Classless Ascension

In a small, far too bright interrogation room, a woman was doing her best to intimidate a young man.

"We have you on camera right in front of the daycare. You almost spent an hour on a bench staring at the poor kids inside! What were you planning?! Do you have any accomplices?!"

She accompanied her speech with a slam of the table, sending vibration across it. Josh couldn't help but give a wry smile: she hadn't changed at all! He wouldn't even deign to answer this ridiculous accusation. As she noticed his smirk, her face flushed red in anger.

"Do you think this is a joke? Do you know how serious kidnapping is? It is far from a joking matter. I really wouldn't want to be in your shoes right now!"

"Of course, you wouldn't want to be in my shoes! You prefer wearing unpractical high heels. Is fashion really so important at work?" Josh criticized before jumping up in exaggerated "realization".

"Wait! The black uniform, the carefully made braids, the high heels, and the unnecessary shades….are you trying to seduce me?! Sister, if that's your intention, you should smile a little and show more skin…" Josh sighed as he "amicably" advised her.

"Great! Now I can definitely add refusing to cooperate with the agents of the law to the list of charges! You enjoy digging your own grave, don't you?" She spat with her teeth clenched. Josh nonchalantly replied.

"You said something about kidnapping, right? The guy who you sent to escort me was an office worker. Isn't this breaking protocol? Could it be considered kidnapping if such task is not in his job definition?" Josh innocently inquired.

"Don't try this on me! Do you seriously think that you can rattle me with such bullshit?! We're in an emergency crisis right now! This means that exceptions have to be made. You should worry about yourself: you chose the worst timing to make a move!"

"How so, oh failed temptress?" Josh playfully asked.

"You've tried using the chaos caused by the tragedy in the Tower to commit a crime! Do you enjoy preying on the misfortune of others?! Do you—" She began shouting heatedly only to stop abruptly. A newcomer had just entered the interrogation room!

It was another woman who was frowning at the shade wearing one. She was evidently displeased with the latter's performance. She clicked her tongue as she uttered slowly:

"Are you back to your old habits? We work for the government, not the mafia. If you don't behave, we'll send you back to Metropolis-C. Now, leave us!"

"Y-yes, Maam, but…" She awkwardly replied.

"Stop screwing around and get out." She sharply stopped her mid-sentence as she pointed to the door. The troublemaker had no choice but to leave with her tail between her legs.

Josh couldn't help but nod in approval. This was more professional! One could count on Markus to have reliable workers, not all bipolar idiots.

This woman appeared to be in her twenties, but she had the confidence of someone older. Her long brown hair was left hanging, and she didn't seem overly fixated on her appearance. She opened a case file, reading it for a minute before turning his way.

"Hello there, young man. From now on, I'll be in charge of this interrogation. I think you have a few things to tell me, don't you?"

"Hey there. What do you even want to know? I was told this would be quick." Josh calmly commented.

"Well, you have been reported by a concerned citizen and brought here for further questioning. According to your file, you've been loitering outside a daycare and showing suspicious activity."

"Wow. I wasn't aware that eating burgers in public was suspicious. Can I get immunity if I denounce the guy who sold me the burgers?!" Josh inquired, ready to become an informer.

"….I'll be right back." The woman elegantly rose and left the room, surprisingly keeping her cool.

Josh couldn't help but admire how her expression didn't fluctuate in the least. She had to deal with the mess her colleagues had created. This was definitely a waste of time compared to what was happening in the Tower.

A few minutes was all it took for everything to be sorted out. The responsible woman came back, dragging along the gun-ho lady who was hanging her head in shame. Ah, but there was also another man with them!

He was wearing a navy suit and oozed with confidence. It was as if he was ready to face the entire world without fear. This man was obviously a lawyer, but there was something off about him. What was he doing here, and why was he staring at him so much?

"Do not worry, young man. They won't be able to keep you here on such silly charges. I cannot even believe that they brought you in without any evidence whatsoever!" He thundered with assurance.

"Eh…thanks, I guess?" Josh awkwardly replied, puzzled. Who was this guy? Did he know the orator assassin?

The mature lady then pushed her subordinate forward while politely uttering: "I apologize for how inconsiderate this girl has been."

"I-I'm sorry.." She mumbled with the sincerity of a compulsive liar.

"No worry, but are you really sorry about jumping to conclusions?" Josh playfully asked the girl.

"Y-yes…" She had to force herself to utter that simple word.

Josh smiled brightly before putting his arm forward in an obvious "show the money" gesture.

"Great! How about some compensation for making me waste my time?" He shamelessly requested. Her face could only change as a hint of anger appeared in her eyes. But, she remained still.

"Not to worry! We can ask for this later on with interest. It's better for our case if she doesn't want to comply. Let's leave for now!" The lawyer happily chimed in.

The violent woman seemed to realize the trouble she would soon be in. Perhaps showing goodwill now would help her case. She clenched her teeth before initiating a credit transfer. She approached her UW from his, and there was a notification sound as she sent some funds.

— Ding—

+100 Credits

"This should do, right?" She muttered.

"Great! What about my emotional trauma from all the shouting?" Josh innocently added.

She gasped for a second. Was this asshole for real?! Would there be a limit to his demands?! There was no way that she would….but then she saw the grinning lawyer and changed her mind.

— Ding!—

+100 Credits

"Now you won't have any more complaints, right?!" She spat while frowning.

"Great! But what about the slandering? You said something about attempted kidnapping while all I did was sit on a bench. This has caused me evident emotional distress." Josh added in the most pitiful tone he could muster.

She seemed about to blow up. She had to control herself not to punch him in the face. Josh couldn't help but chuckle at how reticent she appeared. After a few moments of hesitation, she finally transferred credits again.

— Ding!—

+100 Credits

"Great!…" Josh had only begun that he was instantly interrupted.

"It's enough!!!" She half-shouted, half-pleaded before turning heels and running away, huffing and puffing.

"I was just going about to wish everyone a great day....what is wrong with her?" Josh casually asked, seemingly wronged.

The lawyer looked at her leaving as he chuckled:

"I heard about this lady. She keeps getting retrograded ever since her arrival here. If the rumors are true, she's following her nemesis in order to arrest him the day he inevitably slips up. I'm surprised she hasn't been fired yet."

Seriously?! Who had a nemesis nowadays? Josh really couldn't understand it, but he knew this wasn't a reason to unleash her anger on innocent people.

"Please, do not spread misinformation about our employees. In the meantime, please follow. I will escort the both of you outside." The lady diligently did her job.

A few minutes later, the two were outside and free. The lawyer nodded at him: "You're lucky I heard about your predicament. Anyway, follow me. Let's talk somewhere more private."

The man then guided him toward a small district filled with twisting streets and small shops at the city's heart. Both men appeared to be walking casually, but Josh noticed his companion frown a few times for a very obvious reason: they were being followed.

"Is there something wrong?" Josh so very innocently asked.

"You tell me, you're being tailed. Do you have any idea who might want to do such a thing?" He asked in a hushed voice.

Josh couldn't help but think that there were a few possibilities. It could be someone looking for that assassin guy, it could be someone looking for him, or it could be the LoA.

"Nope..." He relaxedly answered.

"No matter. We'll leave them in the dust soon." He then led them through many twists and turns until they finally lost their pursuers.

They stopped at a tiny road stall, one selling hamburgers. The lawyer guy flashed him a relieved smile. "We should be safe here, young man. Shall we celebrate your freedom? Apparently, the food here is tasty-licious! My treat!"

"Is that even a word? But sure, let's eat!" Josh eagerly replied.

He still had no idea who this stranger was. He was calling him young man yet had gotten him out of the MTA of his own volition, without asking for any payment.

Then, he kindly handed him a burger that smelled so damn heavenly! It was the perfect combination of steaming heated meat on a tender bun along with a spicy mayonnaise sauce—and some sleeping drugs the man had "subtly" added.

They both devoured their meal akin to starving dogs, relishing in the momentary happiness. Then, Josh's body slumped to the ground, the man grabbing him.

"Talk about a shitty day. First this Tower madness, then my candidate getting nabbed by the MTA, and now I'm fucking late. I just hope they haven't started the test yet or we're both screwed." The "lawyer" grumbled.

Things were on track once more, it seemed...

Creator's Thought

How silly is it for an assassin to play a lawyer? The first one is a cold-hearted criminal while the second one is....actually, never mind. Being ruthless would definitely allow one to earn big bucks in court. It is sad to say, but defending the innocent isn't usually very lucrative.