Ace was overwhelmed by a powerful sense of guilt that he couldn't seem to get rid of. He couldn't stop thinking about Old Man Harkin's suspicious eyes and the phantom name Leonid Petrovich hung over him. He had given Ramos what he wanted and kept the man's desperate secret. The System had praised his work as 'efficient,' but the act just made Ace feel dirty and in need of a shower.
The reward didn't feel satisfying, as it was only a small, silent upgrade that he alone could perceive. He did notice his thoughts moving a little faster now, with mental connections forming more easily. His Neural-Interface felt sharper, like a well-oiled tool in his mind. He had used it to fix a broken radio in the workshop, feeling the nanites hum under his skin as they obeyed his commands just a fraction quicker. While it was useful, it also served as a reminder that his power grew only by feeding the beast.
