CHAPTER 12: THE MERCHANT OF LIFE
Sanctuary, Day 7 of the "Trash Wave" Siege.
On the surface, the forest surrounding Aryo's base had turned into a muddy hellscape. Thousands of cheap drone wreckages, burning jeeps, and scattered combat gear littered the ground. The Shadow Council's strategy of attrition was indeed brutal.
However, inside the underground command center, Aryo sat comfortably enjoying a cup of hot tea. He had slept soundly for the last eight hours.
On the giant monitor screen, the view outside was clear. A group of mercenaries tried to infiltrate through the northern sector.
Suddenly, the ground around them split open.
[AUTOMATED DEFENSE SYSTEM: CITADEL - ACTIVE]
Tesla Coil turrets rose from the earth. Without warning, flashes of blue electricity struck. In an instant, the entire platoon was paralyzed, their vehicle engines died, and their weapons exploded in their hands.
Not a single bullet had been fired by Aryo.
"Energy efficiency of the Citadel system stable at 98%," Alia reported. She stood beside Aryo's desk, projecting a hologram of their new fortress structure. "Nanite Repair systems are also working perfectly. Every time the outer wall is scratched or damaged by an explosion, nanobots patch it up in seconds. We can hold out here for a hundred years, Master."
Aryo set down his cup. "Good. Let the 'toys' outside deal with the Council's trash. Now, we handle the bigger problem."
Aryo walked toward the biological laboratory sector—an area he had just reactivated using his father's encryption codes.
The room was filled with rapidly spinning centrifuge tubes and robotic arms mixing colorful liquids.
"They think I only inherited weapons," Aryo muttered, picking up an ampoule containing a clear, golden liquid. "They forget, Father started his career wanting to cure cancer, not kill people."
Aryo held the golden ampoule up to the light.
[Serum: PANACEA-ALPHA]
Function: Total cellular regeneration. Cures terminal cancer, organ failure, and reverses cellular aging by up to 10 years.
"Alia, open an encrypted communication channel to the 'Neutral Zone'. Connect me with Baron Wei and Madam L."
"Establishing connection..."
The main screen changed. Two faces appeared. Baron Wei, the Asian property and energy tycoon sitting in a wheelchair due to a severe stroke. And Madam L, the ruler of the European shipping industry, whose face was covered by a veil due to a rare skin disease.
They were neutral parties who hadn't joined the Obsidian Council but possessed equal wealth.
"Aryo Purnomo," Baron Wei's voice sounded weak. "You are the most wanted man in the world right now. You have guts contacting us."
"I am not contacting you to ask for help, Baron," Aryo said calmly, holding the golden ampoule in front of the camera. "I am contacting you to offer... life."
Baron Wei's eyes widened at the sight of the liquid.
"My father, Dr. Satria, managed to crack the code of cellular death. The Obsidian Council wants to kill me for weapons technology. But they don't know I have this."
Aryo flicked the ampoule.
"One injection. You will walk again tomorrow morning, Baron. And you, Madam L, you can remove that veil and look as beautiful as you did at twenty."
Silence fell over the communication line. Madam L's breathing sounded ragged. "What is... the price?"
Aryo smiled faintly. "Money? Of course. I need 10 Trillion Rupiah in liquid funds for my war operations. But that is just the down payment."
Aryo's face hardened.
"I know the Obsidian Council pressures your businesses. I want you to be my shield in the political world. Veto every UN decision that wants to attack my territory. Block Obsidian's logistics routes that pass through your ports. And give me real-time satellite data from your private networks."
Baron Wei fell silent for a moment, looking at his paralyzed legs. The desire to heal outweighed his fear of the Council.
"If the serum is real... we have a deal. We will be your allies."
"Alia will dispatch stealth courier drones to your locations. The transaction is complete when you are healed."
The connection cut.
"Transaction successful, Master," Alia smiled proudly. "With this alliance, half of the enemy's logistical power will be severed. And our war funds have just increased by 1000%."
"Money can buy soldiers, but health can buy kings," Aryo stated.
He then walked to a special refrigerated cabinet in the corner of the room, heavily guarded with retinal scanners.
The door opened, releasing cold nitrogen vapor. Inside lay six syringes filled with a thick, blood-red and black liquid.
This was not medicine. This was preparation for war.
[Serum: BERSERKER-X]
Effects: Forces the body to produce 500% adrenaline, hardens skin to organic Kevlar equivalent, dulls pain, and enhances brain reflexes to supercomputer levels for 30 minutes.
Side Effects: Post-use muscle damage, risk of cardiac arrest.
Aryo stared at the red serum. He knew the enemy was preparing something terrible in their laboratories—Nemesis. He could feel it. And to fight a monster, he might have to turn himself into a monster temporarily.
"Alia," Aryo commanded. "Prepare the auto-injectors in my combat suit. Load two doses of Berserker-X."
"Master, that is dangerous for your heart," Alia warned with a tone of concern.
"If the creature they send later is as strong as I suspect... a racing heart will be the least of my problems."
Aryo closed the cabinet.
Outside the fortress, the sound of Citadel turret explosions echoed again, obliterating another wave of enemies. But inside, Aryo now stood taller. He now possessed unlimited funds, powerful allies, an impenetrable fortress, and a body ready to evolve beyond human limits.
"Now," Aryo whispered, staring at the world map. "Let's see who runs out of breath first. You, or me."