Chapter 15: Spy Maneuver
"Status"
===========
Name : Ji-Hoon Zyden
Age : 17 years old
Overall Stats : 10.5
Level (4) [85/400]
<Attributes>
Strength: 0.5
Agility: 5.3
Stamina: 0.5
Endurance: 0.5
Intelligence: 2.6
Charisma: 0.5
<Skills>
Mind Eye [Level 2]
Suggestion [Level 3]
Attribute Points: 3
Skill points: 2
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"Looks like my stats are back to normal after the system's little punishment," I mused, letting out a sigh as I stared at the numbers. It appeared that the system wasn't fooled by my attempt to outsmart it.
Regret gnawed at me like a persistent mosquito. Clearly, trying to cheat the system was a terrible idea. Reflecting on it now won't change a thing though—I had played my hand, and the consequences were crystal clear.
Second-guessing had its moment, but now it was drowned out by the reality of my hasty choices.
"Let's boost Suggestion for now," I whispered to myself. It was the only skill I had that could come in handy, so giving it a boost was a no-brainer. As for Mind Eye, well, I didn't think gathering more info would necessarily be a game-changer in the short term
===========
Suggestion [ Level 3 ] —> [Level 5]
Suggestion : 13 % chance to convinced someone to follow your words.
===========
Walking back to the street, I couldn't help but retrace my steps to the exact spot where I had punched that thug.
It might seem counterintuitive, but my overdose of spy movies had taught me that returning to the scene of the crime and blending in as an innocent onlooker was a pretty solid move. I mean, who would suspect that I'd loop back around? Haha, maybe I'm a bit of a genius after all.
Just as I thought, the scene of the crime was utterly deserted, void of those thug-types.
Of course, they were probably scouring the area where I'd dashed off to earlier. Seriously, what a bunch of dimwits. It's no wonder they're still stuck being lowlife thugs despite their supposed high levels. Hahaha, talk about being a bunch of certified stupid people.
I retrieved my phone from my pocket. Right now, I was sporting gray pants and a blue polo shirt, topped off with a white cap and black aviator glasses. I could have wore a face mask too, but that would just draw more attention.
I tapped on the UBER app and checked the driver's status—it showed 2 minutes until arrival at my location.
This was supposed to be my way out. Hahaha.
Well, that was the plan, at least, until the next moment arrived. Suddenly, I found myself surrounded by a gang of ten thugs.
"Wa.."
Before I could even start using "suggestion", a fist came flying right at me.
BAM!
My world flip like an old coin as my face smacked against the pavement.
THUD!
The pain was searing – I could taste the metallic tang of blood in my mouth. Clenching my teeth, I gritted through the agony coursing through my body. Oddly, it seemed like the pain tolerance I'd built up from upgrading my stats was actually coming in handy right now. But it still hurt like bitch .
"Stop"
[Suggestion : Successful ]
"Jackpot!" I thought to myself with a mix of relief and excitement as I heard the success notification. But what unfolded next felt like a cruel twist of fate. I had successfully used Suggestion, but there was a catch—it only worked on one person. The rest of the gang was still simmering with anger, completely unaffected.
"Please stop"
[Suggestion : Failed ]
Fuck!, so the first time was just beginner's luck!
BAM! A kick slammed into my abdomen.
Damn it hurts ! I decided I'd pretend to be unconscious for now. Maybe if they believed I was knocked out or worse, they'd stop beating me.
BAM!
BAM!
BAM!
BAM!
BAM!
Oh man, I totally give too much credits to this guys. They've got no sense of decency whatsoever. They just kept kicking me while I was down, like it was a sport or something.
Instinctively, I covered my head with my arms – classic move, right? Gotta protect the brain, or I'll be walking out of here with a brain injury.
"Allocate all my points to endurance!" I commanded the system. This is no time to cheap out on my stats.
[Endurance + 3]
I felt a huge improvement in my body's state as it began to mend. The damage seemed to be gradually decreasing, and there was a definite reinforcement of my bones and muscles. However, the unrelenting kicks, coupled with the discomfort from the attribute point allocation, continued to take their toll.
[System: Congratulations !- Detected External Source for Improvement ]
BAM!
[+0.01 Endurance]
BAM!
[+0.01 Endurance]
BAM!
[+0.01 Endurance]
BAM!
[+0.01 Endurance]
BAM!
[+0.01 Endurance]
"Are you fucking kidding me?" I thought in frustration . "Isn't this the perfect moment for you to give me a lifesaving skill? Why the heck are you rewarding me for getting pummeled? How about giving me an instant boost like before?"
Unfortunately, the system remained silent, leaving me to deal with this mess on my own.
I attempted to peek, hoping someone might step in to help, but the bystanders just stared.
Some were even recording the whole thing on their phones, like it was some twisted form of entertainment. Seriously? I'm practically on my deathbed here – could you maybe call the police or something?
"You think you're tough for sucker punching our hyeong-nim like that ? AH!" One of the thugs sneered as he kick me in the abdomen.
BAM!
The kick was so strong that I felt my body being lifted in the air.
Damn it. This is all the system's fault for playing a prank on me.
Sure, I admit I messed up from the beginning, but how was I supposed to know that trying to cheat the system would backfire so badly? I mean, in most of the novels I've read, the main characters get some kind of plot armor from their systems, but mine seems to be all about tough love and zero favoritism.
"Stop what you're doing!" Finally, I heard someone speaking up for me. My vision was already fading at this point.
The thugs froze, and once they caught sight of the person who shouted, they scattered like cockroaches exposed to light. Must have been the police.
"Hey, are you okay?" A gentle voice reached my ears. It was a female officer, judging by the faint blue uniform I could barely make out. Unfortunately, I was too battered to clearly see the face of my savior.
"Don't worry, I've called for an ambulance," she reassured me.
I couldn't believe it – I actually encountered a kind woman for the first time in years just seconds before I die. What a pitiful ending. If circumstances were different, I'd have probably French kissed her like there is no tomorrow for saving me. But alas, it seems like this is the end of the road for me.
My vision blurred, and I finally slipped into unconsciousness.
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