Midnight.
It was time for the squad's first mission. They stood before the brick building, the supposed meth factory. The yellow glow of a streetlight illuminated upon them as they stood, the boys were cloaked in black, resembling robbers.
"What's the plan again?" Simon asked.
"Barge in and catch them in the act," Sol answered.
"Alright..."
The boys took a deep breath and approached the building. Inside, a figure peeked through the curtains, glancing at the four before quickly closing them. The boys cautiously opened the door slightly, peeking inside. Felix signaled the all-clear. The others nodded.
*Creak*
Felix pushed the door fully open, swords drawn and hand ready, but the room was dark. Only a couch, a table, and an unlit fireplace were visible nearby. In the far corner, light spilled from the second floor, revealing a staircase.
They approached cautiously, moving silently. Josh, unsure, followed the group.
"Hey, there's no turning back now. Just trust the process," Sol said, patting Josh's shoulders.
"Alright, I'll do my best..." Josh replied.
They ascended the stairs, their toes barely touching the ground to minimize noise.
Felix peeked over the banister. Then, they heard voices.
"What now, Jesseh? That man has left us! How are we supposed to earn money without Mijo, our distributor?" the man with a goatee, top hat, and sunglasses barked.
"Mister Blanco, calm down yah. What do you think will happen to that guy if he doesn't sell our azure-magic-enhanced product yah?" the bald man replied.
"Hmm. I guess you're right. He'll go bankrupt without us..." Walter Blanco agreed.
"You got that right. Now, why don't we cook some more? He'll come crawling back soon yah."
"Alright."
The two donned gas masks and returned to their table, littered with glass flasks containing various colored liquids.
Then—
"Put your hands up!" Felix and the others emerged from the stairs, swords and hands raised.
"What!?" Walter Blanco exclaimed.
"Don't you dare move," Simon barked.
Felix approached, pointing at the revolver near the bald man, Jesseh. "Simon, get that firearm," he ordered. Simon moved to retrieve it. But as he approached, Walter Blanco spoke.
"W-why didn't you knock?" he stammered, sweating.
"What?" The four were baffled.
"Do you brats have no manners? How can you just enter someone's building without knocking?" he added.
"Why does that matter?" Sol asked.
"Because I'm someone who knocks!" Walter Blanco shouted. With a swift move, he picked up a crystal.
"Stop!" Sol charged, but too late. Walter Blanco raised the crystal and smashed it on the floor. The crystal illuminated brightly.
The four shielded themselves; the other two hid under the desk.
*Boom!*
The crystal exploded, shattering the glass flasks and spilling the liquids. Smoke filled the room, obscuring vision.
Simon, near the desk where the revolver was, felt around, but the gun was gone.
"Josh! Use wind magic to clear the smoke!" Felix shouted.
Josh, flustered, obeyed. He extended his hand, and the smoke dispersed.
*Click*
In the far corner, Jesseh held the revolver, pointed at Simon, the hammer cocked. Everyone stared. He pulled the trigger.
*Bam!*
The hammer slammed to the bullet and it immediately fired. The recoil tilted Jesseh's wrist.
The bullet left a trail of fire and smoke, but—
Simon swung his sword sideways, deflecting it. The bullet dug into the ground. Simon then leaped at Jesseh, disarming him and applying a headlock.
The two struggled, but Jesseh eventually gave up knowing he could do nothing.
But—
"Rah!" Walter Blanco charged at Simon, his fist glowed.
He can use mana?!
Simon, caught off guard, took the blow, flying back and hitting the floor. He cradled his cheek.
"Simon!" Josh shouted.
Before he could recover, Walter Blanco punched him again. Simon spat blood and lost consciousness. It was expected; Simon had talent, but Blanco had experience.
"Shit!" Felix charged at Walter, "You two deal with the bald guy! I'll help Simon!"
"Fuck, this wasn't in the plan!" Sol muttered.
Sol and Josh faced Jesseh. "You provide support; I'll charge. and when I somehow get a hold of him, I want you to cast a spell to knock him unconscious," Sol told Josh, his expression determined.
He charged without waiting for a reply.
"W-wait! Ah, damn!" Josh braced himself, taking a deep breath to steady his nerves. He aimed his hand, trembling slightly.
Sol punched Jesseh, but he dodged, countering with a kick to Sol's stomach.
"Ack!"
Sol clutched his stomach, but retaliated, landing a blow. Jesseh stumbled back, then countered, hitting Sol's ribs. Sol lost his balance. Jesseh grabbed him by the neck.
"You shouldn't have done this. It would have been better if you hadn't come. Who reported us? The neighbors? I'll get them later, yah" Jesseh said.
Sol struggled, but to no avail.
"It's no use," Jesseh tightened his grip.
But Sol grinned. He raised his hand.
I'm gonna rely on my luck here!
A ball of fire erupted from his palm, he sent it to Jesseh's face but it was useless.
"Kahaha! What was that? You should've tried harder yah!" Jesseh again tightened his grip. Josh couldn't cast a spell as Sol was blocking Jesseh.
Think! Think! Think!
Sol was losing consciousness. He looked down.
There!
Jesseh's crotch was exposed. sol sent his shin crashing it into Jesseh's groin.
"Aagh!" Jesseh screamed, releasing Sol.
Sol seized the opportunity, headbutting Jesseh and kneeing him in the face. but the enraged man recovered fast.
"I have to get you for that!" Jesseh swung at Sol, who dodged repeatedly until cornered. He raised his hand to cast magic, but Jesseh landed a blow, knocking Sol unconscious. Jesseh picked up the revolver and pointed it at Sol.
"Josh! What are you doing? Help Sol!" Felix shouted; Walter Blanco was already apprehended.
"But!"
"Just do it! Isn't this what you liked? isn't this what you have always dreamed of? If it is, you have to live in it!" Felix shouted.
Josh remembered.
Yes! This is it! It's time to shine and be a hero like I've always wanted. Why did I even doubt myself? That was the dumbest thing I had done!
With Felix's words, Josh steadied himself.
I wasn't put here by the gods to be a loser! They put me here to be a hero!
Josh channeled his mana, creating a compressed ball of air, about the size of a basketball.
Release!
*Swish*
The air ball flew swiftly and struck Jesseh's cheek. He flew through the window, glasses shatered. He landed unconscious onto the brick road.
Josh collapsed, nearly depleted of mana, as he had amplified the spell a bit.
After a while, the boys rested, awaiting the police. They were then rescued and treated.
The next day—
"Good job! I didn't expect you to clear it so easily," the general smiled.
"That was easy!?" The four exclaimed.
"I almost died!" Sol barked.
"Kahaha! Then, for completing the mission, you shall be rewarded," the general retorted. "You can rest today, but we resume training tomorrow."
"Yes!" The three saluted.
"You're free to go."
...
At the castle, the First Prince stood in the hallway before large doors. A man in a suit knelt before him.
"So? Were they caught?" the prince asked, cleaning his nails.
"Yes, but I had left after seeing the four approach the building," the man replied. "Rest assured, I wasn't spotted."
"Hmm... Those two were valuable, Mijo. Only Bergheinsen knew the recipe of that product, he was also an A-rank. What will you compensate me for that loss?" the prince said.
"I-I'll interrogate them in prison and get the recipe," the man replied.
"And?" the prince asked, unsatisfied.
"A-and kill... them so they'll never utter a word about us," the man gritted his teeth.
"Good... Now, if you'll excuse me, I have something to do with Father,"
"Certainly, Lord Albert."
The man vanished in the shadows.