Chapter 16: The Gold Coins and a Global Conspiracy
The news report flashed across Adam's mental interface, a grainy image of a gleaming gold coin. He grimaced. "Oh, for the love of… not these things again. You know, Ciri, I always thought cursed artifacts were for, like, Indiana Jones movies. Turns out, they're just another Tuesday in Portland. And these particular shiny bits of metal are like the ultimate bad influence. They turn good people into power-hungry jerks. It's like a magical version of Twitter."
[ Item Alert: Three Gold Coins. Highly Dangerous. Avoid Prolonged Contact. ]
[ New Faction Discovered: Royal Families. Information added to Library. ]
Ciri, who was meticulously cleaning a crossbow bolt, looked up, a flicker of interest in her eyes. "Cursed objects? We have those in my world. They usually require a decisive blow to destroy them. Or a very strong exorcism."
"Yeah, well, these ones are a little more… insidious," Adam corrected, scrolling through the newly updated Library entry on the Royal Families. "They don't just possess you; they amplify your worst traits. It's like a magical steroid for your inner villain. And apparently, they're tied to some global conspiracy involving 'Royal Families' and 'seven keys.' Because, of course, there's always a global conspiracy. It's like the universe is trying to write a bad spy novel."
Their investigation, a blend of Adam's meta-knowledge and Ciri's sharp tracking skills, led them to a series of escalating incidents. First, a seemingly normal man went on a rampage after touching one of the coins. Then, Hank, bless his heart, got his hands on one, and suddenly he was acting like a power-mad dictator, barking orders and demanding respect. Even Wu, for a brief, terrifying moment, succumbed to its influence. And then there was Adalind, who, of course, was right in the middle of it, trying to use the coins for her own nefarious purposes, probably on Renard's orders.
"Alright, Ciri," Adam whispered, observing Hank's increasingly erratic behavior. "This is where we shine. We need to get those coins away from Hank, and then we need to make sure they don't fall into the wrong hands. And by 'wrong hands,' I mean Adalind's. Or Renard's. Or anyone who thinks world domination is a good idea. Because, frankly, it's a lot of paperwork."
They moved into the chaos. Hank, fueled by the coin's power, was surprisingly formidable, his strength amplified, his movements erratic but powerful. Adam uncorked a Thunderbolt potion and swallowed it. His eyes, for a terrifying moment, turned completely black, reflecting the dim light of the room. He moved with a speed that defied his frame, a blur of enhanced strength.
Hank swung a massive, coin-infused fist at Nick. Adam intercepted it, his steel sword clashing against Hank's arm with a deafening clang. Hank roared in surprise, his eyes widening as he saw Adam's black eyes. This was not Nick. This was something else. Something unnatural. Something that should not be able to stop his punch. A flicker of primal terror, a moment of confusion, crossed his face.
"Hey, Hank!" Adam yelled, pushing back against Hank's arm with surprising force. "You ever hear of impulse control? Because you're gonna need a lot of it after this!"
Ciri, meanwhile, was a whirlwind of silver and steel, her movements fluid and precise. She darted around Hank's massive frame, striking at his joints, exploiting the weaknesses Adam had identified. A casual, almost effortless parry deflected a blow that would have shattered a human's arm. Her movements were so graceful, so efficient, they looked less like combat and more like a deadly dance.
The coin, disoriented by Adam's unnerving presence and Ciri's relentless attacks, flickered. Adam seized the opportunity, delivering a powerful, non-lethal kick that sent Hank sprawling, the coin clattering from his hand.
"Well, that was fun," Adam panted, his eyes flickering back to normal. "A little too much grunting for my taste, but effective." He then produced the Acid of Dissolution. "Alright, clean-up crew. Let's make this shiny bit of trouble disappear. Poof! No evidence, no fuss. Just like magic."
[ Item Neutralized: Three Gold Coins. ]
[ Kill Count: 0 Wesen. Level Up! Current Level: 5. Kills to Level 6: 32. ]
"Still Level 5, but progress!" Adam exclaimed, pumping his fist. "This is like a mini-boss fight, but with better loot. And speaking of loot, I've been doing some shopping." He grinned, pulling up a new tab in his System Store. "I bought all the Grimm books in Portland. Every single one. My System Library is now officially the most comprehensive source of Wesen lore in this dimension. Take that, Aunt Marie's trailer!"
Ciri watched him, a faint, almost imperceptible smirk touching her lips. "You spent all your 'system coins' on… books?"
"Knowledge is power, Ciri! And also, a great way to level up my Library. Besides, now I can anticipate all the plot twists. It's like having a cheat sheet for life. And frankly, it's a lot less messy than actual combat. Though, I do enjoy the occasional brawl."
Meanwhile, Juliette, who had been trying to help Hank, witnessed the entire bizarre spectacle. She saw Hank, her friend, transform into something monstrous. She saw the mysterious figures, Adam and Ciri, move with impossible speed and strength. And then, for a fleeting, horrifying moment, she saw Adam's eyes turn completely black as he effortlessly disarmed Hank. Her world, already shaken by Nick's strange behavior, shattered. She couldn't rationalize it. It was impossible. It was terrifying. Her internal monologue screamed, What was that? What are they? She felt a cold dread seep into her bones, a fear that went beyond anything she'd ever experienced. She had no idea who these people were, but she knew one thing: they were a force to be reckoned with. For better or worse.
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