36 Demonic Nature

"Does it really matter in the end?" Randolph glanced at the man on the ground, rolling the contract up and tucking it into his inner pocket. "All that matters is that the trade was completed. I got my strength, and you have your money."

"Yeah… haha…" Chuckling into the air, Arnold looked at the sky listlessly. "YEAH MY FUCKING ASS!"

"So you still have the energy to shout."

The bellow had attracted some attention from the parkgoers, but Randolph didn't mind.

"That wasn't worth it at all, you scammed me!"

The man's tone was furious, but it was rather restrained compared to what it otherwise could have been. It was probably because of the fear he still felt, fear of Randolph and the unknown, along with his lack of strength. The current him was, quite literally, lacking the strength even to truss a chicken. 

"…" Randolph chose to remain quiet, cleaning the blood from his face with a handkerchief he produced from his pocket.

Indeed. 7 points of strength was quite evidently not worth a meagre $3000. Just from appearance alone, it was the equivalent of several years of hard work. It was basically daylight robbery.

Though the system seemed fair on the surface, ensuring renumeration for both parties, Randolph knew that it sided towards him. It wasn't a direct advantage, but more so in knowledge.

Without knowing that the system relied on itself instead of the government, or that the process didn't need law to execute, or the specific process of both trading and what the terms meant, it allowed Randolph to add clauses that benefited him above all, and blatantly lie.

Simply put, it, and therefore Randolph, relied on the other party's ignorance to both the contract and its terms to succeed.

It was quite literally like a demon's bargain.

You should be careful what you wish for, and make absolute certain the fine details, otherwise you will be exploited.

If it wasn't directly written in the contract, don't trust his words!

It was like scamming, but didn't everyone get what was promised on the contract in the end? Could it really be called a scam?

"What, have nothing to say?!" Arnold was still livid, yelling restrainedly as his body regained strength.

Quietly, Randolph turned his head towards the college student in response. His expression still one of indifference, he walked towards the weakened man.

"W-what? Haven't you had enough? Didn't you already get what you want?" Seeing Randolph approaching him, Arnold's façade of bravery disappeared into the wind. "J-just take the stuff and go!"

But Randolph still didn't respond.

He merely walked up to the man, and squatted down beside him. His head loomed over Arnold as he observed the latter meticulously.

He did so for a solid three minutes, silently checking the man's health. But his silence only served to make Arnold frightened, and he didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

"Arnold, remember how I said this was merely the beginning?"

"…"

"Well, I have another offer to make you."

Upon hearing Randolph's words, Arnold's face wrinkled up in disgust. But before he could speak even a word of rejection, Randolph spoke first.

"Don't worry, it won't be anything harmful to you. In fact, you'll be grateful for my offer. Don't believe me? At the very least you should hear me out, right?"

Randolph's words were full of sound logic, and the college student could find no reason to reject him. Still silent, he hesitantly nodded his head.

"Great!" Pleased, Randolph nodded his head. "It's like this. I know that you're deep into the college circle, and I know that you have a lot of friends. What I want you to do now is to introduce me to more people that are in a similar position to you."

"…What do you mean?"

"Frat boy, popular kid, nerd, loner, I don't care. As long as they're in a situation where they need money desperately like you, introduce them to me. I'll pay you $500 for each person you introduce, and a bonus for anyone with extra muscle."

He had been observing the man as a potential target for the past four days. He had come to the gym several times with many people accompanying him. The flow had only stopped once the loan sharks had showed up to the gym, demanding for his presence.

He was the perfect person to introduce Randolph to more people in his circle, especially with his current circumstances relating to his friends.

"…" Hearing the demand, Arnold fell into a deep thought.

He had indeed connected to many different groups during his time in college, especially when he was on the rise of his popularity.

They had flocked around him, and he had been invited to countless social functions1. He had been a part of the group, and he felt like he had belonged. At least, this had been the case until he could no longer cover up his lack of money.

Of course, it was understandable for people to distance themselves from a person who was connected to the loan sharks, but they had long gone overboard. Ever since the rumours of his debt had been leaked, he had been made the laughingstock of the entire campus for anybody that mattered.

None of his old 'friends' had wanted anything to do with him, even ghosting his messages when he had asked about the terms of the contract just the day before. Just thinking about it filled him with spite and anger.

But…

If he could gain $500 per person introduced, wouldn't he quickly become rich? Not even the upper-class could make that sort of money so quickly.

Just the thought of the life of popularity that he had tasted before brought desire into his mind. After experiencing it once, he couldn't turn back so easily.

Surely, I can rope in at least a couple people… There are still people who will probably take pity on me… and need money…

The man's thoughts showed on his face - as clear as day - as he lay prone on the ground. Randolph could easily read his thoughts, even without any special power or anything.

The young man almost felt disgust, but he shoved the feeling back down, erasing it from his entire being. Though he had been living a righteous life until the past week or so, he was still a sinner. There was no turning back.

If he did feel disgust, as a murderer and someone who would more than take advantage of an innocent person, then he could only call himself a hypocrite. Self-loathing would come in shortly afterwards.

Now was the crucial time for when he was to learn that he had to erase his previous thoughts of morality. Otherwise, he would never survive, much less thrive, in this world. 

"Alright... You have a deal. How do I contact you?"

"Here." From his pants pocket, Randolph produced a white slip of paper. The number written on it was the number of his hotel room's private room phone. "Just keep in mind that only promising people will get you the money. No effort means no money."

"…Alright, it's worth the price tag."

"…" Nodding, Randolph stood up.

Before, he had acted as if Arnold signing the contract was a foregone conclusion. Naturally, he had a reason for his confidence. As someone who had tasted despair and the loss of hope, as someone who had worked a countless number of hours to save his money, as someone who understood well the feelings of desperation, he knew that Arnold would sign. To an extent, he had already guessed as to how everything would have ended. 

The experiences had been horrifying, but they gave growth to his skills in manipulation. He understood desire, and therefore knew how to utilize it.

His skills in understanding the human heart.

To fleece the ignorant out of all they owned, of their very lifeblood.

Randolph glanced at the glowing screen in front of him. It was almost as if it was made for him, as if it was tailored to him. Was this why it had chosen him? The young man felt as if he himself was growing more demonic in nature, following the system.

The young man shook his head. Finished with what he had to say, he began walking away, leaving the weakened man on the ground behind him.