Noah felt completely bewildered.
"Bring Emma to the corner, Noah! Now!"
Jason's loud voice was enough to snap Noah from his confusion.
He nodded while answering, "Y-Yes..."
Then he quickly helped Emma and guided her to a corner far from where Jason was now beating all the gangsters.
From his position, Noah witnessed Jason's physical strength and agility; with a fast, untraceable move, he knocked a gangster to the ground, unmoving and unconscious.
He didn't know whether the gangster was still alive or if Jason's knock had killed him.
In only a matter of minutes, nearly a dozen gangsters were sprawled on the floor. Jason took his time and decided to leave the gangster leader for last.
Noah watched Jason mercilessly beat the gangster leader's once-handsome face, now rendered terrible!
'What am I thinking! Clearly, Jason didn't come because of the system. He arrived because he heard about the gangster attacking them.'
They were finally safe. This is the important thing.
...
Noah turned to Emma and was surprised to see her red eyes. She was crying silently, her face pale and expressionless, as if she were deeply traumatized.
"Emma, I sincerely apologize. I assure you that I will take action against all those involved. I will ensure they get their punishment and compensate all the victims and our—"
Emma interrupted him, saying, "Noah, I'm fine."
Just before Noah wanted to say something, suddenly, a series of notifications buzzed in his ears, distracting him.
[Revenge Ledger Updated.]
[Target: Roberto Hill and his minions from Dark Roses Gang]
[Status: Success]
[You received a reward of $25,000]
[You received 'Personnel' point +5]
'Success? So, Jason indeed came to the rescue related to my system? How so?'
Noah wondered, completely puzzled. He checked other notifications and felt curious about the new notification.
[Personnel: Bodyguard recruit unlock]
'So the menu on my menu bar [Personnel] is actually for that...' Noah wonders while checking its information.
[Personnel: A people management interface displaying who supports or opposes you within the Golden Phoenix Group and beyond.]
The more he read about the 'Personnel', the more goosebumps Noah felt, knowing that once he recruited his personnel army, he could verify their loyalty, assign tasks, monitor their progress, and much more.
Noah was excited.
But how should he recruit? Should he do it independently from the start to selection by considering open recruitment, or will the system provide suggestions and short-listed candidates for him to choose?
'Wait, wait...'
What had confused him gradually came into view and became clearer.
[Bodyguard potential detected]
[Would you like to check? Y/N]
Noah immediately chose [Y]
How surprised Noah was that Jason Sullivan's profile appeared there.
...
[NEW RECRUIT AVAILABLE – BODYGUARD CANDIDATE]
[Name: Jason Sullivan | Level: 9 ]
[Status: Available]
[Background: Former Navy SEAL, known as the #1 Sniper in his unit, and ex-MMA top trainer]
[Nickname: The Punisher]
[Loyalty: 95%]
[Skills: Proficient sniper and specialist in long-range combat. Skilled in hand-to-hand combat. Fast thinker and extensively trained in military strategies. Outstanding survival and escape abilities.]
[Personality: Quiet, focused, and loyal to those he trusts. He doesn't work for just anyone, dislikes corrupt authority, and prefers working behind the scenes.]
[System Notes: Highly skilled and deadly. A strong protector if trust is earned. He never misses a target. Betrayed during a secret mission, discharged, and vanished from public records.]
[RECOMMENDED ACTIONS: Recruit Jason Sullivan]
...
Noah gasped as he lifted his head, looking at Jason.
He already knew Jason was in the army, but never knew the details—Jason was the army's number one sniper.
[Would you like to recruit Jason Sullivan? Y/N]
Even though Noah wanted to choose [Y], his heart stopped him. He needed to have a heart-to-heart talk with Jason first. After all, Jason was one of his close friends.
He can't allow the system to force Jason to submit to him.
"Noah, do you want to interrogate this man?" Jason's voice jolted Noah out of his thoughts.
Noah immediately nodded and walked over to Jason, who was still stepping on the gangster leader's feet, as he cried in pain and begged for forgiveness.
Jason used his power to make him cry even louder. He said coldly, "The more you make a noise, the more I will break your leg!"
This instantly caused the gangster leader to press his swollen lips tightly together. He feels like the man before him is a grim reaper!
Standing next to Jason, Noah gazes down at the man sprawled pitifully on the floor, feeling bad as he takes in the sight of the man's bruised face.
However, his sympathy fades when he remembers how they ruined his company, and this man even dared to slap him.
His hands tightened into fists, struggling to contain his boiling anger.
Noah gritted his teeth before asking coldly, "Who sent you?"
In Noah's mind, only one Name appeared: Julia Hart. He knew that Julia Hart intended to meet with him to pressure him to clarify the ongoing online video incident.
But, he couldn't believe that Julia knew some hideous, violent gangsters, even sending them to destroy his workplace just to get what she wanted.
"Speak, bastard!" Jason stepped harder on the ill-fated man's foot until the sound of broken bones cracking was heard. However, no screams escaped the gangster leader's lips; he was too afraid to stare blankly at Jason.
"R-Ryan White! He paid us $10,000 to come here and pick you up. He said we could use any means necessary if you choose not to go. By hooks or by crooks."
The gang leader answered tremblingly; fear could be felt in his voice.
Instantly, Noah's hand clenched into a tight fist, hearing the person who sent them.
'That motherfucker Ryan! What the hell did he want? He has already driven this company to the brink of bankruptcy. Now he's sending thugs to pick me up against my will!?'
Noah feels a strong urge to confront Ryan.
'Did that bastard genuinely believe this country belonged to him? Just because he has money, does he think he can do anything he pleases?'