Chapter 55: System Override

Rain had already begun pouring heavily by the time the hunters were ready to go. They gathered on the roof of the building despite the rain, with two helicopters waiting on the helipads and preparing to leave.

The hunters were waiting under a canopy while Nathan and Lionface discussed things beside the helicopters, completely unbothered by the intense wind and rain. The others were making their final preparations, checking their weapons, tightening straps, and securing anything that might become a problem once they got to their location.

Cashel stood slightly away from the others, one hand resting on the strap of his weapon case while he watched the rain pour over the edge of the roof. He had already made sure everything he needed was packed.

A few minutes later, Nathan finished speaking with Lionface and called them over. The Unaffiliated hunters moved to the second plane while he, Amia, and the other three moved to the other plane.

Lionface stepped into the canopy, waiting as they got into the plane and got comfortable before speaking into the Comms in their masks and the ones in their ears.

"Listen up. The success rate and danger rate of this mission is at A, and if one of you dies, or if the situation changes, the classification rises to S. At that point, anyone interfering with the operation becomes a valid target."

Cashel simply listened. He was used to orders like this. Most of his jobs in his previous life had involved things far worse than killing, including harming or kidnapping children.

’Now that I think about it, I’ve lived a rather hell of a life.’

Back then, he hadn’t always had a choice. Now he did.

If a child became a genuine threat, or he had no choice but to fight one to protect himself or someone he loved, he wouldn’t hesitate.

’I do hope nothing like that happens, though.’ he thought with a small laugh and raised his head, only to see Wolf staring at him from his seat.

He frowned. "What?"

"Why are you over there?" Wolf asked, causing the other two BMM hunters sitting on Cashel’s side to look at him.

He exchanged a look with the Grasshopper Mask and then at Wolf.

"What’s wrong with where I am?"

"You are sitting between them when you have a special seat by me." Wolf’s sentence sounded like a question, but Cashel didn’t even have an answer if it was.

He had gotten in and sat anywhere. He looked at the two Hunters beside him. They averted their gazes.

"Seriously?"

The Grasshopper Mask laughed softly. "We can’t really complain when you haven’t done anything wrong, right?"

Cashel sighed in exasperation, already picking up his case. "You should have said you wanted to sit together, jeez." He muttered under his breath and got up. He made his way to the front where Wolf was seated and sat beside the window by him. "Happy?"

"Maybe," Wolf chuckled behind his mask and looked outside the window. "We’ll be leaving soon."

Cashel nodded, also looking out. "Yeah, Nathan seems to be taking his sweet time."

Nathan was speaking to the pilots with a strict expression on his face. Lionface left where he was to join them, but then they distanced themselves from him, even Nathan.

It made everyone raise their brows.

Amia came out of the helicopter as well. She took off her mask, brushing her hair over her face to keep her face hidden, then stepped forward.

"We’re ready to leave."

Lionface glanced at the helicopters, then nodded. "Good." He tapped his staff on the ground, and at once, visible sparks moved from below him toward the planes.

Instantly, the hunters felt an intense pressure run through them, making everyone suddenly feel uneasy. Cashel, who was one of those new to it, was already tense and annoyed, but Wolf placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Relax," he said softly. "It’s an override technique."

The moment he said that, visible System screens appeared in front of everyone, including Cashel.

His eyes widened behind his mask. He looked at Wolf, then back at his own screen and narrowed his eyes.

"You can..."

"Yup, I can see yours too," Wolf chuckled softly, and Cashel turned to read the contents on his screen.

[Temporary System Override]

[Selective Display of Organisation-Based Information]

[Mission Title: Veloce Logistics: Purge Operation]

[Mission Number: 1st/52nd/20th]

[Primary Objective: Complete Elimination of Designated Targets]

[Secondary Objective: Minimize Casualties While Completing All Objectives]

[Mission Difficulty: A-Rank]

[Failure Condition: BMM casualties exceed fifty percent.]

Cashel’s eyes narrowed as another screen appeared beneath the first.

Meanwhile, Lionface had already stepped back with Nathan, while Amia made her way back to the plane with the pilots as well.

Soon, the engines started, and the helicopters lifted off the ground with a rather soft sound rather than the loud crashing noise Cashel had expected.

The Unaffiliated Hunters’ helicopter moved ahead first, while the BMM helicopter slowly moved behind.

[Personalised Assignment]

[Name: Cashel Altar]

[Codename: Bishop]

[Speciality: Versatile Assassin and Skilled Hitman]

[Assigned Route(S): Veloce Exclusive Hotel, Buildings 1B, 2A, and 4Z (Underground Facility)]

[Primary Target:]

[1. Shelly Jones | S-Rank | Veloce Executive / Combatant: Target is widely known for cunningness and the ability to manipulate the element of fire in explosive forms. Weaknesses: Cold temperatures and a sucker for good-looking men.]

Cashel frowned.

’I didn’t have to know this.’

[Additional Targets:]

[2. Marcus Hale | A-Rank | Veloce Board Member]

[3. Victor Ren | Unawakened | Veloce Logistics Director]

[4. Darius Cole | B-Rank | Security Commander]

[5. Elena Bay | B-Rank | Veloce Research Supervisor]

[6. Roland Pierce | A-Rank | External Contractor]

[Target Status: Confirmed]

[Other Roles: Long-Range Attack Support]

Cashel stared at the list for a moment before sighing out loud. Wolf leaned over slightly, glancing at Cashel’s screen before chuckling.

"Looks like you got an annoying job." He paused, taking a good look at the top of the list. "So that’s why they told us not to engage her, huh?"

"Apparently."

Cashel read the details again for the second time, with a dozen curious questions forming in his mind. Then he glanced at Wolf’s screen.