Part-156

  The shopkeeper's ughter echoed through the small shop, a sound that grated on James's nerves. "Is that supposed to be funny?" James asked, his voice ced with sarcasm.

  "Oh, e on, kid," the shopkeeper replied, his tone dismissive. "Do you really think I'm afraid of the police? I've been running this shop for years. I know how to py the game."

  James's smile turned cold. "Maybe you should think twice about that," he said, his voice low and menag. "If I find out you're involved in those scams, I'll make sure you end up behind bars, no matter what."

  The shopkeeper's expression hardened. "Is that a threat?" he asked, his voice rising.

  "It's a promise," James replied, his eyes b into the shopkeeper.

  The shopkeeper ughed again, his eyes filled with pt. "Oh, please," he scoffed. "You think you take me down? You're just a kid."

  James's anger was boiling over. He ched his fists, his knuckles turning white. But he knew he couldn't lose his temper. He had to stay calm and focused.

  He took a deep breath and looked the shopkeeper in the eye. "We'll see about that," he said, his voice a cold steel.

  The shopkeeper shrugged, his arrogandeterred. "Whatever you say," he replied.

  James's eyes narrowed as he assessed the shopkeeper. The man's aura radiated a sense of hidden power, a strength that seemed to emanate from within. His status, a staggering 566, firmed James's suspis. This was no ordinary shopkeeper; he was a formidable oppo.

  However, James knew he didn't o front him directly. He had a pn. If he could gather more information about Arad or any of his aplices, he could build a case and bring them down with the help of the police.

  James turo Ryan and Sourov, who were watg the exge with growing . "Let's go," he said, his voice barely a whisper.

  As they left the shop, James couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. The shopkeeper's behavior was suspicious. He seemed too fident, tant. And there was something about his eyes, a glint of malice that hi something sinister.

  James khey had to be careful. The shopkeeper was clearly involved in something shady, and he was not afraid to use force.

  As they walked away from the shop, James turo his friends. "We o be careful," he said. "This guy is dangerous."

  Ryan and Sourov nodded in agreement. They khey were fag a formidable oppo. But they were also determio see this through. They had e too far to give up now.

  Oher hand, James was focused on a different matter—the system window.

  [gratutions: You have pleted Mission 20!]

  [Reward: +5 WIS]

  [Mission 21: clude the iigation.]

  [Reward: +10 in all stats.]

  James was surprised by the reward for Mission 21. It would result in a signifit boost across all his stats if he could plete it.

  James thought to himself that he was nearing the level where he could be sidered an average fighter. But then he questioned his own thinking—he was just a student, not a battle fanatid he wasn’t supposed to be fighting so much.

  James muttered to himself, “Am I getting too absorbed in this detective role? Should I start adding ‘Bond’ to my st name?”