devil," he chuckled.
Another notification popped up right after.
[Nexus Collective Liaison: Your assigned Toon Force instructor will meet you tonight at the Ink & Paint Club. They have an appointment in Toontownsville and will use the opportunity to introduce themselves. Training sessions will be scheduled every weekend.]
Kevin raised an eyebrow when he read the location. "The Ink & Paint Club? That's Holli's place…"
He shook his head with a small laugh. The federation really didn't waste time. Having a personal mentor to help unlock and master Toon Force was a huge opportunity, especially since the ability was currently locked in his status.
Kevin looked at the green Mask still lying on the bed. He could feel its chaotic energy calling to him, but he decided to wait.
Tonight's meeting with the instructor would be important, and he didn't want to show up wearing a reality-warping artifact without knowing more.
He stood up, stretched his cartoon limbs, and glanced at himself in the mirror one more time. The Toon Form felt natural now, powerful, expressive, and full of potential.
"I'm really going to be busy," he said to his reflection.