Chapter 408: The All-Seeing Intelligence

Alexander understood what this was about, but one question remained.

"If that’s the case, why do you pay so much for simple missions?" asked Alexander.

"For recruits like you? It’s simple: an investment," replied the TMC leader, blowing out smoke. "Scouting talent and training them. Every agent undergoes a chemical enhancement based on Stephen’s standard. Depending on results, we rank them up faster or slower through the organization. Then we deploy them to the other world, where their actual job begins. However, you broke every record."

The leader paused, leaning back into his leather chair.

"You entered contact with the other world too quickly. That princess, Liora, was our mistake—or rather, your zone manager’s mistake. He infiltrated to recover her and tried to bring her back, but he’s an idiot. He doesn’t know the strengths of the fox race, and when they caught them off guard, they escaped."

"Why was that the only mission popping up for me?" asked Alexander, narrowing his eyes. "Why did you want me to meet her?"

"Me? You’re mistaken there," chortled the leader. "I don’t have time to review every mission for every agent. A special AI controls that. It determines payouts, risk assessments, and assignments. While I was digging into your background, the same question crossed my mind. But I won’t be the one telling you... I’ll let the AI explain."

The leader tapped a button on the desk. The air in the center of the office distorted, and a hologram materialized, projecting an eye wrapped in streams of code.

The moment it appeared, its pupil rotated and locked its scanner onto Alexander.

"Unknown entity detected. Potential level: Platinum. Evaluation in progress..." echoed the voice of the holographic eye.

The leader let out a laugh and leaned back, watching the interface.

"It holds you in high regard," said the leader. "And for good reason, considering the hopes Stephen has placed in you. Go ahead, kid, ask whatever you want. Our AI, the All-Seeing Eye, has the information you need."

Alexander took a step forward, locking his gaze onto the eye.

"Why did you give me that escort mission to meet Liora?" asked Alexander.

The AI adjusted its lens and responded in a flat voice.

"Target Liora posed a problem for the TMC foundation," echoed the machine. "Based on our data and protocols, Big Black was not to gain dominion over Sandoria."

The eye expanded, deploying a cascade of holographic windows and documents above the desk.

"Weeks prior to the incident, Big Black submitted a conquest petition to the Federation," continued the AI. "We had a small team in the area—the area you were deployed to after. Scans revealed the kingdom was rich in resources; allowing him possession was an unnecessary risk. We required an off-the-radar agent who could deploy without suspicion. You were selected based on your metrics."

The hologram shifted, highlighting a file with Alexander’s portrait.

[Profile Analysis - Subject: Alexander]

Rank: Blue

Combat Capability: Yellow

Candidacy Assessment: Hero Syndrome. Upon making contact with the princess, it is estimated there is an 87% probability that, even knowing she hails from another planet, he will attempt to save her at any cost.

Alexander let out a laugh and shook his head.

"In the end, you weren’t wrong," said Alexander. "I let her escape because I didn’t want a girl to be murdered."

"Precisely," responded the AI in its tone. "We have on record how you attempted to divert suspicion by visiting a casino in the neighboring city. We wiped every trace of you; that is why the Government failed to find anything tying back to you. Our actions broke the treaty; however, breaking it presented less of a threat than allowing our enemy, Big Black, to acquire enough resources to launch an assault."

"I see..." muttered Alexander, narrowing his eyes. "But if he wasn’t that powerful, why didn’t you assassinate him?"

The All-Seeing Eye flickered, projecting glowing articles in mid-air:

[World Non-Aggression Treaty]

Chapter 1: No member within the World Federation shall launch a lethal attack against another member of the Federation.

Subsection 38: Resource disputes shall be carried out by members below Silver Rank within planetary territorial borders. Resource disputes off-planet may be conducted by members below Gold Rank.

Subsection 43.1.2: A fight to the death in which neither party wishes to yield must be submitted to the Federation in writing, and the Federation shall designate a venue where ranks above Gold may battle.

Subsection 75.1.2: No Platinum Rank may or shall be assassinated without the explicit authorization of the Federation, as this directly violates Subsection 1.2.

Subsection 1.2: Every Platinum member of the planet shall be considered a global maximum priority resource and treated accordingly.

Alexander let out a sigh, running a hand over his face.

"What is the penalty for violating Subsection 1.2?" asked Alexander.

"Death," responded the AI. "However, in your case it does not apply, as Big Black was not a Platinum Rank; he was merely a Gold Rank occupying the upper tier. He utilized a legal loophole to maintain his domain."

Subsection 1.3: No higher-ranking member shall attack or hinder the growth of another Federation member.

"Under these bylaws, he was able to prevent Platinum Ranks from attacking him," continued the synthetic voice. "However, you are not a Platinum Rank and will be judged as a Gold Rank. Which implies you breached Chapter 1 and there will be no aggravating factors. You must avoid disclosing that the conflict originated on Earth and that you aided an extraterrestrial entity in escaping; thus, there will be no major sanction."

"What do you expect the penalty to be?" inquired Alexander.

"There have been similar cases involving Silver Rank and below, and the outcome is a fine or high-risk off-planet missions, such as pacifying a conflict zone," explained the AI. "There is no record of an altercation at Gold Rank, but we can compensate for it. Had you merely wounded him, matters could have escalated further; however, with him deceased, there will be no party to pursue the grievance, and the Federation will not discard a new Gold Rank over a deceased Gold Rank."