As soon as I returned to my room at Mythos Academy, the weight of the task ahead of pressed down like an invisible anchor. Thirty billion dollars. It wasn't just a number—it was a challenge, a near-impossible mountain to climb. Even as I sat in the plush confines of my dorm, staring at the polished surface of my desk, the enormity of the sum made my hands feel cold. My parents were well-off, sure. Wealthy, even, by most standards. But not thirty billion dollars wealthy. That was a number that went beyond comfort and into the realm of the absurd.
If I was going to pull this off, I'd have to make it happen myself. The answer wasn't in saving or working overti. No, the answer lay in the one thing I had that no one else in this world did: foresight.
The world I'd found myself in was vast, brimming with opportunities and dangers. But more importantly, I knew things—things that no one else could possibly know. The novel I'd been reading before my death had gifted sothing priceless: knowledge of events yet to unfold. Power was always built on knowledge, and if used correctly, that knowledge could be leveraged into cold, hard cash.
Two avenues ca to mind almost imdiately. The first was selling intelligence. If there was one thing that people valued above all else in this world, it was information. Secrets, trade routes, alliances—they were the currency of the elite. The second was cryptocurrency. The Slatemark Empire's Council was set to hold a hearing in February—an event that would seem mundane to the uninford but would ignite chaos in the financial markets. All cryptocurrencies except one would crash. Fortunes would evaporate overnight, leaving only a single survivor standing tall. That lone cryptocurrency would soar, its value increasing a hundredfold within months.
I didn't need to beco a cryptocurrency mogul overnight—I just needed enough seed money to make my initial investnts. That was where the intelligence ca in. Five billion dollars was my target. Enough for a down paynt on the skeleton and enough to start betting big on the currency before its inevitable rise.
The plan was sound, but selling the information posed its own risks. It needed to be credible, valuable, but not suspicious. I needed soone with connections to vouch for . That's where Kali ca in. Her family wielded influence in the Western continent, where secrets were as valuable as gold. If anyone could make an introduction to the right people, it was her.
I dialed Kali's number. The phone rang twice before her voice answered, sharp and dripping with curiosity.
"What is it, Arthur? Busy day?"
"Kali, I need your influence," I said, my tone firm and to the point. With Kali, there was no need to dance around words. "I need you to connect to the biggest information guild you know in the Western continent."
There was silence on the line for a mont before she chuckled. "You certainly don't waste ti, do you? And why exactly should I throw my weight around for you?"
"You don't really have a choice," I said evenly. "Mana oath, rember?"
Her chuckle cut off abruptly. "You're really going to pull that card on ?"
"Yes," I said bluntly. "This is important, Kali, and it's not just for . You know my goals are bigger than myself. This is a necessity."
She sighed audibly. "Alright, you win. But you'd better make it worth it, Arthur. What are you planning?"
"That's for to know and for you to find out later," I said. "I just need the introduction."
"Fine," she said. "I'll get you in touch with the Ravens."
"Thank you, Kali."
"Don't thank yet," she replied. "And if this backfires, you owe big."
I didn't respond, letting the line go dead. I didn't need to explain myself to Kali—not right now. She would understand eventually.
Later that evening, after Kali's connections worked their magic, I found myself staring at the screen of my laptop as the call with the Raven Network began. The figure on the other side was shrouded in shadows, their voice distorted into a low, chanical tone.
"You're the one with information," the figure said without preamble.
"Yes," I replied, keeping my voice steady. "Information that will be invaluable to you. I have detailed knowledge about an upcoming trade route expansion in the Western continent. It's going to destabilize several key players and open up massive opportunities for profit—if you act on it in ti."
The figure leaned forward slightly, the faintest suggestion of interest in their posture. "And why should we believe you?"
I expected this. The Ravens were no fools. They wouldn't take anything at face value. "I'll give you a sample," I said. "A single key location and the date it will go live. Cross-reference it with your own intelligence. You'll find that I'm not only correct but that my information is weeks ahead of your other sources."
The figure nodded once. "Very well. Provide the sample."
I rattled off the details, careful to keep my tone casual but confident. The location was a small but critical node in the larger expansion, sothing the Ravens would recognize imdiately if they were paying attention.
There was a long pause as the figure presumably verified the information. When they spoke again, their tone was sharper, more focused. "Your information is accurate. Continue."
"I'll give you everything," I said. "Dates, routes, key players, and the exact nature of the destabilization—but it will cost you."
"Na your price," the figure said.
"Five billion dollars," I replied. "Three billion upfront and the rest upon delivery."
Another pause. I could feel the tension even through the screen.
"That's steep," the figure said finally. "Why should we agree to those terms?"
"Because if you don't, soone else will," I said. "And they'll have the advantage of acting on this information first. The opportunity is fleeting, and the payoff will be astronomical. You know it's worth the investnt."
The figure was silent for a mont, then they nodded. "Three billion upfront. Two billion upon delivery. Deal."
The screen went dark as the call ended, and I leaned back in my chair, exhaling slowly. The first step was complete. The money was secured. Now it was ti to execute the rest of my plan.
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