Bully Lord

Part-21

**Mission 4: Convince Ryan to cooperate and help with weeding without resorting to fighting. Reward: (+2)INT**

**Penalty if Failed: Two wild dogs will chase you which are faster than you.

James blinked, his frustration momentarily forgotten. A new mission? And a terrifying penalty to boot!  Two wild dogs?  He wasn't sure which was more unsettling – the bizarre mission objective or the threat of being chased by angry canines.

He stared at the message, his mind racing. Fighting was clearly off the table. So, how could he convince Ryan to cooperate?  The reward, a potential increase in "INT," was tempting. Maybe a bit more intelligence could help him navigate this strange situation and understand the enigmatic Bully System better.

Taking a deep breath, James lowered his rake.  He needed a new approach. Force wouldn't work, but maybe a different tactic could yield better results.

The blue screen displaying the mission and its terrifying penalty mocked James. Resorting to violence was out of the question, but a simple request seemed unlikely to convince Ryan's belligerent attitude. James chewed on his lip, frustration mounting.

Suddenly, an idea sparked in his mind.  He wasn't sure if it would work, but it was worth a shot.  Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his phone and dialed Principal Byzed's office number.

The phone rang once, twice, then a gruff voice answered. "Principal Byzed speaking."

"Mr. Byzed, it's James," he said, his voice shaky but determined. "We're just starting the detention, but there's a problem."

"What kind of problem, James?" Byzed's voice held a hint of concern.

James glanced at Ryan, who was still leaning against the wall, looking bored and completely uncooperative.  Taking a deep breath, James decided on a slight exaggeration.

"Ryan… Ryan isn't pulling his weight," James said, trying to sound panicked. "He's just standing there refusing to help!"

There was a beat of silence on the other end of the line. Then, a low growl emanated from the phone's speaker. "Ryan! Is that true?" Byzed's voice boomed, sending a shiver down James' spine.

Ryan, who had been nonchalantly scuffing the dirt with his shoe, froze.  His eyes widened in a mixture of fear and disbelief.  He whipped his head towards James, his expression a mask of betrayal.

No! I was just… stretching!" Ryan stammered, grabbing a discarded rake with unnatural alacrity.  He lunged at the nearest patch of weeds, attacking them with a ferocity that bordered on manic.  Sweat beaded on his forehead as he ripped and tore at the overgrown plants, his movements jerky and uncoordinated.  It was as if he was possessed by the spirit of a champion weeder, determined to clear the entire backyard in record time.  James watched in amusement as Ryan hacked away at the weeds, muttering incoherently under his breath.  A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips.  Maybe there was a benefit to having Principal Byzed on his side, even if it meant resorting to a little white lie.

A surge of satisfaction washed over James. His daring plan, a desperate gamble, had paid off in spectacular fashion.  A triumphant fanfare echoed in his head, followed by the familiar blue screen notification:

**Mission Complete!**

**Reward: +2 INT**

**Current INT: 12**

James couldn't help but let out a small, satisfied chuckle.