CHAPTER 5 : A Deal With the Devil
597 Words
The money felt heavier in my hand.
$2,550.
In just one day.
Raka and his friends were still frozen behind me.
Speechless.
Broken.
Good.
I walked away without looking back.
People like them—
Didn’t matter anymore.
“Not bad.”
That voice again.
I stopped.
Elina stood beside me now.
Closer than before.
“You adapt fast,” she said calmly.
I glanced at her.
“You observe too much.”
She smiled faintly.
“I prefer to call it… understanding patterns.”
Interesting.
For a moment, we walked in silence.
Side by side.
Then she suddenly said—
“Do you want to make more money?”
I stopped walking.
Slowly.
That question…
Was exactly what I wanted.
“How much?” I asked.
She didn’t hesitate.
“Ten thousand dollars.”
My eyes narrowed.
That wasn’t a small jump.
That was a leap.
“Explain.”
She looked straight ahead.
“There’s an underground auction tonight.”
Auction?
“Illegal?” I asked.
She smiled.
“Of course.”
I didn’t react.
Because honestly—
I didn’t care.
“If you play it right,” she continued, “you can multiply your money in one night.”
My system flickered.
[System Response]
High-risk opportunity detected
Potential reward: Extreme
Failure consequence: Severe loss
I smiled slightly.
“Sounds perfect.”
Elina finally looked at me.
For real this time.
“You’re either very confident…”
She paused.
“…or very stupid.”
“Why not both?” I replied calmly.
She laughed.
Soft.
Dangerous.
“Alright,” she said.
“Then let’s make a deal.”
I crossed my arms.
“Go on.”
“I bring you in,” she said.
“I guide you.”
“And in return?”
She stepped closer.
Very close.
“I take 30% of your profit.”
Silence.
Thirty percent.
That was not small.
But access—
Was everything.
I looked at her carefully.
Analyzing.
[System Analysis]
Target: Elina
Intelligence Level: High
Risk Factor: Unknown
Trust Probability: 62%
Not safe.
But not dangerous enough to reject.
“Deal,” I said.
Her lips curved slightly.
“Good.”
“Because after tonight…”
She turned and started walking.
“Your life won’t be normal anymore.”
I followed.
Without hesitation.
Because normal—
Was never my goal.
That night.
The city looked different.
Darker.
Colder.
We stopped in front of a building.
Luxury.
Hidden.
Guarded.
“This is it,” Elina said.
Two men stood at the entrance.
Big.
Serious.
“Invitation?” one of them asked.
Elina stepped forward.
Whispered something.
Their expressions changed.
Then—
They stepped aside.
“Welcome.”
I walked in.
And immediately—
I knew.
This place…
Was not for ordinary people.
Expensive suits.
Cold eyes.
Dangerous aura.
Money.
Power.
Secrets.
All in one room.
My system flickered again.
[Environment Analysis]
High-value zone detected
Multiple profit opportunities available
My lips slowly curled upward.
Finally.
The real game begins.
Then—
A voice echoed across the room.
“Next item—starting bid, $50,000.”
My eyes sharpened instantly.
This…
Was on a completely different level.
I glanced at Elina.
She smiled.
“Ready?”
I stared forward.
My heartbeat steady.
My mind sharp.
And for the first time—
I felt it.
Excitement.
“I was born ready.”
But then—
Something strange happened.
My system suddenly glitched.
[Warning…]
Unknown system detected nearby
Possible competitor identified
My expression froze.
Another…
System user?
Slowly—
I lifted my head.
Across the room—
A man was staring directly at me.
Smiling.
- Writer
