Few days ago, Haiji wouldn’t even consider any other option but with the power he currently has in his possession, selling this Elixirs (Aggressors parts) might not be worth if he could get stronger with them instead.

  Thinking in that trail of thought, Haiji decide to sell them in the Codex.

  “Sell everything” He said calmly.

  The elixirs in his hand immediately into particles of light and dispensed.

  Then he noticed the ‘Elixirs’ amount incrementing with a subtle bubbling sound.

  Elixirs: 125

  Coins: 39

  Haiji instantly regretted the decision, he thought he would get Status points or Coins like he did with the others.

  He gritted his teeth thinking about how much yen he could gotten for them, he even tried to reverse the transaction but nothing happened, so he had to just let it go.

  Then he cancelled Codex in annoyance and quickly regaining his calm, as he summons Profile once more to look at his new Title – Viking.

  ‘What’s even the reason for the change of Title, I thought it was just a nickname?’ Haiji asked without any serious intent.

  The Title expanded a bit to show him its content, as if understanding him.

  Title: Viking

  [A warrior born and raised in hardship, cutting down anyone and anything that stands between it and its desire.]

  Buff: When Hit point reaches 30%; Damage per Hit and Arcane Energy increases 3x for 25 minutes.

  Note: Existing buff from current Title doesn’t erase previous Title’s buff

  The fact that Title seems to act on its own without Haiji demanding it didn’t go unnoticed by him but within the written text, the phrase ‘Existing buff from current Title doesn’t erase previous Title’s buff’ struck his mind like a whip.

  ‘What the hell was the previous buff’ He asked internally with a bit of turmoil.

  ‘I didn’t know the previous Title had a buff; this System is freaking annoying; important things are never explained… Imagine if I didn’t activate that ‘Virtual Assistant something’; I wouldn’t even know when my Arcane Energy is low in the heat of battle’ Haiji thought with annoyance.

  “Who was the brainless being that made such a crazy Power-system with such poor way of commuting with it?” Haiji couldn’t help but complain aloud and bitterly, recalling all the mistakes he made because he wasn’t informed on certain things and decided to wing it, causing him a lot of pain.

  Haiji remained annoyed for some time but forced himself to chill after thinking about the short amount of time it took to even get this far in understand the way the alien System works, he somewhat considered himself lucky... if there was anything as luck in the first place.

  He closed all the tabs and relaxed, while waiting for the drip to empty itself as he played around with his new dagger.

  After about an hour and half, the drip became empty do he yanked the needle and tube out his arm and got off the bed.

  He tore off the cast on his right arm and flexed it a little to check if it has healed, then walked towards the right side of the tent where his stuffs were.

  He first put on his holster around his waist, then grabbed his axes and placed them in the holster, then he wore battered armour-vest made of Ratty fur and grabbed his bag pack.

  He took a moment to look around to see if he was forgetting anything, as he moved his head around, he noticed a roll of gauze by the side of the drawer close to the bed.

  He first looked toward the entrance of the tent, before rushing to pick up the gauze and quickly putting it inside his bag pack.

  Someone entered the tent, the moment Haiji zipped his bag shut.

  “Time for you to leave” A female voice said with a rude and hasty tone, like the presence on Haiji is similar to that of pit of feaces.

  Haiji turned around to see the woman that came earlier to tell him to leave immediately the drip was exhausted.

  She wore gray rain coat over her white garment, and open the entrance of the tent for Haiji to leave immediately.

  “Don’t burst your ball, when you don’t even have any in the first” Haiji rudely comment the woman as he walks pass her, and put up his hood before exiting the tent. He might have not faced her and said, but she knew the comment was meant for and she currently anything but tolerance towards the Haiji.

  She didn’t reply though and watched Haiji leave into the violent cover of the rain, seeing that gave a bit of thrill and she waked into the tent to do a few things.

  Haiji became soaked within seconds under the heavy rain, even his head that was hooded up was still not safe from the rain but he kept his head down and tried navigating his way out of the small temporary camp above the subway station.

  Even under this rain, private soldier was moving about, doing their jobs.

  The strong wind continuously tilts the trajectory of the rain as it fell to different direction like it is practicing a crazy dance.

  He was forced to raise his hand over his eyes from time to time in order to see where he was going as he walked through the camp, when his shoulder bumped into someone unintentionally while he face slightly to the ground.

  Haiji raised his head up to see the person that bumped into him, he saw two men in rain coats and he recognized one of them – The contractor that saved his life.

  The other man just stared with distain at Haiji and Haiji returned repaid his stare with his own disapproving glare.

  The guy wasn’t an Evolved so naturally his mind didn’t remind him of the fact that the man can hold back his wage or can even D-Grade colleges that could over and fuck him up.

  The two stared intensely at each other, with no one showing any sign of apologizing or letting the shoulder bump just slide.

  “You are going?” The contractor asked Haiji, he quickly chipped in to stop the sudden stare-down after stand there for several short yet uncomfortable seconds watching the two people glaring at each.

  “Yeah, but it seems I have walking around in circles” Haiji reply withdrawing his gaze from the man that stood beside the contractor.

  “This is my boss – Tanji-dono…” The contractor quickly introduced his boss to Haiji and then turned his head to his boss and said “Tanji-dono, this is the young lad that save our lives down there” while giving him a look to pardon Haiji rudeness.

  The boss decided not to take any issue on the ‘shoulder-bump’ matter, even when Haiji fail to apologize even after hearing he is the contractor’s boss.

  “It’s best you get going young man, your time here is long overdue” Tanji-dono said softly, throw a look at the contractor that said he wants Haiji to leave and that was final; he might have overlook Haiji rudeness for his sake, but he wasn’t interested in giving the contractor his ear any further.

  “Just go straight down and when you reach the fence, turn left and walk a few step forward. You will see a tent and a guard standing in front of the tent. The exit is by the right side of the tent.” The contractor said after sighing in defeat, as his boss gave him the serious look of not wanting to indulge in his idea of hiring this rude slum rat.

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  Haiji started walking forward, right between Tanji and the contractor without thanking the contractor or bidding them goodbye.

  “Hey, take this… you need it more than I do” The contractor stopped Haiji and took off his rain coat and handing it over to him.

  Haiji got stood there giving the contractor a very suspicious and puzzled glare, while Tanji just looked utterly puzzled and confused by what the contractor was doing.

  “Come on… take it” The contractor said urging him to take rain coat from him, Haiji gave up his trail of thought and took the rain coat from the contractor, then turned around to go on his way, without saying ‘thank you’ or ‘bye’.

  The contractor watched him for a few second, putting on the rain coat as he walked to the exit. He looked at Haiji and had many thoughts on the kid, after a second or two, his mind quickly reminded him that his boss was beside him.

  “Sorr…” The contractor quickly turn his head to apologize to his boss, but was surprise to see Tanji was already ahead of him.

  He quickly raced to his side and apologized “I am sorry Tanji for the delay”.

  “Ohh, It is not like you reported an issue to me that needed my attention and I don’t have other important things to do” Tanji said sarcastically with a bit of annoyance.

  “I apologize sir” The contractor lowered his head and apologized as they walked to their destination.

  “He is no different from the other dog-skins, I don’t know why you show so much interest in that rat” Tanji commented, he couldn’t just wrap why his subordinate was so interested in a Mercenary-Guard he barely met few hours ago.

  “I got his info after Shuki managed to stabilize him, he is an E-Grade Evolve but the power he showed down there wasn’t typical for an E-Grade with his physique. I’m not saying he is very extraordinary or even strong enough to be a D-Grade…” The contractor saying when Tanji cut him short.

  “That is relief because I do not want to have to bench you and tell you get your psych checked before getting you cleared for action.” Tanji said.

  The contractor continued “All I’m saying is, I haven’t seen E-Grade like him in a very long time and now that E-Grade Guards are lowly getting swept under the rug, to have someone like him join our unit isn’t a bad move”.

  “Aside from the fact that he is rude, uneducated, daft, ungrateful, has no basic training and I can’t just stand the sight of him. He is from the slums, if in some reality where I am blind, deaf and incredibly daft but still the Director of Operations and I mistakenly employ that dog-skin, it won’t be long before equipment starts to go missing or are ambushed and robbed when we are on the road. I’m sure you now understand why employing him is a bad idea?” Tanji commented and rhetorically asked.

  “Yes I understand, sir” The contractor replied and sighing internally in defeat, after hearing his boss’s statement and seeing the look on his face as he said it.

  After the walked a while and was about to walk down the stairs into the subway station, the contractor couldn’t help himself but ask “So you would have to be both physically and mentally challenged before you can give anyone from the slums a shot in my unit or any unit under you?”

  “Did I mention that it will also be over my dead body for that to happen?” Tanji responded with a rhetorical question, which made the contractor put up a small smile.

  While they both walked into the subway, Haiji unconsciously walked slowly, thinking about the contractor’s strange behaviour.

  ‘I didn’t see any reason to refuse taking the rain coat’ He internally said to himself, throwing a glance at two contractors that came out from the corner he was told to enter.

  As they were walking towards his direction, Haiji couldn’t help but assault rifle they were carrying.

  ‘They don’t even seem to be bothered about the rain damaging their gun. I’m sure each piece would cause a mad amount of coins, just imagine getting my hands on one of those…’ Haiji barely finished his thought when another thought started brewing in his head, causing him to halt and his head following the contractors as they walked pass him without even paying much attention to him. He then completely turn around and stared at them intensely as he continued brewing his idea.

  ‘Imagine if I could get my hands on a piece like that...’ He repeated the same statement in his mind, as he suddenly became aware of making this seemly impossible thought REAL.

  He swiftly opened his Profile tab and pulled up the only skill he currently has.

  [Shape-shift Lv. 1]

  Category: Arcane Skill

  Acquisition: Vestige of Loki

  [The ability to change into any human or Evolve upon seeing. Consumes 2 Energy points per minute]

  ‘There has to be an armory around somewhere filled with guns like that and these militants will definite be able walk in, grab one and walk back out… No stress and no one will ever suspect a thing’ Haiji pondered on this sudden idea in his mind.

  ‘If I am reading the ability of this Shape-shift skill right, I should be able to change my face to anyone I have seen, that doesn’t too impossible. I mean I’ve heard about some Aggressors that can pull the same shit…But how the fuck will a find the armory? It’s not like I can just change my face to one of the contractors I seen and start asking around for the armory’ Haiji continued thinking as he turn back around and continued on his merry way to the left corner, walking as slow as he could be.

  ‘Even if I somehow find it, what if guards are in front or someone is inside and either of them ask me why I’m taking a gun? I could just say I damage the last one handed to me in the fight in the subway… but what if they have seen this person before I use their face? How do I explain myself then and the Shape-shift will probably last around like 4 minute, since my Energy under Power Status is 9… Well, I have a lot of Points but I shouldn’t waste it, I mostly need them for Construct… Shit, this isn’t as easy as I thought it will be’ Haiji pondered, cutting into the left corner and continued walking slowly.

  After 3 or 4 steps and looked up to see how far he was from the exit, he knew he only has a shot at pulling the mini-heist up since he is within this small camp.

  Haiji looked straight the down the road and saw a guard into of a tent about 70 meters away and facing west.

  He halted and looked at the guard, because he wants to steal a gun or two without raising any suspicion and avoid questioning from anyone, before splitting out of this camp.

  ‘How do I go about this…? Wait, I shouldn’t be too greedy and fuck this up, if I can get only ONE gun, it will still be a fuckin' jackpot’ Haiji stood there stared intensely at the guard like a solution will magically pop out from his body.

  Thankfully, the guard didn’t seem to notice his figure because of the heavy rain.

  ‘Wait a minute, I am going about this all wrong…’ Haiji finally had a good idea that almost seem flawless on how he could get himself a gun.

  He quickly walked back to corner he came out from, then stopped and looked ahead to see if anyone was coming, the rain made it had to see but Haiji didn’t think he needed a long time to do want he wants to do.

  He closed his eye and called out ‘Shape-shift’ in his mind, he opened his eyes and check in a dull reflection from a metal sheet behind him but nothing happened, he still looked himself and didn’t feel any different either.

  ‘Shit…this is maths; I shouldn’t be wasting time. If the skill says I need to see someone first in order to shape-shift, then means I put up the person’s image in my head before calling out the skill… remember this fucked up System works with pure intent’ Haiji stood down a mental note, before exhaling deeply and closing his eyes again.

  With a mental image of the person in his head; vividly remembering the person eye size and colour, hair, lip, complexion, statue, nose shape and everything that he could see from the person’s head to his toes, he then softly says ‘Shape-shift’ will all the intent he could muster.

  He felt a slight force rapidly enveloping his entire body, he could even fill the force inside his body, his clothes began to feel tight on his body and Haiji slowly opened to see his clothes slowly but surely felt tighter.

  He looked at the metal sheet and found another person’s reflection staring at him, though he knew that the System is real and he has somewhat established that fact. He could help but feel more at ease in seeing that it was truly REAL once again but this time a bit more ground since he could see an actually change in his body... in his entire body really.

  He quickly noticed that his eye was further from the ground and his body felt more filled up, he looked at his arm and noticed to the huge flesh he suddenly has.

  He checked the sound of his voice and other things, before changing back to himself. He opened up Profile and added 3 points to Energy, to increase the time take before the power wears off.

  He waited for a minute to replenish the points from Arcane Energy that he used to shape shift earlier, then adjusted the coat he wore well so the rags he was wearing underneath didn’t show, except for his boot but he thought that will attract someone's attention to ask him about it or feel very suspicious.

  He then walked normal heading towards the direction of the exit, but he was going there now. His destination is the guard.

  When he felt he was close enough he shape-shifted to the person he previous changed to.

  “Oi” Haiji called out to the guard as he was four or five steps away from the guard.

  “Tanji-dono, how can I be of assistance?” The guard stood straight and asked.

  ‘They might not be an army but hierarchy is absolute everywhere’ Haiji who was wearing Tanji’s skin commented in his mind.

  “Give me your side arm and your extra ammo, fast!” Tanji (Haiji) said with an authoritative tone.

  “Sir?” The guard couldn’t help but ask, to confirm what he was hearing. The guard was hesitant to do as he was told because his boss Tanji just demanded his gun with no reason attached to it and even if he says his reason why can’t he go the armory and get himself a handgun if he really needs it.

  ‘Why come and ask for his own?’ The guard pondered, with no intent of just handing his side arm to his boss. A few wicked reasons pop in his head but he did his best to look calm and plan on respectfully refusing to as he was told.

  ‘I am clearly not in any wrong here and if he tries to give me shit later on, I won’t let this just slide’ He reaffirm his decision.

  “What the fuck is that look in your eye, do you think I want to use your gun to put shit on you? Just clean your fuckin' prints from the gun and hand it over to me!” Tanji (Haiji) said in a very vexed tone.

  The guard was shock and tried to process what is happening again to think if he should give his boss his gun or refused adamantly but before he could think that fast, Tanji (Haiji) blunted with clear anger and annoyance.

  “Motherfucker, NOW!” He yelled at the guard.

  The guard stopped thinking and quickly brought out his side arm and cleaned the prints off the gun and his ammos, handed them quickly over to Tanji (Haiji).

  Haiji snatched it from him and quickly walked away towards the right corner of the tent, but said “Go get yourself another one” to the guard without facing him as he walked away.

  The guard just looked at Tanji-dono disappear into the corner and shook his head.

  “Wonder what his problem is today?” The guard rhetorically asked himself, and sat down on a crate near him as he suddenly got tired of standing.

  In the corner, Haiji couldn’t help but celebrate a little in his mind as he put down his head; in order for one lucky bastard spotting his face changing, then shape shifted back to his body ‘It fuckin' worked, this might not be such a bad day after all… Shit I really can’t believe it actually worked. I thought he would say something like “Who the fuck are you” … Guess this shape shifting skill is actually wicked good’.

  Haiji quickly exited the camp, and made his way to the closest public train station nearby. The route the trains took didn’t stop anywhere near Taisho Upper-town, so Haiji was forced to trek a while and take a Metro-train to Taisho Upper-town, which cost him money.