Keon leaned back slightly, crossing his arms with a smirk. "Believe it or not, isn't that possible?" he said casually, tilting his head. "Maybe I'm just built different."
Victor Jhon didn't look amused. His sharp gaze remained locked onto Keon, analyzing every word, every twitch of his expression. The room's cold, sterile hum filled the silence between them.
Victor Jhon exhaled through his nose, his expression unreadable. "For now, we don't mind your background," he said, his tone firm but measured. "What matters is what you can do."
He took a step closer, his gaze unwavering. "And that's why we have a proposal for you."
Keon raised an eyebrow, leaning slightly forward. "Oh? Let me guess—early retirement with a beachfront house?" He smirked. "Or do I get a 'join us or else' speech?"
Victor didn't react to the joke. "Nothing that dramatic," he said. "But we're offering you something that benefits both sides."
Keon's smirk lingered, but his mind sharpened. "Alright, I'll bite," he said. "What exactly are you offering?"
"Work for us"
Keon raised an eyebrow. "Work for you? And what exactly do I get out of this? A better bed?" He gestured to the futuristic yet oddly uncomfortable-looking one behind him.
Victor Jhon smirked slightly, unfazed by Keon's sarcasm. "You'll receive proper training, access to high-grade equipment, and protection under SVD—Silvent Vanguard Division. You'll also gain legal immunity for your past actions, along with classified intel that most can only dream of seeing. We take care of our own."
Keon leaned back slightly, processing the information. "So, I'd be getting VIP treatment instead of being treated like some lab rat? Tempting, but what's the catch?"
Victor's smirk faded, his expression growing serious. "The catch is simple. You follow orders. The SVD is Silvent City's elite force, handling threats that normal authorities can't. If you join, you'll be expected to take on missions—some of which will push you to your limits. And considering what we've seen from you, we know you're capable."
Keon exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Right. So, I'd be a well-equipped errand boy with cool gadgets? Sounds thrilling." He shot Victor a playful grin. "And if I say no?"
Victor's eyes narrowed slightly. "Then you walk out of here with nothing—no protection, no resources, and a whole city still wondering how you suddenly 'teleported' miles away from your last known location."
Keon clicked his tongue. "Well, when you put it like that..."
Keon leaned back slightly, crossing his arms as something clicked in his mind.
"Wait a damn second—"
His eyes narrowed, and he snapped his fingers, pointing at Victor Jhon.
"What about payment?" Keon asked, tilting his head. "I mean, sure, top-secret organizations, shadowy proposals, all that fancy stuff… but if I'm risking my life, I'm gonna need more than just a 'good job, soldier.'"
Victor Jhon smirked but said nothing, waiting.
Esprian Celves—The Currency of the World
Keon's mind wandered for a brief moment, his memories flashing back to a time before everything went to hell—before the Rift, before the chaos.
He had never been the type to care much about economics, but living as an underground criminal in Silvent City meant knowing how money worked—especially when you barely had any.
The Esprian Celves (₠) was the global standard, used by every major city and territory. It wasn't just money—it was power. Those who controlled Celves controlled everything.
He remembered an old dealer in a shady back alley once telling him:
"Kid, listen up. You wanna survive in this world? Forget morals, forget loyalty—just chase Celves. Everything else is an illusion."
It came in multiple forms:
Quantum Credit Chips (QCCs) – Used by corporations and high-ranking officials, untraceable and secure.
Neural Wallet Transfers – The everyday person's go-to method, embedded in IDs and linked to their Espria Signature.
Esprian Coins – Physical currency infused with Espria-sensitive alloys, making them resistant to counterfeiting.
Black Celves – Off-the-record, untraceable, and highly illegal. Used by mercenaries, rogue Espira users, and crime syndicates.
But there was another currency—MicroCelves (₥₠)—a smaller unit of Esprian Celves.
Unlike Celves, which were tied to larger transactions and long-term investments, MicroCelves were used for everyday purchases and instant exchanges. They held less value but were far more common.
1₠ Esprian Celve = 100₥₠ MicroCelves
Used in automated payments, Espria-infused devices, street trading, and short-term contracts.
Unlike Celves, MicroCelves didn't hold long-term stability, fluctuating based on Espria flow and energy surges.
Keon had once held a 5000₠ Esprian Coin, a prize from a particularly dangerous job. The heavy coin had intricate Espria runes carved into its surface. It had barely lasted a week before he had to spend it all on survival.
And now, here he was—being offered a job by a government-level organization. If they thought he was working for free, they were out of their damn minds.
Back to the Present
Keon refocused, raising an eyebrow at Victor.
"So? How much are we talking? I'm assuming this is more than just minimum wage, right?"
Victor Jhon smirked, shaking his head.
"You're not worth that much yet, kid," he said, arms crossed. "But we can offer you 20,000₠ a month. After that, you prove your worth, and we'll talk about higher demands."
Keon squinted, tapping his chin. 20,000 Esprian Celves? That sounded decent… maybe?
His mind drifted back to his past life, trying to recall how much a military soldier made per month. He was a gaming teenager, not an economist, but still—he gave it a shot.
"Alright, let's see… military salaries… uh… wasn't it like… 3k? 4k? No, wait—was that per week or month?"
He frowned. "Or was that just in some countries? And didn't higher ranks get way more? But then again, video game soldiers were usually broke, so—"
The mental math crashed and burned instantly.
"Damn it. Should've paid more attention to real-world stuff."
With a sigh, Keon gave up and shrugged, looking back at Victor.
"Fine, fine—20K sounds fair… for now."
Victor Jhon smirked, nodding.
"Then I'll assume you agree."
Before Keon could say anything, a sudden purple glow flickered in the air beside Victor's hand—like space itself was being torn apart and stitched back together in an instant.
With a soft whoosh, a contract materialized in his grip, as if it had just teleported into existence. The paper shimmered faintly, runes of unknown origin pulsing along its edges like veins of light.
Victor held it up casually, letting the glow fade as if this was the most normal thing in the world.
"All that's left now is your signature."
Keon squinted at the glowing contract, then crossed his arms.
"Can I read?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Victor Jhon let out a short chuckle. "Do you think we'd hand you something without letting you?"
Keon shrugged. "I dunno. You guys did throw me into a death match with a robot without warning, so excuse me for double-checking."
Victor simply gestured toward the contract, waiting.
Keon exhaled, reaching for it. "Alright, let's see what kind of soul-binding, lifetime servitude deal this is…"
Here's what Keon sees as he scans through the contract:
---
SVD Contract – Operative Keon
Benefits & Compensation:
Base Salary: 20,000₠ per month.
Performance-Based Raise: Salary increases based on mission success, efficiency, and overall contribution.
Bonus System: Additional pay for high-risk assignments, classified operations, and special achievements.
Full Protection: Under the direct jurisdiction of the Silvent Vanguard Division (SVD)—allies and dependents receive security from external threats.
Exclusive Access: Operatives gain access to classified SVD resources, including training facilities, research labs, and state-of-the-art technology.
Medical & Recovery: Full coverage for injuries, enhancements, and Esperia stabilization treatments.
---
Terms of Service:
Obligation: The operative agrees to follow all given assignments under the SVD's command structure.
Loyalty Clause: Disclosing classified SVD information to external parties is strictly prohibited.
Termination of Service: Upon resignation or dismissal, the operative's Esperia status will be reevaluated for potential risks to national security.
Contract Duration: Until deemed unnecessary by the SVD.
---
Keon stopped reading.
His eyes flicked back to that last line.
"Until deemed unnecessary by the SVD."
He reread it. Then again.
He slowly looked up at Victor Jhon. "Hold up… what exactly does 'until deemed unnecessary' mean?"
Victor Jhon met Keon's gaze with a calm, unreadable expression. He tapped the glowing contract lightly with his fingers before speaking.
"It means exactly what it says, kid," Victor said. "As long as you're useful to the SVD, you'll remain under contract. When you're no longer necessary, the contract is voided."
Keon narrowed his eyes. "Voided how, exactly? Do I just get a handshake and a 'thanks for your service,' or are we talking something more… permanent?"
Victor smirked slightly but didn't answer immediately. Instead, he leaned forward, voice steady.
"We're not in the business of throwing away assets, Keon. But let's be real—you're an unknown variable. A powerful one. If you become a liability, the SVD will take necessary precautions. However," he emphasized, "as long as you prove your worth, you won't have to worry about that. The more value you bring, the more freedom and benefits you'll have."
Keon clicked his tongue, glancing back at the contract. "So basically, I work for you guys until you decide I don't. That's kinda messed up."
Victor chuckled. "Welcome to the real world, kid."