Episode 7 — Collector's Move
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Cold Open — Quiet Streets, Loud Balance
The Bronx morning felt like someone had put the city on pause. The block was too quiet, and quiet was never free. Legend lay on the couch, HUD glowing against his eyelids.
[CASH FLOW | +$1,200 Deposited]
Balance: $10,490
The number sat steady, but it didn't feel steady. Money's just math until people notice. He could feel eyes lately—some real, some imagined—watching the way his pockets never sagged the same way twice.
Miles came out his room still wearing the jacket he'd worn to the interview the day before, hood down, phone buzzing like it owed him. His grin was bigger than his face.
"They played my track twice, bro. Twice. And they followed me on Insta. I'm official."
Legend smirked. "You're loud. That's half the job."
Salina breezed past them in a fitted blazer, heels clicking against the cheap tile like she'd never been broke. She kissed Legend's cheek quick, whispering, "You're dangerous, and I love it." Then she was gone before either of them could answer.
Legend exhaled. "Block too quiet. Means something's listening."
Miles didn't hear him. He was too busy watching the likes roll in.
The HUD pulsed faint red.
[Warning: Attention Level Rising. Conceal Flow or attract heat.]
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Scene 1 — The Envelope
The knock came soft, like a secret. Legend opened the door to an empty hall. On the floor: an envelope.
Inside: a single photo.
Him, Salina, and Miles—walking on the block, laughing.
The HUD flared.
[Threat Proximity Increased]
[New Tag: Observation — Someone is logging your patterns.]
Legend crumpled the photo, jaw tight. No note, no claim. Just proof. Someone wanted him to know he was being studied.
He snapped $200—Balance: $10,290—tucked it in his pocket. "Cash solves problems faster than words."
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Scene 2 — Syndicate Call
That afternoon, the Syndicate boss called from another new number.
"Queens to Staten tonight," the voice said. "Bigger bags. Louder risk. You in?"
Legend smirked. "If the pay's real."
"Ten stacks if you make the run. Dead if you don't."
Legend hung up, grabbed his jacket. The HUD chimed.
[Mission Accepted: Agitated Currency Transport II]
Payout: $10,000
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Scene 3 — Miles Prepares, Legend Lies
Before he left, Miles stopped him in the kitchen.
"You good?" Miles asked.
"Always."
Miles frowned. "Nah. You been looking over your shoulder like the block owes you a debt."
Legend snapped $100—Balance: $10,190—and pressed it into his hand. "Get more studio time. Don't ask questions."
Miles laughed, shaking his head. "You the only dude I know who throws money like advice."
"Money is advice," Legend said, and left.
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Scene 4 — The Job Goes Sideways
The van smelled like nervous leather. Same setup as before: duffel bags of bills that hummed with panic.
[Agitation Level: 42% → Stable]
They crossed into Queens. That's when two cars boxed them in, one front, one back.
From the side door, a rival crew spilled out—faces uncovered, smiles hungry.
"Snap for us, ATM boy," the leader said. "Word is you pull money out the air. Prove it."
Legend's HUD flared.
[Attention Alert: Rival Crew aware of Perk.]
He smirked, snapped $500—Balance: $9,690—cash appearing in his hand. He tossed it in the street. "That all you came for?"
The crew scrambled for it, but one kept staring. "Nah. We came for the source."
They rushed.
Legend didn't back up. He pumped $200 into Cash Knuckle. His fist cracked the air, dropping the first man flat.
[Cash Knuckle: -$200] → Balance: $9,490
Another grabbed his jacket. Legend snapped $300 mid-swing, stuffed it in the man's mouth, and dropped him with a knee.
By the time the third came forward, the driver had peeled the van through traffic, the rivals stumbling in the street, clutching bills like scraps of dignity.
The HUD glowed green.
[Combat Clear]
[XP +1,500 | Level Up]
Level: 13 → 14
Hourly Income: $1,500/hr
Balance: $9,490
Legend lit a blunt, grinning. "ATM closed."
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Scene 5 — The Collector Steps In
The drop finished smooth. But on the way back, under a shadowed overpass, someone waited. Alone.
A tall man in a long coat, sipping tea from a paper cup like it was wine. Calm. Patient. Dangerous.
"Legend," he said, voice silk and iron. "So it's true. You snap and money comes."
Legend's fists clenched. "Who are you?"
"Names don't matter," the man said, smiling. "Call me Collector. I like taking things. Especially systems like yours."
Legend snapped $100—Balance: $9,390—and let the bill flutter to the ground between them. "Then pay me to listen."
The Collector chuckled. "Not tonight. Tonight, I just wanted to see the trick." He crushed the bill under his boot, tea steam curling in the air. "Next time, I'll take more than a look."
He walked away calm, like the street belonged to him.
The HUD screamed red.
[Primary Threat Identified: Collector]
Quest Updated: Defend the Snap.
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Scene 6 — Homefront
Back home, Salina was waiting on the couch, wine glass in hand. "You smell like blood and money."
"Both pay the rent," he said, sitting down.
She climbed into his lap, eyes sharp. "I don't care how many men stare at me. I don't care who tries. You're it. Only you. You hear me?"
Legend kissed her slow, nodding. "Only me."
The HUD pulsed quietly.
[Influence: Salina — Anchor Strengthened]
From his room, Miles's music thumped—new bars, sharper, hungrier. Legend smiled. He snapped $500—Balance: $8,890—and slid it under Miles's door with a note: studio fund.
Miles yelled from inside, "Love you, bro!"
Legend grinned. "Love you too, kid."
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Scene 7 — Cliffhanger
Later that night, as the apartment dimmed, Legend sat with a blunt burning low, HUD glowing steady. He snapped $50—Balance: $8,840—watched the bill appear, rolled it between his fingers.
The HUD flashed:
[Quest: Collector Approaching]
Survival Odds: 63% — rising with prep.]
Legend leaned back, smoke curling. "Let him come."