Jeff felt that his entire body was becoming numb.

Couldn't move. Like a hidden hand was grabbing onto his heart.

Couldn't breathe. Like he was being strangled by an invisible force.

On the other side of the rift, there were malicious gazes watching him.

They were strong. Too strong. Like deities.

Can't win... Can't fight...

Powerlessness... Despair... Doom...

Jeff's detection abilities were going insane!

This threat level was off the charts!

Under these gazes, Jeff felt like he was sinking into eternal darkness. Cold. Numbness. Nothingness.

Jeff had never felt so insignificant, so weak before.

It's just gazes!

Yet, those gazes felt like mountains pressing down onto his mind and soul.

Jeff closed his eyes. Taking in a deep breath, Jeff toggled off all of his abilities.

Jeff couldn't sense those gazes anymore. The pressure instantly disappeared.

'I'm still too weak huh... Still got a long way to go...'

Standing in the gust, Jeff kept his eyes closed. Opening and closing his hands, Jeff couldn't get the trembling to stop.

Jeff suddenly felt rather exhausted. Powerless. Purposeless.

Jeff tiredly shook his head.

'There is no hurry. I can take my time. Everything will be fine. I can still grow. I'm not done yet...' Jeff paced his breathing. 'If I keep on growing, I can reach that level some day. Some day...'

'So what the FUCK is wrong with this world!' Jeff tilted his head.

"ShhIIITT!" Jeff shouted.

'Ok. I feel a bit better now.'

'Erhm. Back to work.'

...

...

On the other side of this hill.

At a tunnel entrance.

A moment ago...

"Hey! What are you guys-"

A bell tinkle sound...

The two guards kneeled onto the ground.

Passing by these two, Jeff walked into a short tunnel. About a dozen thugs and dogs were following him now.

BAM!

Kicking the door open, A musty smell escaped this room.

Ting-a-ling~

Jeff popped his bell bracelet out of existence.

Taking a look inside, there was a small light bulb hanging from a wooden beam, providing some dim orange light.

Empty racks here and there. This seemed to be a wine cellar.

Inside this small space, there were about 50 people inside. Some were sitting on the concrete ground. Some were leaning by the wall. There was simply no space for lying down.

These guys looked like they were either cold, wet, sick, or starving. Not in the best conditions.

Hearing the noise, people turned their gazes to the entrance.

"Gah!"

"God please no!"

"I'm not ready to leave." Someone balled into tears. "How will my little sister survive by herself?!"

Others just turned to Jeff with a blank expression. It's as if they had given up on hope.

"Watch out!" A girl shouted. Wearing a plaid shirt and jeans. She looked like a cowgirl.

"There is an A-rank." The girl pointed in one direction.

"Yep." Jeff nodded. "Actually there are five."

"Come out." Jeff looked up at the ceiling.

At a corner, a dude suddenly appeared out of thin air. Four other thugs jumped down from the rocky ceiling.

"At your service my lord!" They collectively kneeled onto one knee.

The girl widened her eyes at this scene.

"Get out."

"Yes my lord!" The five A-ranks hurried out.

Hearing Jeff's command, the girl seemed a little confused. Squinting her eyes, the girl took a closer look at Jeff. "Wait... You are the mission machine!"

Recognizing Jeff, the girl relaxed. Walking up to Jeff, her eyes brightened up. "It's such an honor to work with you sir."

"Yes. I'll need you all to standby for a moment. We'll get you guys out as soon as possible."

"We are saved?"

"You are from the sanctuary?"

"I knew we can count on you!"

After this point, people just talked and shouted at once

Jeff had no idea what these guys were saying, so he just put on an reassuring smile.

"Agent Roadrunner reporting for duty sir!" The girl stood a little taller.

Jeff nodded in reply. "Thank you for your service."

"Did you come alone sir? We have to secure the void crystals. No matter the cost." Cooling off a little, the girl's expression became serious.

"Yep. My main body is completing that objective."

The girl: ???

"Sir. You must ensure that those void crystals do not enter any void rifts. Sir? SIR?!"

Jeff's gaze became blank. (On the other side, Jeff felt the void's gaze for the first time.)

"Hey! Why are you guys here?" A thug shouted outside.

"What's going on?"

"Mr. Mission Machine!" The girl put on a sweaty smile. "This is not a good time for jokes."

Those thugs were swarming in now.

Ting-ling~

Those thugs collectively kneeled onto one knee again.

"Sorry." Jeff apologetically nodded. "For now, we just need to stay here, and wait."

...

...

At the hilltop mansion...

A moment ago...

At the indoor pool. Jeff took off his helmet.

"It's you..." Dilbert Reed sat up from his beach chair. "The mission machine..."

"It's..." Jeff squinted. 'Jeff... Forget it.'

"Yes. It's me. The mission machine." Jeff nodded.

"Kakaka. Excuse me. I wasn't expecting the strongest hunter to be working under Atlas. So. Mr. Mission Machine. What goods have you brought us today?"

"Goods..." Jeff chuckled. "Does a kill order count?"

Hearing this, the thugs slowly circled Jeff. They were drawing out their weapons now. Firearms. Mana projectiles. Mana weapons.

"Impossible." Dilbert Reed stood up. "Atlas wouldn't issue such orders. Who sent you here?"

"You know the rules." Jeff shook his head. "I have to keep the identity of my clients a secret. But. I can give you a hint."

"Well. Let's just say that it's a Keyholder who wishes to remain anonymous."

The gang boss lit up a cigar. "Looks like we can't talk about this one then."

"Oh no." Jeff shrugged. "We can still talk. Maybe some of you here still recognizes me."

The thugs: ???

They looked genuinely confused.

"Nope."

"No clue."

"Never seen you before."

Jeff raised his brows. "You guys broke into my home!"

"You took everything from me!" Jeff chuckled in disbelief and anger.

The thugs carelessly shrugged.

"Pfftt... Kakaka." The gang boss bursted into laughter.

The thugs heartily laughed with their boss.

"So-Sorry man. It's a routine job for us now." One thug shook his head.

"We can't remember every sucker's face we see." Another thug wiped the tear off his cheek.

"Alright. Fine." Jeff nodded. "Hand over Lord Rammus"

"What?"

"My pet turtle. About this big. Green shell. Hand him over, and we can still talk about this." Jeff looked at the gang boss with a serious face.

"Kakaka... Mister Mission Machine, you are a funny man." Dilbert pointed at Jeff with a flicking finger.

Jeff took in a deep breath. He was starting to feel really ticked off.

"Huh." Jeff stared at the gang boss and slowly nodded. "I'm not laughing. Am I? AM I?"

"You are serious." Dilbert looked actually surprised.

"Well. I had my turtle for 5 years, and I'd like him back." Jeff nodded seriously. "Hand him over, and we can still talk."

PAUSE: In reality, no. There would be no talks after getting his turtle back.

"This man thinks he's John Wick or something." Dilbert pointed at Jeff with a smirk. "You'll need to go into the void to find your turtle."

'Looks like I'm not getting my turtle back... Begin operation!' Jeff squinted.

"Open fire!"

Looking at the thugs with cold killing intent, Jeff raised his hand. However, in the next instance, Jeff's gaze became blank. (Yep. Void's gaze. That's why you shouldn't talk too long...)

Ta-Ta-Ta-Ta!

Bullets bounced off Jeff's purple armor.

In the next instance, rays of lights barraged onto Jeff. Without any resistance, those rays penetrated Jeff's body.

The gang boss stomped the ground.

The ground below Jeff suddenly brightened up with a red light.

Bbbttooomm!

A fiery explosion!

The ground shook a little. Concrete bits started to rain down.

Clunk...

A burnt breastplate hit the ground. Bouncing up and rolling a little, it came to a halt.