020: Freya's Personal Vendetta

The training room was square, with a floor so slick that if one’s center of gravity wasn't firm, it was all too easy to land flat on one's face.

Li Cha was a prime example of this. In a mere twenty minutes of recruit training, he had already fallen seventeen times, leaving him utterly exhausted. He summoned his remaining strength to lie flat on his back, staring at the ceiling. Beads of sweat the size of peas tracked irregular arcs down his forehead before dripping onto the floor.

"Clack, clack." A pair of long, black military boots approached slowly. Freya crossed her arms over her chest and said indifferently, "Private Li Cha, what’s the matter? We’ve only just begun, and you’re already giving up?"

A man can never admit defeat!

However, if the training involved sparring against a high-tier elite like Freya, it was truly impossible for Li Cha, who was only level 4.

Freya tapped his shoulder with her wooden sword. "Get up. Don't make me look down on you."

It took Li Cha nearly two minutes to transition from lying down to standing up. This was a little trick he used to recover stamina; the longer he took to prepare for battle, the more energy he could regain.

Freya paid him no mind. The moment he found his footing, she flicked the iron sword from his hand and kicked him back to the ground.

"Li Cha, it seems I overestimated you before," Freya said. "As a swordsman, you can’t even hold onto your blade. Once you're on the battlefield, what will you be good for besides being slaughtered?"

It was a blatant attempt at provocation. But Li Cha wasn't buying it.

He recalled that on the night they first met, he had offended his superior. Yet, this ice-queen of a boss not only bore no grudges, she had actually promoted him and given him a raise. The approval power for the Charlie Clinic had rested entirely in Freya’s hands. Opening a psychological clinic was beneficial to Li Cha, so his bottom line had been a fifty-fifty split. Li Cha would put up half the costs, the Intelligence Bureau would cover the other half, and future profits would be split equally.

In the end, MI6 had provided full funding. They even handed Li Cha an itemized list of all the expenses the Bureau had incurred. If he paid it all back, the Charlie Psychological Clinic would belong entirely to him, profits and all. On paper, the Bureau would merely retain the right to requisition it whenever necessary.

Who had ever seen such an understanding boss in their previous life? Li Cha certainly hadn't.

However, not long after his opinion of this young lady from some unknown noble family had improved, her retaliation began. New recruit training—even if he hadn't eaten pork, he had seen a pig run. Forcing a level 4 grunt to spar with a level 30 instructor meant Li Cha would only ever be on the receiving end of a beating. What good could a simple thrashing do for a recruit? Improve his ability to take a hit? Sorry, Li Cha didn't need that.

Alas, the owner of those long, shapely legs just stood there, watching him quietly. Running away was out of the question; Li Cha didn't even know where the exit was. Refusing the training was even more impossible; Freya had "abusing power for personal vendettas" written all over her face, and she wouldn't tolerate any dissent.

***

Rising, falling, falling, and rising again. Li Cha had long since lost count of the times.

Suddenly, Freya spoke: "Enough, the sparring for today is over. Now, I will teach you a set of basic sword techniques."

Having said this, she executed the entire sequence in a flurry of movement—*swish, swish, swish, swish*.

"Did you see that clearly?"

"No..."

"It doesn't matter. This is only the first day of training. You will start by practicing the opening stance."

And so, from two o'clock to five o'clock in the afternoon, Li Cha didn't fall again. Freya positioned him into a basic sword stance, and then he was required to hold it. She put away her wooden sword and switched to the black whip hanging at her waist. Her instructions to Li Cha were only three words: "Do not move."

If he dared to move an inch, he would be whipped.

Before she could strike, Li Cha decisively chose to spend money.

[Li Cha’s Stamina]: 10 copper coins/hour, up to a maximum of 28 hours.

The stamina Li Cha consumed for gathering tasks also appeared in the trading system interface. Buy stamina? Yes. Buy it. That was what being a young man was all about—the energy and the feeling of being invincible, unafraid of a malicious boss's retaliation.

That was why, in critical moments, one had to rely on Brother System.

A moment ago, Li Cha’s legs had felt like they were filled with lead, his body felt like he was carrying a mountain, and his arms felt like they had been crudely bolted on. With the injection of [Li Cha’s Stamina], he was instantly revived to full capacity. Of course, a normal person couldn't just transcend their limits; over the next three hours, he was lashed six times.

Afterward, the recruit training for the day was declared over.

Freya, expressionless as ever, said coldly, "Your stamina is too poor. Starting tomorrow, come here to eat lunch. The meal costs will be deducted from your salary."

Li Cha collapsed onto the floor, exhausted, and gave a weak affirmative. Then—

*Ding-dong!*

Notification: After an afternoon of training, your physique has improved. Experience +20%. You have learned [Sword Weapon Mastery LV0 (0/100)].

[Sword Weapon Mastery LV0]: When using sword-type weapons to attack, damage +1%.

Freya: "Go take a shower and change your clothes. Come find me in my office when you're done."

With that, Freya left.

In the training ground, Li Cha remained sprawled on the cold floor, gasping for air. He had spent 40 copper coins to buy four full hours of stamina just to survive this so-called training.

The result, however, was not entirely bad.

[Li Cha: Level 4, Attack Power 50 + 0.5 (Mastery Bonus)]

Li Cha had gained 2 points of attack power for no reason; this was likely the benefit of his increased physique attribute. Did enhanced physique increase attack power? It made perfect sense. With a stronger physique, wielding a weapon became easier, so increased attack power was only logical. As for the 0.5 mastery bonus, that was because he still hadn't let go of the sword in his hand.

"Freya..."

"Very well."

Knowing that she was a young noble lady, Li Cha decided that while he would do his job at work, he would keep her at arm's length in his personal life. Now, the grudge between them was even more firmly established. Li Cha had to get back at her—if not today, then tomorrow; if not tomorrow, then the day after. Whenever he caught an opportunity, he would surely return the favor tenfold.

As for his work at MI6 and his superior's support? Those were two different things. If Freya supported him, he would repay her with results. If Freya abused her power for a personal vendetta, Li Cha would retaliate in kind. A principle of reciprocity, above all else.

***

Half an hour later, Li Cha changed back into his formal attire and followed Freya's path back to the manager's office at the Maple Leaf Detective Agency.

At this moment, Freya was already leaning back in a single-seat sofa, her hands folded, her eyes closed. She said to Li Cha, "It is six o'clock now. Remember to wake me up at eight."

Freya had come to trade with Li Cha again. Li Cha didn't waste words; he simply said, "Deal."

*Ding-dong!*

Notification: Transaction successful.

Li Cha locked the office door. He had just told himself not to give her a chance, and yet here she was, delivering herself right to him. This young lady was truly confident.