Ghost Money – Episode 2: "The Cheating Dimension"
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Cold Open
Ghost woke up on the couch with his phone buzzing. Salina had posted a blurry picture of him sleeping on Instagram with the caption: "Roommate from hell. Still broke. Still useless."
Ghost sat up, middle finger raised to no one. "Joke's on you. I'm rich now, bitch."
The HUD flickered alive like a clingy ex.
Balance Update: +$200. Total Balance: $595
Ghost stretched. "Best alarm clock ever."
Salina stormed in wearing a silk robe. "Rent. Now. Or I'm really kicking you out this time."
Ghost smirked, snapped his fingers, and materialized a crisp $100 bill. He waved it like a stripper waving singles.
"Deposit this to shut the fuck up."
Salina blinked. "Where the hell did that come from?"
Ghost: "Magic unemployment."
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Act 1 – New Mission
The HUD pinged again.
Mission Alert
Client: Interdimensional Husband, Earth-192.
Task: Is my wife cheating with a mortal?
Reward: 800 XP.
Ghost frowned. "Bro, I didn't even shower yet."
A portal ripped open in the ceiling. Out dropped a glowing, six-eyed alien wearing a business suit. He shoved a picture at Ghost—his wife, a beautiful alien woman with four arms and a suspicious smile.
"She's lying. I know it. I need proof."
Ghost sighed. "Do I get hazard pay if she's smashing a kaiju?"
HUD: No. Just do the damn job.
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Ghost followed the alien wife across town. She strolled into a yoga studio full of humans. Ghost pretended to stretch in the back, watching her. Sure enough, she was wrapped around a human trainer like an alien octopus.
Ghost muttered, "Yup. That's adultery. And also a hentai category."
He whipped out his cracked iPhone, filmed enough evidence, and the HUD pinged.
Mission Complete. +800 XP. Level Up!
New Rate: $300 every 30 minutes.
Balance: $895.
Ghost grinned. "Passive income, baby. I'm basically a pimp for the truth."
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Act 2 – Trouble Brewing
Back home, Ghost flexed in the mirror. "Level 3, stacking bread, immortal swag."
The HUD flickered a warning: ALERT. Unauthorized Money Use Detected.
Ghost froze. "Huh? What do you mean unauthorized—"
The door burst open. It was the Dimensional IRS again, but this time with backup—three buff demon auditors in suits carrying glowing calculators.
"Ghost!" the leader bellowed. "You think you can conjure infinite money without declaring assets across realities?"
Ghost rolled his eyes. "Bro, I'm literally broke 99% of my life. Let me live."
One auditor raised a calculator that fired laser beams. Ghost dodged, grabbed a stack of bills, and smacked it into his palm.
"Fine," Ghost growled. "How much to make you bitches disappear again?"
HUD: Transaction Available: –$200. Confirm?
Ghost snarled. "Do it."
The money burst into flames and dissolved. The IRS demons hissed and blinked out of existence.
HUD: Balance Updated: $695.
Ghost spat. "Paying taxes even in hell. Capitalism never dies."
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Act 3 – Dirty Work
The HUD dinged again.
Mission Alert
Client: College Girl, Earth-420.
Task: Is my boyfriend cheating during frat parties?
Reward: 800 XP.
Ghost teleported to a frat house. The smell of beer, weed, and regret hit him instantly. Half-naked dudes chanted on tables while girls in lingerie fought over beer pong.
Ghost shoved through the chaos, spotting the boyfriend grinding on three girls at once.
Ghost snorted. "Well, that answers that."
He filmed it, sent it to the girl, and HUD pinged.
Mission Complete. +800 XP. Level Up.
Rate Increased: $400 every 30 minutes.
Balance Update: $1,095.
Ghost fist-pumped. "That's car money. That's strip club VIP money. That's—"
A random frat boy bumped him, spilling beer on Ghost's hoodie. "Yo, watch it, bum!"
Ghost stared, snapped his fingers. A hundred-dollar bill smacked the frat boy in the forehead.
"Go buy some personality."
HUD: Transaction: –$100. Balance: $995.
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Act 4 – The Cheating Dimension
The HUD suddenly glitched.
Dimensional Disturbance Detected.
Cheating Cases Overload. Entering Cheating Dimension.
Ghost was sucked through a portal and crash-landed in a bizarre city. Everywhere he looked, people were cheating. Wives sneaking into motels, husbands sexting demons, boyfriends double-timing girlfriends with robots.
HUD: Mission Log Overloaded. Hundreds of cases available.
Ghost's jaw dropped. "This is Pornhub in real life."
He started recording chaos left and right—XP raining into his HUD.
+800 XP. +800 XP. +800 XP. LEVEL UP!
Rate Increased: $500 every 30 minutes.
Balance Update: $1,495.
Ghost laughed maniacally. "I'm rich, bitch! Keep cheating, everyone!"
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Final Act – Flex & Save
Hours later, Ghost escaped the Cheating Dimension with new wealth. Back in Salina's apartment, he collapsed on the couch.
HUD dinged again. Balance Update: +$500. Total Balance: $1,995.
Salina walked in. "How the hell do you keep making money out of nothing?"
Ghost smirked, conjured a crisp $50, and slid it into her hand.
"Because I'm the Ghost of the economy."
HUD: Transaction: –$50. Balance: $1,945.
Salina blinked, cheeks red. "…Maybe you can stay a little longer."
Ghost grinned, pulling out his phone. "Good. Because next mission, I'm buying a king-sized bed. Couch sex is beneath me now."
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Ending Gag
Ghost microwaved ramen, opened the packet, and instead of seasoning found a $20 bill. He grinned. "Delicious wealth."
HUD: Balance: $1,945.