Chapter 8: Hitman Wants Double the Pay

The walk down to the manager’s office was a quiet one, while Selena was lost in her spiraling thoughts, Nicholas was once again wowed by the sophisticated inner designs of the Hero Association building, whilst also closely observing Selena, ’With how much she’s been sweating since we started walking to the manager’s office, there’s a chance that I might not be getting my money’

At first, he didn’t really know the extent of a supervisor’s authority since it sounded like a really big role, after all no average person could supervise a superhero, but it seemed they were very much limited to just that and didn’t really have any other authority asides that.

’It’ll be sad If I don’t get the money, I really wanted Katie to go to the school she said she wanted to go to’ A sigh of disappointment left his lips, "So how much do you think the manager would be able to give me, as it seems I won’t be able to get the 60,000 I requested for"

Selena paused in her track, swallowing hard, ’How did he realize? After what he pulled off with bolt, I guess I should’ve known he was smart enough to realize’ she thought a wry smile climbing up her face, ’Well, no point hiding it now’

"I can’t really tell; the association usually pay higher amounts to make it easier for them to afford high tech accessories and gadgets for work... Your fight didn’t really give us much information about your skills so I don’t think sir Eric would even be impressed in the slightest" Selena explained letting out a resigned sigh.

"So, I might still end up with the usual pay?" Nicholas asked raising a brow. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"Most likely"

"How much do you get paid?"

Selena raised a brow, surprised by the question, "It depends on the performance of whichever hero I’m supervising, but it’s usually slightly above 60,000"

"Very well, I guess you’ll have to pay me for my services" Nicholas said bluntly.

"Huh?! That’s my entire income! What do you even want to do with that much money?" Selena exploded in fury, also slightly frustrated because she knew she might truly have to pay him off if they met the manager. ’What did I put myself into? I should’ve never met this brat’

"I want to take my sister into the Hero Academy"

Selena stood in silence, her voice softened, "Oh, that actually makes sense"

"I’ll make it clear that I have absolutely no interest in joining the hero association or becoming a hero, and I’m only here because of the money, I see no use in being here if I do not get that"

Ever since he had transmigrated into Nicholas’ body, for the first time in years, he had experienced what a family actually felt like, something different from the artificial bond they all shared in the orphanage back at home, and for the first time, he genuinely enjoyed the life away from blood and gunshots.

Marina and Katherine, both showed him the familial love that felt foreign to him at first but slowly, he was infected by their bond and closeness.

Although he could tell that it wasn’t actually for him, but for their brother, he just couldn’t lose the opportunity to have a family in his second life...

’Maybe I was plagued even before the actual awakening....’ Nicholas thought to himself.

For once, his cold heart sought warmth.

Hands that once thrived on pain and bloodshed found something worth protecting.

Selena stood shocked, she had initially thought his request were absurd and his overconfidence without reason, but she finally came to the understanding, ’He actually cares about his sisters...’

"Supervisor Selena?"

The voice quickly made Selena jolt, "S-sir Eric, what a pleasant surprise, I was just on my way to meet you" she stuttered as she turned her gaze to meet the tall figure with broad shoulders and black hair neatly slicked back.

He stood, calm and composed exuding an intimidating yet welcoming presence thanks to the large smile that cut across his face, his eyes covered by the tinted glasses he had on.

"Oh, is that so? You finally agreed to my proposal?" Eric asked, a large grin spreading across his face.

"No! The heck? I thought we were over this"

"Oh, my sweet Selena, my heart aches for you and I—" Eric’s words hooked up in his mouth as he noticed Nicholas standing silently behind her.

"Is that a newbie?" he silently whispered to Selena.

"Yes"

"Oh shit! I gave the wrong first impression" he instantly returned to a calm posture, clearing his throat and straightening his suit, "Good day young sir, it’s great to have you join the hero association. I believe you might know me by my hero name, Might Man!" He said flashing his teeth and flexing his muscles like he was on the stage for an Oscars.

"No, I do not know you"

Selena facepalmed, "And I thought you’d give a better first impression"

Eric’s smile instantly flattened, as he silently dropped his flexed arms down, "You both are no fun" he sulked.

Selena let out a sigh, ’You all are just so disappointing, this brat will start thinking the hero association is some movie industry’ at this point she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. If it weren’t for the fact that Eric was her superior, she would’ve definitely loved to school him a bit.

"Sir Eric, I came for an important matter, and we’ve already taken more time than expected for this registration"

Eric returned his posture, this time keeping a more serious expression, "You haven’t finished with his registration? Did he refuse to join the association?" Eric asked, flashing a glance at Nicholas.

"No, not quite..." A wry smile went up Selena’s face as she went on to explain everything that had happened so far up to the point of Bolt’s defeat.

"Oh, so you mean to tell me that this young man managed to defeat Bolt just like that?" Eric let out a chuckle of genuine amusement, "I must agree that he is smart, but that alone won’t be able to grant him an instant upgrade, you know how dangerous B-rank missions are, with a newbie on the field things could get messy. And since he didn’t really use his power then how do we know where to classify him? From what you’ve said there’s a high chance his abilities might not be a psychic or analytic. I’m sorry but we can’t get a rank upgrade from just that, we need to have an idea what type of abilities you have, and how you use them"

Nicholas frowned hearing Eric’s detailed explanation, ’It seems they also want to have information on the ability of the hero that’s been added to the association.’

As a hitman giving out crucial information was something he wasn’t quite used to, that was why despite having his abilities, he thought it convenient to keep it away from the fight with Bolt. But with this, it seemed things might have to change.

Selena took a deep breath, she had expected this outcome, ’I’ll have to pay him off with my income’

Previously she would’ve been hesitant to do this since she didn’t know what he had planned on using the money to do, but after hearing it, she couldn’t help but feel slightly motivated to pay, coupled with the fact that she was the one who set him up for it.

"I’ll pay you my—"

"I know my abilities and can use them, however, if I’m to reveal that to you then I will request that my payment be doubled"

Selena choked on her words and Eric raised a brow.

"Yeah, no way that’s happening!" Selena quickly swallowed back her words, her income wasn’t even up to that, she’d give her all and still borrow to pay that.

Eric frowned for a bit as he assessed Nicholas, ’This guy... his audacity is astonishing and more than that, he’s terrifyingly cautious... I See a great hero, we need him’

Defeating Bolt with just smart was astonishing, doing that whilst still knowing that he could easily use his abilities... that was simply remarkable. Eric couldn’t help but be curious, ’What is his abilities?’

That one question was clouded in so many mysteries. Could he easily have won against bolt with the ability? Was the ability a dangerous one that made him not to use it, or was he simply being cautious about letting them know?

Eric looked at Nicholas, his eyes sparkling with curiosity and awe.

"Very well, I’ll approve of that... But only on the condition, that you defeat me in battle"