Scum Of The Earth : System Of Dominion

Arthur kicked the door of his apartment shut with his foot, his arms occupied with the weight of the small black backpack Lena had handed him. Tossing it onto the couch, he stood in the middle of the room, staring at it as though it were a prize he had wrestled from fate itself. Slowly, deliberately, he unzipped the bag, revealing bundles upon bundles of crisp bills. 

"One... two... three..." he began counting out loud, each number filled with growing excitement. By the time he reached the fifth stack, he abandoned the effort, letting out a triumphant laugh as he threw himself onto the couch beside the bag. 

"Victor King really doesn't skimp, does he?" Arthur muttered, leaning back with a grin plastered on his face. For a moment, the weight of his situation faded into the background. This was the kind of payout he'd dreamed of during his countless small cons, the kind of money that screamed opportunity. 

He stood up abruptly, pacing his small living room. "This... this is just the beginning. A taste of what's to come. If I play my cards right, I could have all of it—Victor's empire, his influence, his money..." Arthur trailed off, his grin faltering slightly as the weight of his ambitions settled in. 

But then a notification from the system popped up in front of him: 

[Quest Progress: Infiltrate and Conquer – 15% Completed]

Arthur smirked. "Looks like I'm moving up in the world," he said, closing the notification with a flick of his hand. 

He sat back down and reached for one of the bundles of cash, flipping through it absentmindedly. His thoughts wandered to Grace and Lena, two pieces on the chessboard he was meticulously arranging. Each had a role to play, and he needed to ensure they stayed in line with his plans. 

But before he could dwell too long on his next move, another thought struck him. "If I'm going to play this game, I need more than charm and a few lucky breaks. I need leverage. And for that..." He paused, a devilish grin forming. "It's time to call in an old friend." 

Arthur made his way across the city, the streets of Arrington was bustling despite the overcast sky. His destination was a dingy, unassuming internet café on the outskirts of the city, the kind of place where privacy was prioritized over aesthetics. 

He walked in and was immediately greeted by the smell of burnt coffee and the hum of outdated computers. Sitting at the back, behind a cluster of monitors, was a wiry man with messy hair and thick glasses. 

"Ezra," Arthur called out, a smirk on his face. 

The man looked up, his eyes narrowing as recognition set in. "Arthur Sterling ," Ezra said, leaning back in his chair. "The prodigal con artist returns. What brings you to my little corner of the world?" 

Arthur pulled up a chair, placing a small black purse on the table between them. He opened it just enough for Ezra to catch a glimpse of the cash inside. 

Ezra let out a low whistle. "Well, well. Looks like you've been busy. What do you need?" 

"Information," Arthur said, his tone serious. "Victor King. Lena King. I need to know everything—associates, enemies, weaknesses." 

Ezra leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "You're playing a dangerous game, Arthur. The Kings aren't exactly the kind of people you mess with lightly." 

Arthur smirked. "When have I ever played it safe?" 

Ezra chuckled. "Fair enough. I'll see what I can dig up. But it's gonna cost you." 

Arthur slid a few bundles of cash across the table. "Consider this a down payment." 

Ezra nodded, pocketing the money. "Give me a day or two. I'll find something worth your time." 

Later that evening, Arthur was lounging on his couch, scrolling through his system interface and exploring the features when his phone buzzed. It was Grace. 

"What is it now?" Arthur answered, feigning irritation. 

Grace's voice was sharp. "Don't 'what is it now' me. You haven't told me what the plan is. Are you actually going to help me, or was that just a line to get me off your back?" 

Arthur sighed. "Relax, Grace. I'm working on it." 

"You'd better be," she snapped. "Because if you're not serious about this, I'll—" 

"You'll what?" Arthur interrupted, his tone turning playful. "Go after Lena by yourself again? Because that worked out so well last time." 

Grace fell silent for a moment before muttering, "Touché." 

"Look," Arthur said, softening his tone slightly. "I told you I'd help, and I will. Just trust me for now." 

"Fine," Grace said reluctantly. "But don't keep me in the dark for too long." 

"Wouldn't dream of it," Arthur replied, hanging up before she could argue further. 

The following day, Arthur found himself at one of the Kings' less secure establishments ; a glitzy casino tucked away in the heart of the city. He walked in, his confidence unshaken as he surveyed the room. 

Using his [Silver Tongue], he struck up conversations with staff and patrons alike, weaving lies and half-truths to gather snippets of useful information. 

At one point, he found himself at a poker table, his sharp mind and knack for reading people earning him a small fortune in chips. More importantly, he overheard a conversation between two of Victor's men about an upcoming shipment—something big and heavily guarded. 

Arthur filed the information away, his mind already spinning with possibilities. 

As Arthur was leaving the casino, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. His instincts were rarely wrong, and he glanced over his shoulder, scanning the crowd. 

Sure enough, a man in a dark suit was lingering near the exit, his eyes fixed on Arthur. 

Arthur smirked, deciding to test the waters. He approached the man casually, his demeanor relaxed. "Can I help you?" 

The man said nothing, his expression unreadable. After a moment, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd. 

Arthur's smirk faded, replaced by a thoughtful frown. Whoever the man was, he wasn't just a random stranger. 

"Looks like the game's already begun," Arthur muttered to himself as he stepped outside. 

As Arthur returned home that night, his mind was racing. Between his encounter at the casino, Grace's persistence, and Lena's invitation, the pieces of the puzzle were beginning to come together. 

But as he settled onto his couch, a new notification from the system appeared: 

[Quest Update: Investigate Victor King's Shipment – Optional Quest Added] 

Arthur stared at the screen, his excitement tempered by the growing realization of just how deep he was getting. 

"This is only the beginning," he muttered, a mix of anticipation, dread and excitement in his voice. 

He glanced at the piece of paper Lena had given him, her address and number written in elegant script. Folding it carefully, he tucked it into his pocket. 

"Time to see how far I can push this."