Ben cracked his neck, regretting that he had placed himself within the confines of Equal Exchange.
He hated it—but he couldn't resent it when the other two options were far worse.
A minor hiccup like this was a small pill to swallow.
He moved away from Morbucks, conjuring a seat beneath him.
"Tell me your wish, and then I can start stating numbers."
Morbucks was slightly taken aback by how abruptly he stopped.
Her brows knit in dissatisfaction… a small part of her disappointed he had ended things just like that.
Though she kept that to herself, embarrassed.
"You said I can pick any wish, but I'll have to pay with money of equal value, right?"
She tried to calm down, pretending it was normal to be half-suspended while a guy stared at her. She shifted, fidgeting with the ropes around her arms.
"Exactly." Ben nodded, watching her begin to work at the knots around her wrists.
She paused to think, her fingers moving nonstop.
"That means if I wish for bio-gravitational flight, it'll cost me more than if I wished for a pair of wings… or just a boost to my gravity boots."
He nodded again.
"Normal tech rework will be the cheapest option for you, since I'd just be enhancing what you've already built."
"Physical improvements and alterations will vary depending on what you want. Minor health upgrades could be cheaper than tech rework—or more expensive than bio additions like wings, enhanced vision, super strength, speed, or agility."
Morbucks paid close attention, soaking in every word. Once he was sure she understood, his gaze drifted downward, studying the lace pattern of her panties.
He tilted his head like an art connoisseur examining a fine portrait from his throne.
"The most expensive wishes on this wheel are the ones that bend the world's laws themselves—from bringing back the dead to reshaping reality in your image."
He watched her struggle to untie her arms, unable to ignore his growing arousal.
"That's all there is to it," he murmured, pointing to her left foot as the rope around it loosened further.
"Now then… can we get your wish?"
With a flick of his wrist, he lifted her leg and looped its bindings around another ceiling hook, suspending both legs in a wide V.
"Seeing you struggle just makes me want you even more."
He stood, the conjured chair disappearing behind him.
"Then it doesn't help when you put me in this position instead," Morbucks bared her teeth.
He laughed, holding the underside of her knees.
"What can I say? We've got a nice back-and-forth going on."
He pressed himself against her.
"I can wish for anything, right?" she asked one last time, looking away with a blush.
"Anything…"
She froze as he kissed her neck.
"Hey, I told you I only want to pay with money," she reminded him, side-eyeing him as he pulled her face closer.
"Of course. I meant anything you can transact with wealth. Consider this a bonus transaction… from me to you," he whispered, half-expecting the system to interrupt.
Morbucks scoffed, a smug smile tugging at her lips.
"Wow. You're really obsessed with me, aren't you?"
Ben only smirked.
She held his gaze for a second longer—pride, embarrassment, and something softer flickering beneath the surface.
"…Fine," she muttered. "I've made up my mind."
His brow lifted. "That was fast."
"It's a wish that isn't too costly," she said, lifting her chin. "You get what you want, and I get everything in the world."
That earned a quiet chuckle.
"Oh? And what would that be?"
Her confidence faltered for half a second before snapping back.
"My wish… is for you to be my boyfriend."
Ben blinked.
"One that acts like a proper boyfriend should," she continued quickly, cheeks faintly pink but voice stubbornly firm. "Someone who stays by my side, supports me, and doesn't run off when things get difficult."
Silence stretched.
Then—
He laughed.
Behind him, the final dark slot on the golden wheel flickered. The empty card dissolved, replaced by two interlocked rings glowing faintly.
Ben snapped his fingers.
A translucent panel appeared.
SYSTEM PURCHASE NOTICE
Wish Type: Emotional Contract (Voluntary Bond)
Due to the wish-maker's selected payment method, the purchase of one spin will cost:
$1,000
Ben tilted his head, amused.
"I don't know whether I should be offended or flattered that having me as a boyfriend only costs a thousand dollars."
His eyes drifted to the panel.
…Unlisted spin limit.
Maybe that was the catch.
Morbucks didn't hesitate.
"I'll buy a hundred spins."
His brows rose. "That confident?"
"I don't lose."
"Fine. I'll let you buy a hundred—and set that amount on your tab to be collected later."
He snapped his fingers, letting all her bindings fall away.
Ben caught her before she fell and twirled her onto her feet.
"I wouldn't want my future girlfriend thinking I'm too strict now, would I?" he said, pulling her into a dance—her left arm resting on his shoulder while he held the other.
She let out a sigh of relief, finally free. "I don't know if being strict really matters," she said, following his lead in the sudden tango.
She smiled, looking into his eyes.
"—when I know the man I'm choosing to stand beside…"
"…has a certain… controlling side," he finished, spinning her mid-sentence.
She glared at him over her shoulder. "And impatient when it comes to touching my body."
"Guilty~," he cooed, caught with his hands slipping beneath her skirt again.
She pushed his hands away. "Don't worry. It's not something to be ashamed of. In fact, it's flattering—and a desirable trait I want in my future partner," she added, fixing her dress and stepping away.
"But I still have some principles," she continued, folding her arms and looking at the wheel. "First, you'll have to make us official. Then we can take the proper next steps in our relationship."
Ben looked at her, then at the ticking timer.
"You're right…"
The wheel shimmered.
"Well then, Princess," Ben gestured. "Let's see what fate thinks of your wish."
The wheel spun.
Light blurred. Symbols flashed.
…Miss.
"Again."
Spin.
Miss.
Her jaw tightened. "Again."
Spin.
Miss.
"Keep going."
Spin.
Spin.
Spin—
The wheel slowed.
The rings aligned.
A chime echoed.
Win.
The panel shimmered as the result locked in.
Morbucks froze, staring at the slot as if afraid it might vanish.
Ben glanced down.
A small golden promise ring rested on his finger, shimmering softly—tugging at a quiet urge to stay by her side.
A matching ring tightened around her finger.
"Well," he said lightly, "looks like persistence paid off."
Her lips parted.
"Just like that… we're together?"
Ben smiled.
"Mmm… yeah. It almost feels like love at first… encounter."
He kissed her briefly.
"Along with a wish wrapped in magic to make it real."
Then he pulled back.
"Sorry it wasn't a flashy proposal. I'm running out of juice," he said, making her look at him.
"Uh… that's okay," she replied. "This alone means a lot."
She looked at her ring like a girl who had just gotten engaged.
"Maybe I'll make it up to you with a grand ceremony…" he said drowsily.
"Yawn~"
Ben yawned, masking the fatigue creeping into his limbs.
If it weren't for his Anodite genes working overtime, he wouldn't have lasted this long.
"That'll have to be mutual, though. I need to find a new place to lay low."
"Huh?"
Morbucks blinked as he stretched and walked toward the barrier.
"Oh, before I go… my name's Benjamin Tennyson."
Her brows knit.
"Make sure you don't forget it," he added with a playful wink. "Also—how fast can you alter the school's security footage? I need you to scrub my face or make it look like I was somewhere else."
He turned away.
"I've only got a sliver of energy left. After this… I'll probably be out for a while. So I can't just magic my way out of the mess I made."
"If you can erase anything linking today back to me, that'd help."
He stretched, thoughts drifting.
I didn't receive a notification from 'All Roads Lead to Villain.' That means I still haven't met the first objective… or maybe it's because I'm still technically in my first fight?
He glanced at the wall, drawing in all his power.
His hair flared with energy. His eyes ignited as the room split into four cubic spaces.
A four-way barrier sealed him away from her.
Blood leaked from his eyes.
He stretched his arms forward, teeth clenched.
"Go…!"
BOOOOM!
Each cube shot into the rain-filled clouds at different angles—left, right, up, and down.
The one that shot downward tore through the school, causing extra destruction before exploding in a brilliant burst—rumbling through the structure. The light shone like a dying star, sending shockwaves through the walls and windows.
Students, paramedics, and police officers watched from the sidelines, stunned beyond belief.
"God… what's happening to Townsville?" a reporter asked live on the scene, echoed by multiple other stations.