DESTINY GAMES

"The test is not for you to kill me or not. The mission was only bait for you to take the test. I gave you the information you had for the mission, and I came out to the burial site just for you, so I knew you were coming. So it is just right that you failed to kill me. You don’t have to worry about you failing the mission since it doesn’t impact your test."

Kelvin continued to read the message with a single minded focus. Even Wrath was silent and focused too.

"The true test is to see if you will escape successfully after failing to kill me. You did, but I am not satisfied because you cheated. You were supposed to be the only one fighting Zain, but you ganged up on poor Zain with a null."

"The null weakened him and bound his hand and foot with cables while you killed him. I can’t accept your result because of that. That is not a fair fight or a true test of your capabilities."

This claim broke their focus. They considered the accusation seriously for a while. Eventually, they put everything together and figured out why the man believes he cheated.

Kelvin snickered and said, "Maybe he doesn’t deserve to be an information broker."

Wrath didn’t agree. "It is not his fault. He is missing an important knowledge that made him come to that conclusion. According to his understanding, you should have only one ability. So it is easier to believe that you had helpers than to suspect that you have two abilities including an ability to remove your enemy’s ability."

"Besides, you did cheat. You had my help."

That last reason finally convinced him. He continued reading the message without the intention to take digs at the man’s professional skill.

"I am a fair man, so I will credit you with the 500,000 dollar mission payment since you managed to escape. But I will not let you go for cheating because there is a reason I set up the test and your cheating invalidates it."

"Now you have two choices. You can contact me for another mission. It will be a test that you can’t cheat on. If you complete it, I’ll tell you why I created the test and reward you for the mission."

"For the second option, you can refuse to admit that you cheated and refuse to take a makeup test. I will become angry because of it and come after you because of Zain’s unjust death. That will be very unpleasant."

"I don’t even need to do much. I can just put up a 10 million dollar hit on you. I assure you that that is the maximum that I will go. If you are sure you can withstand the villains that will come after you for that price, then you can refuse to take the test."

"I am a civil man. I understand that you are in this situation because of me. That is why I am being cordial with you right now. I know you can be suspicious of my intentions, but if I wanted to truly kill you, I would have sent more than Zain after you."

"I didn’t want to truly kill you then, and I still don’t now. Don’t make me want to truly want to kill you now. You have a month to decide. I will take it as you have refused if you don’t reply in a month. Good day."

Kelvin reread the message and took some time to digest it. It didn’t help that Wrath was chuckling about the whole thing. The chuckling got worse when he received notification of a credit of 500,000 dollars.

He had to ask, "Is everything a joke to you?"

Wrath couldn’t hold it in anymore. It burst out laughing.

Eventually it said, "Come on. This is funny. You almost died because of some rich guy’s hobby. Then he paid you off. You have to laugh."

Kelvin refused with a frown, "No, I don’t have to laugh. I don’t find it funny. I almost died." 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Wrath laughed harder. It took a long while for it to calm down. Then it asked, "Do you remember when you thought he was stupid for going to the burial site to honor his father? Do you still think it is stupid now?"

"I still think it is stupid. I think this whole thing is stupid."

It pointed at him and said, "Says the guy that was baited and almost killed for 500,000 dollars."

Then Wrath burst out laughing again. Kelvin had to interrupt it, "What do you think I should do?"

"You should see what this whole test is about."

Kelvin frowned. Then he asked, "Are you saying that because you are curious about the test?"

Wrath asked in return, "Are you not curious?"

"Besides, the alternative is not pleasant. You will offend a scheming information broker who will begin investigating you and will send hordes of villains after you."

Kelvin didn’t think it was much of a threat. He said, "They might not even be able to find me, much less kill me."

Wrath sniggered. "Did you hear yourself? You said "might" not "won’t." It means it is possible for them to find you. If even one of them finds you, you are screwed. And you have a lot to lose if many people start snooping for information about you on the internet and everywhere."

He did have a lot to lose if people started snooping around for him and trying to kill him. He can escape their search using his shape-shifting ability, but it will make things difficult for him. Then things will become even more difficult if his secret of having more than one ability is exposed.

He can explain having more than one type of ability as he is not the only person in history who can use more than one type of ability either temporarily or permanently. But people like that are rare and they usually have an Omega ability, so he will certainly draw attention to himself.