Chapter 4: Guild Member Zero & A Dangerous Plan
The ding of the Guild System notification was almost anticlimactic, yet Adam felt a surge of triumph that made his breath catch. He was holed up in a dusty, abandoned motel room a few miles outside Puente Antiguo, watching the news reports of the 'meteorological event' and 'unidentified flying objects.'
[Guild Invitation Accepted: Jeremy!]
[New Guild Member: Jeremy. Loyalty: 85%]
[Congratulations! Guild Member Zero recruited!]
"Yes!" Adam pumped a fist into the air, a wide, genuine grin spreading across his face. "Jeremy! You beautiful, disillusioned soul! Eighty-five percent loyalty right off the bat, too! That's a good sign. Looks like my little pep talk resonated."
The "Members" tab on his interface now displayed Jeremy's name, a green 85% next to it. Clicking on it brought up Jeremy's individual attribute screen and a nascent skill list. Nothing impressive yet, mostly basic combat and tactical skills from his SHIELD training. But that would change.
Adam immediately went to work. This wasn't just about collecting members; it was about empowering them and leveraging their skills.
"Alright, Jeremy," Adam muttered, mentally composing his first assigned mission. He needed eyes and ears within SHIELD, and a source of early GP.
[New Mission Created: Operation 'Clean Sweep']
[Objective: Observe SHIELD protocols at the Puente Antiguo Destroyer crash site. Identify and salvage any alien technology overlooked by SHIELD. Discretion is paramount.]
[Reward: Variable GP based on intel quality and salvaged tech..]
[Assign to: Jeremy? Y/N]
Adam selected 'Y'. A notification popped up on Jeremy's side of the interface. Adam imagined Jeremy, probably still processing his bizarre invitation from an unknown organization, now staring at a mission prompt.
He didn't have to wait long. A few minutes later, another ding.
[Mission Accepted: Operation 'Clean Sweep' by Jeremy.]
"Atta boy, Jeremy," Adam chuckled. "First steps of many. Loyalty's holding strong, too."
Jeremy's initial GP earnings from the mission came in later that night. Small amounts at first, from observing SHIELD's clean-up procedures, then a slightly larger chunk when he managed to discreetly pocket a few Chitauri energy cell fragments that SHIELD agents overlooked in the chaos.
[Jeremy completed sub-objective: 'Observe SHIELD Security Protocols'. GP Earned: 2. Adam's cut: 1 GP.]
[Jeremy completed sub-objective: 'Salvaged Alien Tech (Minor)'. GP Earned: 5. Adam's cut: 2.5 GP.]
[Adam Stiels – Guild Points (GP): 3.85]
"Seven GP! Oh, the luxury!" Adam muttered sarcastically, eyeing his measly total. But it was a start. A tangible proof that the system worked, and that his grand plan was viable.
His mind, however, wasn't dwelling on small gains. It was on Sokovia. On a small, war-torn country, and two powerful, vulnerable twins.
Wanda Maximoff. His ultimate motivation. He knew her tragic canon future: Hydra experiments, Pietro's death, Vision's destruction, her descent into grief and chaos. He wouldn't let that happen. Not if he could help it. He wanted to find her, save her, guide her, and build a safe, happy life with her, far away from future horrors. She was the anchor, the emotional core of his mission.
"Okay, Jeremy's intel will be crucial for this," Adam thought aloud, pacing the cramped motel room. "He'll be able to get me details on SHIELD's movements, any covert operations in Eastern Europe. I need to get to Sokovia before Hydra does. Before the experiments. Before… everything."
This wasn't just a side quest; this was the main objective. The Ultron incident, Civil War, Thanos – they were all secondary to saving Wanda. He needed to get there, gain her trust, offer her the Guild System's resources to master her powers safely, and pull her and Pietro away from the path of destruction.
He began brainstorming. He'd need a cover. He'd need funds. He'd need to be utterly discreet. He started mentally mapping out the covert trip, using his memories of MCU geography and historical events. Jeremy's low-risk missions would now focus on gathering intel specifically for this journey: travel routes, potential threats in Sokovia, any whispers of Hydra activity in the region.
This was dangerous. He knew the risks. But the thought of Wanda, safe, happy, and powerful by his side, made every risk worth taking. This wasn't just about saving the multiverse anymore. It was personal. It was about her.