Hun reached the main entrance room. He was about to walk towards the entrance door.
Hun? Can you hear me?
Tonna ringed through the boy's ears.
He yelled, quickly looking around.
"Tonna?! Where are you?!" He rests his eyes on an Inkling woman, looking similar to Tonna.
Sigh… I'm not near you, Hun. I'm talking through the Communicators I gave you before!
"Oh…? The Communicators…? … aaaah, you mean those things I have inside my ears!" He chuckled.
Yes. Please never forget the reason why you can hear my voice: I don't want to hear you panicking during a mission!
Her voice sounded scolding.
"Ok! Sorry about that…" Hun lowers his head.
That's fine. Now, you must listen to my directions: those are crucial for the mission, so don't ignore them.
"All right. What's the first direction?" He looks around more carefully.
Getting out of the building.
Hun walks near the door, opening it and exiting the Headquarters.
Good. Now you
"Wait a minute, Tonna!" He starts panicking. "How did you know exactly when I was outside?!"
I can track you thanks to the computer. I can also locate persons and items nearby. Right now, an Inkling is passing by: don't talk to me until the person is out of sight!
He closes his mouth, as his eyes follow a young girl Inkling walking. She had headphones on her ears and music could be heard faintly. After passing the boy and turning a corner, Hun sighs loudly.
"She walked away."
Good. I hope you don't mind walking for a while…
He holds his breath.
"Why?"
Because you need to reach the destination. Since you are a Junior Agent, you can't request a vehicle to drive. And even if you were Senior, I doubt someone would handle you one…
"Ah… I don't even know what a vehicle is!" He rubs his chin clueless.
… anyway, walk to the right.
Hun nodded, doing just what Tonna told him. The boy walked down the sidewalk, admiring the buildings and trees nearby.
"This place looks great!" He smiles.
Hun, don't get distracted. This is the number one rule you must always obey, as you tackle the later missions.
The boy sweats, gritting his teeth.
"Sorry! I-I didn't know…"
Don't worry. I'll keep remind you that, whenever the event happens… but try to not fall into that mistake, ok?
"I'll try!" He throws a punch in the air, full of vigor.
Try? You have to learn it quickly, young boy!
He raises his eyebrows, closing his mouth tightly.
Watch out! There are several people coming in your way.
"Huh?! Th-they are dangerous?!" He trembles.
No, but you must act normally to not get any attention. Don't talk to me until I say so, understand?
He nods, understanding the orders. Just as Tonna announced, a group of Inklings were walking in Hun's way. The group was talking to each other and passed him without even glancing! The boy looks behind: none of them looked back.
Now you can talk.
"I think I did it, Tonna! I looked back and no one watched me." He puffs out his chest, smiling.
Wh-what the?! Why did you turn your back?!
"Yikes!" He jumped high, trembling. "I-I wasn't suppose to do that…?"
Of course not! I mean, how would you react if someone watches you?!
"Oh… ehm…" The boy thinks about it. "I… I'd be suspicious…?"
There you go. Directly out of your mouth. Learn this lesson asap.
He sighs, shaking his head.
"All right. Now…?"
To the left.
Hun looks in that direction, noticing another sidewalk. He reaches it, walking a bit faster than before.
Now, remain relaxed… you are about to approach a dangerous area.
The boy's heart beats faster, as he gulps loudly.
From now on, you must have your eyes wide open! And your ears too, since I'll provide all the important information.
"Ok! Gulp… I-I hope I can get out of here alive!" He chatters his teeth.
Skippy squeaked and crawled inside his shell.
Hun, muster up some courage! You'll get nowhere if you are too scared! Do some loud breathes… calm down…
Hun inhales air, exhaling it loudly.
Feel better?
"A bit…" His eyes keep looking around at fast speed.
Sigh… there is no one near the area, so keep moving.
Hun was walking slowly, wishing to escape somewhere. The thought of having a duty to complete is the only reason why he keeps going. The boy entered inside a quiet area: the buildings were a bit rusty, the roads were covered with small pieces of glass, smashed cans…
A weird smell surrounded the area. Hun snorted.
"Urgh… wh-what's this smell?" He closes his nose.
Don't question that! Focus on your steps!
Hun jumped over a big chunk of glass and kicked away an empty soda can. Its noise echoed throughout the area.
"T-Tonna…" He trembled. "W-where I need to go…?"
Keep going ahead. There is no one near you.
"Are you su-sure…?"
Hun! At this time of the day, the area is less dangerous. That doesn't mean it's completely safe… but there is no reason to tremble like that!
His heart beats faster again: the boy keeps wondering why he's so scared. Especially after those previous adventures he had before! His eyebrows frown, his mouth is slightly downturned. Hun finally walks at medium speed, avoiding the obstacles resting on the sidewalk.
There is someone nearby.
He screamed for a short moment, looking around the area. Just a chirping bird sitting on a tree's branch, flying off as soon as Hun tracked the animal.
"Phew!" He dries his forehead. "It was just an innocent creature…"
Actually, I meant a person.
"Yikes!" He returns looking around rapidly.
Although, the person isn't moving at all. Must be ahead, according to the computer.
He breathes loudly.
"Wh-what I have to do…?" He said in a low voice.
Keep your eyes open!
He closes them, gritting his teeth. The boy walks down the road, until his eyes found the person Tonna was talking about. It was a male Inkling wearing Rockenberg clothes. He wears sunglasses, holding a white stick with his mouth.
His face was directed to a tuft of grass growing from the sidewalk's crack, while Hun was almost passing him in a faster pace.
"Hey dude…" The guy said.
The boy faces him, with a jumping turn! Hun does a fighting pose.
"… lower your guard down." He kept his position.
Hun does exactly what he said. Sweat appears on his forehead.
"... wanna trade?" The guy asked.
Hun holds his breath.
Say no!
Hearing what Tonna said, Hun responded "No…".
"… I have some cool stuff to share." The guy takes something from his pocket.
He shows a pair of contact lens.
"Huh? What's that?" Hun points at them.
"Those are Detector Contacts: wear them on your eyes and you will always know where opposing Squids are hided."
Hun holds his chin, slightly tilting his head.
"If you give me that Super Sea Snail, the stuff is all yours." He holds the contact lens, inside a clenched fist. "What do you say? Deal?"
Hun gasped, looking quickly at Skippy. He squeaked loudly.
Refuse his offer, Hun! Those things are a scam!
The boy frowns gradually.
"No! You want to trick me!" He shouts.
NOOO, DON'T TELL HIM THAT!
Hun holds his mouth with both his hands. The guy doesn't seem to change his expression.
"… and where did you get that moronic thought…?" He shakes his fist.
"Ehm… I… uhm… uuuh…" He looks around in panic.
"This stuff is real, dude. Look, I can even let you try them…" The guy walks towards Hun.
He slowly backs away, doing a fighting pose. Suddenly, the Inkling dashed and grabbed Hun's throat. The boy tries to push his hands away, while chocking.
"You pathetic wimp." He lifts him up. "Weaklings like you don't deserve to own a Super Sea Snail…"
Skippy squeaked loudly. Tonna screams orders through the Communicators.
"And now you are going to pay this mistake, idiot."
Hun keeps trying pushing the guy's hands away, but his strength was slowly draining away. Everything around him was getting blurry…
YA CAN DO THIS, BIG BRO!
"… huh…? Fara…?" Hun thought.
BECOME A SQUID! NOW!
"… I… I will…"
He closes his eyes, turning into a Squid in a flash of a second. Skippy falls on the ground, bouncing a little thanks to the bag. The guy quickly tries to stomp him, but Hun dodges the attack in a swift slide. The opponent had his foot stuck on blue ink.
"W-what the?!" He takes it away, yelling in pain.
Noticing the Squid charging at him, the guy ran away. He kept looking behind him: Hun was getting closer.
"LET'S DISCUSS THIS! LET'S DISCUSS THIS!" The guy keeps repeating.
The Squid does a spin jump.
SPLAT!
The guy exploded in blue ink, flying away as a small yellow Squid. Hun returns into his humanoid form, breathing loudly and frowning.
HUN! ANSWER ME, PLEASE!
"… I'm fine, Tonna." He smiles. "I defeated him."
Skippy emit longer squeaks, crying a little. Hun walks towards him.
You did?! Phew…! Th-that was too close!
"Yeah…" He looks down. "Tell Fara I'm fine."
Fara…? Your sister?
"Yes." He nods. "I know she's there with you."
… no, she's not here.
Hun's eyes expanded.
"No?!"
No. Where did you hear her voice?
Hun reached Skippy: he pets the creature. Skippy no longer cries.
"Fara told me to become a Squid… and I suddenly found the strength!" He wears the bag.
But… I was the one that told you that. Even more than once.
"… it can't be…" He shakes his head, as he frowns. "I remember hearing her voice!"
Look, don't think about it now! There's another person approaching!
The boy quickly turns around, lifting his fists. He sees someone from a distance: the person is a humanoid Sea Urchin.