Chapter 2 - A System That Insulted Him
The blue screen followed Mason all the way to the bus stop.
He waved at it.
It stayed.
He closed one eye.
Still there.
He held up the black token.
[BOUND ITEM: BANKRUPT IMMORTAL'S CHIP]
[GRADE: UNKNOWN]
[FUNCTION: CONVERTS RECLAIMED FORTUNE INTO CULTIVATION RESOURCES.]
"Reclaimed from who?"
[ANSWER COST: 10 FORTUNE POINTS.]
Mason checked his status.
[FORTUNE POINTS: 0]
"Of course. Even hallucinations have microtransactions."
A quest appeared.
[EARN $100 BEFORE SUNRISE.]
[NO GAMBLING. NO BORROWING. NO THEFT.]
[REWARD: 1 COPPER FATE MERIDIAN.]
[FAILURE: THE HOUSE WILL NOTICE YOU.]
Sunrise was less than four hours away.
Mason considered selling his phone, but the screen immediately flashed red.
[SELLING ESSENTIAL PROPERTY COUNTS AS LIQUIDATION, NOT EARNING. NICE TRY.]
"You're rude."
[CORRECT.]
At 2:41 a.m., a drunk bachelor party stumbled from a rideshare and offered Mason twenty bucks to find a lost wedding ring somewhere near the casino fountain.
The Ledger lit up.
[ODDS SIGHT UNLOCKED — TEMPORARY TRIAL.]
Thin silver lines appeared across Mason's vision.
Most ended nowhere.
One led directly beneath a parked limo.
Mason reached under the tire and pulled out a gold ring.
The groom screamed with relief and handed him a hundred-dollar bill.
[SIDE CONDITION MET: VALUE CREATED WITHOUT GAMBLING.]
[QUEST COMPLETE.]
Pain stabbed through Mason's chest.
A new line of warmth opened beneath his ribs.
[COPPER FATE MERIDIAN: 1/9.]
Then every surveillance camera on the casino wall turned toward him at once.
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