[LOCATION: THE LAST STOP FACTORY - OFFICE]
[HOST INTEGRITY: 25%]
[TIME: 3:45 AM]
Ren sat in the rusted office chair, the adrenaline of the standoff against the Bailiffs fading into a dull ache in his bones.
He closed his eyes. He didn't sleep. He focused on the burning blue interface in his mind.
[SYSTEM SHOP]
[CURRENT LEVEL: 1]
[KARMA: 1,110]
"Upgrade," Ren commanded mentally.
[PROCESSING...]
[KARMA DEDUCTED: 0]
[CRITERIA MET: ACCUMULATED 1,000 LIFETIME KARMA]
[SHOP LEVEL 2 UNLOCKED]
The interface rippled. The simple menu of "Pills" and "Basic Materials" expanded. The greyed-out tabs suddenly lit up with gold and crimson text.
A new category appeared: [OFFENSIVE ASSETS].
Ren scrolled through the list. Most of it was useless trash designed for brute-force fighters.
[Flaming Soul Sword] - 5,000 Karma. (Too expensive. Too flashy.)
[Book of Fireball] - 2,000 Karma. (Inefficient mana cost.)
[Spectral Armor (Light)] - 1,500 Karma. (He couldn't afford to get hit anyway.)
"I don't need damage," Ren muttered, scrolling past a glowing axe. "I need Penetration. I need something that breaks rules."
His eyes stopped on an item at the bottom of the list. It wasn't glowing. It looked rusty, utilitarian, and cruel.
[ITEM: THE AUDITOR'S REVOLVER (MODEL 1899)]
[CLASS: CONCEPTUAL WEAPON]
[PRICE: 800 KARMA]
[DESCRIPTION: A weapon forged for the debt-collectors of the 4th Circle. It does not fire lead. It fires Wealth.]
[AMMO TYPE: SPIRIT COINS]
[EFFECT: 'BRIBERY OF PHYSICS' - Projectiles fired from this weapon ignore non-divine barriers, shields, and legal immunities. The more expensive the ammo, the higher the penetration.]
Ren smiled. It was the smile of a man who had just found a loophole in the laws of physics.
"Ignore legal immunities," Ren whispered. "Perfect."
The Bailiffs were immune to physical damage because they were "Officers of the Court." But this gun? It didn't attack their bodies. It attacked their "Value." It literally shot money at them until they broke.
It was the most capitalist weapon in existence.
"Purchase," Ren ordered.
[TRANSACTION COMPLETE]
[REMAINING KARMA: 310]
A weight materialized in Ren's hand.
It was a heavy, six-shooter revolver made of cold, black iron. The handle was wrapped in ledger paper. The barrel was etched with the phrase: EVERYTHING HAS A PRICE.
Ren checked the cylinder. Empty.
He reached into his pouch of Spirit Coins. He took a single coin—a glowing gold chip worth roughly $10 USD in human money—and slid it into the chamber.
Click.
It fit perfectly. The gun hummed. The coin dissolved, turning into a glowing golden bullet inside the chamber.
"One coin, one shot," Ren calculated. "Expensive. But cheaper than dying."
The Secondary Purchase
He had 310 Karma left. He couldn't afford another weapon. He needed utility.
He browsed the [SKILL BOOKS] section.
[Sprint (Level 1)] - 300 Karma.
[Spirit Eye Upgrade] - 500 Karma.
[Minor Telekinesis] - 400 Karma.
Ren shook his head. "Too generic."
He filtered by [ADMINISTRATIVE]. A small, dusty book appeared.
[SKILL: CONTRACT SIGHT (PASSIVE)]
[PRICE: 300 KARMA]
[EFFECT: Allows the user to see the 'Terms and Conditions' binding a target. Reveals loyalty, hidden clauses, and expiration dates on spiritual entities.]
"Buy it," Ren said immediately.
[TRANSACTION COMPLETE]
[REMAINING KARMA: 10]
A rush of knowledge flooded Ren's brain. It wasn't painful like the body refinement pill; it felt like putting on a pair of prescription glasses after years of squinting.
He opened his eyes.
He looked down at the factory floor through the glass window.
He looked at Lian.
Above her head, glowing text appeared.
[ENTITY: LIAN]
[CONTRACT: FOREMAN]
[LOYALTY: 48% (RISING)]
[HIDDEN DESIRE: WANTS A NEW DRESS]
He looked at Red Dog in the courtyard.
[ENTITY: RED DOG]
[CONTRACT: SECURITY CHIEF]
[LOYALTY: 15% (VOLATILE)]
[HIDDEN DESIRE: WANTS TO EAT THE BOSS]
Ren chuckled dryly. "15% loyalty. And he wants to eat me. Good to know."
Having the numbers made it manageable. He knew exactly how far he could push them before they snapped.
Ren walked down to the factory floor, the heavy revolver tucked into his belt.
The factory was quiet. The production run was finished for the night. Lian and the ghosts were resting.
Ren walked out to the loading dock. He saw a scrap sheet of metal plating—part of a car door—leaning against the wall.
"Red Dog," Ren called out.
The massive Triad boss looked up from where he was nursing his burns. "What?"
"Put up a shield," Ren ordered. "Your strongest one."
Red Dog scowled. "Why? You want to see if I'm still useful?"
"Just do it."
Red Dog grunted. He raised his four arms. A thick, green barrier of spectral energy formed around him. It was a Level 8 Defense—strong enough to stop a truck.
Ren drew the Auditor's Revolver.
He didn't aim at Red Dog. He aimed at the metal plate behind the shield.
"Don't move."
Red Dog's eyes widened. "Wait, is that a—"
BANG.
The sound wasn't a gunshot. It was the sound of a cash register ringing, amplified to 100 decibels.
CHA-CHING!
A streak of gold light erupted from the barrel.
It hit Red Dog's green shield.
The shield didn't crack. It didn't shatter.
The golden bullet simply passed through it as if the shield wasn't there. The "Bribery of Physics" effect triggered—the shield "accepted" the payment and let the projectile pass.
CLANG.
The bullet punched a clean, glowing hole through the metal car door behind Red Dog.
Red Dog stood frozen. He looked at his intact shield. Then he looked at the hole in the door behind him. He looked at the smoking black gun in Ren's hand.
For the first time, the "Volatile" tag above his head flickered.
[LOYALTY: 15% -> 25%]
[STATUS: INTIMIDATED]
"It works," Ren said, holstering the weapon.
He turned back to the factory.
"Get some rest," Ren told them. "The Bailiffs gave us 24 hours. When they come back... I'm going to audit their faces."
[Author Note:]
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Ren Wu has acquired the Auditor's Revolver.
Ammo Cost: $10 per shot.
Effect: Killing things with capitalism.
Next Chapter:The Surveyor.
The 24-hour truce is over. Nether-Core sends a specialist to "redraw" the map. Ren decides to redraw the specialist.
Don't forget to sign the contract (pun intended) and add to your library! 🔫💰