Level Down.

Sebastian

I thought getting food would be the hardest part of stockpiling but it turned out to be fuel instead. Because of the explosion that had happened, no gas station wanted to give out fuel of over fifty gallons.

I had to drive around to ten different gas stations, which were very far from each other by the way. By the time I purchased fuel from the tenth gas station, a soft ding made me let out a sigh of relief as I saw that I had spent over ten thousand dollars.

“Congratulations. You have completed half of your task. You have three hours left to complete the remaining half.” Buis' voice interrupted my little celebration in my head and I realized I was doomed.

I was miles away from the plant, and it would probably take an hour to return to the building. How could I clean the whole place in only two hours?

And the load in the car was also slowing it down.

“I'm gonna get terminated, aren't I?” I said with a loud sigh as I got into the car and hit the road once again.

I couldn't help but pray that those military men wouldn't try to stop me again because I knew if they saw what I bought, they would think I was suspicious.

Luckily, there was no official by the road so I sped down the road, hitting the accelerator as I tried to get to the plant as fast as possible. 

By the time I saw the building in front of me, I only had two hours and ten minutes left. I would have to try my best to clean the place as fast as possible even though it could kill me.

The car slowly entered the building and I jumped out before it even stopped, rushing to turn the switch on.

The moment the plant lit up, my eyes widened in shock as I looked around in confusion. 

“What the…? How?” I questioned, walking around to see that the place was clean as fuck. Someone had cleaned the place before I even got here.

The trash had been taken out. The broken glasses were swept away, the storeroom looked brand new, the medical lab was arranged as it should have been… the building was brand new once again.

What I should have done has been done for me.

I couldn't believe my eyes.

“Was it him? The stranger?” I asked the system but it remained silent, the timer still counting, and I couldn't help but feel dread. “You can't punish me for what I didn't approve of. I had no hand in this. I didn't ask to be helped.”

The screen finally changed, a large “CONGRATULATIONS” written on the screen and I let out a sigh of relief as my lips curled into a smile.

Whoever he was, I owed him my life. Even though I still couldn't figure out why he was helping me. Or why he knew things only I was supposed to know.

Written on the screen was the text: Congratulations, you have completed mission 002. Your status levels have been updated. You have leveled up from Warrior to Enforcer.

Level: Enforcer.

Strength : + 50

Endurance : + 20

Intelligence : + 20

Speed : + 30

Vision : + 20

Other stat levels are locked till certain missions are completed.

I could feel my tiredness fading away and I couldn't help but stretch, relishing the feeling of having energy once again.

Just then, it clicked in my head what I did wrong.

“I just realized why you gave me twelve hours.” I muttered, running my chin gently and I could have sworn I heard Buis sigh in disappointment.

“You need to learn to work smarter, not harder.” It replied and I couldn't help but scoff in amusement, shaking my head. “There will be times you will need to understand time management.”

Instead of leaving the plant, I should have cleaned the building and placed all those orders I needed online. Instead of retailing, I could have disguised myself as a wholesale remarketer. 

I might have even gotten discounts and maybe I wouldn't have had to even meet the military.

No wonder the system refused to tell me anything or even help. Tch. 

“I've learned my lessons now. You could always give me a heads up.” I muttered as I started to empty the car, moving the goods effortlessly to the storeroom.

I found it amusing that I could carry five sacks of wheat without shaking or feeling tired. By the time I stocked the fuel in the generator room, I dusted my hands, sighing in relief.

There were ten electric generators in here but I knew they would be useless so I didn't pay them any attention. However, there were only three manual generators and it had me frowning as I wondered how I would get seven more without looking like an idiot or a suspicious figure.

I finally retired to the medical lab, ready to retire for the day since Buis didn't talk about the next mission yet. But the moment I glanced out the window, I spotted a figure running past the building.

My heart flew to my chest as I rushed downstairs and out of the plant, looking for whoever it was. I met no one as I walked around and even went to the back of the building but there was no one there.

I knew I wasn't hallucinating. Someone had been here.

Just as I wanted to return to the plant, I stepped on something soft, making me raise a brow as I leaned down to look at the piece of paper.

“Don't you want to know what's going on?” 

That was the message written on the paper and my heart rate sped up as I looked around once again.

“Who is there?” I called out but there was no answer. I let out a loud yelp when the paper suddenly caught fire and I let it go, watching as it burned to ashes.

What the hell?

“Do not bother yourself with such mediocrity.” The system said and I raised a brow, wondering if it had made the paper burn.

“But I do want to know what's going on.” I muttered shakily, staring at the ashes on the floor. “Why are you helping me? What are you? Why me? You never answer any of my questions and it bothers me.”

“Not all questions get answers, Sebastian. You'll be punished if you keep asking questions.” It replied but I chose to be defiant this time.

“Why do I have to be punished for being curious? All I want are answers.” I said in frustration, waiting for an answer.

Suddenly, the screen turned red and my heart flew to my throat as I read the text written on it.

“Error. Inquisitive breach. Punishment: Deduction of stat levels.”

Level: Warrior.

Strength : - 20

Endurance : - 10

Intelligence : - 10

Speed : - 20

Vision : - 10

I watched in horror as my stats level literally dropped right in front of me. My knees buckled as my breathing became heavier and my vision blurred. 

The strength I'd grown used to vanished as though someone had ripped it out of me so painfully that I hit the cold floor, fatigue taking over me instead. 

"Curiosity has consequences, Sebastian.”