Ultimate Level 1 - Chapter 060a - Cost of clues (Patreon)

“Phaius, we will not remind you again.  Do not pester us anymore unless you prefer us to inform every other system user about your actions.”

His hands shook, trying to control his rage, but it was barely containable.  Standing in the watcher's hall, he knew there was no action he could take to force them to give in to his request.

The five members of the watchers sat on their floating chairs, surrounded by strands of energy and light flowing into them through one cord connected to the ceiling.  The room glowed and sparked. The ceiling, walls, and floors showed the universe spinning in space, planets twinkling as significant things happened.  Staring at it all was impossible as it shifted constantly, and they watched a number of lives he couldn’t count.

He had been here many times before.  He used the power and influence he had earned over these millennia to alter and adjust the worlds he had a presence on.

Every time he came and saw the room, a tiny bit of awe overwhelmed him.  Every life in every universe trickled its power into here. The changes in worlds flowed into these five beings who had a role they would never give up or betray.  The energy they controlled was immense, but so were the constraints upon them.

Ignoring the questions he had every time he came here, he took a deep breath, forced a smile, and bowed his head slightly. One day, he would find a clue about who had put them here and how to have that power.

“I understand, and I also thank the watchers for keeping my movements a secret.”

All five bent their heads forward at the same time.  Those men, or women, or whatever they were with their bald heads and almost exact facial features, each wore the same smirk as they sat straight again.

As he was about to walk out of the room, a single voice came out from one of the five.

“Phaius, you realize you have made many enemies across the system.  Perhaps you should find a way to mend old ties.”

He didn’t turn around.  He wouldn’t have been able to figure out who had said that.  Yet a clue had been given. A hint that would require him to pay a price.

“I am grateful for the watchers and will make a donation to the system for their kindness.”

He stopped punching the wall in the empty hallway.  Neither the stone nor his hands bore any marks, no matter how hard he hit the wall.

Enemies… we all have enemies… countless enemies.  That is what we do.  Make pacts and break them.  Try to maneuver and scheme.  Power is traded for favors and favors for opportunities.

How many enemies did he have? Could he even count them all?  And the number of allies he could call on needed to be increased.

Pulling up a screen, Phaius groaned as he input a number higher than he wanted and sent it.  He felt the power that left him.

It's time to go and find a way to earn all that back.