A New Beginning

#Infinite threat## Episode 4: "A New Beginning"
The night was quiet inside Felix’s house.
Felix and Monica sat across from each other at the dinner table. Felix kept looking down at his plate, clearly nervous.
“Monica,” Felix finally said, “I need to tell you something.”
Monica looked at him gently. “Yes? Tell me, Felix.”
“I have…” Felix hesitated.
“You have what?” Monica leaned closer. “Tell me.”
Felix took a breath. “I have an idea of joining the Protection Committee.”
Monica’s expression became serious. “You cannot join the Protectors team directly without power. But you can join as a Protectors ally. Would you be okay with that?”
Felix’s face brightened. “Yes. I’m glad I have a chance.”
Then, inside Felix’s mind, the mysterious voice spoke.
*You don’t have the courage to tell her about you and me.*
Felix silently replied, *Whatever I ask, you do what you want anyway. Why should I risk her in my problems too?*
*Wow,* the voice said, amused. *You learned this much about me in such little time. Good.*
Felix looked at Monica again. “When can I join?”
“I’ll recommend you,” Monica said. “You can join tomorrow. But, Felix, your salary will depend on your work. And there are no guarantees in this life.”
“Thank you,” Felix answered. “I’ll take care of that.”
“If you ever need help,” Monica said warmly, “just contact me. I’ll be there for you.”
After dinner, Monica looked outside. It was already late.
“Felix, if you don’t mind… can I stay here tonight? It’s too late to go home.”
“It’s okay,” Felix said. “You can stay. There’s no problem.”
*She can fly back to her home in a minute with her Vector Dominion,* the mysterious voice suddenly said. *But she wants to stay here. Didn’t you find that suspicious?*
“No,” Felix thought. *She won’t harm me.*
*Idiot. I didn’t mean she would harm you. She is interested in you and you still don’t understand. Propose to her right now, or you may never get another golden chance like this.*
*No,* Felix replied. *That is only your imagination.*
The mysterious voice went quiet.
The next morning, Felix and Monica left for the Protection Committee headquarters.
It was Felix’s first time entering the massive PC building. Monica walked him to the receptionist and personally recommended him as a Protectors ally. Because of Monica’s direct recommendation, Felix was accepted quickly.
However, every new member had to be checked: blessed or cursed.
Felix placed his hand on the inspection machine.
A red light flashed.
**CURSED.**
*Don’t worry,* the mysterious voice said. *That machine cannot detect me. It only checks anomalies inside the human body. I exist beyond your body, so it can only see that you are cursed.*
*What does that mean?* Felix asked.
*Human powers are only cheap mutations. This machine can detect them. But the powers of devils, gods, cosmic entities, and beings beyond them exist outside physical things. That is why it cannot sense me.*
The receptionist looked at Felix with disgust.
“So, you are cursed.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Felix replied.
“Then you will join as a low-level ally. Here is your ally identity card. Do not lose it.”
Suddenly, a voice called out.
“Monica? Is that you?”
Monica turned and began talking with a girl nearby. After a moment, she introduced her to Felix.
“This is Shisui Aam,” Monica said. “She is one of the top hunters.”
Before Felix could say much, the receptionist called him over.
“There is a mission near Eclipse City, where you live,” she said. “I thought of giving it to you. Can you do it, or should I give it to someone else?”
Felix accepted immediately.
On the way to the mission, Felix spoke to the mysterious voice.
“I have poisonous gas ability, but I’m afraid it could spread and affect innocent people. Do you have any idea?”
“Yes,” the voice answered. “Use acid spray. Try making it globular in shape, then fill it with only a small amount of poisonous gas. If the gas misses, the acid spray can still work. And because the amount of poison is small, it will neutralize in the air.”
“It is only theory,” Felix said.
“Experience, Felix. Do you remember Kael? His ability had a terrible drawback: the first hit could be given by anyone. He never realized it because he only hunted powerless people alone, killing them in one attempt. But your love interest, Monica, noticed it. She pinched you and saved you.”
“Sometimes you talk nicely,” Felix muttered. “Other times, you are annoying.”
The mysterious voice did not reply.
They reached the mission location: an old house in Eclipse City.
The receptionist had told Felix that a weak psycho-blessed person was hiding there.
*What power does he have?* the mysterious voice asked.
“They said he can control any object under three grams.”
*That sounds weak.*
“Yes,” Felix thought. “But even a small iron ball under three grams could kill me if I were a normal human. Still… I trust you. That is why I accepted this mission.”
*Your trust will not be broken, kiddo. Let’s go inside.*
Felix entered the house carefully. He searched every room, but no one was there.
Then he heard footsteps.
Someone was running.
Felix chased the person through the dark hallway and caught him. He created an acid sphere and held it near the stranger’s head.
“Stop!” the stranger shouted. “Don’t kill me! I’m not the person you are looking for. I’m a private investigator. I came here for the same person.”
“How do I trust you?” Felix asked.
The stranger pointed toward scattered toothpicks on the floor.
“If I were the person you were looking for, I would have driven one of those toothpicks straight into your head.”
Felix lowered the acid sphere. “Good enough. Get up.”
The stranger stood.
“I know the Protection Committee sent you,” he said. “I came to investigate this case privately. But I found him dead downstairs.”
“So you ran because you didn’t want to be suspected of murder?” Felix asked.
“Yes.”
Felix went downstairs with the stranger.
There, they found the body.
Or what remained of it.
The victim had been reduced to skin and bones. There was no blood anywhere.
Felix stared in silence.
“It looks like someone sucked out all of his blood and organs,” he said. “Leaving only skin and bones. A cruel death.”
“Yes,” the stranger replied. “Very cruel.”
“I’ll report this,” Felix said. “But first, tell me your name.”
“My name?”
“Yes. Don’t worry. I won’t report you. But like you said, I will interrogate you privately.”
The stranger gave a small smile.
“Fine. My name is Ken Clyde… and I am cursed.”
**To be continued…**