Bully Lord

Part-121

Intrigued, James waited for Ryan to continue.

"Remember those online scams we were talking about?" Ryan asked, his voice serious. "Well, it seems like they're getting worse."

James nodded, his mind racing. "Yeah, I heard about the girl who got scammed today," he replied.

"It's not just that," Ryan said, his voice filled with concern. "I've been doing some research, and it seems like there's a pattern to these scams. They're targeting students, mostly those who are new to online shopping."

A sense of urgency grew within James. This wasn't just a random occurrence; it was a calculated attack on vulnerable targets.

As James and Ryan discussed the growing problem of online scams, a sudden notification from the System interrupted their conversation. A holographic screen materialized in front of James, displaying the details of a new mission.

**Mission 18: Investigate the online scammer within 7 days.**

**Reward: +5 Wisdom**

**Penalty for failure: You will get slapped by Toya publicly due to a huge misunderstanding.**

James' eyebrows shot up in surprise. A new mission, and a particularly challenging one at that. The reward, an increase in Wisdom, was tempting, but the penalty was downright terrifying. Being slapped by Toya in public was not something he wanted to experience.

He glanced at Ryan, who was oblivious to the holographic display. James knew he had to be careful. The System had a habit of throwing unexpected challenges, and this one could potentially have serious consequences.

Taking a deep breath, James focused on the task at hand. He had three days to investigate the online scammer, uncover their identity, and hopefully bring them to justice. It was a daunting task, but one he was determined to complete. After all, the fate of countless students depended on it.

James turned to Ryan, his expression serious. "Any clues?" he asked, his voice low.

Ryan shook his head, his face etched with frustration. "None," he replied, his voice filled with disappointment. "I've tried everything, but I can't find anything."

James nodded in understanding. This was going to be a difficult investigation. They were dealing with a skilled scammer, someone who knew how to cover their tracks.

"We need to start from scratch," James said, his voice filled with determination. "Let's break down the problem and tackle it step by step."

Ryan nodded in agreement. "We can start by gathering information from the victims," he suggested. "Maybe we can find a pattern, something that connects all the cases."

"And we need to be careful," James added. "We don't want to attract the scammer's attention."

Ryan agreed, a serious expression on his face. "We'll meet after school," he said. "We can shorten our Judo practice and focus on this investigation."

As they walked towards the cafeteria for lunch, James couldn't shake the feeling that they were on the brink of something big.

After a grueling Judo session that left them both pleasantly exhausted, James and Ryan settled into a booth at their usual haunt, a small hole-in-the-wall restaurant known for its greasy burgers and bottomless fries. Wiping sweat from his brow, James glanced at Ryan.  "We should order first before the after-school rush hits," he suggested, grabbing a worn menu.