The street was a graveyard of broken glass and expensive cars that would never drive again.
I stepped over the carcass of a Grave-Rat, my eyes scanning the digital heat-maps of the 'Market' that only I could see. Most people were running toward the police stations or military bases. Fools. In a week, those places would be the first to fall under the 'Debt' of the System.
Suddenly, a massive explosion rocked the nearby convenience store.
"Get back! I can... I can handle this!"
A young man, barely twenty, was standing in front of a group of crying civilians. He was glowing with a faint, golden light—the 'Aura of the Guardian'. I recognized that face.
Kim Min-ho. In my previous life, he was the 'Sun Knight,' the leader of the Radiant Guild and one of the five 'Heroes' who eventually signed my death warrant. Back then, he was a god. Now? He was just a terrified kid with a flickering light and a cracked wooden bat.
He was fighting a 'Shadow Stalker'—a Rank-E monster that moved like liquid ink. Min-ho swung his bat, but the monster was too fast. It slashed his shoulder, and the 'Sun Knight' fell to his knees, his golden aura sputtering like a dying candle.
[ASSET ANALYSIS: KIM MIN-HO] [POTENTIAL: EXTREME (S-RANK)] [CURRENT STATUS: NEAR-DEATH / BANKRUPT] [KARMA BALANCE: 10]
I leaned against a lamp post, watching the scene. I didn't rush in. I didn't draw a weapon. I just waited for the 'Price' to drop.
The Shadow Stalker hissed, its claws dripping with Min-ho's blood. It lunged for his throat.
"Please... anyone..." Min-ho whispered, his eyes closing.
That was the signal.
I stepped into the light. "I can save you, Min-ho. But my services aren't free."
The monster froze, sensing a presence colder than its own. It turned toward me, its void-like eyes trying to find a weakness. It found none. I wasn't a hero; I was a void that swallowed light.
"Who... who are you?" Min-ho gasped, blood leaking through his fingers.
"Your last chance," I said, ignoring the monster. I opened a holographic screen between us. "Sign the 'Emergency Bailout' contract. I kill the monster, I save your life, and in return, you owe me 50% of every Karma point you earn for the next five years."
"50%? That's... that's slavery!" Min-ho coughed, the Shadow Stalker preparing for another strike.
I shrugged, a cold, sarcastic smile playing on my lips. "The Market is brutal, Min-ho. High risk, high reward. If you think your life is worth less than half your future earnings, then by all means... die for free."
The monster leaped.
"I sign! I sign!" Min-ho screamed.
[CONTRACT SIGNED: EMERGENCY BAILOUT] [NEW DEBTOR ACQUIRED: KIM MIN-HO (S-RANK POTENTIAL)]
The moment the contract turned gold, I moved.
I didn't use a sword. I used the 'Foreclosure' authority. I pointed my finger at the Shadow Stalker mid-air.
"Illegal Entry," I muttered. "Asset Seizure."
The monster didn't just die; it imploded. The dark energy that formed its body was sucked into my palm, turning into a concentrated marble of black Karma.
[200 KARMA COLLECTED.] [ASSET RECOVERED: 'SHADOW-STEP' (RANK: E)]
The civilians cheered. Min-ho breathed a sigh of relief, the golden aura stabilizing as my 'System' shared a fraction of my energy to keep him alive.
"Thank you... thank you so much," Min-ho said, trying to stand up.
I looked down at him, my violet eyes devoid of any 'heroic' warmth. I tapped the interface.
"Don't thank me yet, Min-ho," I said, my voice cutting through the cheers like a blade. "Check your notifications."
Min-ho's eyes went wide. His jaw dropped.
[NOTICE: 50% OF ALL FUTURE KARMA WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY TRANSFERRED TO 'SILAS'.] [CURRENT DEBT: 5,000 KARMA (BAILOUT FEE).] [INTEREST RATE: 5% COMPOUNDING WEEKLY.]
"Five thousand? Compounding?" Min-ho looked at me with horror. "I... I'll never be able to pay this off!"
"Exactly," I whispered, leaning down so only he could hear me. "In this world, Min-ho, some people are meant to be 'Heroes.' And some people are meant to own the heroes. You just became my most valuable asset. Don't die on me—it would be a terrible loss for my portfolio."
I turned away, leaving the 'Sun Knight' shivering in the rain.
[KARMA BALANCE: 1,060] [SOUL-ASSETS: 2 (DIRECTOR OH, KIM MIN-HO)]
I had a future S-Rank Hero as my personal debt-slave, and enough Karma to finally upgrade my own 'Core.'
The sun was starting to rise over the burning city. To everyone else, it was the start of the apocalypse. To me, it was the start of the most profitable fiscal year in human history.
"Next," I muttered, looking at the map toward the Central Bank. "Let's see if the 'Gods' left any gold in the vault."