Cosmic Patron System: 100X Return on Every Reward

The cab drifted slowly on the roads of Mumbai while Reyansh remain seated in the back, silent. Though the Mumbai itself was going through a bit of upheaval.

When their cab was at some distance from the Victory Guild office, Reyansh saw multiple vehicles rushing towards the opposite direction to him.

’Someone really did put blockade on entry of any officials,’ he thought as he watched police vehicles, ambulances and black SUVs pass by him.

’Though they aren’t going to find much after my clean up.’

’Well, whomever did it will eventually try and contact me for whatever their demand is,’ he remarked, pushing himself back into a mentally silence zone.

After about an hour later, the cab stopped in front of the hospital.

"What’s your name, driver sahaab?" Reyansh asked.

[AN: Sahaab is a type of honorifics used in India. Equal to Mr. Or Sir, depend on the person it was communicated to.]

"Amit Saxena, Sir StarWalker," he answered.

"Would you like to work for me?" Reyansh questioned

The driver, Amit, became silent for few seconds. Taking his silence as indecisiveness, Reyansh added.

"If you need time, you can think about it..."

"Can I ask you a question, sir?" Amit asked interrupting Reyansh.

"Sure, ask away."

"Are you a murdering psychopath?"

"Wow, interesting question, that is the most direct someone has been with me in a long time. You tell me the reasoning behind this question of yours and I will decide if you are worth answering," Reyansh replied with curiosity.

Reyansh noticed a bead of sweat forming on the driver’s head, ’He is completely scared, but still that honesty is worth recruiting.’

He decided against using his telepathy to read his mind for the moment, he wanted to hear his answer before doing anything else.

"We are a family of three, sir, my daughter, my wife and myself. By some luck and persistence we survived The Merge five years ago." Amit started answering.

"I didn’t awaken as a Hunter, my wife did. Even though her talent was not high rank, we ran our house somehow, first year after The Merge."

"However, after a year as systems and institutions started to establish themselves, the discrimination against low rank talent hunters and non-awakeners increased."

Reyansh nodded positively, having gone through this experience himself.

"So, after that me and my wife decided to abandon this hunter life and started doing normal chores. I drive cabs, my wife works in households. She is an ex-hunter so, she gets the jobs easily."

"I want to live a simple life, sir, providing for my family. That’s why I still haven’t used Awakening serum. We decided four years ago, that this life of dungeon and monsters is not for us."

"That’s why I asked you the question, sir StarWalker. We have no qualms in working for a hunter but if he hunts people on a whim. I rather have our family live simple and poor." He finished the explanation.

Reyansh remained silent after hearing the explanation. He did a telepathy check to confirm, he was telling the truth.

’In a way, he is exact opposite of me. He distanced himself from the possibilities of conflicts to safeguard his family. Whereas, my goal is to become strong enough so that nothing can hurt my family.’ He thought.

’But he is right in his place too. If we swap places, this easily could have been me. I am this strong because I have a special system paving my way and I was lucky enough to receive proper training before even being a hunter.’

Reyansh looked at the driver, really looked at him, imagining himself in his place.

"Sir StarWalker...Sir," Amit called out bringing Reyansh out of his stupor.

"Yeah...yes, you are worth answering this question," Reyansh stated.

’At this moment, there’s no point in dwelling on what could have been? I have the means to make myself stronger, so I will do just that.’ He decided though this question settled itself in his psyche.

"My goal is simply protecting my family. I would do anything to protect them, I decided it when my father died." Reyansh answered.

"So, am I a murdering psychopath? No, but I could be if I am needed to become that for my family and my close ones." He added.

"What’s your decision, then?" Reyansh asked.

’So, he is doing this for family, maybe I can give my family a better life by associating myself with him.’ Amit thought before making a decision.

"What will be the pay?" Amit questioned back with a smile.

"Haha...you are smart. I will draft that contract tomorrow, for now you go home and come back next morning, around 9-10 am." Reyansh ordered as he opened his system panel, transferring 1 million credits to Amit.

Before Amit could ask for today’s payment, he suddenly received notification of receiving 1 million credits.

"Sir?" he called out as Reyansh exited the cab.

"Half million is your today’s payment and rest is advance. Keep that in mind Amit, I expect a 100% loyalty from those who work under me."

"If you do that, you and your family won’t have any problems for the rest of life. And take my number, go to car showroom tomorrow and buy the best car there is. I don’t much about current cars, so I leave that decision to you."

"Call me when you need to pay," Reyansh added, giving his number to Amit and walking towards the hospital’s entrance. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Amit sat there in his cab for the moment, feeling a but overwhelmed. This much money and a respect from someone so powerful, it almost felt unreal to him for a moment.

However, the fact that he drove him all day, was real. ’I hope I don’t regret this.’ He though turning the cab around.

Meanwhile, as Reyansh walked into the hospital, he kept his mental energy expanded, hearing Amit’ thoughts.

’You won’t, not unless you betray me first.’ Reyansh stated internally.

With hurried steps, Reyansh reached Vanya’s room, he sensed three people in the room. He pushed open the door and saw Arpita and Luna sitting together while Vanya still lay in her bed.

"You finished early, I thought you would take more time," Arpita commented as she saw Reyansh entering.

"The longer he would have remained on that stream, there’s chances that he would have gotten more sympathy. So, I finished him off just in time," He replied.

"Did she wake up or did anything else happened when I was away?" he added.

"Nope, she is sleeping peacefully."

Reyansh stood at the edge of the bed, watching her face complexion brighter than before. Her body had healed completely with no signs of injury on her body.

He sat down on the sofa near the bed, feeling a bit relaxed after everything he had done today, along with fatigue of using mental energy and controling the wave of emotions.

"Are you ready for tomorrow, Reyansh?" Arpita asked.

"I am ready as I can be. Are you going home or going to stay?"

"I am here until she wakes up."

"So, can you please keep an eye for tonight, while I get some shut eye?"

"You are stretching that gift for too long," Arpita rolled her eyes.

Reyansh just smiled as he laid his head back, letting himself into the embrace of sleep.

Arpita restarted checking out her phone, while Luna watched Reyansh intently.

"Why are you watching him like a hawk?" she asked noticing Luna’s gaze.

"I am fascinated by his control over his dense and abundant mental energy," Luna stated.

"Well, he is going to need this strength soon." Arpita replied.