3 Visitors or trespassers?

"HAA~ That was exhausting~. Veritas, how effective was it."

[Your testosterone levels have increased 19%. I suggest eating a protein rich meal once you get back]

The two-hour workout with simple free hand exercises took a lot more time than expected, but it was worth it. However, the best part about this is still not brought up.

I took out the towel from my bag and wiped the sweat off before clenching my fist.

[96% suppressed]

The instinctual realization of my pain receptors suppressed to a digitalized amount was a new experience. With my pain receptors down, it was quite easy for me to push myself to the limits before letting go.

Though it did get a tiny bit dangerous at the end. If not for veritas warning me of tearing my muscles with one more pushup, I wouldn't have been able to stand up now!

My shoulders unconsciously drooped at the reminder of how helpless I am without him. It felt like I'm depending too much on him.

"Veritas, don't you miss your own body?" I asked while walking back through the alley I came from. The beggars who were about to approach me backed off after seeing me talking to myself.

I bet you think I'm crazy huh! Well guess what! I'm not. I have an amazing friend with me. WHO'S LAUGHING NOW HUH! Huh! I AM!

[Andrew]

Yeah?

[I'll say it one more time. I cannot process emotions to an extreme level like you do but I do understand the core of it. Emotions are born form desires. Desires are born from the taste of pleasure. The body I used to have before merging with you is nonexistent. I am not just a tech bonded too you. I am linked to your soul. I am a reflection of your desires]

"O"

[You didn't grasp anything did you?]

"I mean…...isn't that the same thing?"

[…let's keep it simple. I would choose to be with you even if It meant sacrificing myself. You make me complete]

"You don't have to go that far ~ I didn't expect it go this deep." Keeping the light banter up, we made our way up the stairs before stopping in front of the door.

"Anything wrong with veritas?"

[Our neighbors are missing. There are 2 men waiting for you inside]

"Hmmm? That's troublesome. Run a background check on them and tell me who has ownership of this apartment."

[Confirmed. Michael Bay and Chang Bo. Both of them are ex-offenders, now working for the gangs who lent you money. Looking through their messages, it seems like they came to kill you today and sell your organs. They plan to send your body to Brazil through their channels]

"And the apartment?"

[It belongs to the 18-year-old you]

Yea, I guess that's the only way. Life can never be too easy. I'm exhausted from my workout and outnumbered. The only saving grace is that the two bozos want to intimidate me first, thus they're waiting for me to get in and display their 'super dangerous' vibes or whatever.

"Chance?"

[42%]

Meh…I'll take it.

I took off my shoes and rushed inside. The two men were surprised at my sudden entrance and were to late to react.

*BAM!*

*SSHHHHH*

The only working sprinkle on the ceiling, upon hit by my shoe at full force, broke off and started a little rain. They looked at me in shock before calming down and talking to each other out loud.

"BWAHAHAHA The kid did all of that to sprinkle some water. You think that's going to help? The only thing you ruined was by shirt. But don't worry I'll buy another one after selling you."

"Yeah, what do you expect to do with that? Blind us with water? You shouldn't have run with the boss's money, otherwise you wouldn't be in this situation."

My two unwanted guests kept speaking to me for no reason which confused me to no end, but it was still a good thing. Their talk bought ample time to make the floor slippery enough. The dusty room was already hard to tread through with shoes on, now with a wet floor it'll be a pain to move around.

I didn't reply and run towards the kitchen.

[Duck]

Thanks to veritas, I dodged the tackle from the back and even managed to kick guy#1 in the nuts. I dodged the amateurish telegraphed punch from the side and sidestepped to avoid an elbow.

"This is fun."

I spoke for the first time since the fights started and clinched his head down with my body weight. For my weak body, this movement was already taxing but I grit my teeth and kneed guy#2 in the face.

Before giving any of them a chance to get their balance back, I rushed inside and took out a small knife and a sharp bone from a chicken's leg, hidden inside my left hand.

The two men rushed inside, now with a furious expression adorning their face. A small drop of blood was flowing out of one's nose and the other guy had a wet patch between his legs.

'I hope that patch is blood."

[It is blood. He broke one testicle. Probability of winning is now 63%]

I didn't wait to listen to their threats about skinning me alive and jumped ahead. It was a good thing that I learned CQC otherwise I would've been on the floor by now.

Their rage filled punches were dodged by a hair's breadth and kicks were countered using the knife. The game changer was the bone I stabbed inside of guy#2's ear.

By the end of it, they were lying down, one unconscious due to blood loss and one dead.

"So what's the status buddy?" I murmured in a whisper.

[The authorities have been contacted. Most of their men have been captured. The boss managed to escape the encirclement, but his assets have been seized. The smuggling channel is yet to be shut down. It seems that some politicians are involved in that channel. By the looks of it, they'll incur some looses but it won't close the channel]

"Woah! You did that under and hour? That's crazy!"

[1 hour and 15 minutes to be exact]

Putting the corpse and his companion in a suitcase, I hot-wired a car and drove 3 hours north, following the map, to reach a cemetery.

"You made sure to erase my digital trace on the way here right?"

[Yes]

Great.

I finished the burger I bought from McDonalds's and put ointment on my bruises before burying him.

"How much fear and guilt is being suppressed right now?" I asked on the way back, my face bearing a peculiar expression.

[53% for guilt and 86% for fear]

Hmm…not a lot then. Am I a psychopath?

[No, this is due to the influx of memories I inserted. The combat techniques also made your mind stronger. It will take a few days to go back to normal, during which you will feel less human and more machine]

"Good to know."

I stopped in front of a dealer and after some convincing, managed to buy some equipment for the next few projects. It took me double the standard amount, buuuutt I suppose that's what you get for trying to get unlicensed medical equipment as a minor.

"Remind me to steal power from the neighboring buildings Veritas. Since the entire building is now under my name, I'd like to transform the fourth floor as my laboratory. Oh! and order some Shawarma please."

[Confirmed]

I opened the door with a full set of cleaning equipment to remove the blood stains and water. It was a good thing I had no furniture other than some bare necessities, otherwise this would've been a nightmare I tell you!

Once I was done with that, I set myself down on the new Mattress I bought from IKEA. The look I got from the saleswoman was something I'd like to forget though…

It was as if she was looking at a beggar who walked in with his last remaining cash to buy a mattress….

That's not fair I tell you! I WENT THROUGH SO MUCH TROUBLE TO GET SOME GOOD DRIP, ONLY TO BE LABELED AS A BEGGAR!

[ Your occupation has now been updated to Thief]

…Virtual space, NOW!

I closed my eyes and soon found myself in a white room with a clone of me standing a few meters ahead.

"Veritas?"

[Yes. I took this form to show you the optimized form of CQC. It would be better to spar in this form as you would be able to see the way you should move. We'll slowly ramp up the intensity and advance to other forms of combat once you completely master CQC. Business and programming will be taught later]

"I'm starting to regret this decision…."

[The let us begin]

And so, began my nightmare.