4 CHAPTER 4

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After Hydra was so kind as to replace my teeth, I didn't bother to ask how they did it. I was relocated to a new place. Surprisingly instead of a cell, I was given a room. Yeah technically a cell is a room, but this one didn't have bars or anything, plus some decent furnishings, though the door to the place was locked. Only other consolation I had was from Romania, who claimed nothing would be done to me, for now. Thus that just left me with a fair amount of free time, which I fully intended to use to hopefully make myself strong enough to get out of here.

I knew such imaginary goals were by no means close to achievable right now. According to my power, 0-20 was the normal amount of STR in the average human, 20-50 the average amount in a trained human, like a cop, 50-70 the average amount in a very well trained human, like a pro boxer, 70-150 peak human condition, meaning the average peak of what a normal human could achieve, beyond that, I didn't know, I had to reach at least 50 STR to know what followed after that last tier.

Of hand, I reckon it's something along the lines of minor superhuman strength, or something. Probably what Captain America has.

"Training I see," Romania said, her voice echoing in my room through the radios at the top.

"Well, I don't have anything else to do, so why not?" I replied, not much point in lying after all. "Worry not, in a few months, you'll have plenty to occupy your time with, I assure you," Romania replied, her tone promising something that was already giving me PTSD..

"Looking forward to it." I had no idea what her plan was, but it didn't mean I was gonna give her any kind of satisfaction. As long as there was a will, there was a way to get out of this situation. .

"In the meantime," Romania chuckled, as the doors of my room opened. "Feel free to use the gym in the facilities. After all, just because you're trapped here doesn't mean you can't have a little fun."?" What games was this woman playing?

"You're opening the door… what a good captor you are," I replied, my body tensing at the sight beyond the door.

"Well, I aim to please," Romania said, her clear smirk obvious even if it wasn't visible. "Besides… you know it's impossible to escape, and you know what will happen if you try… so I trust you to be a good boy and behave."

"I will," I replied, if she was really letting me use the facilities then I'd play my part, and be obedient. At, least until I had enough power to break out of here, until then… I will follow the rules, dear captor.

"Wonderful," Romania replied, "Then enjoy the facilities Hydra has to offer, Mr. Walker."

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[2 MONTHS LATER]

The facilities Hydra had were magnificent to say something, it was honestly kind of insane the amount of stuff they could cram into each installation. Sadly, my access was pretty much limited to their Gym and Library.

Of course I was making sure to make full use of each location, spending ten hours in the Gym, and ten hours in the library, and resting for four. I know it was a tight schedule, but it was the only way to gain sufficient skills and stats to hopefully break out.

Amidst the long cram and exercise sessions, I am afraid to admit, I was somewhat scared of what Romania was preparing for me. She seemed so… confident she would break me, that it ignited a few red flags inside of me. Even Edward before he left was confident she could bring me to heel, which really said a lot about her without actually saying anything. Sadly, I didn't have much else to do given my situation and could only focus on the current task at hand.

[STATS

Name = Alex Walker

Occupation = The Gamer

Level = 6

EXP =3875/4125

HP = 3500/3500

MP = 3700/3700

STR = 45

VIT = 35

DEF = 30

DEX= 45

INT = 37

CHA = 17

WIS = 22

WILL = 52

PER = 19

LUK = 12

STAT POINTS = 50

MONEY: 4500$

]

Yes, I had yet to use my stat points, for now they were my ace, my secret move to escape. At the moment, I was still debating where to invest those babies, maybe DEF, or INT.

As for my skills, well, I knew that if I experimented enough I would be able to create mana skills, I mean I had a good amount of mana, but… for self preservation reasons, I decided not to learn anything flashy yet. Hydra had cameras all over the place, if they suddenly saw me doing mystical shit, well, they would tighten my shackles, and for now, I liked my slave collar how it was.

For now I would continue doing the only quest I could, a repetitive quest that appeared after my first visit to the Gym and Library, [Both Body and Soul] It was like the quest in the library I had first gotten. Thankfully, it was one of those redoable quests, meaning I could do it over and over and over again, getting the same rewards at a consistent pace, hence how I was able to jump a few levels so fast.

"Mr. Walker, I was looking for you," Romania announced as she walked into the library with a wide smile.

"Well, hello there." I waved, smiling as I imagined shocking the life out of her.

"So cordial, wonderful. Well, you'll be pleased to hear that I finally have what I need to start with you," Romania said confidently, snapping her fingers as she did. Soon after, a man entered the room carrying a little girl in his arms, by the looks of it, the girl was unconscious.

As I looked on stunned, Romania looked ever confident. "Her name is Emily, and she will be in your care."

[Emily Smith - Orphan - LV 1

HP = 100%/100%]

That was her master plan? Making me a babysitter? What was that supposed to do? "I… could you elaborate?"

"Happily. Put simply, your life and hers are now effectively tied together.. If she dies, you die… if you disobey, she gets punished, and if you do what you are told… well, she gets to live… Simply don't you think?" She punctuated that last word with a more sadistic grin that left my skin crawling and my blood boiling.

So that was her plan, to appeal to my human side, by giving something or rather someone to take care of.

"You talk as if I care about the girl." I hated myself for saying that, the little girl had no fault in this. I also hated that her plan was already working to a degree, for I was questioning what to do now, how to play my move.

"True," Romania responded casually, tossing me a knife, "Then kill her."

The room went utterly silent as I stared at the knife, then back at her, my mind slowly trying to process what was said. "...What?"

"Kill the girl," Romania repeated, a sinister grin back on her face. "You're absolutely right. This girl is just some stranger you have no attachment to whatsoever and thus owe her nothing. Thus you should have no issue killing her."

I thought of protesting only for Romania to cut me off. "Also, just know that we'll simply kill her ourselves if you don't. Just something to keep in mind.""

Well played Romania, for now, you have the upper hand, "You got me," I chuckled bitterly. "I'll take care of her, I still have a heart."

"Wonderful," Romania lightly cheered to herself, looking all too pleased with herself. "Though, I wouldn't get too comfortable as there are some stipulations. Namely,Mr. Walker, if you disobey, she explodes, if you talk back, she explodes, if you don't perform like we ask you to do, she explodes."

Explodes? The kid has a fucking bomb in her? Well that's just great.

"Naturally you are free to refuse anytime you wish and we won't raise a finger against you. Just know that after she dies, we will assign another child to you, and another, and another until you either break down and obey, or we have to fill an entire cemetery. Are we clear?" Romania smiled.

"Yes," I nodded, glaring at her, barely containing the abhorrence I was feeling.

"Good, and before I forget, the children in question, they aren't some random orphans we picked up off the street. No, we made sure each and everyone of them have still living and loving families. So keep that little detail in mind ," Romania added with a sweet smile full of poison. "Now… I will let you and your new charge familiarize with each other… I will be in contact for your training." with that said and done, she left.

[New Mandatory Quest! = Escape Hydra!

Objective = Your plans to escape Hydra are already in motion, but even then you have to be careful, Hydra has ears everywhere, and will do it's best to keep you down.

Bonus Objective = Escape with Emily, the poor little girl shoved into your life.

Reward = 500000 EXP, 50000$

Failure = Death]

As if I needed more reasons to leave this place.

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Emily woke up three hours after that, and was understandably scared of me, and everything, giving me more reasons to hate Hydra, then again I don't know what I was expecting from a terrorist organization.

"Where is mommy?... Where's daddy?"

"I don't know," That was a lie, I knew… I simply didn't know how to break such news to her, what was I to tell her, she looked like she was four, or five, I had no experience in this field.

"I don't want to be here," Emily said between tears, using my blankets to cover herself.

"That makes two of us," I replied with a sigh. "Don't worry, I'll make sure we both get out of here. Promise."