"Professor X, I don't understand this," Jess frowned as she spoke, "What's happening?"
"What is it?" Stephen cluelessly asked, feeling a little confused.
"Since morning, we have been receiving only A-level missions, which is simply too much to fit into our schedule. The headquarters are clearly overworking us. It's not like there are no other heroes available."
"It's probably nothing to worry about," Alex sighed as he spoke. He had yet to tell the team about his deal with Warlock. Hence, they were unaware of how Alex had offended the headquarters or how he was now being targeted by them.
"This is definitely not safe!" Jess argued, "It'll tire you out. What if you get hurt?!"
Alex smiled as he heard this and asked, "You think I'll get hurt."
Jess couldn't help but roll her eyes at the confidence of this man, "The chances are low but it's still there. You never know what can happen. Don't you know what happened to Alfred?"
Alex immediately shut his mouth and refrained from saying anything.
Alfred was once a top monster hunter who took on a mysterious A-level monster-hunting mission thinking it will be a piece of cake. He did not even let his team members participate and decided to go alone. Unfortunately, it became the last mission he took.
Although his death still remained a mystery for many, in reality, only Alex knew the truth.
That day, the last person to see Alfred alive was Alex and it was also the day Alfred saw Alex's true identity. However, it wasn't Alex who killed Alfred. It was Alfred's fear and carelessness that got him killed. He ran, tripped, and fell down a cliff all on his own.
Since then, many people had started using Alfred as an example of not taking any mission for granted since you can never predict the outcome with 100% clarity.
When dealing with monsters, anything and everything could go wrong. It all depended on the luck of a person.
"He has me as a backup. I'm sure everything would be alright," Stephen confidently spoke with a proud grin.
Jess couldn't help but sneer as she heard this, "You? You don't even know how to use basic machinery. The only thing you can do is act as bait. What backup could you possibly provide?"
Stephen pouted unhappily as he heard this but said nothing.
"Stephen won't be joining me today," Alex spoke with a sigh, "It's too dangerous for him. He'll stay behind and train with the two of you."
Stephen snapped his head as he turned to look at Alex with a sense of shock and betrayal.
"Would you be okay going alone?" Siviel asked with a small frown, looking to be genuinely worried as he looked at Alex.
Alex nodded his head with a small smile as he spoke, "I'll be okay. I have you guys, don't I?"
"I also want to come!" Stephen exclaimed unhappily, whining like a little child.
"You are not ready yet."
"How will I ever be ready if you don't let me go and experience it myself?"
"I already told you, didn't I? This is a team and unless you want to listen to me, you can leave. Do you not trust me as your trainer?"
Stephen frowned as he heard this and crossed his arms in front of his chest without saying anything. He was clearly sulking but did not have the guts to argue with Alex.
Alex smiled as he saw this and turned to Siviel, "What's the first mission?"
Siviel sighed as he typed away on his computer for a few seconds before speaking, "District 4, Lounvalley. There was an A-class monster sighting. Reports say that it can fly, loves to hide, and tends to enjoy drinking human blood."
"Like a vampire?"
Siviel nodded his head, "Almost like a vampire."
"Hmm?"
"It's stronger."
"Any weaknesses?" Alex asked.
Siviel shook his head as he responded, "Not one that has been recorded but some reports claim that it is afraid of fire."
Alex gave a nod, "Jess, get me a flame gun. Let's try torching this little thing alive."
"But that's my specialty!" Stephen grumbled under his breath.
Jess helped Professor X put on his suit and also helped him equip all the needed gear and weapons.
Before Alex left, he looked at Stephen and smiled thinly as he spoke, "Stay here and watch carefully how a team is supposed to work together."
For a second there, Stephen did not understand what Alex had meant, but as soon as Alex left, he could finally see what the man was trying to tell him.
The large black screens on the wall that he had yet to notice suddenly lit up and Professor X's every move could be seen with utmost clarity. There was a 360-degree view around him, making them able to see everything that surrounded the man.
"Wow....!" Stephen couldn't help but be awestruck.
Although he had not gone along with the man, it was as if he could see and hear everything.
"Don't be amazed just yet," Jess smirked as she spoke, "This is just the beginning. You haven't even seen us work."
Stephen gulped as he heard this but said nothing, simply feeling a bit too impressed by all of this.
Siviel was focused on his work and was connected to Professor X through his headphones. He had five different screens opened up in front of him and his eyes were constantly keeping track of all five screens. He noted down all approaching dangers and simultaneously cleared the way for Professor X.
"What are you doing?" Stephen asked as he looked at Jess who was busy on her laptop.
"Come and look," Jess spoke as she slightly turned her screen so that Stephen could take a peek.
On her laptop screen, there were different weapons displayed and most of them had a green tag attached to them that read out the word 'Clear'.
"What does that 'clear' mean?" Stephen gulped as he asked.
"It means the weapon is ready to use."
"Huh?"
Jess smirked as she spoke, "I can sit here and control all the weapons handled by Professor X. This ensures that no weapon malfunctions at a critical time. I can also disable a particular weapon in case it falls into the wrong hands."
"That's so cool," Stephen muttered, genuinely impressed by how technology was being used to aid in monster hunting.
"Fourteen harmed and Three killed," Siviel spoke into the mic as he informed Professor X, "Be careful. The monster is within your 300-meter radius."
"Got it," Alex replied.
"I've prepared the flame gun no. H23," Jess spoke.
"Is that different from my gun?" Stephen asked.
Jess nodded her head as she spoke, "It's the latest technology. Much more advanced and powerful. It would be disrespectful to compare it to your F17."
Stephen frowned as he heard this and mumbled, "My gun ain't that bad."
Unfortunately, Jess heard him mumbling, "It's not bad. It's just outdated."
"Then, if I go out on a mission, can I also use the H23?"
"In your dreams," Jess mockingly laughed, "H23 is not a children's toy."
"..."
"Professor X, Target is within your 100-meter radius," Siviel gulped as he spoke.
Stephen stood up with a frown and walked closer to the screen as he questioned, "Where is it?"
"It's good at hiding," Siviel responded with a bit of worry, "Professor X, keep your guard up. Be ready to attack."
Jess gulped as she immediately checked the working conditions of all the weapons.
"Target cannot be located anymore," Siviel spoke, cold sweat forming on his forehead.
"Huh?" Professor X muttered in confusion.
Siviel, "Target is running away."
Professor X gritted his teeth as he heard this, "Immediately track it down. Don't let it get too far."
"On it!"
Stephen, "It's probably headed east."
"How do you know?" Jess asked with a frown.
"There is an abandoned shopping mall in the east. A-class monsters are intelligent and this one loves to hide. It's trying to lure Professor X into an abandoned shopping mall where it would have an upper hand."
"The monster is headed east," Siviel also spoke, confirming Stephen's hypothesis, "It's aiming for the abandoned Venice mall."
"Can we block its path?" Professor X questioned.
"We can't," Siviel replied, "It's using the underground sewers."
"Then I'm heading to the abandoned mall. Siviel, can you turn on the electric power supply to the mall? I need lights."
"I can but it might not work anymore," Siviel spoke, his eyebrows creasing together, "The wires are old and completely chewed out by rats. Most of the place is covered in water. If I turn on the power supply, there would be a higher chance of electrocution."
"Okay. Jess, prepare the light ray."
"Why the light ray?"
"Because this monster isn't afraid of fire, it's afraid of the light."
"Huh?"
"Why else would it use the sewers?" Professor X questioned and it seemed to make a lot of sense.
"The target has entered the mall," Siviel spoke.
"Can't we just blow up the entire mall? It's abandoned, isn't it?" Stephen innocently asked.
Jess couldn't help but roll her eyes, "This is exactly why you were not allowed to go on this mission."
"..."