Chapter 18 - The Gym Full of Rich Cultivators
Vane Fitness Center had marble floors, biometric locks, and a smoothie that cost eighteen dollars.
Eli felt personally attacked by the smoothie.
He wore his QuickDrop jacket and carried the sealed supplement box.
His system displayed a route through the building.
[DELIVERY DESTINATION: BASEMENT B2]
[CAMERA BLIND SPOTS IDENTIFIED]
“How?” Eli whispered.
[PUBLIC FLOOR PLAN + BASIC INFERENCE. CALM DOWN.]
In the basement, he found a private training room.
Six college students were sparring.
Trevor Cross was among them.
Eli nearly dropped the package.
Trevor’s body had changed in two weeks.
More muscle.
Faster movement.
Purple veins visible near his neck.
[VOID STIMULANT USER DETECTED.]
Lucas entered from the far door.
“Delivery?”
Eli lowered his cap.
“Supplements.”
Lucas signed.
Then paused.
His eyes dropped to Eli’s shoes.
Eli remembered what Maya had told him.
Rich cultivators noticed details.
His shoes were the same cheap black sneakers he wore everywhere.
Lucas looked up.
“Take off the cap.”
Eli’s phone vibrated.
[STEALTH FAILURE IMMINENT.]
He did the only thing he could think of.
He pointed behind Lucas.
“Is that supposed to be smoking?”
Everyone turned.
Eli ran.
Alarms activated immediately.
He sprinted up the service stairs while two Qi Gathering cultivators chased him.
The Beggar’s Loop pulled energy from every step.
His lungs burned.
His legs did not slow.
At the lobby, he vaulted the front desk and hit the street.
A black SUV pulled beside him.
Maya opened the passenger door.
“GET IN!”
He dove inside.
Behind them, Lucas watched from the gym entrance.
He smiled.
Eli’s system flashed.
[INFILTRATION SUCCESS.]
Then:
May you like
[WARNING: LUCAS NOW KNOWS YOU KNOW.]
