Copy & Paste Power in Modern World

Monica sat in her room with her phone in her hand.

Adam’s words were still moving in her mind. Someone could speak nicely and still have a hidden motives.

She had tried not to think too much about it, but the words did not leave her alone.

Her phone vibrated again.

It was John.

John messaged her often. Usually, Monica replied without thinking much. His messages were always polite.

But now, after Adam’s warning, every line looked a little different.

She opened the chat.

John had written:

How was your study session with Adam?

Monica looked at the message for a few seconds.

Her eyes became more careful.

She did not know what she was trying to find,

Then she typed back:

Nothing special.

The reply came after a short pause.

Did you two actually study, or did you only talk the whole time?

Monica’s fingers stopped above the screen.

She stared at the message.

It was not a big thing. Anyone could ask that. John might only be teasing her.

But Monica had not told him that they talked.

She had only said nothing special.

Then why did his reply feel like he wanted to know whether they had spoken about something?

Monica pressed her lips together.

’Am I overthinking?’ she thought.

She did not want to accuse John without reason. John had always been polite to her.

Still, Adam’s words kept coming back.

’If Adam meant John, then why?’ Monica thought. ’What would John even want from me?’

She did not understand it.

The scene shifted.

Adam stepped out of a public bathroom.

He had entered as Adam, but the person who came out was Wil.

He checked the mirror near the exit once, then lowered his head and walked out like an ordinary man.

His phone rang.

It was Senju.

Adam answered.

"Where are you?" Senju asked.

"Five minutes," Adam said. "I will be there."

He cut the call and left the area.

Five minutes later, Adam reached the prison.

Senju was waiting outside near the visitor entrance. Her face showed that she was not fully calm.

When she saw Adam, she paused.

"You changed your appearance," she said.

Adam stopped in front of her.

Senju looked at him once from top to bottom.

"I did not think about that part," she said. "But yes, this is better."

Adam gave a small nod.

Senju did not ask more.

She led him toward the entrance.

As they walked, Senju spoke in a low voice.

"His case is serious, but not as bad as it could have been," she said. "He made a deadly attack, but the officer survived. So there is no death sentence here."

Adam listened without answering.

Senju glanced at him.

"But I still don’t understand your plan," she said. "The court will not simply release him."

Adam looked at her.

"You misunderstood me," he said.

Senju slowed down.

Adam continued, "I did not call you here because I want to take him out legally."

Senju stared at him.

"Then what is your idea?"

"When I go to meet him," he said, "do not come with me."

Senju’s confusion became stronger.

"At least tell me what you are thinking."

Adam ignored that and asked, "Which room?"

Senju watched him for a moment, then told him the visitor section number.

Adam walked ahead alone.

Inside, the visiting area was divided by thick glass. Small seats were placed on both sides, with a phone near each compartment.

Most of the booths were empty.

Only one prisoner was sitting on the other side.

Leo Harrow.

He was not large, but his eyes were sharp.

Adam entered the booth and sat across from him.

Leo picked up the phone on his side first. Adam picked up his own.

Leo looked at him through the glass.

"I don’t think I have ever met you," Leo said. "So what work do you have here?"

Adam studied him quietly.

"I have heard a lot about you," Adam said. "You almost killed a police officer."

Leo did not look pleased.

He only stared at Adam with bored eyes.

"Say the work," Leo said. "I did not come here to waste time listening to praise from your mouth."

Adam’s eyes moved slightly.

Leo continued, "If you want someone inside this prison killed, say it directly. You only need to pay."

Adam had never met Leo before.

He did not know Leo’s real personality. He only knew the news reports and the story that came out after Leo was caught again.

In that future, Leo had somehow escaped from this prison. Later, after he attacked a politician in public, people started digging into his past.

Even then, no one found who had helped him escape.

No one found who had paid him.

’If it happened once in the future,’ Adam thought, ’then there is a high chance it can happen now too.’

That was why he had brought Senju.

Adam looked at Leo again.

"Leo," he said, "I will be straightforward. I came here to ask one thing."

Leo waited.

"Will you work for me?"

Leo blinked once.

Then he looked around the prison booth and back at Adam.

"Can you not see where I am sitting?"

"Do not worry about that," Adam said. "Just answer me. Will you work for me?"

Leo leaned back a little.

Adam continued, "You will have to do dirty work."

Leo listened.

"If I tell you to kill someone, you kill," Adam said. "If I tell you to kidnap or threaten someone, you do it."

Leo’s smile slowly appeared.

Adam’s voice stayed calm.

"In return, I will give you the money you ask for."

For a few seconds, Leo said nothing.

Then he laughed.

The sound came through the phone, low and rough.

"You are a very interesting person," Leo said. "If you can get me out of here, then you can even ask me to attack the president. I will do it."

Adam did not smile.

"Remember one thing," he said. "My name must never come out."

Leo’s smile widened.

He placed the phone back on its stand and stood up.

As he turned to leave, he lifted one hand and waved once through the glass.

Adam watched him go.

Leo had accepted the condition.

Now only one thing remained.

He had to get Leo out of this prison.