Chapter 5: Deals in the Dark
Adam's eyes scanned the new request, his mind already calculating the risks and rewards.
REQUEST: "EXPOSE POLITICAL CORRUPTION IN THE PRESIDENT. » READY TO PAY: 10 YEARS OF VITAL ENERGY. >
A tempting offer, but as always, the devil was in the details. Adam made the request, bringing additional information.
BACKGROUND: LOCAL JOURNALIST, AGE: 30. CLIENT REQUIRES DOCUMENTATION OF CORRUPTION AND PUBLIC DISCLOSURE TO OBTAIN THE OBJECTIVE. >
Adam smiled. "Ah, a whistleblower. A bold move. He pressed the trade option, his fingers moving over the glowing interface
SYSTEM MESSAGE:
"Your request is important and the proposed payment is reasonable, however, exposing the corruption will create enemies. Add 5 years if completed."> The answer came quickly.
RESPONSE:
"I can't afford more than 10 years. Please to think about it. This is crucial. »>
Adamu frowned. Ten years was generous, but the risk was real. He edited his message.
"If you can't afford more life energy, give me exclusive access to the information and all the benefits that come with it. The impact is as valuable as the years."
There was a pause before the system displayed the client's response.
RESPONSE:
"Agreed. Exclusive access is yours. '>
Adam smiled, confirming the conditions.
ACCEPTED. THE BEGINNING OF DESIRE. .. >
He leaned back, closing his eyes as the system hummed with power. "Expose the corruption in the municipality."
The air stirred, a thin tension appearing before dissipating. Some damning documents and evidence of corruption would emerge, brought to the public eye by forces beyond Adam's understanding.
COMPLETE. 10 YEARS OF LIFE ENERGY AND EXCLUSIVE ACCESS DATED. ENERGY REMAINING: 1 YEAR, 18 MONTHS. >
A glow of satisfaction came over him as he considered the possibilities. Media influence? What was power.
---
Night fell and another request was heard.
REQUEST: "FIND MISSING SISTER." READY TO PAY: 4 MONTHS OF VITAL ENERGY. >
Adam frowned. The payment was insignificant, but something about the request appealed to him. He went into detail.
CLIENT: LOW-INCOME WORKER, LIFE EXPECTANCY: 40 YEARS. His sister has been held for two weeks. CLIENT DEMANDS TO BE RELOCATED AND RETURNED TO SAFETY. >
"System, does fulfilling this wish involve direct threats?" Adamu asked.
NEARBY THREAT DETECTED. DESIRE INCLUDES LOCATION AND REVIEW SECURITY. >
He considered negotiating, but decided against it. He realized that some desires were worth fulfilling for something other than energy.
"System, accept the request," Adam said.
ACCEPTED. THE BEGINNING OF DESIRE. .. >
"Find and ensure the safe return of the client's sister. »
The humming system, its invisible mechanisms deployed. Adam felt a slight surge of energy as the desire took shape.
COMPLETE. 4 MONTHS OF ENERGY ADDED TO YOUR BALANCE. ENERGY REMAINING: 1 YEAR, 22 MONTHS. >
Adam exhaled, a feeling of calm satisfaction settling over him. Not every deal has to be big: sometimes small changes can make a big difference more important than expected.
---
Another notification appeared, the system is still frozen.
REQUEST: "REVENGE FOR MY FAMILY. » READY TO PAY: 25 YEARS OF VITAL ENERGY. >
Adam's heart skipped a beat. Twenty-five years? The stakes of this question would be high. He dug into the details, eager to understand what he was getting into.
BACKGROUND: GOOD GANG MEMBER, LIFE EXPECTANCY: 50 YEARS. OBJECTIVES OF THE CLIM: RIVAL GANG RESPONSIBILITY FOR A DEATH IN THE FAMILY. THE DEMAND INCLUDES THE ELIMINATION OF ALL RESPONSIBLES. >
Adam stared at the words, realizing the enormity of the desire. This was not about justice, but about bloody revenge.
He pressed the negotiation button.
NEGOTIATION MESSAGE:
"Your request requires a lot of energy and resources. Add another 10 years to the payment or limit the scope of your request to the primary author only. '>
The response took longer than usual.
Response:
"I could offer 30 years, but I want everything gone. No exceptions. '> Adam leaned forward, hands clasped. Thirty years was an amazing amount of time, enough to secure his power for the foreseeable future. But fulfilling this wish meant going further into the darkness. He took a deep breath in a loud voice. "System, accept the terms."
ACCEPTED. THE BEGINNING OF DESIRE. .. >
« Eliminate the rival gang responsible for the death of the client's family, - Adam ordered in a cold tone.
The energy of the system rose, fierce and merciless. Somewhere the desire developed, its consequences spreading through the city like a storm.
REQUEST. 30 YEARS OF VITAL ENERGY ADDED TO YOUR BALANCE. ENERGY REMAINING: 4 YEARS, 22 MONTHS. >
Adam sat in the dark silence of his room, the weight of his choices weighing on him. The system was not just a tool, it was a weapon, and it dealt with increasing precision.