Chapter 25: Obnoxious Man
Cillian generally wanted to wake early in the morning the next day, yet he was fully asleep throughout the entire time.
Cillian knew being lazy on weekends was worth it.
Unfortunately, he had to get up if he wanted that money.
"Uwaa!"
Doing a light stretch, Cillian leaves his bed before doing morning exercise. After doing a light workout, Cillian took a bath, prepared a pair of casual clothes, and now he was looking at himself in the mirror.
’Neat. I’m glad I transmigrated to an extra who had at least a face. Though it wasn’t that important since I could change my face anytime, but still... I prefer this. It makes me... original?’
Cillian felt amused by his own thoughts. Picking up his notes and key for his club, he got out of his room and headed straight to his club.
...
"Finally done,"
Finishing up everything that he needed to take note of on his next week’s schedule, Cillian observed his club.
Because he was done writing that is boring as it gets, but now he’s been able to observe his club completely.
’It’s really bland... It’s not about simplicity. If I’m talking about the interior’s design, then Iska’s office is much better,’
Having those ideas inwardly, Cillian decided to begin his search for answers.
He was fully committed to the task, which made him eager to finish it as much as possible.
Exiting his club, Cillian locked the door before turning around, only to be surprised by a person standing in front.
There, a man with an annoying demeanor that looks very punchable watched Cillian with his dark brown eyes. His face expressed a hint of astonishment for a second before appearing entertained.
"Wha— it’s really real."
It was Jack Trade, the one that Ethan fought with, because her girlfriend was sleeping with him.
Freya even said he was an influential and dangerous individual. Cillian also did background research for him, and it all pointed out that he shouldn’t be touched or fought with.
’This brat is back?’
Cillian raised a brow while watching the obnoxious man in front of him.
"Cillian Sparrow, a lackey of Fergus start up his own club?"
Jack couldn’t help but chuckle in delight.
"You see, I was scouting for Vin. After everything fell apart from your Brotherhood, he’s one of the people I failed to recruit. He’s nobody but very decent. Still, one loss didn’t mean a total failure, right?"
Cillian slid his hand into his pockets as he replied solemnly.
"What are you trying to say? I have a business to do."
"Chill, my guy."
Jack waved his hand dismissively before his lip curled upwards.
"I know you got something to do... or your club regarding Ethan Smith’s outburst when I was sleeping with his girlfriend. After the x and y’s, I came to realize what’s made it happen, and it’s related to that patrolling guard on that particular night."
’He’s sharp...’
Jack then shrugged his shoulders.
"But anyways, it’s not like I was trying to hide it, his girlfriend does though, and we’ve been doing it for almost a month, but... I got exposed recently because Ethan received some outside help. Heh, heh. Then it led me to you! Oh well, I mean your club!"
Jack instantly deduced his search into a small frame, and his words made him suspicious about Cillian, which he confirmed by himself.
By the looks of it, Jack was wary, or in particular, cautious about the help Ethan received, which led directly to Cillian’s club.
The only thing he was missing was Cillian, who did all the work.
"What’s the name of the old man working under you?"
Jack asked, clearly in a commanding tone.
Cillian flashed a look of disdain toward him before he replied with a smile of his own.
"I don’t really know what you’re talking about. If you could give me more clues, I’d really appreciate it. I apologize in advance if we did something to you."
"Oh, you’re sorry?"
Jack slightly widened his eyes before nodding his head.
"All right, apology accepted."
Then he paused.
"But if you’re indeed sorry, you can kneel for forgiveness. A good deal, right?"
Cillian, upon hearing it, didn’t faze about his provocation. In fact, he finds it entertaining. With a chuckle, he provoked back and used the same face and tone that Jack did.
"If I kneel down, you have to kiss my ass first. Two-way deal and trade, right?"
"Haha!"
As if entertained, Jack’s smile grew wider while laughing.
The laughter didn’t feel like one at all, but Jack instantly stopped.
As if leaving, Jack silently turned around, but then, he swiftly did a roundabout kick that aimed for Cillian’s head.
"!"
With wide eyes and swift movement, as if it were a muscle memory to him, Cillian defended his left side, adding the sleight-of-hand ability to ensure absolute defense to his head.
[Sleight of Hand Activated]
"Mimicry...!"
[Mimicry Activated]
[Mimicry Failed...]
Tak—!
"Not bad!"
[Mimicry Activated]
[Mimicry Success]
Cillian clicked his tongue before letting out a low groan.
’That fucking hurts!’
Yet amidst the pain, Cillian didn’t show it outwardly and remained stoic.
Though it was about to slip, Cillian acted unfazed and made a quick movement by stepping back.
Thanks to this interaction, Cillian was able to study his Piece.
’Looks like I can’t mimic that kick. If Jake is a Ruiner and shows it to me, I might be lucky to mimic that then. Will I also be able to mimic things like spells?’
Cillian thought inwardly, thinking that mimicking a certain individual’s action would work, but if the movement is high-level, then it will fail.
That’s what he did by trying to mimic that roundabout kick.
He wanted to at least counterattack.
[Name: Mimicry
Reserved mimicry storage: Jack Trade’s voice.
Temporary mimicked activated: None ]
On the contrary, Cillian chanced upon understanding Jack’s voice and had been inputted at the reserved storage when he was only targeting that kick.
By the looks of it, after he failed at mimicking the kick, Cillian activated his mimicry again, and it targeted his voice that was easy to mimic.
This was a great discovery, and this is only possible to deduce because Jack is here to test him.
’An action can be mimicked as long as it’s something that’s within my level to do. What Jack did is probably not what a normal first-year student could do in a single neat attack, hence why my mimic failed. And by the looks of it, to mimic actions, words, and abilities, I should be able to see and hear it.
’Man, if it were a Ruiner showing his or her abilities, I’m guessing that will always come up as the first one to be mimicked. Faceless is, after all, a Piece itself’
Cillian relaxed as he thought inwardly.
’Faceless is really a deceitful piece. I’m getting excited about the other abilities I’ll open once I’ve succeeded at that advancement.’
"Heh, heh. You’re not so bland for a lackey like you."
Jack called out, then turned around and did not do the same action again as he left words behind.
"Destroying your class will be more worth it. You just gave me more reasons to,"
With that intensifying interaction turning into a halt, Jack left Cillian’s club.
Seeing Jack leave their club’s aisle, Phillip and Vin immediately rushed towards them after coming a few moments later.
In the hallway, they saw Cillian standing in front of the club, his face cold. His hands were tightly clenched to the side that a bit more then it would bleed.
As if they finally noticed them, Cillian released his grip before smiling indifferently.
"Hey guys, want something to talk about?"
Phillip and Vin stared at each other for a second before approaching Cillian with a sigh.
...
Right after the trio both exchanged information regarding what they’d found through their search, Cillian immediately started doing his own thing.
What he received from them didn’t help him a bit due to a lack of information and a network. Hence, he started working and saw many people also doing their own search.
He searched for the academy, he stalked particular people who might’ve managed to gather intel and observe academy staff who might’ve stored the information and hid it very well.
Instructors, the student council, and even janitors and guards are suspicious when it might turn out that they’re the real deal who knew about such information.
But so far, nothing.
Yet it didn’t make him feel disheartened at all.
Judging the other students ’spending’ more of their time in the academy when they were supposed to enjoy the outside and have some fun with friends, Cillian confirmed one thing.
The first years are unable to grab anything that looks like a piece of information.
The start went smoothly enough. However, as the day continued to die down, the sun was already disappearing from the skies, and with the end of classes coming only then everyone became suspicious.
They have less than two weeks to prepare, yet they couldn’t find a single piece of information, let alone see a speck of its surface.
’It already took a long time, tsk.’
Cillian clicked his tongue inwardly while drinking a bottle of water.
It was almost night, and the trio from the morning decided to meet once more to exchange information.
In the end, they failed to gain another sort of knowledge.
"Why is it so hard? Is it because they safely guarded the information they have on their hands?"
Vin let out an annoyed complaint from his mouth before dissing.
"What’s the point of doing all this if they are going to secure it tightly?"
Cillian totally agreed with his statement. As for Phillip, he was barely speaking at this point, his back drenched with sweat, and breathing raggedly. He was too tired to move an inch of his fat muscles.
’This is not good. I should be able to find something today and resume it for tomorrow. I can’t delay this task any longer. What to do... what to do...’
Cillian began to think about his options.
’If even talented students couldn’t get any info, then it’s not an option anymore. I was planning on tailing someone, but... anyone isn’t suspicious enough! I’m sure they are as clueless as me too!’
He calmed himself down.
’Think, someone who is influential enough to have a solidified status in the academy. An individual who grasps the information that has access to it, no matter how bad or good their reputation is. Something at all... something... someone...’
In that instant, one person flashed through Cillian’s head.
’Eureka!’
Cillian immediately looked at his two friends.
"Hey guys, I would like to try something."
Soon, the three of them gathered quietly before their haggard expression turned sour. They stared at Cillian the more they heard about his plan, as if he were some sort of daredevil.
"How are you going to do it?"
Vin asked, his tone uncertain.
Cillian tapped his shoulder as he chuckled.
"Don’t worry, I have my ways."
