The System Made Me a Villain

The hero's name was David Park, and he had been chosen by the Hero System three months ago after dying in a car accident while trying to save a child.

Alex learned this by kidnapping David's sister.

"You really are a monster," Elena observed as they watched the kidnapping through surveillance feeds. "I'm starting to think that's not entirely the system's fault."

Alex didn't respond. He was too busy studying David's psychological profile, looking for weaknesses.

*HERO SYSTEM USER: DAVID PARK*

*FEAR: FAILURE, LOSS OF LOVED ONES*

*DESIRE: PROTECTING OTHERS, JUSTICE*

*WEAKNESS: EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT TO FAMILY*

*CORRUPTION OPPORTUNITY IDENTIFIED*

The meeting took place in an abandoned warehouse—cliché, but effective. David arrived alone, as Alex had known he would.

"Where is she?" David demanded.

"Safe. For now." Alex sat in a chair positioned to keep him in shadows. "Sit down, David. We need to talk."

"I'm not making any deals with you."

"Not even to save Jenny's life?"

David's jaw tightened, but he sat.

"Good. Now, let me explain something about your system that it probably didn't mention." Alex leaned forward. "Hero Systems aren't designed to create heroes. They're designed to create controlled opposition."

"That's a lie."

"Is it? Think about it. You get points for saving people, fighting villains, upholding justice. But who decides what constitutes 'justice'? Who programs the parameters of your missions?"

*PSYCHOLOGICAL MANIPULATION: PLANTING DOUBT*

*SUCCESS RATE: 15%*

*HERO SYSTEM MENTAL DEFENSES ACTIVE*

"The system serves the greater good," David said, but there was uncertainty in his voice.

"Does it? Because from where I sit, it looks like your system sent you after me right when I was about to unify this city's criminal organizations. Coincidence?"

Alex stood up, moving into the light. "What if I told you that eliminating the competition between crime families would actually reduce violence? That my organization runs cleaner operations with fewer civilian casualties than the chaos we're replacing?"

"You're a murderer."

"I'm a solution. The old way—dozens of small gangs fighting each other—created collateral damage. My way creates order."

*MORAL CONFUSION DETECTED*

*DOUBT LEVEL: 35%*

"Even if that were true," David said slowly, "the methods matter."

"Do they? If I kill fifty criminals to save five hundred innocents, am I the villain or the hero?"

The question hung in the air between them. Alex could see David struggling with concepts his Hero System hadn't prepared him for.

"Here's what I'm offering," Alex continued. "Work with me instead of against me. Help me build something better than what was here before. In exchange, I'll minimize civilian casualties and focus my organization on truly harmful elements—human traffickers, drug dealers who target kids, corrupt officials who abuse their power."

*CORRUPTION ATTEMPT: OFFER OF PARTNERSHIP*

*SUCCESS RATE: 23%*

"And if I refuse?"

Alex's expression didn't change. "Then Jenny dies, and you spend the rest of your very short life hunting an enemy who knows everything about you while you know nothing about him."

David was quiet for a long time. When he finally spoke, his voice was barely a whisper.

"What exactly are you asking me to do?"

*CORRUPTION SUCCESS: INITIAL STAGE*

*HERO SYSTEM USER COMPROMISE ACHIEVED*

*+500 VILLAIN POINTS*

*TOTAL: 5,100*