[Strength: 85]

[Health: 110] 

[Speed: 68] 

[Skill: 81] 

[UP: 52]

[Exp: 48/120| Level 15]

***

Franklin got out of bed, shoving his bedsheet sheet aside. He stood, stretched, and then yawned. Finally, he nodded over to his desk. This was a particularly filthy desk with old cups of unfinished coffee infested by black ants and old tissues swathed in dried mucus and ruffled pages covered in inked failure. 

The wall against which the desk remained had a wide piece of paper that showed a depiction of Jin and Kaylie. Strangely, they were both labeled, and ink covered almost every inch of the page. Every single skill Franklin saw Jin use was right there on that piece of paper, and the same went for Kaylie. Except, Franklin knew all Kaylie's skills like he knew the back of his hand. He had no idea Kaylie was stupid enough to trust him with such information. 

Franklin stopped before the clustered littered space and smirked.  It had taken him weeks to get his hands on this information. And ever since he was introduced to the systems, he became obsessed with it. "Soon I'll be the new god of mischief." He had already acquainted himself with most of Jin's skills already and had even gone the extra mile to formulate effective counterattacks and weaknesses for them. 

On his part, the tournament was highly anticipated for it was the perfect way for him to get to speculate more of Jin's skills, or if the odds showed him mercy, he would expect to perhaps see all Jin's skills in action with ease. 

He rubbed his hands together. But then, his smile fell like a cherry blossom: slow and lightly until all motion came to halt. There was a reason for this frown. A problem. His room was littered with information on the system users, and he was already selling this information to others. Firstly, he had to get rid of all the evidence that tied him to Jin in any way possible as Jin was soon to be eliminated.

"Imagine walking into this room and seeing all of this," Franklin said. "I'll be exposed." He mulled for a bit. "I'll have to get rid of this information, and perhaps get Sammy to stop selling everyone's weaknesses."

Franklin had learned everyone's abilities in the village for the purpose of formulating counterattacks to Jin's powerful skills. He hadn't an ability that allowed him to defeat Jin or any of his skills by any means, so it was best for him to use others for their skills. This was why he'd learned everyone's abilities like it was for a spelling bee. 

However, he had started selling information on the abilities to tournament candidates interested in acquainting themselves with their potential opponents. This brought him the money he needed, but it also brought him problems. 

"All of this information would be clear proof that I had to do with Jin's murder," Franklin sighed. "Knowing the wizard, he'll find Jin's true murderer and I'll be exposed for giving out such information. My name is being called by the citizens. Sure, they're praising my work on evaluating abilities and finding weaknesses but I simply cannot have that." He furrowed his brows. "I must clear my name."

Franklin started toward his bedroom door. He took the door out and deliberately walked down a wooden flight of stairs. "Freak!" He called as he took the final step.

Freak was there. "I'm here, buddy."

"I am not your buddy," Franklin said. "Now, why are you here? I need you to continue tracking Jin. I want every detail and exactly how those skills worked.  Pay close attention to him, you and Marlon."

Marlon stepped in. This brown-skinned man possessed the eyes of a hawk. "Raise my pay." His voice was husk and stern. Deep and sonorous. 

"Excuse me?" Franklin raised a brow. 

Marlon folded his arms. "I'm tired of all this spying. Unless you're gonna allow me to have a go at this 'Jin"—I'm not working for you anymore. A raise in pay is also applicable since this shit won't do."

Franklin scoffed. "The money was always enough."

"Not anymore," Marlon said. "I'm the only one with these eyes," he glared. His eyes flickered yellow. "You can't replace me and Franklin because we're valuable assets in spying on the Successor. So I'd say we're standing just in the right position to make heavy demands."

"My pay is too much," Freak said. 

"Shut the hell up, you dumb-ass," Marlon snapped. 

Freak grinned.

Franklin sighed, placing his thumb and index finger upon his nose bridge. "Fine," he looked up at Marlon, "You'll get your raise in payment. Just know that I won't be needing you two pretty soon."

Marlon looked Franklin over. "Why is that?"

Franklin smirked. "The tournament's around the corner, y'know."

Marlon scoffed and nodded off toward the door. He then stopped when he was in front the door, and looked over his shoulder. "What dead man would be needing anything?" He looked ahead, opened the door, and saw himself out. 

Franklin looked at Freak. 

Freak smiled freakishly. "Heh heh."

"Well go on now," Franklin said. "What are you waiting for?"

Freak scuttled out the door and slammed it on his way out.

Franklin scoffed again. "Idiots." He then turned around, and from the time he'd done so, his eyes widened right then at the figures before him. 

Jerald walked toward Franklin and out of the darkness at the corner of the room. His face was clean, beard freshly trimmed. He stopped before Franklin and glared at him with violent silver eyes that showed a note of pure malice. But this was merely his business face.

Franklin shifted on his feet. "J-Jerald?" He took a step back.

Jerald looked his nose down at Franklin. "Don't remember the Scout leader... pity." 

Franklin feigned happiness with a big quivering smile. "Of course, I remember you," he said, "we've known each other for years."

"If that's true," Jerald said, "You must know exactly why I'm here, yes?"

Franklin averted his eyes. "I'm afraid I don't know the answer to that question."

Jerald clutched a hand to Franklin's neck. "Does this enlighten you?" He started exerting force.

Franklin pulled away from Jerald. "Yes, yes." He furrowed his brows, rubbing at his neck. "But it'll cost you." He looked up at Jerald without raising his head. 

"Cost me a few knuckles," Jerald said, "because it seems you're reluctant to do what I ask of you."

"Come on, Jerald," Franklin said, "have you any idea how long it took me to get this information? I can't sell it. Much less, just give it away."

"And that's not what you've been doing for the past couple of days, no?" Jerald asked. 

Franklin rubbed at his temples with his index fingers. "I'm closing shop, okay? I was just about to officially suppress this little exchange of mine. That's why I can't help you today."

"You gave them this info," Jerald said, "and now, you have to give me."

"The villagers paid," Franklin said. brusquely.

"And they paid more than just money, huh?" Jerald glared at Franklin. "Something worth more than just money to you but ironically worth nothing to them."

Franklin averted his eyes again. 

Jerald smirked. "I must say... you have really outdone yourself. You literally did all my work for me. And for that, I thank you. Getting what you have now while maintaining a low profile would have been a pain in the arse for me," Jerald scoffed. "You really have it all figured out, don't you, Frank? You really planned to take Jin's place through all of these effective plans. All my work for me, I say.

"However, there is but one problem with this: you're messing with the tournament every time you sell people's weaknesses. This needs to stop immediately. From now on, you have a new job. You are to only find Jin's weaknesses. We need to take him out of the picture. And I've," he smirked, "developed a few effective plans myself."

Franklin finally looked up at him. "You want Jin's power, don't you?"

"As a matter of fact," Jerald said, "I don't. I'm threatened by it. Or more so its user. That slack! He's a devil who must not wield such power. Such power is in the wrong hands. He's nothing short of narcissistic."

Stephan walked out of the darkness with paper piled up in his hands. He stopped when he was right next to Jerald. 

"What do I do?" Stephan looked up at Jerald. "Burn all of this?"

Franklin quailed. 

"No," Jerald said, "you learn all of it."

"You know I can't read."

"Then, Franklin here happily volunteers to transcribe the apprentices' weaknesses for you," Jerald said, "because he's nice and knows that you must win when up against the rest of the apprentices."

Franklin averted his eyes again. 

Jerald smirked. "Come on, Frank, don't be so sad. I'm letting you in on one of my top plans. I call it: Objective Delete Jin...."