The Master Programmer-Chapter 77: The Sincerity of Power 2

Draco smirked, though it didn’t reach his eyes. "You’ve made your point. But don’t think for a second this is over."

Jason stepped closer, his voice dropping to a whisper that somehow carried through the room. "I don’t think. I act. And that’s why I’m standing here while your men are on the floor. Remember that the next time you consider crossing me."

A simple projection of dominance, but it worked in this situation where he was standing over fifty men who were bleeding and bruised on the floor. He had no idea how much his body could take before, but now he knew. It was a lot.

Luckily it seemed these idiots had no guns. And it also seemed like the leader was one of those cautious intelligent types who was all about having people around. His calm tone and measured words created a sense of inevitability, leaving the boss psychologically cornered.

Draco smiled as he motioned to his guards. "Take him to the penthouse. Let’s see how this plays out. And get these idiots to get up. Take them to Fredo. Bastards couldn’t even take on one man…"

The journey through the factory’s back entrance was tense but uneventful. Jason and his group were escorted to another portion of the city where there was a massive building. At the top floor of the building… that was where the true boss awaited.

The guards eyed Jason, their weapons ready, but Jason walked with the same calm confidence he had displayed all evening.

As the doors opened, the boss—a man even more imposing than the one before—rose from his seat. His presence filled the room, but Jason didn’t flinch. Instead, he smiled.

"Jason Cross," the boss said, his voice a rumble of authority. "You’ve caused quite a stir." Jason looked at the man, smirking in interest. This one looked like a predator. Like a tiger among kittens. Also noticing how his blazer hugged him, Jason knew that he had a gun. And so did these guards at the door.

This was the Dragon’s den. But what was true here was the fact that they were going ahead and making themselves seem pretty intense and it was fun to Jason to see.

Jason nodded. "I’m good at that." For a moment, the two men stared at each other, the tension palpable. Then Jason spoke, his voice soft but firm. "I didn’t come here to fight. I came here to resolve this. But make no mistake... if you force my hand, I’ll ensure you regret it."

The boss chuckled, a deep, resonant sound. "You’ve got guts, kid. Let’s see if you’ve got brains to match." After saying that, the boss sat back, watching Jason in interest. Jason looked around.

Okay. Let’s see if what he had gotten from the System might be useful here.

Jason strode confidently into the dimly lit room, his footsteps echoing on the polished marble floor. The air was heavy with the scent of cigars and leather, the hallmark of a space where power often collided with pleasure.

His sharp gaze swept the room, landing on two women standing to the side. They were stunning, one with long raven hair cascading over her shoulders, her emerald-green dress clinging to every curve, and the other, a blonde vision, her sultry smile framed by crimson lips. Jason flashed them a grin.

"Well, hello there, ladies," he said, his voice smooth as silk, his words a subtle combination of charm and authority designed to capture attention without effort.

And the fact that he was greeting the woman and not the man was also another indicator that Jason had no respect to give him. The man smirked in interest, keeping his eyes on Jason as he moved through.

Both women exchanged curious glances, their coy smiles hinting at intrigue. Jason didn’t linger; his attention shifted to the man seated across the room, Troy. This was a powerful figure whose presence seemed to command the very air around him.

Troy leaned back in his chair, his broad frame relaxed yet exuding dominance. He steepled his fingers, studying Jason with a mixture of amusement and calculation. "Jason Cross," he began, his deep voice resonating. "Part of the Cross family. Now that’s interesting. How does someone like you become such a good fighter?"

Good fighter? So he must have heard about his exploits… whether the one from before or this one from now. How interesting. Jason wanted to find out just how much more this man had.

Jason smirked but didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he let the silence stretch, creating an air of mystery. This pause wasn’t just for effect… it was deliberate, a technique to make Troy lean in, metaphorically and literally, amplifying his curiosity.

"I could ask the same about you," Jason replied finally, his tone light but with an undertone of challenge. "But you didn’t call me here to exchange compliments, did you?"

Troy chuckled, the sound low and knowing. "Fair point." He gestured for Jason to sit. "Tell me, Jason Cross, did you leave your people at that building to show your sincerity to me? After all, I could use them to threaten you. I’m sure you wouldn’t like that."

Jason’s smile widened. "Perceptive. I’d expect no less from someone of your stature." Jason nodded as he looked at the man, stroking his ego in a way that was meant to build rapport. He was pacing him, getting to his level before finally he would lead the conversation. "I came here alone because I thought we could handle this like professionals."

Troy nodded slowly, his gaze unwavering. "Interesting. And bold. Two things I appreciate. But let me be clear… you’re in my world now. I control the chessboard. You are nothing more than a pawn. But that’s exactly the interesting thing. Whose piece are you?"

Jason met Troy’s gaze, unflinching. "Good. I like dealing with someone who knows the game. Except there’s a bit of an understanding… Am I really a Piece? What makes you think I’m not a player like you?"

Troy chuckled again, this time with genuine amusement. "You’re either incredibly brave or stupid." Saying this much he paused to take a sip of his wine, and Jason turned to the women, seeing how they were standing and noticing the fact that they had concealed carry guns under their dresses.

Pretty roses that could prick him if he touched them.

Troy leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Let’s cut to the chase. You’ve disrupted my operations. You took the money meant for my casino expansion. Now, I have clients expecting returns, and I’m short. How the hell are you going to fix this?"

Jason leaned back, feigning nonchalance, though every move was calculated. He needed to steer the conversation, to position himself not as a subordinate but as an equal or even superior.

"Troy," Jason said, his voice dropping slightly, drawing Troy’s attention like a magnet, probably because of the boldness it would have required for someone to call his name like that in his place. After all only people on the same level as him deserved to call him by name. This was Jason showing that he too was a player.

"You don’t need to fix anything. What I’m offering is not just a solution… it’s an opportunity. Something far bigger than what you’ve been working on."

Troy’s eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering. "Opportunity? You’ve already cost me four million. What kind of opportunity could make up for that?" Troy said this with a bit of anger in his furrowed brow, and Jason would never have known if this was a lie or not after all, Mr Grey had told Troy before that he had kept it all under wraps, and this man had no clue where the money came from only what the money was all about.

Jason reached into his pocket, pulling out a small, pristine white pill. He placed it on the table, its simplicity almost mocking the grandiosity of their conversation.

"This," Jason said, his voice steady, laced with a faint edge of excitement, "is the future."

Troy stared at the pill, then at Jason, his expression unreadable. "What is it?"

Jason leaned forward, his tone low and conspiratorial. "Imagine a state where every neuron in your brain fires in perfect harmony. Creativity, intelligence, focus… all amplified to levels you can’t even fathom. This pill doesn’t just enhance… it transforms! It’s not a cognitive enhancer; it’s a Cognitive Revolution!"

The room seemed to grow quieter, the air heavier with anticipation. Jason’s words hung between them, and even the two women at the side seemed to lean in slightly, captivated.

"Pure intelligence in motion," Jason continued, his voice soft but intense. "Pure Emotion in intelligence. It aligns everything! Your thoughts, your ideas, your execution. But there’s more. After the high comes a low. A challenging low. But even in that, you gain clarity. You remember everything, and your mind rebuilds itself stronger than ever."

Troy’s eyes flicked to the pill again. "Sounds like snake oil. Or something too good to be true."

Jason smirked. "That’s exactly why it’s not for everyone. This pill is for visionaries and pioneers. People like you and me." He gestured toward Troy, his words carefully chosen to position the pill as not just a product but a status symbol.

Troy leaned back, his scepticism softening into curiosity. "And you think this will solve my problem?"

Jason pulled out four more pills and placed them neatly beside the first. "Use one to test the effects right now. Sell two for two million each. That covers your loss. Use one yourself. You’ll soon see why the rest I will give you in the future will sell themselves."

He said this so naturally as if he wasn’t selling him dreams of the future, future-pacing him. If Troy took him seriously, he might just buy it. If not... Jason might just be in a bit of trouble.

Jason smirked. "The last one—well, that’s a gift. For a friend, a client, someone you want to impress. Someone who will push our interests forward... But understand… this is 10 million. This is my second show of sincerity to you."

Troy’s lips curled into a smirk, but he didn’t reach for the pills. Instead, he nodded toward the women. "You’re asking me to take a leap of faith. Let’s test it."

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Jason’s grin widened. He expected this. "By all means. Choose one."

The blonde stepped forward, her heels clicking against the floor. Her movements were slow, deliberate, and captivating. She took the pill, her crimson lips curving into a playful smile before she swallowed it.

Moments passed in silence. Jason watched her closely, noting every subtle change in her demeanour. Her eyes widened slightly, her posture straightened, and visible energy seemed to ripple through her.

"This…" she whispered, her voice breathy, "this is incredible."

Incredible? Of course, it was incredible. After all, it was the Neural Flux Pill, something he had received after getting to level 20.