Three days later, on Saturday, Mason went to the largest shopping mall on the West Coast—Getty Mall—with his newly received paycheck. Spanning three city blocks and housing over 400 high-end stores, it was the most bustling commercial center in Los Angeles' wealthy district.
His take-home pay that month was $2,208. After deducting $300 for an overdue debt, $600 for rent, $87 for electricity, $45 for his phone bill, and $31.50 for a seven-day metro pass, $1,144.50 remained in his account. But $1,000 of that was already earmarked to repay a loan shark.
So, in reality, Mason had only $144.50 to last him the seven days until his next paycheck arrived on Friday.
Dressed in faded jeans and that worn-out hoodie, Mason stood out starkly amidst the sea of name-brand attire around him. He kept his head down as he walked, trying not to draw attention.
The mall was packed, with weekend crowds at their peak. Mason weaved through the throngs with a shopping cart, clutching a list of sale items: cereal $3.99, milk $2.49, eggs $4.99...
He picked up a box of cereal, carefully comparing the price tag—$3.99, enough to last a week.
Suddenly, a force slammed into him from behind. Before he could react, the person who bumped him didn't even stop, just coldly muttered, "A blind poor guy like you shouldn't be in a mall like this."
"Watch it!" Mason cried out in panic, flailing to steady himself. In the moment he was about to fall, his hand desperately grabbed onto a woman's leg.
*Riiiiiip—*
A crisp tearing sound rang out.
The woman was wearing black stockings. Mason's hand had accidentally snagged the thin fabric, ripping a long tear from the thigh down. Pale skin was exposed underneath, like a flash of lightning tearing through the night sky.
The woman screamed, "Ah!"
Heads turned all around. The weekend mall was already teeming with people, and the scream instantly drew everyone's attention.
"You... what are you doing!" The woman's face flushed bright red as she clutched her skirt and took a step back.
"I'm sorry! It was an accident!" Mason said frantically. "Let me help you..."
"Pervert!" She shoved him away, tears welling in her eyes. "You did that on purpose! You... you..."
More and more people gathered. Some pulled out phones to take pictures, others whispered among themselves.
"Look at that kid, dressed so shabbily..."
"Must have been intentional, someone like him..."
"Should we call the police?"
Mason stood frozen, his face burning, blood rushing to his head. He wanted to explain, to run, but his legs felt like lead, impossible to move.
"Sir, please come with us." Two security guards pushed through the crowd, flanking him on either side.
"I... it wasn't on purpose..." Mason's voice trembled. "Someone pushed me..."
"Let's go to the office to sort this out." The guards guided him toward the VIP lounge.
Mason lowered his head, feeling the surrounding stares pricking his skin like needles. Mockery, disdain, anger... those looks wove a net, trapping him completely.
He remembered the old man from the alley three days ago, remembered those words: "Luck is just opportunity in disguise."
"Luck?" Mason thought bitterly to himself. "What luck is there in this?"
In the security office, Mason stood before a desk like a student who'd misbehaved.
"Name."
"Mason Cooper."
"Occupation."
"Convenience store cashier."
"Income."
"Two thousand a month..."
The guard handling the matter was a middle-aged white man named Jack. He reviewed Mason's record, frowning. "Do you realize how serious this is? The woman says you sexually harassed her."
"I didn't!" Mason argued loudly. "Someone pushed me—"
"Calm down." Jack rapped the desk. "The lady is demanding compensation—$200 for the stockings, $500 for emotional distress."
Mason was stunned. "$700? I... I don't have that kind of money..."
"What do you plan to do then? Let her sue you?" Jack sneered. "Then you'll not only pay, but you'll also be listed on the sex offender registry. Your landlord, your boss, your neighbors—they'll all know. Think you'll find another job or a place to live then?"
Mason's face turned deathly pale.
He knew Jack was telling the truth. Once on that registry, his life would be over.
"I... I could..." Mason's voice shook. "Could I pay in installments..."
"That's not up to us." Jack stood up. "I'll give you two minutes to decide—pay $700 right now, or wait for the police and talk to them yourself."
Mason stared desperately out the window. Outside, the sun was shining, people were laughing and chatting, the bustle of shopping filled the air, yet here he stood, facing the collapse of his own life.
Suddenly, a cold, mechanical voice echoed in his mind:
[System activation successful.]
Mason jumped, thinking he was hallucinating. He glanced around. Jack and the other guards were watching him. Everything was normal.
[Ability acquisition mechanism unlocked.]
[Daily Ability Acquisition Rule]
You can obtain only one superpower per day via the method: "Tear Stockings + Snap Fingers."
Time: Between 00:00 and 23:59 daily, once only.
Action: Tear a stranger's stockings + snap fingers.
Restriction: Stockings must be torn from a woman's leg.
Mason stood there, his mind blank.
What was this? A hallucination? Schizophrenia?
Mason's hands trembled. He remembered the old man from the alley three days ago, remembered that golden symbol, remembered those words: "Luck is just opportunity in disguise."
[Newbie Mission: Obtain First Superpower]
Mission Requirement: Tear a stranger's stockings and snap fingers.
Mission Reward: Randomly obtain 1 superpower.
Failure Penalty: System will unbind after 24 hours.
"Is this for real?" Mason muttered.
Please complete the mission promptly. The system will automatically unbind in 24 hours.
"Sir?" Jack knocked on the desk impatiently.
Mason took a deep breath and looked out the window. The mall was crowded, women in stockings everywhere.
"I... I need to use the restroom," he said.
"Make it quick." Jack waved a hand.
Mason hurried to the restroom, shut the door, leaned against the wall, and gasped for air. He raised his left hand. The golden symbol on his wrist seemed alive, faintly warm.
"Tear stockings... snap fingers..." he murmured. "What the hell kind of power is that?"
But he had no other choice.
If he failed this mission, he'd not only owe $700 in damages but also face a sexual harassment charge, utterly destroying his life.
Mason took a deep breath and pushed the restroom door open.
The mall was as lively as before, people laughing and shopping, completely unaware that a kid was experiencing a life-altering moment.
Mason moved through the crowd, his eyes scanning leg after leg.
Jeans—no.
Long skirt—no.
Leggings—no.
Suddenly, he saw a woman.
She wore a white dress, sheer stockings on her legs, head bowed looking at her phone, utterly oblivious to her surroundings.
Mason's heart raced. He knew this was insane, perverted, and would likely get him arrested.
But he had to risk everything to verify if the mission was real.
There was no turning back now.
He took a deep breath, cut through the crowd, and quickly walked up behind the woman. As he passed her, he reached out, grabbed her stocking, and yanked hard.
"Ah!" the woman shrieked.
Everyone nearby looked over. The woman clutched her dress, tears in her eyes. "You... what are you doing!"
Mason gripped the torn stocking tightly, his heart hammering against his ribs. He knew what came next—security, police, jail.
But he had to complete the mission.
He raised his right hand and snapped his fingers.
[Ability acquisition successful.]
[Congratulations on obtaining ability: Can Never Buy Authentic Goods]
[Ability Description: You are unable to purchase any genuine items. No matter where you buy from, you will only receive counterfeits.]
Mason was stunned.
This was his first power? Never being able to buy the real thing?
"Pervert!" The woman shoved him away.
The surrounding stares pierced him like needles. Guards pushed through the crowd toward him. "Sir!"
Mason looked at the stocking in his hand and suddenly started laughing.
He laughed out loud, laughed until tears streamed down his face. The helplessness and bewilderment in that laughter outweighed everything else.
Mason took a deep breath, stuffed the stocking into his pocket, and turned to face the guards. Sunlight fell on him, the golden symbol on his wrist flickered once, then vanished.