Legend: Cash Levels
Episode 22 — Lies With Interest
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Cold Open — No More Shield
Miami heat rolled across the balcony, ocean glittering like glass. Legend lit a blunt, HUD glowing red.
[CASH FLOW | +$3,600 Deposited]
Balance: $269,540 → $273,140
Numbers stacked steady. But the HUD pulsed a brutal warning:
[System Alert: Secret Shield Destroyed.]
[Silver Tongue Active — Primary Defense.]
[Exposure Risk: Maximum.]
Legend exhaled smoke, calm. "Then we keep lying louder than the truth."
Behind him, Miles shouted from the studio. "Bro! Rolling Loud confirmed me! Miami stage, main slot!"
Salina padded out in silk, kissing his neck. "Everything's moving too fast."
Legend smirked. "Fast makes money."
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Scene 1 — Miles's Stage Sabotage
Rolling Loud. Thousands screaming. Miles on stage, sweat dripping, verses sharp.
Halfway through the set — lights cut. Mic dead. Collector's men in the sound booth, smirking.
Boos rose. Crowd chaos.
Legend moved smooth. He snapped $2,000—Balance: $271,140—into the tech's hand. "Backup, now."
The agents leaned in. "You're done here."
Legend smirked, voice silk. "Done? He's just getting started. And you'll pay for front row when he headlines."
The system surged. Miles roared back louder. The crowd exploded.
HUD pulsed:
[Influence: Miles — Confidence Reinforced. Global Exposure Rising.]
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Scene 2 — Salina's Breaking Point
Back at the rooftop afterparty, Salina watched women throw themselves at Legend. Too many eyes. Too many whispers.
Later, in the suite, she snapped. "Legend, I'm not blind! They all want you! Tell me I'm not wasting myself here!"
HUD screamed.
[Exposure Risk: Critical.]
Legend moved close, voice low. "You're not wasting yourself. You're the only one permanent. I don't care who stares. They want what they can't touch. You're the one I come home to."
Her eyes softened, anger breaking into heat. She kissed him hard, whispering, "Then don't ever make me doubt."
HUD chimed.
[Silver Tongue Success — Loyalty Maintained.]
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Scene 3 — New Woman, New Risk
Another Miami night. Another rooftop club. The 305 Syndicate brought women, money, heat.
One pulled him aside, whispering, "You don't belong to them. You belong to me tonight."
Hours later — tangled sheets, sweat dripping, shameless noise.
HUD flickered faint red.
[Secret Logged: Unconcealed — Exposure Risk Active.]
Legend smirked, lighting a blunt. "Everywhere I go, they want it. That's the tax."
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Scene 4 — Cross-City Mission Gone Wild
Another run: Miami docks → Bronx drop. This time, the money was too hot. Rival crews and Collector's men blocked the route with SUVs.
Guns drawn. Heat rising.
Legend stepped out calm, blunt lit. "We can bleed. Or we can bargain."
They laughed. "You're just an ATM with fists."
Legend snapped $3,500—Balance: $267,640—scattered it. Men dove, greed breaking lines.
He pumped $1,500 into Cash Knuckle, dropped two men with brutal swings.
But the Collector's agent stepped forward. "Your lies will kill you."
Legend smirked. "Then I'll die rich."
HUD pulsed green.
[Mission Complete: +$50,000] → Balance: $317,640]
[Level Up: 25 → 26]
Hourly Income: $3,800/hr]
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Scene 5 — Collector Himself
Back in Miami, Legend found him waiting on the balcony. The Collector. Suit perfect. Smile sharp.
"You're smooth. Too smooth. But Silver Tongues rot. People always see through."
Legend exhaled smoke. "You talk like you bill me. You don't. My lies pay interest."
The Collector leaned closer. "One day, Miles will see. Salina will see. And when they do, no lie will save you."
HUD glitched.
[Silver Tongue at Limit.]
Legend smirked. "Then I'll buy new words."
The Collector vanished into shadows.
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Scene 6 — Salina's Near Discovery
Later that night, Salina held up a hotel receipt she found in his jacket pocket.
Her voice cracked. "This isn't ours, Legend."
HUD screamed.
[Exposure Risk: 100%. Shield Gone.]
Legend moved close, voice velvet. "Club girl handed me her number on the back of that. I kept it to burn later. You think I'd risk you for cheap?"
Her eyes softened, doubt melting. She dropped the receipt, kissed him, whispering, "Then I trust you."
HUD pulsed green.
[Silver Tongue Success. Exposure Dodged.]
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Closing Beat — Lowkey Lies
Balcony smoke curled over the ocean. Salina asleep, Miles blasting beats in his studio, the HUD glowing red.
[CASH FLOW | +$3,800 Deposited]
Balance: $321,440
The HUD whispered:
[Secret Shield Destroyed. Silver Tongue Overloaded.]
[Next Exposure: Cannot Be Concealed.]
Legend smirked, flicking ash into the night. "Then I'll make the truth sound richer than any lie."