16.

16.
BENEATH THE SYSTEM (The shadow’s true face) - BACK TO THE BAR

Amelia placed a call over to Murphy as she asked him, “Why are you doing this?” Her question was sure to baffle Murphy; he was still sulking over their breakup.

“What do you mean, Amelia? I am really not THE SHADOW. I was framed. Please, you are the only one who I have left to believe me,” Murphy explained, but she wasn't ready to hear it.

“I really want to believe you, but it's Zedd. He would never drop any information that he hasn't confirmed yet. I think you are the one who is lying here.”

“Why… Why did you make me your next target?” This was really confusing to Amelia. Murphy had no reason to kill her, or so she thought, but Zedd was an expert in his job; there was no way he was lying.

“I already told you I am not THE SHADOW…” He argued, frustrated at his claims, but only then did realization hit him. “Wait… Did you receive the letter from him?”

“Yes…” In a low whisper, Amelia replied, and his heart raced; she was in danger. Was this all the shadow’s plan to frame him for something he knew nothing about?

“Amelia, listen to me. Find a way to protect yourself from whatever he said he is going to use to kill you. Hire top security for yourself, please, Amelia. I can't lose you,” Murphy said, and driven to tears, he hung up the call.

She was really confused at this moment and didn't know what else she was supposed to do. Maybe take his advice, but he was the shadow; it would make no sense.

After realizing that she had hung up on him, Murphy fell to his feet with a heart-wrenching pain. Why was all this happening to him?

He was currently clothed in an outfit that made sure to cover his face and body, even though he was in a house— a house he rented under another identity— and he still had to worry about anyone discovering his whereabouts.

Worse of all, the shadow was after his girlfriend, who didn't even believe his claims. As he lowered his head, about to sulk, he heard a voice in his head again.

POINTS NEEDED TO KEEP YOURSELF HIDDEN: 50 Points.

\[TASKS\]

30 PUSH-UPS
30 SIT-UPS
LIFT 20 KG

Total Points: 15
POINTS NEEDED TO GET A HINT ON VINDICATING YOURSELF: 250 Points.

“250 points?” His mouth opened agape; he was very happy that his system could help him, but 250 points? “How many points am I at now?”

5 POINTS

The voice rang in his head, and he scoffed. He was so far away from the goal, and his new task only gave him 15 points. He needed more points fast; Amelia's life was in danger, and there was no time to waste.

He lay in position and started his push-ups as he asked, “What's a way I can level up quickly?”

THERE'S A MISSION FOR YOU, BUT YOU WILL HAVE NO PROTECTION FROM THE SYSTEM WHEN YOU DO IT, AND WHEN THE MISSION IS READY, YOU MUST DO IT.

Murphy finished up his push-ups and stood upright as he processed the information he had just heard. No protection meant he could lose his life when he carried it out. It was really dangerous for him.

“How many points would I get?”

200 IF YOU SURVIVE WITHOUT BEING CAUGHT OR HAVING ANYONE SUSPECT YOU. 150 IF YOU ARE SUSPECTED. NONE IF YOU DIE.

Without being caught? The word made him realize that he was going to have to leave his abode for the mission, but he had to do everything to protect Amelia's life.

He completed his tasks as he sat in deep thought about what to do.

TASKS COMPLETED

POINTS +15
CURRENT POINTS: 20

Murphy relaxed on the couch as he heard those words. He wasn't really happy with the distance between his goal and where he was at.

He decided to switch on the TV and watch a movie to get the thought of this out of his head when it got interrupted by the news.

‘THE SHADOW HAS BEEN SAID TO HAVE CHOSEN HIS NEXT TARGET, WHICH IS NONE OTHER THAN HIS OWN GIRLFRIEND. THIS DISPLAYS THE CRUEL HEART OF THIS…” He switched off the TV as he fumed in anger.

He, being called the shadow, even though the same person killed his father and was also thought to be able to kill his girlfriend, only made him angrier, but it also made him realize the urgency of the situation.

“What's the task? I am ready to do it.”

PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU WON'T BE PROTECTED BY THE SYSTEM DURING THIS. DEATH IS DEATH, AND GETTING CAPTURED IS GETTING CAPTURED.

YOUR TASK IS TO GO TO THE BAR WHERE YOU HAD A FIGHT AND FIND OUT ABOUT JEREMY. THIS TASK CANNOT BE FORFEITED AND HAS TO BE PERFORMED IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

He had just thought that his task was just difficult, but now he realized that it was a lot more than that. He sighed as he walked to the room to check into another set of clothes.

Though he felt that he would be caught immediately upon entering the bar, there was no backing down now. If he got caught, then so be it. If he was able to live, then he lucked out.



Surprisingly to him, he had already been seated for over twenty minutes, and nobody had discovered his identity, but he had also not heard anyone talk about Jeremy.

He looked around the bar and found the only person that would be ready to tell him about Jeremy, but he sat back in fear of standing.

What if he just stood up and his identity was suddenly uncovered?

“Is it a must I inquire from someone?” he said to the system, hoping for a way out, but he got no reply, and he then remembered that he was promised no protection.

“Cruel!” he scoffed as he got to his feet and almost immediately tapped him. “Excuse me, sir.”