Slumped shoulders. Muffled sobs.

  The scene outside the RIFT portal wasn’t one for celebration. The mission was cleared, sure – weak cheers and soft claps on the back – but the cost was written in the faces of those who survived and the families who came to mourn.

  Old Man Sid spat into the dirt, his gaze sweeping over the mourners. “Out of two hundred, only twenty came back. And half of those won’t walk straight for a month.”

  “If they can even walk,” Jin said, leaning back against the trunk of a tree for shelter from the rain. He took a slow sip from his metal flask before adding, “Higher-ups will want a report. Total body count, the usual.”

  Old Man Sid barked a laugh, shaking his head. “Higher-ups? Those paper-pushers couldn’t find their own asses with a map and a flashlight. One ambulance for this mess? Don’t make me laugh.”

  Ritchie, the young Cleaner, pulled a cigarette from his pocket, but before he could light it, Old Man Sid snatched it away and ground it under his boot.

  “We’re not Players, kid,” Jin said with a steady voice, explaining veteran’s reaction. “Their slowest could outrun our fastest sprinter without breaking a sweat.”

  Old Man Sid crossed his arms, glaring at Ritchie. “If you don’t want to die a dog’s death, clubbed down by a chasing goblin, then keep your lungs clean.”

  But Ritchie wasn’t backing down. “But you smoke! And the doc drinks too-”

  The old man’s glare darkened, but then he let out a rough chuckle. “I’ve got one foot in the grave already, kid. Who cares if I go today or tomorrow? And the doc?” He jerked his thumb toward Jin. “You do half the shit he does, and I’ll buy you a barrel of your favourite.”

  Before long, the RIFT’s portal flickered one last time before sealing shut with a sound like a coffin lid closing. Old Man Sid turned away, his duties now calling. He walked toward the gathered Cleaners and the waiting trucks, raising his voice to be heard over the rain.

  “Alright, listen up! Roll call, then load the loot – ores, drops, carcasses – onto the trucks. You know the drill. SeComm’s Appraisal Unit will tally it all up and cut us our share. Us and Players alike.” His gaze swept over the exhausted crew. “And for the love of god, don’t pocket anything. I don’t need the auditors hawking over a missing orc’s dick.”

  Once the last crate was secured, Old Man Sid pulled Jin aside.

  “Free this weekend? Heard there’s another RIFT next ward over. Double hazard pay.”

  Jin shook his head, raising his flask in a mock toast. “Nope. Eleana’s coming home. Promised her shopping.”

  Old Man Sid grunted. “Fine. But don’t die before I see you next. Monday?”

  Jin smirked as he turned away. “Says the man with one foot inside the grave. You try not to get yourself killed either, alright.”

  ***

  “Papa!”

  A ten-year-old girl wearing a dark green school uniform with twin ponytails bolted through the school gate, skidding to a stop long enough to wave at her teachers before launching herself at her father.

  The man in the suit caught her mid-air, lifting her with a laugh. “How’s my baby girl?”

  Jin watched from the other side of the gate, smiling as the pair exchanged a few words before climbing into a sleek, chauffeur-driven car.

  “Good school. Eleana deserves better than my rough edges.”

  “Dad?”

  Jin turned to see Eleana – blonde ringlets, light blue eyes, and a huge smirk – skipping toward him.

  “You never said you were coming.”

  “Surprise.” He opened his arms. “Hug?”

  She shook her head. However, just as Jin was to heave a long and disappointed sigh, she barrelled into Jin’s gut, nearly knocking him off balance.

  “Dad, have you been drinking again?”

  “Wait, what? Did I smell? I thought I had cleaned myself properly. And this is a brand-new shirt and jeans too.”

  “Your belly’s bigger,” Eleana said, tapping her father’s stomach gently. “The girls called it a dad bod. Seems to be the craze right now.”

  Jin groaned. “What are they actually teaching you in school?”

  Eleana laughed. “Nothing. Just girl talk, Dad.”

  Something about her attitude reminded Jin of Old Man Sid’s warning from yesterday. But before he could dwell on it, Eleana looped her arm through his.

  “So, shopping tomorrow? Right?”

  Jin sighed. “What are you planning to get this time?”

  “Makeup. And clothes,” Eleana said, nodding to herself as she counted her fingers. “Yup, definitely need more clothes.”

  “Didn’t we recently buy a stack last month?”

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “Ewww, Dad.” She rolled her eyes. “That was last month’s fashion. A girl’s got to keep up, you know.”

  Jin rubbed his temples.

  “This must be those rich-kid school problems. My ‘special’ job barely covers this.”

  “Dad? Timmy’s coming with us tomorrow.”

  Jin was shaken out of his thoughts. “W-Who’s Timmy? I-Is it a boy?”

  “Someone,” Eleana replied with a giggle. The only reply.

  In his mind, Jin knew what he had to do next. Telling Eleana his thoughts now would only sour their relationship. Instead, he’d tap into his contacts – Players with espionage skills would do the trick. Timmy, or whoever wanted to get close to Eleana, would learn the hard way about the Sasaki’s famed ‘hospitality.’

  The next day, Jin and Eleana went shopping as planned. His earlier worries about her clothes faded as he watched her twirl happily in front of the mirror, beaming radiantly in her new outfit. Watching her filled him with a prideful joy, mixed with a tinge of melancholy. His daughter was growing up, and there weren’t many years left where she’d act like this.

  There was one piece of good news, though. Timmy was Kim Tae Nim, Eleana’s ten-year-old roommate. The boyfriend scare was over. For now. And the world got even smaller – Timmy’s father was a Player Jin knew well.

  “Uncle Jin, is it alright if we get ice cream after lunch?” Timmy asked. “Please?”

  Unlike his cheeky, demanding daughter, Timmy was not only soft-spoken but also very observant, helping Jin pick out Eleana’s clothes and spot bargains. Thanks to her, he had saved some money and splurging on dessert felt more than justified.

  “I know a place where they serve a good one,” Jin said, delighting both girls.

  At the street-side vendor, they indulged themselves. Eleana with plain vanilla, Timmy had a mint-flavoured one with chocolate chip, and Jin - much to their surprise – went with strawberry.

  The next stop was a makeup store, but as they strolled with their ice cream, a pickup truck swerved into the pedestrian lane, ploughing through dustbins. Rubbish flew everywhere.

  “Look out!”

  Jin yanked the girls back in the nick of time. The truck sped off, but not before its passengers – three guys and two girls – flipped them off and hurled insults.

  “I hate Unregistered,” Timmy glared after them.

  To everyone’s surprise, the truck stopped half a block away, right in front of a 24-hour convenience store.

  There was no need to guess what came next. The store’s alarm blared as the Unregistered – Players operating without official Neo-Tokyo’s Security Commission licenses – robbed the place, dragging out a screaming girl who struggled futilely against their enhanced strength.

  Eleana and Timmy froze alongside the crowd, paralysed not by choice, but by terror. Even the weakest of Players could turn an elite squad into children playing paintball, and interfering meant a death sentence. Only others of their ilk or SeComm officers could stop them, and unfortunately, neither were in sight.

  Jin heaved a sigh, his gaze flicking to Eleana’s teary eyes as she tugged his sleeve. He knew that look. Knew what she wanted before she could even ask.

  “Kids,” he said, pressing two crumpled ten-dollar notes into Eleana’s hand, “wait inside that café for me. Get yourselves some iced chocolate or whatever.” His voice was steady, but his mind was already racing. He couldn’t let them see what came next. But he couldn’t walk away either.

  Timmy’s voice was small but urgent. “Uncle Jin, where are you going?”

  Jin pulled out his metal flask, giving it a little shake. “Buying myself a drink.” He met her worried eyes with a half smirk. “Could use something stronger for work tomorrow.”

  “But those are Players!” Timmy cried. “They’re dangerous!”

  Jin didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. The truth was, he knew exactly what he was walking into. But the image of that girl – dragged, helpless – burned in his mind.

  What if it were Eleana?

  What kind of father would he be if he turned his back? What kind of man would ignore cries of pain from those who needed help?

  The pickup roared away, but not before Jin caught sight of the two thugs hauling the girl into the alley. No more time to waste.

  The alley was a narrow, shadowed gullet, reeking of urine and decayed vermin. The girl was pinned against the wall, her struggles weak against the Player’s grip. The second thug unbuckled his belt, sneering while at it.

  “Hey there, guys,” Jin said, uncorking his flask and taking a slow sip. His eyes never left them. “Fancy letting her go?”

  The thug with the loosened belt shot out a laugh. “Oi, you posh old bastard. You got a death wish or something?”

  Jin didn’t flinch. He’d seen their type before – all brawn, no brains. Worse, they were careless.

  The one holding the girl snarled, “Get rid of him. Now.”

  The other groaned, already reaching for his Status Screen – the skill that let Players control their abilities, including equipping gears. “You damn better not use all the holes. I’ve been itching for-”

  Jin’s flask flew through the air, splashing liquid across the thug’s chest. The lighter followed.

  Whoosh.

  Flames erupted, engulfing the man in an instant. His screams filled the alley as he thrashed, but Jin was already moving. The second thug barely had time to register what was happening before Jin was on him. A needle, large enough to be mistaken for a stake, was driven into his chest.

  “Don’t move,” Jin said, his voice low and deadly calm. “That’s Viper King’s Poison. You’ve got a choice. Take your friend and run. Or die here.”

  The thug’s eyes widened. He didn’t know Jin was bluffing. Didn’t know Jin was an unawakened. All he saw was a man who turned his partner into a living torch without breaking a sweat.

  The two Unregistered scrambled away, cursing, threatening, but their words were empty now. Bluster of cowards, with tails between their legs, realising they were outmatched. And outwitted.

  Jin turned to the girl, who was struggling to stand. “You alright, miss?”

  Though still trembling, she nodded. Jin knelt to examine her. Her knees and elbows were scraped raw with blood trickling down her skin. Brave, he thought. She hadn’t given up, even against them.

  “Let me fix that before you see a doctor,” he said, pulling a small medkit from his fanny pack hidden under his jacket. In less than a minute, he’d stopped the bleeding, sterilised the wounds, and wrapped them tight. “There. All fixed.”

  The girl stared at him with wide eyes. “T-Thank you, sir.”

  Jin stood, wiping his hands on his jeans. “Off you go now. This place is not safe.”

  “W-Wait. W-What’s your name, sir?”

  Jin smiled. “Jin. Sasaki Jin.”

  “A-Alicia.” She hesitated, then pressed a business card into his hand.

  [ Alicia Langley. Secretary of the White Raven Company.]

  Jin’s eyebrows shot up.

  White Raven?

  Jin let out a small chuckle, finally realising who he just helped. She wasn’t a damsel who needed a stranger’s help. Not one bit, as three figures suddenly materialised behind her. Their stealth skills were impressive. However, these Scout-class Players could use better timing.

  “Miss Langley,” one said, “apologies for the delay. Ward 1’s RIFT took longer than expected.”

  “We’ve already apprehended the others,” another added. “Team Two will send them to HQ.”

  “Good. Blood Fiend Gang, right?” Alicia asked.

  One of the scouts nodded.

  “Then we’ll need to tell the President about this issue.” She then turned back to Jin. “Please, Mr Sasaki Jin. If you could please follow me to my office.“

  “Nah.” Jin turned his back and waved. “I’m good. Still got a date.”

  “B-But Mister Sasaki Jin. I still need to-”

  “Sasaki Jin?” A scout stammered his words out. “Wait. You’re that Sasaki Jin? D-Dr F-Frankenstein?”

  Then another cut in. “What?! Dr Frankenstein?! That Dr Frankenstein? Hell, no way.”

  The three Scouts went dead silent at the name, their reactions so abrupt that Alicia blinked in confusion.

  “What just-?”

  Jin couldn’t help but chuckle. Yeah. That’s more like it.

  He tipped an imaginary hat and walked away, leaving them staring after him. Some reputations preceded you. And some names? They made sure you weren’t forgotten. But his? Undeserved, maybe. But that’s what you got when you fiddled with the dead.