Game's Extra: Starting With SSS-Ranked 1000-Death Talent-Chapter 82: Bet

"What do I owe the pleasure of you coming down to greet me?" Noa asked, his eyes darting around.

The first floor looked like a giant reception hall, with external Order members flooding it.

No one seemed to know about Tifa’s identity, as they were getting orders from some special means.

Still, their loyalty was guaranteed by her skill, ensuring their faithfulness.

The building itself was a hotel—a real one with actual customers.

"Tifa told me to fetch you," the woman answered, adjusting her glasses. "I guess she was eager to speak with you."

Noa narrowed his eyes.

"Not even a day has passed," he said.

Viktor and Tifa both discarded his words and led him into an elevator.

The closed place showed their silent reflection.

Half a minute later, they arrived inside a bunker-like office, with others waiting for him.

Caroline was absent, as always.

Punchy grinned upon seeing him, showing a fist as a reminder.

Offering him a smile, Vivi nodded slightly.

Suddenly, the glasses on Tifa’s face disappeared, transforming the feeling she was giving off.

"We saw your little trick," she said. "It was a good move. Risky one, though."

"What can I say? I had to do something. Hope it will help you with something," Noa responded, searching for a sofa to sit on.

"Don’t get arrogant. It’s not that useful for us. Yes, you shook public opinion, but it would hardly damage the government’s credibility," the woman added.

Then she lowered her brows.

"About the condition for your evaluation..."

Tifa was trailing her words.

The red mask allowed Noa to display any level he wished.

He was showing a level 20, but it couldn’t fool Tifa, her eyes peering through the concealment.

So she knew Noa was level 23—something she didn’t know was possible.

Noa flared his hair, an arrogance sneaked into his voice.

"My requirement is to reach level 30. Quite a tough one for the first condition, right?"

He didn’t even need to mention the deaths he had experienced.

"Interesting," Vivi was the first one to comment. "Now I want to study you."

"Is it gonna hurt?" Noa asked, almost guessing her intention.

"Very," the petite girl answered coldly, not cutting off the eye contact.

"No thanks. I much prefer to befriend Punchy or hug Viktor."

Then he put his attention back on Tifa.

She seemed unaffected by his unusual condition.

"Nothing changes," she said after a while. "Your top priority is to become a Returne. You have 24 hours or Vivi will have some fun," she said.

Hearing her statement, Noa gulped.

"What else?" he asked, massaging his temples. "Is there anything I need to do?"

"Two things. Firstly, you need to improve," Tifa pointed at Punchy and continued. "You also need to meet Z’s daughter before infiltrating the base I told you about. Caroline is trying to track her down, and it won’t take more than 12 hours."

"Shit," Noa said aloud.

Tifa saw his reaction and smirked, her lips curling up into a smile.

"That’s all I have to say. For other matters, they know how to deal with you," she added and left the office.

The room became visibly empty and quiet.

Its pristine wooden desk and windows showed how new and classy everything was.

Vivi, who was watching this entire conversation with interest, neared Noa before Punchy.

She just showed him a tablet that displayed a news report.

It was about a new Scar incident that happened out of nowhere.

The videos showed the monster invasion and how well the official Embers handled the situation.

"This happened yesterday," Vivi explained. "But they buried it until now."

"They want to split public attention?" Noa guessed.

"On one side, there is your teacher’s incident. On the other hand, the heroic sacrifices of their chosen combatants."

"And what’s our plan?"

Vivi lowered her brows.

It was unusual for Noa not to know their objective.

"The third incident in their military operations. We want to add fuel to the already burning flames."

She was tapping a finger on a desk, studying his reaction.

"Tifa told me you escaped when they tried to hunt you. I believe you are suited for this mission," she continued.

"Thanks," Noa said.

He was genuinely surprised and thankful for her support, and the fact that she shared this much was already more than enough.

But her next words destroyed his entire gratitude.

"Now it’s time for your ass to get kicked." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Disappointment surged inside Noa, freezing his heart.

Nevertheless, he knew that Punchy was a great sparring partner, and he could learn a lot from him.

"Lead me to the training ground," Noa said before the bald man even spoke to him.

"Sure. Follow me and try not to wet your pants," Punchy taunted.

Not affected by his words, Noa strolled beside him.

"You are going to eat your words," he said, and an idea struck his mind. "Wanna bet something?"

"You can’t beat me," the baldy said.

"I know. But I bet I can surprise you."

Taking a blue cap out of the shelf and putting it on his head, Punchy said,

"If you take it from my head, you are the winner."

"Sounds good," Noa said, whispering with a devilish grin. "If I win, I want you to ask Caroline to investigate a girl for me."

The man was taken aback for a second.

He wasn’t expecting such a condition, but before he opened his mouth to say his wish, Noa said it first, silencing the guy.

"And if you win, I won’t talk about the steamy nights you two are spending in secret."

"Wh-what?" Punchy blurted.

His stuttering was a rare occasion.

"How do you know?" he questioned, his cheeks turning red.

"Doesn’t matter."

Noa shook his hands.

"I am in the same boat with the girl you want to find for me."

He let them into his not-so-big secret, talking about Nyx, who was either the Doom God or would soon become one.

Punchy agreed and clenched his fist.

"Here we are," he said. "The place I am going to drink your blood."