Chapter 9: Year's End and a Christmas Carol
Christmas in Starling City was, to put it mildly, depressing. The city was a mess of crime, and the Queen family was a mess of drama. Adam, with his meta-knowledge, knew that the Christmas episode was a classic way to amp up the emotion, and he was not looking forward to it.
"I'm like the Grinch, but instead of stealing Christmas, I'm here to ruin it with my sarcasm. And I'm going to do it. I'm going to make a joke about every single Christmas trope I see. The fake snow? A joke. The cheesy Christmas lights? A joke. The family drama? A joke. I'm going to be the most festive, sarcastic guy in Starling City. It's a gift."
The current drama was a corrupt investment banker who was blackmailing Moira Queen. Adam, who had been in contact with Moira in his "PI" persona, knew this was a ticking time bomb. Oliver was going to go after the banker with a bow and arrow, and Moira was going to try and protect her family by making a deal with the devil.
[Mission: Save the Queen family.]
Adam sighed. "Guido, that's a bit vague. 'Save the Queen family.' From what? Themselves? Their drama? The fact that they're all terrible at keeping secrets? I'm going to need a little more detail. Or a lot more coffee."
He knew he couldn't just stand by and watch. He had to use his Gu. This was a time for strategy, not for violence. He had to use his mind, not his fists. He had to be a silent guardian, a watchful protector. Or, you know, a sarcastic guy who knew things. Same difference.
He used his D-Rank Logic Gu and his B-Rank Communication Gu. He had to come up with a plan that would expose the blackmailer without resorting to violence, and he had to convince Moira to go along with it.
He met with Moira at a cafe, a public place where they wouldn't be overheard. "Moira," he said, "I know you're in a tough spot. But you can't give in to this guy. He's a blackmailer. He's a snake. You give him what he wants, and he'll just come back for more. It's like a bad TV show. The villain always comes back."
Moira, looking exhausted, just shook her head. "You don't understand, Adam. My family... I have to protect them."
"I do understand," Adam said, his voice surprisingly gentle. "I understand more than you think. But you can't protect them by making a deal with a blackmailer. You can only protect them by exposing him. By taking him down. By using your power, your influence, your money, to turn the tables on him."
He used his B-Rank Communication Gu. He wasn't controlling her mind, just nudging her thoughts, a little whisper in the back of her head. He made her think about her family, about her children, about the legacy she was building. He made her think about a different way, a better way.
He laid out his plan. A plan that would use her own resources, her own influence, to expose the blackmailer, to reveal his crimes, and to put him behind bars. Moira listened, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and hope.
When she finally agreed, Adam felt a sense of relief. He had saved the Queen family. He had done it without a single punch, a single arrow, a single act of violence. He had done it with his mind. And his magic bugs.
He was walking out of the cafe when he ran into Malcolm Merlyn. The man was a looming threat, a walking, talking supervillain in a suit. Malcolm gave him a cold, hard stare.
"Adam Stiels," he said, his voice a low growl. "I've heard things about you."
"Yeah," Adam said, a nervous grin on his face. "I'm a freelancer. I'm good at what I do. And I'm a big fan of Christmas. You know, all the dramatic family dinners and the murder plots. It's a real holiday tradition."
Malcolm just stared at him, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. Then he walked away. Adam let out a long, slow breath. He had just stared down a supervillain and lived to tell the tale.
[Mission Complete. Queen Family Saved.]
[Reward: B-Rank Mind Gu and 10,000 Coins.]
[Gu Acquired: B-Rank Mind Gu.]
[Coins Acquired: 10,000.]
He felt a new, powerful buzzing sensation in his brain. The Mind Gu. A Gu that could subtly influence thoughts, that could nudge people in the right direction. A Gu that could make him a master manipulator. A sarcastic, pop-culture-obsessed master manipulator.
"A B-Rank Gu! A mind Gu! This is it! I'm officially a Jedi now. A Jedi who can't use a lightsaber, but who can use the power of the Force to make people think good thoughts. I'm like a low-budget, sarcastic version of Professor X. It's a good look for me."
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