Chapter 17 - The World's Worst Safe House
Ivy knew one place the Nine Houses would not search first.
A wedding chapel.
Specifically, one run by her uncle Raymond, who was not actually her uncle and had three warrants in two states.
"This is a safe house?" Mason asked.
Raymond looked up from repairing an animatronic Elvis.
"Safer than jail."
Tasha nodded. "Low bar."
Under the chapel was a hidden cultivation workshop filled with talismans, slot-machine parts, antique swords, and one espresso machine labeled DO NOT CULTIVATE NEAR THIS.
Raymond examined Lou's token.
His joking expression vanished.
"I haven't seen the Bankrupt Immortal's Chip in twenty years."
He explained Lou's true crime.
Lou had discovered the Nine Houses did not merely profit from luck.
They taxed it.
Every major city had Fate Wells collecting tiny amounts of fortune from millions of ordinary lives.
Promotions missed by inches.
Accidents that almost did not happen.
Lottery tickets one number off.
Enough stolen possibility to feed elite cultivators.
Mason's stomach turned.
"Can the Ledger return it?"
Raymond looked at him.
"If you become strong enough."
The system opened a hidden panel.
[FATE DEBT: 47,221 UNITS.]
Mason frowned. "Why do I owe that much?"
Raymond's face changed.
"You don't."
He touched the number.
"That's how much the city owes you."
---
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