Matthew stood on the central platform in the Court of Hell. Caught between the devil and, well, the Devil.
He was mulling over his choices, his brain working at Mach 3. 'I mean, a penthouse in Hell with all the fancy stuff? I could lounge around in jacuzzies all day, play all the latest video games, enjoy unlimited snacks or do all at the same time!! It's like a eternal vacation. Until, of course, you know, my expiration date hits.' he pondered.
'But then again,' he hesitated, scratching his head, 'the second option is pretty sweet too.' His mind flashed back to his childhood dream again, of being the big boss in the city. If Lucifer could zap him to another world, drop him in a powerful position, that would be the jackpot of a different kind.
As Matthew continued to wrestle with his decision, Lucifer grew impatient, he threw in a sarcastic remark, "Come on, Matthew, I don't have all eternity here... well, technically I do, but you get my drift. I have other things to do. Souls to torture, Judgements to pass....."
In the grand scheme of things, Matthew's inner turmoil was just a blip in Lucifer's schedule. The devil tapped his fingers, amusement evident in his eyes, waiting for Matthew to decide.
Then Matthew, with newfound determination, faced Lucifer and declared, "Your Majesty Lucifer, I gratefully accept your second offer. As for my wish, please grant me an extremely powerful position in that world's society."
Lucifer raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by Matthew's choice. Apparently, he hadn't anticipated someone passing up the fiery jacuzzi for a shot at a grander life. He leaned back in his throne, a sly smile playing on his lips. "Ah, so you're not one for eternal debauchery, are you, Matthew? Interesting choice."
However, a realization dawned on him – Matthew might not be privy to the fine print of this devilish deal. Lucifer cleared his throat with a theatrical flair. "Ah, pardon my negligence, my dear Matthew," he said, gesturing to the demon named Squeed. "Let's go over the terms and conditions, shall we?"
"Squeed, do enlighten our eager friend here," Lucifer commanded.
Squeed, the demon with a air of bureaucracy, cleared his throat and began reciting the formal mandate of conditions.
"Firstly, your age, gender, and appearance remain as is. We're not in the business of extreme makeovers, though a bit of supernatural touch-up is within our power," Squeed began, his demon eyes glinting mischievously.
"And, Secondly," Squeed continued, "you'll be a nonexistent character in this parallel world. No altering timelines or rewriting history. We're powerful, but we're not rewriting the entire script of reality."
There were a few other non-relevant conditions. (Which we will not mention.)
Lucifer, with an air of fake surprise, turned to Matthew. "Well, my dear, it seems your wish for societal supremacy is a bit out of my jurisdiction. Dad wouldn't be too thrilled if I started meddling with ongoing realities. He tends to... frown upon that."
"So, what else tickles your fancy, Matthew?" Lucifer inquired.
Matthew scratched his head, pondering an alternative. "Then give me the tools to become powerful. Like a system, you know, like those protagonists get?" he suggested, his eyes glinting with eagerness.
"Systems?" Lucifer repeated, visibly confused. "What on Earth—or Hell—are you talking about?"
Squeed, the diligent demon, stepped forward, attempting to clarify. " My Lord, its like a interface bestowed upon the person to help them grow and achieve their goals. It's a common trope in Earth's fictional literature."
Lucifer, however, misunderstood, thinking of something entirely different. "Ah, like a diet system! Helping you grow and achieve your goal, perhaps?"
Squeed sighed, trying once more to explain, "No, my Lord, not a diet system. He means a systematic structure defining his abilities and progress, like in those cultivation novels."
Lucifer, still not grasping the concept, chuckled, "Cultivation novels? Are we talking about demonic gardening again now, Squeed? I told you already, it seems a bit niche, even for us."
Squeed persisted, "No, Your Majesty. Not 'demonic gardening'. It's more like a progression or quest roadmap, guiding the person to success.."
Lucifer scratched his head, still perplexed. "Ah, a GPS system! Leading you to power with turn-by-turn directions, how convenient!"
Squeed facepalmed, realizing Lucifer's knack for confusion. "No, Your Majesty, not a GPS system. It's a metaphysical concept—"
And the explanation continued, with Lucifer continually muddling the concept with various interpretations. After a series of comical misunderstandings, Lucifer finally grasped the idea of a system, much to Squeed's relief and Matthew's amusement.
After some time Lucifer's eyes widened in sudden realization. "Ah, a system! Like a cosmic rewards program! Now I get it. Matthew, your wish is granted. A system it is! But do we have those lying around, Squeed?"
Squeed scratched his demonic horns, pondering for a moment. "My Lord, we don't have one, but I can certainly create a tailor-made system for Matthew's journey."
Lucifer, pleased with the solution, declared, "Perfect! Matthew, my friend, you're in luck. You shall receive the most advanced and professional system for your quest to power on [ Earth #1951844 ]. It's practically divine craftsmanship - or demonic craftsmanship you would say."
Matthew's eyes widened with a mix of excitement and confusion. "A system? Really?"
Lucifer nodded, "Absolutely. Now, as a little compensation for my earlier negligence, I'm willing to alter your appearance to your preference. Any requests?"
Matthew thought for a moment, then replied, "Well, yes your Majesty, alter it a little bit to match the local population. I don't want to stand out like an alien, you know?"
Lucifer chuckled, "Fair enough. Squeed, handle the details. Make him blend in, but with a touch of demonic flair. We wouldn't want him to be too ordinary now, do we?"
With a wave of Lucifer's hand and a few demonic incantations muttered by Squeed, the transformation began. Matthew could feel the subtle shifts, and when it was complete, he found himself standing on the threshold of a new adventure.
Lucifer, with a devilish grin, announced, "Matthew, your journey awaits on [ Earth #1951884 ]. Enjoy the perks of your system, and may your path to power be entertaining!"
And with that, Matthew, equipped with his newfound system and a slightly altered appearance, was sent on his way to explore the mysteries of [ Earth #1951844 ].
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Matthew opened his eyes to a desolate urban alley, where flickering neon lights struggled to pierce the gloom of approaching dusk. Dilapidated buildings loomed on either side, their windows shattered and graffiti covering every inch of exposed brick. Trash danced in the occasional gust of wind, and the air was thick with an eerie silence.
The distant hum of the city reached his ears, a symphony of urban life echoing through the narrow passage. Suddenly, a subtle chime resonated in his head -
[ Initializing.... ]
[ Welcome, Host, Matthew Marshall, to the 'Ultimate Mafia System' ].
[ You are now part of the intricate web of power and deceit that governs the criminal underworld. Your journey to become the ultimate Underworld Godfather begins ]
Matthew smiled knowingly, a smile of excitement clear on his face.