A Midas Touch
Author: A.MCaneda
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56

The bell ring. 

It's mealtime here in Iron Gate Max Security Prison. That bell sound was the only thing perhaps that brings color to the day of the inmates detained here. It means they'll have to get out even just for a minute in their small claustrophobic rooms, but who would have thought that their canteen would even have some hierarchy? Yeah, you heard it right, meals aren't all free. Yeah, there are free meals for the general prisoners and that free meal means bland, tasteless, low-quality food. If you want to have some pleasurable eating time, you can spend money on it. And often those meals are for the rich people who would not spend a long time in this rotting place. 

"Hey, dude what are you looking at? The line is stuck!"  

The canteen attendant called Henley's attention. He had been looking at the other menu that was displayed on the other side of the food rack. The ones that are for the VIP prisoners. 

" Do you have money for it? huh? What are you looking at?"  the canteen attendant mocked him. 

Henley remembered the weird message he received this morning. As if not hearing anything, he unconsciously touched the food on the other rack, before he doesn't even have any courage to get near to it for he knows these foods here are costly. 

[ 50,000 was deducted from your account!]

Henley's eyes widened in surprise. 

Is this some kind of a dream? He actually has not yet made up his mind yet if he's going to buy a meal. He just wants to check or inquire about the price. 

[99, 950,000 is your remaining balance! Spend this all to double your money!]

What is this I'm seeing? It was like his fingerprint has some kind of computer in it that his touch on things allows him to see his money, and the tasks he needs to do, and what's odd is, it allows him also to own and buy things he wants! 

"For you sir!" 

Now, the canteen attendant who was cranky at him at first was now smiling wide at him. He's calling him sir, and he even prepared the food he touched a while ago. 

"Oh, I feel generous today, I think I want to buy all the VIP food you cooked and serve it to all the prisoners!"  Henley said. 

The canteen attendant was stunned. 

" Are you sure, sir?"  

"Yeah, of course, I am!"  Henley said. 

And from that day, Henley had become one of the VIP prisoners but he don't want to settle for that, he want a life outside. The next day, he called his lawyer. He now has money for a lawyer. 

"Actually, Mr. Austen our country has one law that could provide you the easiest way of here since your case was just stealing anyway,"  the lawyer informed. 

" What is that then?" 

" You've got to pay freedom money,"  the lawyer told him. 

"Freedom money?"  

Henley was quite surprised such an arrangement exists. This is the first time he heard a country has that kind of thing. Ever since Keres Wiscon was seated, there were many weird kinds of stuff going on in Red Coast. Anyway, that freedom money arrangement is favorable to him at this time. And so, without thinking twice, Henley spent all the money left in his account to pay for a way out of prison. 

---

Nostalgic. 

That's how he felt while he looked at the living room of their old house. Henley was back in the house where he and her grandmother lived. It's been years since he stepped again here. The house already needs a renovation, but his heart bleeds more at the truth that he wasn't even able to come home here at the time when his grandmother died. He could imagine his grandmother, his only family, dying alone in pain and agony. 

Henley flexed his finger. 

[System Update!]

Now he's reading these weird messages again that are popping out every time he flexes his finger. He wondered if he was the only one who could see those, but he beat he is, since when he spent all his money, the people present in the transaction were all just acting normal like he was just buying with a card or cash. 

Time to study this system! Henley thinks. 

So he keep on flexing his fingers to explore what is this system that's been boggling his attention lately. 

[System Update: Your money was doubled! Now you have 200 Million dollars in your account!

Status: Level 1

Social Affiliation: Commoner

Task: Spending]

I'm still a commoner despite this money I've got? Anyway, maybe for those Elite City, 200 million dollars are just a penny! Henley thinks. 

So, it turns out that Level 1 tasks are mostly spent. He needs to spend all the money deposited in his account to grow it in the next few days until he reaches the next level. Now, he wondered what waits for him in the next level but if he'll just be asked to spend of course it's fun! That isn't hard! 

Okay, so I must have a plan! I must spend this money to my satisfaction! I only have 3 days left again to spend all these! Henley thought to himself. 

The first thing he do today was called a construction company for the renovation of his grandmother's house. Then, he bought a car and bought a property, a three-story building that's not so lavish to look at as long as it has an underground that's what's important to him. Then he bought some equipment and computers, and other techs he needed for his own made-up control room. 

Henley felt satisfied as he looked at his entire underground room. It's all set up for his plan. Shall I change my name? He thinks. No. It would be better if they'll see me as what I was when they meet me again. Henley thought to himself. 

Then he swiped his computer screen and the whole map of Red Coast country appeared on it. He highlighted the Elite City and zoom it out. 

Just a little, I will have you...for now, I have some petty things to take care of! 

Then Henley's phone rang. 

That's the gold bars seller. 

----

Wearing all black tonight, allows Henley to blend in the night. He's no longer looking shabby at all. His black jacket, denim, and sneakers plus look expensive despite their simple style. So, without more words, he got the trust of the gold seller. 

"You're new in the market?"  the seller asked. 

" Yeah, starting up my trading business,"  Henley replied. 

The seller looked at his face as if studying him. 

" You're not a resident of Elite City,"  commented the seller. 

" Yeah, but near to going there. Anyway, I want you to be my regular supplier of gold,"  Henley said. 

The seller nodded, " Of course, but I'm just a representative of Terra Tunnels Mine Corp." 

Henley patted the seller's shoulder, " yeah, I know,"  he said, laughing. 

Tera Tunnels Mine Corp wanted to have a business relationship with this mine that ruined his life. Now, he could imagine what Mr. Krux's face would look like if he found out that the largest buyer of his gold is the man he trampled years ago. 

"I've got a job for you. How about you work for me?"  Henley suggested to the gold seller. 

" You know we've been meeting regularly. How about you work for me, you'll be compensated doubled from what you get in the mine, plus a resident card in Elite City when I got there,"  Henley said. 

The gold seller cannot respond at first. He seemed shocked at an offer that seemed to be a dream. 

"You see, I no longer have a family, and I'm already on my way to Elite City, you'll be the family I'll be bringing in there when I got there,"  Henley suggested. 

"That was an enticing proposal but what do you want me to do then in return?"  the gold seller asked. 

Henley smiled, he reached out his hand and formally introduces himself, " Henley Austen,"  he said. 

" For now, just tipped me all that's going on in the mine and you'll get a thousand dollars for that for starters." 

"Noah Kaluah,"  the gold seller reaches out for a handshake too as he gladly accepts his offer. 

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