Chapter 7 - I Accidentally Bought a $4,800 Ring for Five Bucks
Lucas Vane wore a designer coat, a silver watch, and the expression of a man who had never heard the word “no” without firing someone.
“Five hundred,” he repeated.
Eli looked at the ring.
Then at Lucas.
“Six thousand.”
Lucas laughed.
Maya covered a smile.
“You don’t know what you have,” Lucas said.
“Neither did the guy who sold Bitcoin for pizza.”
Lucas’s eyes narrowed.
His system panel appeared automatically.
[FACTION: VANE FOUNDATION]
[REPUTATION: HIGH]
[EGO: HIGHER]
Lucas offered one thousand.
Eli declined.
Two thousand.
Declined.
Three thousand.
Eli finally said, “I’m keeping it.”
Lucas leaned close.
“You’re new. That means you don’t understand how this world works.”
Eli’s phone vibrated.
[DEFIANCE EVENT DETECTED.]
[OPTION: SUBMIT TO SOCIAL PRESSURE.]
[OPTION: ANNOY HIM FURTHER.]
Eli smiled.
“I understand one thing.”
“What?”
“You really hate hearing no.”
Maya coughed to hide a laugh.
Lucas walked away with the expression of a man planning a tax audit.
The system chimed.
[DEFIANCE +5]
[STORAGE RING REPAIR QUEST UNLOCKED.]
It required three materials.
Two were cheap.
The third cost twelve hundred dollars.
Eli stared at the screen.
“Of course the magic ring has subscription fees.”
Maya crossed her arms.
“You need money.”
“I have fourteen dollars.”
She pointed toward a glowing board near the market exit.
Bounties.
Deliveries.
Spirit pest removal.
One listing paid $1,500.
Eli read the title.
SUBWAY TUNNEL CLEANING — LOW RISK.
Maya groaned.
May you like
“Those words are always a lie.”
