Shadow Being System

General Zhao's voice echoed through the large, dimly lit room. "William," he began, his tone formal yet commanding. William snapped into a crisp salute, standing at attention. The air in the room felt heavy, almost stifling, as the weight of the moment settled on his shoulders.

"You deserve a reward," General Zhao said.

"A reward?" William repeated, barely believing what he had heard. His heart skipped a beat, excitement creeping in. "What kind of reward?" he wondered, not daring to ask. He maintained his composure, but inside, his mind raced with anticipation.

General Zhao's face remained unreadable as he continued. "First, you managed to stop a bus explosion that would have killed dozens of students. You know how important these students are to the survival of humanity."

William's breath hitched, memories of that day flashing in his mind. The fear, the adrenaline, and the sheer terror of watching the dark energy engulf Mr duke soul crystal. It was all thanks to miss mona that they managed to survive.

General Zhao's eyes pierced through him. "Secondly, you stopped a newborn-tier beast. Even though it was weak, it had the potential to wipe out every students if left unchecked. If it weren't for you, more lives would've been lost."

William swallowed, suddenly aware of the significance of his actions.

"And finally," Zhao added, narrowing his eyes slightly as if studying William, "you killed that beast. Something I'm still wondering how you managed."

William tried to suppress the slight grin threatening to break out. It wasn't pride—well, maybe a little—but more disbelief that he had survived that encounter at all.

"For these achievements, you're being offered two options," General Zhao declared, his voice reverberating through the room. "The first option—$50,000."

"Fifty thousand dollars?!" William's mind short-circuited. His knees almost buckled at the sheer amount. He felt light-headed as though gravity had temporarily forgotten about him. "Fifty thousand dollars?!" That kind of money could change his entire life. He could send some to the orphanage, buy gear, strengthen himself—and maybe, just maybe, escape this hellish academy for good.

The temptation swirled in his head like a whirlwind. But General Zhao wasn't done.

"The second option," he said, his voice carrying even more weight, "is 100 contribution points."

The room fell silent. Even Commander Charles, standing like a mountain beside the general, shifted slightly, unable to hide his shock. 100 contribution points? The commander, who had worked in the military for twenty years, had only earned 150. And here was this kid being offered 100 in one go.

The weight of the choice hung in William's mind. The money was tempting—$50,000 could do wonders. But William had already made up his mind. Only an idiot would choose the money. The benefits of contribution points were endless. With 100 points, he'd be promoted to a second-tier citizen, something less than 10% of the population achieved.

It would mean more respect, better opportunities, and a brighter future. He imagined himself as a high-class model, earning far more than $50,000 monthly. The choice was clear.

"I choose the points," William said firmly, his voice unwavering. He could feel the tension in the room relax ever so slightly. Commander Charles nodded almost imperceptibly, acknowledging the smart decision.

General Zhao nodded, seemingly pleased with William's choice. "Good," he said. "The points will be transferred to your account. You've made the right decision."

William stood at attention, saluting once more. "Thank you, General."

Then, unable to help himself, William grinned sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck. "Uh, General, you said I killed the beast, right? I was just wondering... can I get the beast's crystal?"

The air in the room seemed to freeze. General Zhao's eyes hardened, and he fixed William with a cold, piercing glare. Silence enveloped the room. William felt the temperature drop as if the room itself were holding its breath. Even Commander Charles stood stock still, watching the exchange.

William's mouth went dry. "Shit, I got to greedy." He quickly snapped back into a salute, straight as a board. "I'll take my leave," he said hurriedly, eager to escape before he got himself into deeper trouble.

"Wait." General Zhao's voice cut through the tension. William froze in place, his hand still raised in a salute.

"There's something else I need to discuss with you."

William's heartbeat slowed. His excitement for the reward faded, replaced by unease. "What now?" he wondered.

General Zhao crossed his arms. "You're aware of how important these students are. But what you might not realize is how the heretics have gained so much force. Many students, once bullied and oppressed in the academy, turn to the heretics for revenge."

William frowned, confusion bubbling up inside him. "Why don't you ask the headmaster for help?" he asked.

Commander Charles snorted, his expression grim. "We believe the headmaster is involved."

The revelation hit William like a punch to the gut. His mind raced, struggling to process the depth of the situation.

General Zhao's voice lowered, becoming more serious. "That's why we need people we can trust on the inside. We want you and Mona to be our eyes and ears at the academy."

"A spy?" William's face lit up slightly, thinking it sounded cool.

Explore more at empire

Commander Charles cut in sharply. "Not a spy, kid. Think of it as being an informant. You'll report suspicious activities, anything out of the ordinary."

Mona immediately saluted, showing her loyalty, but William shook his head, stepping back. "No. It's dangerous. I could get expelled. And there's no reward for this. The risk is too high."

General Zhao smiled slightly, as if expecting this. "We'll pay you $20,000 monthly."

William almost grinned. "My bluff worked," he thought. But outwardly, he maintained a calm expression. "Make it $50,000."

Commander Charles exploded with rage. "You greedy bastard! You should be grateful we're offering anything at all! Do you think I get paid for this?"

William shot back, his voice steady, "You're a military officer. I'm just a student. I can't take these risks without fair compensation."

"You—!" Commander Charles clenched his fists, but General Zhao raised a hand, silencing him.

"Charles," Zhao said calmly.

Commander Charles bit his tongue, stepping back and muttering an apology.

General Zhao turned to William, his eyes narrowing. "Why increase the price?"

William's response was quick, calculated. "I killed a beast without an ability. Imagine what I could do with one. My future is guaranteed. But if I'm caught and expelled, it all crumbles. I need the money to safeguard my future."

General Zhao paused, studying William carefully. "He's clever," the general thought. "Fine. Agreed."

William's face remained composed, but inside, he celebrated, then he shamelessly said "I'd prefer the payment upfront."

General Zhao's eyebrow twitched, but he nodded. "Done."

William saluted again. "Thank you, General. I'll take my leave now."

But before he left, William turned one last time. "How do I contact you? The academy's phones are tapped."

General Zhao's eyebrows rose slightly in surprise. "He's sharp," he thought. "Too sharp for his own good."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

General Zhao's expression remained calm, but William saw the flicker of surprise in his eyes. Without a word, Zhao tossed a wooden tag toward him, similar to the one the soldier that brought him here used earlier. William caught it and examined the carved lightning bolt.

"Use that to come to me if you need anything," General Zhao said.

William and Mona saluted and left, stepping into the elevator. As the doors closed, Commander Charles turned to the general. "Why didn't you tell him about the anbu the heretics sent to kill him?"

General Zhao's lips curled into a small, amused smile. "Don't worry. Some old men are already involved. William will be fine. As for the anbu… well, we'll see if he can survive."

He laughed, the sound low and dangerous, echoing through the grand hall. "This is getting interesting."