Mason’s Revenge

Chapter 17: Fame

.Mason stood with his arms crossed, staring down at the man clinging desperately to a crumbling ledge. The man’s voice was hoarse from shouting, his desperation clear.

“Please, let me out! I’ll pay you a fortune—anything you want!” the man begged, sweat dripping down his face. “I swear you won’t regret it!”

Mason raised an eyebrow, his voice calm but cold. “Anything, huh? That’s a big promise.”

“Yes! I’ll make sure you’re rewarded heavily. Name your price—money, artifacts, whatever you want!” The man’s grip on the ledge was slipping, but his eyes stayed locked on Mason, trying to gauge his reaction.

Mason leaned slightly closer, his tone skeptical. “You think I’m stupid? Why should I trust you?”

The man’s expression faltered for a moment before he forced a smile. “Because I’m useful! I’m connected. I know things about Crypts—about magic items. Work with me, and we can both benefit. What do you say?”

“Work with you?” Mason repeated, a faint smirk playing on his lips. “You mean after you stole from me? Don’t think I didn’t notice the Ebon Steed and my other items missing.”

The man’s face paled. “W-wait! That wasn’t personal! I needed them to survive! Look, I’ll give them back—everything, I swear!”

Mason didn’t respond immediately, letting the man squirm under his gaze. The Future Diary had warned him that this man was dangerous, but Mason didn’t rely on prophecies alone. He preferred to judge people himself.

“How do I know you’re not lying?” Mason asked, his voice sharp. “You seem pretty good at making promises you don’t plan to keep.”

“I’m not lying!” the man insisted. “I’ll even give you 100 million—no, more! I’ll offer you 1 billion dollars if you join our excavation team. You can have whatever you want. Artifacts, money, the Future Diary—just name it!”

Mason tilted his head, pretending to consider the offer. “The Future Diary? How would you even give that to me? I thought only its master could use it.”

“There’s a company that can make it happen,” the man said quickly. “They specialize in unlocking artifacts like that. As long as you agree to join us and keep the information about Crypts from other countries, I’ll make sure you get everything.”

Mason chuckled softly, his expression unreadable. “So, let me get this straight. You want me to betray my own country in exchange for a paycheck?”

“Yes,” the man said without hesitation. “I’ll take care of everything. You’ll be set for life.”

For a moment, Mason stayed silent, staring down at him. Then, with a faint smile, he extended a hand. “Alright. I’m listening.”

The man’s face lit up, relief flooding over him as he reached out to grab Mason’s hand. “You won’t regret this! Once we’re out of here, I’ll introduce you to my team. You’ll be working with the best.”

“Before we move forward,” Mason said, pulling his hand back slightly, “what’s the name of this company you’re so proud of? I want to make sure I’m not signing up with some shady group.”

The man laughed nervously. “Oh, of course! It’s the PrimeGroup. They’re completely reliable.”

At the mention of the name, Mason’s smile faded. His eyes narrowed, and without a word, he released his grip.

“Wait! What are you—” the man screamed as he slipped off the ledge, falling hard onto the ground below with a sickening thud.

“Aaagh! My legs!” he cried, writhing in pain. His voice was filled with rage and disbelief. “You let me fall! What’s wrong with you?”

Mason peered down at him, his expression cold and unreadable. “What’s wrong with me?” he echoed, his voice calm. Then, a sly smile crossed his face. “What’s wrong with *you*? Thanks for the information, idiot.”

“You—what?!” the man shouted, his voice cracking in anger. “You can’t just leave me here! We had a deal!”

Mason’s laugh echoed through the Crypt. “A deal? With you? Don’t make me laugh. You’re dangerous, and I’m not dumb enough to trust you. Good luck getting out of here on your own.”

The man’s face twisted in shock and fury as Mason turned and walked away, his footsteps fading into the distance.

Mason stood with his arms crossed, watching the man scramble to keep his footing on the crumbling ledge. The man’s voice was shaky, but his desperation kept him talking.

“Look, I’ll pay you 100 million—no, wait, how about 1 billion dollars a year?” the man said, forcing a smile. “Join my team, and you’ll never have to worry about money again.”

Mason tilted his head, feigning interest. “1 billion a year?” he repeated, his tone casual. “That’s quite the offer. What’s the catch?”

“No catch!” the man insisted quickly, wiping sweat from his brow. “All you have to do is work with us. Help us excavate magic items from Crypts, and you can even keep the Future Diary if you want.”

Mason raised an eyebrow. “The Future Diary? I thought only its master could use it.”

“That’s true,” the man admitted, his voice eager. “But PrimeGroup has the technology to bypass that. They specialize in unlocking artifact restrictions. With their help, it’ll be as good as yours.”

“PrimeGroup, huh?” Mason said, narrowing his eyes slightly. “And what do they get out of this deal?”

“They support the team, of course,” the man said with a grin. “But there is one condition.”

Mason leaned forward slightly, his expression unreadable. “Oh? What’s that?”

“You’ll need to keep everything about the Crypts and magic items a secret from your own country. We can’t risk other nations getting ahead of us,” the man said, his tone firm.

For a moment, Mason said nothing, letting the silence stretch out. Then, he chuckled softly. “So, let me get this straight. You want me to betray my country in exchange for money and some stolen artifacts?”

The man’s grin faltered, but he quickly recovered. “It’s not betrayal—it’s strategy! You’ll be working with the best team, supported by the best company. It’s a win-win for you.”

Mason nodded slowly, as if considering the offer. Then he extended his hand toward the man. “Alright. I’m in. But one more thing—what’s PrimeGroup’s real agenda here? I want to make sure I know who I’m working for.”

“PrimeGroup is completely trustworthy,” the man said, laughing nervously. “They’re the backbone of our operation. You don’t need to worry about them.”

The moment the words left his mouth, Mason’s hand dropped, and his smile disappeared.

“PrimeGroup, huh?” Mason muttered under his breath. Without warning, he stepped back, letting the man’s grip slip.

“W-wait! What are you doing?” the man shouted as he fell, landing hard on the rocky ground below.

“AAH! My legs!” the man cried out, writhing in pain. He looked up at Mason with wide, furious eyes. “You did that on purpose!”

Mason looked down at him, his face calm and unbothered. “Of course I did.”

“You—you’re making a mistake!” the man yelled, his voice trembling with anger. “You’ll regret this! We could’ve worked together!”

Mason smirked, his tone mocking. “Thanks for the info, idiot. But I don’t work with snakes.”

The man’s face twisted with rage and disbelief. “You’ll regret this! PrimeGroup will—”

“PrimeGroup can’t save you now,” Mason interrupted, turning to leave. “Good luck getting out of here on your own.”

The man’s shouts echoed behind him as Mason walked away, his expression cold and focused.

Mason stood still, watching the man with a calculated look. The man was desperate, still clinging to the edge of the crumbling ledge, his eyes wide with hope.

“Please,” the man begged, his voice shaky. “I’m telling you, you won’t regret this! Just work with us—PrimeGroup will make sure you’re taken care of. We’ll even let you keep the Future Diary!”

Mason pretended to consider it, nodding slowly. “Hmm... You’re right, that’s a tempting offer. But I want to make sure I’m making the right choice.”

The man smiled, thinking he was winning Mason over. “Exactly! Join us, and we’ll be partners. You won’t have to worry about anything ever again.”

Mason’s expression shifted. He stepped back slightly, making it seem like he was agreeing to the deal. “Alright. I’ll help you out. I’ll join your team.”

The man’s face lit up with relief. “You won’t regret this. I’ll get you out of here—just hang on a little longer, and I’ll introduce you to PrimeGroup.”

Without warning, Mason stepped back even further, then suddenly released his grip on the man’s arm.

“What—wait!” the man shouted, but it was too late. He lost his balance and fell, his scream echoing through the Crypt as he plunged into the collapsing floor below.

“Aaagh! My legs! It hurts—!” The man’s voice was filled with pain and shock. He landed hard on the ground, his body twisting in agony.

Mason looked down at him, his face cold. “You really thought I would help you? You’re pathetic.”

The man, struggling to move, glared up at Mason. “You—! You did this on purpose!”

Mason smiled darkly. “Of course I did. You think I’d trust someone like you? You’re not worth saving.”

The man’s face twisted with rage, his body shaking with pain. “You’ll regret this! PrimeGroup won’t forget—”

Mason laughed, cutting him off. “PrimeGroup? They can’t even help you now.”

He turned away, walking toward the exit of the Crypt. “Good luck getting out of here. You’re on your own now.”

The man’s desperate shouts echoed behind him, but Mason didn’t turn around. The sound of the crumbling Crypt filled the air as Mason left the man trapped and helpless.

Yuri lay on the cold, hard ground, his body aching and his mind racing with regret. He could hear the sound of the Crypt crumbling around him, and the weight of his mistakes hit him all at once.

“Damn it!” he cried, his voice full of desperation. “Why did I do all that? Why did I hurt those civilians? Why did I think I could just use Mason?”

His eyes welled with tears as he thought about all the wrong choices he had made, all the people he had betrayed. He had underestimated Mason, thinking he could manipulate him like he had with others. Now, he realized how foolish he had been.

“It’s too late now,” Yuri whispered to himself. “I’ve messed up. I should’ve never tried to get in his way.”

The sound of the Crypt sealing echoed, and Yuri knew it was over. There was no way out. He had lost.

Meanwhile, Mason was already far from the Crypt, standing at the surface, breathing a sigh of relief. He looked around, feeling the cool air against his skin. The danger was over, and he had made it out unharmed.

He glanced back toward the Crypt, now sealed off. “Good riddance,” he muttered, shaking his head.

Mason felt a sense of freedom, knowing that he had survived and outsmarted Yuri. He didn’t look back again as he started to walk away, ready to move on to whatever came next.

Mason stepped out of the small restroom, blinking as he adjusted to the bright light of the outside world. He couldn't help but laugh at the oddity of it all. After everything that had happened, his exit was through a bathroom.

“This is one strange adventure,” he muttered to himself, shaking his head.

But his brief moment of relief was quickly interrupted. As soon as he opened the door, he saw a group of people waiting for him. Scouts, reporters, and company agents stood in front of him, their eyes on him with a mix of curiosity and expectation.

One of the reporters quickly stepped forward, holding out a microphone. “Mason, can you tell us what happened inside the Crypt? Was it dangerous? What did you find?”

Mason sighed, feeling the weight of their questions. “You’re not getting anything from me,” he said, his voice firm.

Another man, wearing a suit, stepped up. “We need to know what you discovered. The company is interested in your findings. You can’t just walk away.”

Mason frowned. “I don’t have time for this,” he replied, brushing past them. “The Crypt’s sealed. No one’s getting in there anymore.”

He turned to face them one last time. “If you want answers, go dig through the ruins. I’m done here.”

With that, Mason walked away, not bothering to listen to their protests. He was glad the Crypt was sealed, keeping others away, but he knew the chaos wouldn’t end with him leaving. There would always be someone else wanting answers.

Mason stood by the window, listening to the growing noise outside. The crowd was getting louder, their voices mixed with questions and demands. He briefly considered telling them the truth about the Crypts and the magic items, but quickly dismissed the idea. Sharing that information could put him in danger, and Mason wasn’t willing to take that risk.

“No, not a chance,” he muttered to himself.

He turned and glanced around the room. The door was too risky, but the window might work. Mason quietly walked over and slid it open, careful not to make a sound. He peered out, checking to make sure no one was watching.

As he was about to climb out, the noise outside suddenly grew even louder. People were shouting, getting more impatient, and a few voices were now shouting his name. Mason froze, realizing the situation wasn’t over.

“Great,” he sighed, shaking his head. “This is just the beginning.”

He knew there was no easy way out now. The world wanted answers, and he wasn’t ready to give them. With a reluctant glance back at the room, Mason made his move and slipped out through the window, disappearing into the shadows. His next challenge had already begun.

“!”

Mason felt a sudden jolt as his backpack shifted violently. Ebon Steed, the magic item inside, was thrashing about in a frenzy, causing the entire bag to shake.

The item’s voice suddenly screamed out, a loud, frantic cry echoing through the small restroom, as if it were trapped and begging for freedom.

Mason’s head snapped toward the backpack, a wave of irritation washing over him. “Damn it, not now!” he muttered under his breath.

Ebon Steed, clearly offended, continued to struggle, crashing against the walls of the backpack. Its voice rang out again, louder this time, demanding to be released, a mix of anger and humiliation.

Outside, the noise from the crowd of reporters and scouts quieted for a moment, their curiosity piqued by the strange noise coming from the restroom.

“Did you hear that?” one reporter asked, his voice filled with confusion.

Mason cursed under his breath. “What a troublesome magic item...” He glared at the backpack, wishing he could shut it up. The item continued to rattle, clearly enjoying its prank at his expense.

"Who's in there?" someone shouted from outside the restroom.

Mason gritted his teeth. “Not good.” His patience was running thin. Before he could think of an escape, the restroom door suddenly burst open, flooding the dim space with light.

Without wasting a second, Mason instinctively pulled the hood of his jacket over his face and bolted toward the open window. His heart raced as he dashed out, trying to escape the chaos.

“Hey, wait!” one of the reporters shouted, running after him.

Mason didn’t slow down. “No time for this,” he muttered, pushing past the crowd and slipping into a nearby alley, breathing heavily.

Once out of sight, he let out a deep sigh of relief. The pressure was momentarily lifted, but he knew he couldn’t rest just yet. The noise from the reporters and agents would follow him, and the real challenge had only just begun.

In the quiet of his momentary escape, Mason pulled Ebon Steed out of his backpack. The magic item’s voice continued to ramble, a constant flow of words Mason couldn’t fully understand. He sighed, rubbing his temples in frustration.

"Enough already," he muttered. He wasn’t in the mood to listen to the incessant chatter.

With a grimace, he pulled the magic item from the bag and shoved it into a nearby public toilet. The screams from Ebon Steed grew louder in panic as Mason flushed the toilet, hoping that the noise would at least be somewhat muffled.

The magic item didn’t get washed away, but it was clearly startled, and the constant noise finally began to quiet.

Mason let out a sigh of relief, his headache easing slightly. But as he looked at his arm, still sore from past encounters with rebellious magic items, he couldn't help but feel the weight of his decision.

“These damn magic items...,” he muttered to himself. “They’ll be the death of me.”

He rolled up his sleeve to reveal the painful burn marks from previous struggles, proof of the toll it took to force the items into submission. It wasn’t an easy path, and it wasn’t a pain he could ignore.

‘Is this really the only way?’ he thought, frustration creeping into his mind. He knew there were other ways to work with magic items, but for now, it felt like the only option.

Before he could dwell on it any longer, a soft glow appeared before him, interrupting his thoughts. A message materialized in the air, glowing faintly against the dim light of the restroom.

“You have successfully made it out of the Crypt.

The delayed reward for completing the ‘Crypt Seeker Basic System Awakening’ quest is now being distributed.”

Mason blinked, surprised. It was as if someone had been expecting him to reach this point. The sudden reward appeared almost too perfectly timed, and he wondered who might have been behind it. But for now, he was just glad to see a sign of progress.

With a deep breath, he pushed the thoughts of Ebon Steed and the magic item’s chaos aside. This wasn’t over, but it was one step closer to being done. He was out of the Crypt, and that meant it was time to move on.