Kaito burst into the Anchor and the mist swirled around him like a curtain. The Crooked Anchor was a rough place, full of people who owed money and those who did not really have a place to call their own. Kaito was hurt badly. The cuts from the Drowned Stalkers were killing him and his feet were all blistered from walking back. He had the Submerged Node Core in his pocket though. That made him feel a little better. It was a deal that he had gotten the Submerged Node Core. He had just paid off two million dollars of his debt. The Submerged Node Core was a help with that. It was a start, to paying off the money he owed a real chunk of the debt he had to the people he owed money to, the debt that had been weighing him down.

  The inn got really quiet when Kaito walked in. Everyones eyes turned to him like they were waiting for something to happen. Shade was sitting in the corner his fingers tapping on the table. He was smiling at Kaito. It was not a nice smile. It was like he was thinking about what he could get from Kaito. Shades smile got a little bigger as Kaito came closer. Kaito could tell that Shade was not just sitting there he was waiting for something. Shade was watching Kaito like he was trying to figure out what to do with him.

  Shade said "You are back" in a tone. His voice cut through the room like a knife. "And you are still, in one piece" he added. It is really surprising that something good can happen in Layer 0.

  Kaito did not waste his breath on saying things. He pulled the glowing orb out of the pouch and slammed it down on the table. It made a noise that shook the mugs that were close by. The light from the core made shadows on Shades face. It showed the blue scar that was, under his eye. The cores light was really bright. It made everything look strange. Kaito was holding the core. He was looking at Shade. The glowing blue orb was still making a lot of light. It was shining all over the place.

  “Core. Delivered. Now cut the debt—two million, as promised.”

  Shade looked at the orb for a time. His hand was above it like he was thinking about taking something that did not belong to him. Then he slowly picked up the orb. He turned the orb around in his fingers. The blue light moved around showing the power that was inside the orb. The power was like veins that you can see under your skin. Shade could see that the orb had a lot of power inside it. The blue light was really pretty it was. Dancing and it showed Shade the veins of power that were, inside the orb.

  This thing is really something he said quietly almost like he was talking to himself. It is a key that lets us get to the levels. We can use it to get rid of debts and change the Nodes. You went and got it for them. What did you get in return? Just a little bit of freedom from the people who're, in charge of you?

  Kaitos blood ran cold. "What are you even saying? We made a deal. You have to keep your word. You have to honor the contract."

  Shade started to laugh, a laugh that came from deep, inside him. It was a laugh that made fun of someone. The sound of his laugh bounced off the walls. He carefully put the core down then he leaned forward. His eyes looked into Kaitos eyes. He did not blink he just kept staring at Kaito with a lot of intensity. Shades eyes were fixed on Kaitos eyes.

  "Honor? In Layer 0? Boy you are really new to Layer 0. I did not think you were this new to Layer 0." A status window, with edges popped up between them. It looked like smoke. It was moving around:

  There is a contract update for Shades Bargain.

  The objective has been completed.

  You get a reward, which's a debt reduction of 2,000,000 ?.

  The Brokers Override has been activated, which means they get to seize all your assets.

  Here are the terms: if you deliver the Submerged Node Core you will lose your reward to the Broker and you will not be able to make any claims.

  Also you will have to pay a penalty, which is an interest spike of 0.5 percent every day for 7 days.

  Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

  There is a dispute resolution, which means collection will start away and a bounty of 200,000 ? has been issued.

  The contract update for Shades Bargain is very important.

  You should be careful with the Brokers Override and the terms of the contract.

  The Submerged Node Core is a part of the contract.

  You need to think about what you will do with it.

  The reward of 2,000,000 ? is a lot. You could lose it all if you are not careful.

  The bounty of 200,000 ? is also a lot so you should be careful not to get in trouble.

  The contract update, for Shades Bargain is something you need to pay attention to.

  The words really hurt Kaito. He could not see anything he was so angry. "You are a person!" Kaito yelled, his voice shaking with anger. He quickly grabbed the dagger that was, at his side pulling it out fast. The dagger was shaking in Kaitos hand. He was pointing it right at Shades neck.

  The inn just exploded into chaos. People pushed their chairs back. Stood up. Big guys with scratched up faces and old weapons their eyes looking for a fight. One of these guys a man, with a chain wrapped around his fist took a step forward. He cracked his knuckles loudly. The boss wants you to sit down kid.

  Shade did not flinch. His smile got even bigger it was cold. It looked like a snake. He said "This is what I expected. You are so angry. You think that just because you worked hard you deserve everything. You went through the ruins and you made it out. That is good.. You did it the way I wanted you to. The small details can hurt you badly they can even kill you. The Shade ruins are an example of this Shade said.

  Kaitos breath came in bursts the dagger was really close to Shades neck. "You sent me to die for this thing. I got hurt for it. I had to fight dreams in the dark.. Now you are taking it away from me? You are changing the plan like some person, from my old life?"

  Shades voice was really low and mean like a snake. "Steal?" he said. He moved closer to me even though I had a knife. "I put in money " he said. "You were like a thing I used to get what I wanted.. Things like that do not get money. They get used until they are broken." Then he moved his hand and the status window, on the computer made a noise and changed:

  【Shade’s Mark Imprinted】

  【Bounty: 200,000 ? – Kaito Amamiya: “Core Traitor and Node Saboteur”】

  【Status: Prime Target (Aggro from all affiliated debtors; Trackable within 50 km)】

  The brute made the move his chain flying through the air. Kaito turned around his dagger slicing a cut, on the mans arm. Blood started coming out but it did not really slow the brute down. Another debtor tried to grab Kaitos cloak so Kaito hit him with his elbow breaking some of the debtors ribs, which made a cracking sound.

  【Damage Dealt: Minor】

  【EXP Gained: 20 (Non-Lethal Skirmish)】

  There were too many of them. One of the guys slammed a stool into Kaitos side, which made it really hard for him to breathe. Kaitos health points went down: he had 145 out of 180. Now he has 110 out of 180. It really. His vision started to blur. Kaito felt a lot of pain when the stool hit his side.

  Shade was sitting in the booth. He did not look happy. "That is enough " he said in a voice. His people stopped what they were doing. They were holding Kaito against the bar. A dagger fell to the floor. "You are a fighter I will give you that " Shade said to Kaito. "If you walk away now Shade will not tell his people to hurt you. Shade will let you go because that is what friends do. Shade is being nice, to you because Shade knows you from a time ago."

  Kaito spat blood onto the floor. He was straining against the grips. The voice inside Kaito was really loud now. It was like a storm, in his chest. Kaito thought about what happened. He took everything from Kaito. Kaito wanted to make him pay for what he did. Kaito did not care if it was a small scar. Kaito just wanted to hurt him. The thought of making him pay was all that mattered to Kaito.

  Kaito got a rush of adrenaline. He headbutted the nearest bad guy. This gave him a chance to break free for a second. He grabbed the dagger. Started slashing at Shade.. Shade was really fast and he moved out of the way with a weird kind of ease. The dagger cut through the air. It grazed Shades cloak tearing the cloth but not hurting him. Kaito and the dagger and Shade were all moving quickly. The dagger just missed Shade.

  Shades eyes got really angry all of a sudden. He said "You are foolish." Then he moved his hand and a chain that was hidden under his sleeve came out. The chain wrapped around Kaitos wrist like a snake. It felt very cold. It made Kaito feel weak. Shades chain was still wrapped around Kaitos wrist. The chain was very cold. It was taking away Kaitos strength. Shade did not let go of the chain.

  【Status Applied: Shadow Bind (-50% Agility, 10 sec)】

  The minions jumped on Kaito again their fists hitting him over and over. Kaito fought back with all his might. He kicked one of the minions, in the groin. Hit another in the throat with his elbow. But there were just too many of them. The minions were able to overpower Kaito. They pulled him towards the door. He was badly hurt and bleeding all over the place.

  Shade called after him his voice was full of triumph. He said "Run rich boy, hide.. The mark is on the rich boy now. Every single shadow in Layer 0 is going to hunt the boy.. When they bring the rich boy back Shade and the rich boy will renegotiate. This time it will be, on Shades terms.

  Kaito was thrown into the mud outside. The door slammed shut behind him. He just lay there for a while. The rain started coming down and it mixed with the blood on his body. Kaitos condition was not good. His health was at 65 out of 180. The thing that was wrong, with Kaito was that he was bleeding. He was bruised.

  He pushed himself up the dagger was still in his fingers. His fingers felt numb. The voice in his head was not broken it was made stronger like it had been through a fire and come out sharper the voice of the dagger was still, in his head the dagger that was still clutched in his fingers.

  He betrayed you that is really bad. He took away the thing you won which's not fair. Now it is time for you to get back at him. You should try to take the things that are important to him like his empire. Do this one step at a time in a way that is secret, like a shadow.

  Kaito stumbled into the mist. He was getting away from Rusthaven. The bounty was really getting to him. It felt like an iron on his soul. Kaito thought about the bounty all the time. The bounty was always, on his mind.

  The man had no one on his side. He did not have any money. The people around him had no mercy left for him. He was all alone with no one to help him and the people, around him had no mercy left for the man.

  The man had a lot of anger inside him.. In Layer 0 his anger was a powerful tool, even more powerful, than a knife.