Taking a whiff of the cold sea breeze as the boat drove through the large water body, I retrived my phone and began ranning through the mission briefing sent to me by my boss.
It was summarized,probably the handy work of Aria so digesting the information was relatively easy on my part.
"It's seem we'll dealing with an unidentified cyptics, presumedly Class-C."
"Should be easy then." Seth driving the boat glance over his neck and smirk.
"It depends on the type!"
Isis preferably choosing to stand as the boat moved crossed her arms and tapped her fingers as she reminded Seth of the dangers even weak cryptic could have.
My team could be said to be average in the sense the amount of power they could output in relation to the cyptic that had been implanted in them ranged from 10% to 30%.
Seth being the weakest could bring out about 10% of his power without going corrupt hence he was classified a Type D agent by the association.
Isis could output 20% hence she was Type C and AI could output 35% so she too was a Type C.
With their combined strength they were an average team at best but even with that they had survived for years in the job making me believe they were much stronger than they appeared.
"While Isis is right in believing we shouldn't understimate our opponent I say we should also maintain a more positive outlook."
"Heh... positivity carried by ignorance." I heard Isis murmur but I pay her no hind and continued.
"So far so good only a few miss cases have been reported around the section of the cryptic meaning it's probably laying dominant."
"It's accumulating strength." AI suddenly intervene with a chilling expression.
"Yes!" I nod.
"Either that or it's been wounded."
More scenario ranned through my made but the listed two were undoubtedly the most possible hence why I wasn't too worried about this mission.
"Hey Commander...."
I was suddenly called by Seth focused on driving the boat to to the mainland.
"Yes."
"Are you confident you're in good shape?"
His question caught me of guard and for a good moment I felt worry in his tone which was rare since his always keep a deceitful tone.
"As I've already said to Isis I'm good." I responded with a warm smile. For a moment his shoulder grew stiff and after a while they loseened up in relief before he continued driving the boat.
With that no more conversation were initiated till we arrived on the docks of the mainland.
"Argon city."
Jumping out the boat and landing on the wooden platform leading to the city, I muttered and retrieve my phone one's more.
"The site should be an hour's walk from here, should we walk or take a cab."
"Will you pay?" Isis remark causing Seth and AI to stare at me seeking an answers.
"Honestly no."
I sighed raising my hands in surrender.
For low level missions like this Slayers didn't provide much funding so it was either I cough up some money, we contribute or we made this the hard way and treaked to district one all the way from district three our current location.
"Guys you all know the medical bills sunked me dry so..."
"You greedy bastard." Isis roar and lunged at me, only stopped by Seth whom quickly grabbed her hands and pulled her back.
"Isis calm down, his wounded.",
"I don't fucking care."
Frightened by her blazing determination to beat the heck out of me, I prepared to turn my back to flee but...
"I have money!" AI interrupted causing all of us to glance at her.
Looking down shyly, she placed her hands in the pocket of her short jeans and retrieved a bundle of fold money held together by a red ribbon.
As she placed the money forward my heart sunk in despair then face palming I pushed her hand back.
"Commander!" She excalimed surprised by my actions.
"I'll pay."
Choosing to stop being petty, I sighed and a soft smile formed on her face.
It was right around this time that I expect Isis rebunk but she didn't, looking away in annoyance while Seth nod at me in approval.
---------------
"Well I'm now officially broke!'
Handing the last money I had on me to the taxi driver whom unfortunately didn't not care about my predicament, a string of tears fell from my cheek as I watched him drive off with my money.
"Fuck...all my hardwork."
Face palming in sorrow I soon sighed in acceptance. Turns out the salary for risking your life to save the world wasn't as heavy as I thought. Yes I was payed and weekly at that but I had to buy my own ammo, gear and weapons just so I could be onfield with my team and honestly was it worth it...no much.
I got injured a lot, I had to refuel my ammo for every mission and I also had to provide for myself so yes lived on my pay. Any deviation or unnecessary expenses meant I was probably going to have to fast.
"Don't sweet to commander, we treat you to lunch after this." Seth tried to console me but honestly I would have preferred if he had freaking paid instead of me.
"Sure...sure.." Shrugging in displeasure my gaze trail of to the abandoned property before me.
The school was rather large with a compound big enough to fit two medium size football parks. It's paint had worn out gaving it's exterior a bland and almost ghostly look while the surrending fences and gates had grow rusted.
Leading the way, I pushed the gates opening causing it to make a eerie creak as it was opened.
"Morningstar academy!"
As we entered the compound Isis remark retrieving her katana from her back.
"Did you do research on the school?"
"Yes." She nod and began surveying around.
"It was built about fifty years ago by the city government. It was primarily a public school funded by the higher-ups for the resident of this district but as a public project..it went through many delays."
"As in?"
"Let's just say corruption."
"I see!"
Understanding what she meant I sighed.
"Eventually the project was finished about thirty years ago but two decades later it suffered under a plague."
"Plague!" Intrigue Seth taking out his metallic black blow wrapped within his armpit muttered.
"Unexplainable death began occuring, about twenty to thirty death occured within a week and soon the public occasionally unable to decipher how or why, shut down the academy."
"Strange... Theresa didn't tell me that!"
Suddenly feeling an unexplainable chill I gesture for my team's attention.
"Guys....."
Surprise by my reaction, they raised their guard up and faced me with a tensed look displayed on their faces.
" I think we might have overlooked something!"