GENESYS

TWENTY ONE

“Alright, We’ll get it done as soon as your payment had been processed,” Clare said nonchalantly.

Leon is elated, after all this is over,  he wouldn't have to worry about those bastard of Hell's Lending ever again.

“I wouldn't celebrate so soon if I were you, although we are good at our job we do charge a lot,” Clare said, bringing Leon's attention back to reality.

“How much?” Leon asked.

Clare raises her pointing finger. “1 Million” 

“No problem” Although it's a lot higher than he was expecting, the price is still worth it if it means that he would have a peace of mind. 

Leon grabs a pen and was about to write a check when Clare spoke again. “Each, a million for every person we kill.”

Leon hand stop. "Isn't that a little excessive?"

"That's our price Mr. White, either you take it or leave it," Clare said, sipping a glass of margarita.

Leon thought for a second. 'It doesn’t matter if I had to sell my soul, one way or the other, I'll have to get that money. No one can threaten my family and just walk away with it.

“I’ll get the money,” He said.

Seeing the determination in his eyes, Clare smiles.“We'll do some investigation first and send you a list of targets. Once you send us the payment, we will go for the kill.”

“Thanks, can you also send someone to protect my family until this whole situation is taken care of?”

“You might be having the wrong expression of us Mr. White, We’re an assassin organization. We kill people, not protect them.” Clare chuckled, sending a signal to Leon. 

Leon sigh. “How much?”

“3 million per month, a million for each of your family members, we'll even throw in your father as a bonus,” Clare said with a smile.

“Thanks, I’ll transfer the three million tomorrow.” Although it was a bit much and would derail his revenge. His priority is protecting his family, he can settle his score later.  

“Oh, quite decisive, I like that with the man hehehe.” 

Clare walks toward Leon and sat on his lap. She then wraps her arm around his neck, kissing his lips.

Seeing that he was in a dangerous position, Leon decided to stand up and walk away before he does something he would regret. “Have a nice day Ms. Clare, I hate to go but I have to get going now.”

But before he could walk away, however, Clare hugs him in the back, stopping him in his tracks. “Why don’t you sleep here for the night? I can help you warm your bed,” she whispers. 

Having such a beautiful woman act so provocative around him, Leon can’t help but shudder. “No need, I have a plane to catch,” he said, avoiding eye contact.

“That's too bad, If you change your mind, call me,” Clare said bitting Leon's ear as she put her phone number on his pants.

As Clare breast presses on Leon's back, his face turns red and his whole body stiffens. 

Seeing him so fluster, Clare can't help but softly chuckle. 

After having her fun, she finally let go of Leon and walked back to the bar as if nothing happens.

"Did I get hit on?" Leon said stunned, unsure of what just happened.

……

When Leon arrived home, it was already the morning of the next day.

He sees Ems waiting for him on the couch with her arms cross.

“Where have you been bro?” She said with a pout.

‘The f*ck is this? It feels like I’m being scolded by my mother’ Leon though, looking at Ems dumbfounded.

“Just a business trip.”

Ems look at his brother skeptic. “Sis Anna called, she said you are selling the Cafe. Why?” 

“Business is not doing good so I figure, why bother," Leon said, avoiding Ems's eyes, afraid that her sister might discover the truth. 

“Do you think I’m a child? When is your cafe business good?” She said with a harrumph.

‘Yes, you are so stop acting like my mother.’ Leon thought to himself but afraid to say it out loud.

Seeing that his sister would not stop nagging him if he didn’t give her a good reason, he decided to partially tell her the truth.

“Well the thing is I started playing Genesys again and I decided to put 100% of my attention to it like last time”

“But why sell? Do we lack money? I and Val can sell our stuff.”

“Never! We don’t lack money and we never will. We’ll talk about it later. I’m tired I’m going to go to sleep.” Leon snap.

Surprised that her brother suddenly got angry, Ems didn’t fry anymore and decided to just tell Val to be more frugal from now on.

‘I guess this means there's no more donating to my prince Eric's stream.’ Ems thought dejectedly.

….

When Leon woke up it was already the afternoon, he looks at his watch, and it's 3:00 PM. ‘Plenty of time before the trade.’

“Ring! Ring! Ring!” His phone rang. 

After answering it, Leon is surprised to find it was Anna who is calling him.

“Heard you got angry with your little sister yesterday. What's really going on with you?”

“We already broke up Anna, It’s none of your business”

“They're like my sister too so it's also my problem,” Anna said in a glaring voice.

“Alright, Alright, it’s nothing. I’m just tired that's all, I would apologize later. It's why you call?”

“I already found a buyer for the Caffe, they are willing to pay 10 Million for the property.”

Hearing what Anna said Leon almost jumped to the floor with joy, thankfully he manages to hold himself. ‘With this, I would have about 2 months of breathing room.’

“Hello, Are you still there? You're not having any second though are you?”

“No, no, no, no. I’m just surprised how you manage to pull that off, if I’m not mistaken I only use 5 million to buy that property.”

“You know how good I am,” Anna said smugly.

“Yeah, Yeah, I know that's why I love you.”

“What? What did you say?”

‘Crap!’ Realizing that he might have said something stupid, Leon quickly end the conversation and hang up.

“I said a great job, I’ll leave everything to you, bye. Thanks again”

Leon wiped the sweat on his forehead. ‘Hooo, that was close, I can believe I blur something like that. I almost lost 10 million because of my stupidity.’

On the other side of the line. Anna has her hand in her chest. “I love you too, dummy” 

.......

11:57 at a secluded spot in Mt. Seranide a handsome man is sitting beside a tree. The man is not wearing armor nor ordinary clothes but something fit for a king. He has golden rings on every finger in his hand and a necklace with a big diamond in the middle that perfectly complements his blond hair. 

The man is happily counting his gold coins when suddenly a notification pops up right in front of his face. As he reads its content he can’t help but show a big grin. 

[Kill the enemy of the world]

Kill Leon White the enemy of the world and you would have the riches you desire.

Reward: 5,000,000 gold, World inhabitant +20 favorability 

Failure: World inhabitant favorability -50

When the clock struck 12:00 another man came out in one of the tree shadows and walked at the man sitting in the tree.

"Long time no see, Moneybags."  Leon waves at the man sitting on the tree. 

He and the man called Moneybags goes way back. They have known each other since the beginning of the game. Moneybags is a merchant and Leon is his best customer. 

Even back when Genesys is still on its close beta. Moneybags was already a merchant but unlike any other merchant who avoids bandits and red players, Moneybags welcomes them. He is the leader of Genesys' largest black market before Leon retires. 

"Yeah, it has been a long time. What are you been up to? You seem different." Moneybags said, offering Leon a drink. 

"I just came out of retirement." Leon chuckle "It's great to see the face of money again." 

Hearing Leon complements moneybags laugh.

"I heard you make a killing on your deal with Eric, I thought you'll never come back."

"There's nothing I can do about that, I needed some money" Leon said dejectedly.

"Figures, so what business do you have for me?" Moneybags asked, placing a luxurious blanket in the ground.

Leon swipes his hand and 100 dwarves crafted swords lay down on the ground. 

Seeing so many high-quality weapons, Moneybags was shocked. And then he suddenly thought of something and he smiles. "There are rumors that dwarves' weapons had been spotted in the battle for Ganiyu Village, so I'm guessing you're the mastermind of all of that."

Leon didn't confirm nor deny Moneybags allegation. "So how much for all this?"

"Do you want gold or the usual?" Moneybags asked.

"I don't need gold. Just transferred the money to my account."

"Mhmm. Dwarves' weapons are pretty rare although this is just normal weapons it would sell for a lot. All of this ahmmmm. 2 million. I'll transfer you the amount."

Leon is shocked he didn't expect that it would sell for that much. If it was in the past he would be lucky if got 2000 for them. 

Moneybags understand Leon surprised and decided to explain it for old time's sake. "Genesys has changed a lot since you left. When the first player successfully acquires a territory, people saw the real value of the game. Advertisement, sales, real state, tax, suddenly everyone wants a piece of the pie, major corporations started pouring funds to obtain their own. Not long after, minor corporations and even rich entrepreneurs follow." 

"Genesys' value skyrocketed like never before. Items price increased about 100 times. Many players started getting hired and being paid high salaries. Very soon Genesys has been dub humanities second home."

"Is not really that shocking if you asked me, because of Genesys 4x time dilation, I would not be surprised if people started living here and with the invention of gaming pods that future may not be that far of."

Leon listens intently to Moneybag's explanation. Ever since he retired, he avoided everything that has a connection in Genesys as he didn't want to recall all those disgusting memories. He didn't regret the opportunity he'd lost by retiring as he enjoyed every minute he had spent with his family. If not for him needing money, he would never have come back even if he'd been offered a ton of money. 

After his explanation Moneybags look at Leon with a little sadness in his eyes."Hey, Leon, you know this is just business right, no hard feelings?"

Leon already knows what Moneybags is getting at. "Yeah, no hard feelings."

Ever since coming here, he had already noticed that someone is observing him, if he didn't know Moneybag's personality, he would not proceed with the deal. He knew that although Moneybags is a scumbag, he has a principle, he always finishes the deal first. 

"White, we met again," Zeus said. 

Leon looked at the Gods of Pantheon as if he was meeting his old friends. "Yeah, I see you're still looking pretty loaded" 

Zeus smirk, his body is glowing with shining orange color. It was apparent that he was fully equipped with epic items from head to toe and he's arrogant enough to not hide it.

"You should have stayed retired." He said, staring at Leon like he was looking at a bug.

Leon might not like the feeling but he can't do anything about it.

Although Zeus is an arrogant prick, he has the strength to back it up. He also brought his twelve Gods of Pantheon with him.

The twelve God of Pantheon is among the strongest player in Genesys, they both have the controls and items to be called the best. Anyone of them has the strength to crush Leon in a blink of an eye.

"I want that too but someone needs to make money," Leon said, shaking his head.

Although he was in front of one of his greatest enemies, he didn't feel anything. This is not because he has a trick on his sleeve like before but because he already knows he was going to die. 

He removes his armor and straightens his posture.

"Are you kidding me, the great White is going to surrender?" Hermes, one of the 12 God of  Pantheon said. 

Leon ignores the fool and looks at Moneybags who sold him out. He neither feels disgusted nor hatred for the latter as he knows everything is just business, if put in the same situation he would probably do the same. He even feels quite thankful as the latter honor the deal without a contract. 

"Inventory" Without his armor to weigh him down he quickly retrieves a spear in his inventory and tosses it toward Zeus' head. 

Seeing the upcoming spear Zeus just smirk, a forcefield made of lightning appear around him disintegrating the spear. 

The spear made by dwarves, who can easily kill an Lv.100 LZT player is just gone as simple as that. 

Leon is not surprised, he already knows attacking is pointless, he just doesn't want to die without a fight. 

"Figures"

With a sad look on his face, Zeus sight "Oh, how the great White had fallen." 

"You know I'll come and kill you right?" Leon said, irritated by Zeus' haughty attitude. 

"You can try but you will die."

"Wrath of God", A giant thunderbolt descended in the clear blue sky and quickly turns Leon into dust. 

"He is serious, you know that?" Moneybags said to Zeus.

"Don't worry Pantheon will protect you and your organization."

"You better."

Hermes is irritated by the Moneybags' attitude and can't help but interjected  "Stop your worrying, the fairy already told us that White character would be deleted every time he died and he can neither alter his username and appearance. We just have to keep killing him before he gets stronger."

Zeus tap Moneybags shoulder "Hermes is right, to prove our sincerity Pantheon will issue bounty for Whites head."

"I'll even issue a public statement destroying White's name. Everyone on Genesys would be looking for him, let see if he can survive then."

"Is that a little overkill?" Athena, One of the Gods of Pantheon said. 

Everyone is also thinking the same thing except for Moneybags. In everyone present, he's the one who knows White the most. 

'Is that enough?’

….

On Leon's screen a notification popped up and he was forced to log out.

[You have died]

[Your character has been deleted]