Published at 8th of September 2026 8:40 am

Chapter 49 Useful

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Wow. Just wow. Nestled inside me are the four new abilities and their corresponding personality pieces. Alicia Spade, the woman I thought was a luck Manipulator. She isnt; shes neither a causality nor a probability Manipulator. Her ability is much more specific and nuanced than that. She can alter the risk involved in an action that she or another person takes. But only one person at a time. Increasing the risk of failure or decreasing the risk of failure is possible with her ability. Its not quite the bullshit power I assumed it would be; its far less random. It is quite powerful, in anyones hands, let alone whoever I choose. Its definitely under the possible tab for Viviennes future power. Even the personality piece is good. Excitement. The rush of enjoyment or savoring of tension.

Michael Knight, on the other hand, has a painfully simple ability. Transforming your body into water sounds useful, except for the inability to contort the body. If he couldve been able to shift his watery form around, then it wouldve been a much better power. For an utter creep and unrepentant monster, his personality piece is quite normal. Sexual attraction promises to make my later date with Emma more enjoyable. Ive never had any desire to have sex; its always been a thing that I had to do because I was in a relationship. Now, though, I might even look forward to it. Two beneficial personality pieces are already a huge win.

The two Cowls from The Triad, Shock&Awe and FrostWyrm, gave me impatience and confidence, respectively. Impatience isnt good, no matter how you spin it. Confidence likely wont even affect me. You dont need confidence unless you believe failure is a possibility. The reports about the two Triad members abilities were perfect. Shock&Awe can generate nearly infinite electrical currents through his hands. FrostWyrm is able to create incredibly sharp and durable frost claws made of ice. Theyre D-tier abilities if Im being honest. Maybe with additional abilities they could become better. Still, I have nothing to complain about. Three great personally pieces and one bad one is a phenomenal harvest. A huge win that I deserve. After everything thats gone wrong recently and the failures of my underlings, it is about time that I receive a windfall.

I finish describing the four abilities to Kai, and he enters them into his system. In front of me is the unconscious body of FrostWyrm. I place my hand on his cheek and pass over the electrical generation ability of Shock&Awe into his compatriot. Ive found that putting the power in someones hands who is unfamiliar with it makes it far less dangerous. Alongside that ability, I also send Carbons ability to copy physical items. And the paranoia thats been afflicting me. This should solve my recent problem of second-guessing my allies actions and allegiances.

So thats Carbon and Shock&Awes powers inside him? Kai asked.

Yes.

Ill keep an eye on him to see what sorts of combination ability forms from them. What did you say were the potential side effects of both? He asked.

Increase in paranoia, and the subject will show an elevated level of impatience, I answered.

He thinks he knows about the personality pieces, but he doesnt truly know about them or why theyre so important to me.

Noted. By the way, you said that you had two problems for me to work on. What was the second one?

Vivienne has expressed the belief that she needs a second ability. Id like you to go over all of them and, if possible, create a list of potential combination powers. I understand the difficulty in predicting what could come up, but I merely would like a rough guess to inform my decision before I make it, I answered.

Ill run some simulations and see if I cant come up with a semi-detailed list of possible powers. Itll take me a bit before I have a comprehensive list, and since it isnt time-sensitive, Im not going to rush to finish it. Vivienne is a competent fighter and quite powerful as is; did she say why she thinks she needs to be stronger?

More options against superpower opponents and ones that dont end in obliterating her surroundings, I said.

So its not necessarily that she needs to be stronger, but that she wants to be able to do more. In that case, Ill limit my simulations to only include utility powers or ones that have a multitude of uses, he responded.

Excellent, I said.

You know, for a control freak, youre very willing to empower people who could harm you. For the longest time it baffled me. A man who has failsafes and countermeasures for every occasion. Youre someone who meticulously plans his goals out, and you only tell people what they need to know. I kept questioning why someone like that, someone like you, would so freely give out superpowers without any way to protect himself. Then a week ago, it hit me. The only thing that could possibly explain your confidence, Kai said, his eyes narrowing at me. You can take our powers back, cant you? Without touching us.

Kai is extremely lucky that I removed the paranoia a bit ago. Otherwise, I know that Id be spiraling into how best to murder him. If he werent so damn useful, hed find himself with a bullet through his skull. Ive gotten much better about not keeping volatile personality pieces inside me anymore. Still, Kai is too damn clever for his own good. Not everything is a puzzle waiting to be solved.

Im sure I have no idea what youre talking about. I dont think you should waste any more of your time with that particular train of thought, I warned. You never know what might happen.

My phone beeps, alerting me to Emmas text about dinner. I have to get home to shower and get ready. I leave Kai without another word, leaving him to his work.

Emmas choice of dinner is actually a place I havent been to before. Chez Un Ami is a fine dining French restaurant located inside the Financial District of Quinstin. Its the kind of place that has four dollar signs when you search it online. Their online menu doesnt list prices, and theyre only open for business six hours a night, five days a week. Its been on my list to try, but I just havent had the time to get around to it. Good choice, Emma. Since the discovery of the love I do feel for my father, my relationship feels like even more of a sham. I dismiss the thoughts about my fraudulent affair and focus on the date tonight.

I finish blowdrying my hair, inspecting myself in the mirror once more. Massaging pomade into my scalp and then the rest of my increasing lengthier hair, before combing it back and to the right. How do I look? Clean-shaven, well-groomed, but still in need of a haircut. I need to finish getting dressed. Currently, I have on a sleeveless white tank top, boxer briefs, and black socks. The remainder of my outfit is a pair of white chinos, a white dress shirt with the top two buttons undone, and a navy blue suit jacket. Brown heeled boots and a matching belt finish off the outfit. I grab the necklace that Emma got me, putting it on so that its visible Im wearing something, but the actual snowflake is hidden. Overall, it perfectly fits the vibe of tonight. I checked, and they dont require ties. Its our first night together since I first sent her on the mission for Carbon and the others.

I step out of the rideshare, adjusting my suit jacket and waving to the driver. Chez Un Ami stands out, not just because its the only restaurant on a street of corporate banks, stock exchanges, and trading hubs. A small single-story building wedged between corporate skyscrapers that tower over the city. The rustic red bricks, gabled roof, and white signage etched in cursive contrast the chromes, bronzes, golds, and blacks that dominate the other structures. Its the difference between the warmth of a nap wrapped in blankets in front ofthe fireplace and the cold, clinical steel of an operating table. Chez Un Ami is certainly unique.

The scent of freshly baked bread hits me like a humidity on a muggy day, followed by the delicious smells from all the spices and food from the kitchen. I stop at the podium to speak to the maitre d', informing them about Emmas reservation. The maitre d' is a mid-thirties woman, wearing the distinguished uniform of all the staff of Chez Un Ami. Black slacks, collared white shirt, cream colored vest, with a plain black tie. She calls over a waiter who was standing in wait around the corner. Hes an older gentleman. The gold plate on his vest says Louis, and he seems like the type who takes great pride in his work. Maybe hed be willing to switch career paths. I bet I pay better.

Louis leads me past candlelit tables full of well-dressed men and women, their conversations intimate rather than animated. This is not the place for spectacles or celebrations; this is a place to enjoy an exquisite, quiet meal. The faint noise from peoples voices just adds to the ambiance of this eatery. Scoping out the other men here, it looks like I nailed the dress code. It was a given that I would. Louis stops before a two-person table, pulling my chair out for me and then silently withdrawing from the area.

There sits Emma, wearing a gorgeous high-neck black dress with a single thigh slit. She crosses her legs, showing me exactly how high up the thigh slit goes. Sexual attraction- I thought I knew what that would mean, but this is different than just being aroused. I drink in the way the dress hugs her in all the right ways in an idealized display of the contours of her body. Involuntarily, I bite my lower lip. A faint giggle brings me out of the carnal thoughts I was drowning in. Lost as I was in her curves, I didnt notice the sheer amount of effort she put into her whole appearance. Her makeup is completely different than the usual. Smokey eyes, peachy beige lipstick, and probably another five or six products I cannot name that combine to make her truly stunning. Her hair is voluminous, and shes had it cut and colored. The blonde is brighter, the red tips more vibrant.

You look incredible, Emma. Breathtakingly beautiful. Even with a thousand years and access to the mind of every great poet, I would never find a way to describe your likeness with the respect and honor it deserves, I said finally.

Her makeup doesnt cover up the faint blush that rises across her face. Its been a while since I had to be romantic, but that doesnt mean my charm has dulled by any means. Emmas looks only cement my status. Of course, any woman I choose would be gorgeous. She stands up to approach me, wrapping her arms around my neck to kiss me deeply.

Ive missed you, Eryk. You keep talking like that, and we wont make it through the meal, she said.

Would that truly be so bad? I asked.

I went through too much effort to skip the dinner and go straight to dessert. Youll have to behave yourself. If I can wait, you can wait, she replied.

Im nothing if not patient, I said, taking my seat.

Opening the menu up, scanning through it before I settle on Steak au Poivre, while Emma picks Canard A L'orange. Ducks delicious. Its a protein I really like, but Ive never tried cooking it myself. Theres got to be a place that sells duck breasts in Quinstin. Obviously there is, but I need to find a butcher shop that I like and trust to start getting meat from. Louis appears a minute after we decide on what to order with a bottle of wine and two wine glasses.

Here is the 2164 Cabernet Sauvignon the lady requested, Louis said, removing the cork and pouring both of us a glass. Are you both ready to order, or would you like some more time?

Were all set, Louis. Thank you for the wine. When I heard you had it, I knew I had to try it. Ill have the Canard A L'orange with potato gratin and braised red cabbage, Emma answered.

Yes, Ill have the Steak au Poivre with whipped potatoes and braised asparagus, I said.

He nods before taking off without a word.

Do I even want to know how much this wine costs? I jokingly asked her.

A man who buys a lady a car in cash balks at the price tag of a bottle; how shameful, she replied with a smile.

You picked a good place. Ive been wanting to go here for a while, I said, taking a sip of the wine. Not terrible. Hows it been being home again?

Wonderful, you have no idea. Ive grown spoiled in my time with you. Roughing it in the wild and in cheap motels was dreadful. Being back in the apartment is nice; sleeping in your bed and getting a good nights rest soothed my soul. Then I treated myself to a spa day yesterday. Im honestly, truly happy to be back. My place isnt out there, in the field; its here with you, she replied, tasting her wine. Mhmm.

Your place is wherever the hell I put you. I give her a few minutes to explain herself or rescind her comment, but she stays silent, sipping on her wine.

Dont sell yourself short; you did exceptionally. You brought back all three without any issues, and Im pleased with your performance. Youll get used to the motels, eventually. Trust me, staying in those places makes you appreciate the luxury and lavishness you have at home all the more, I smiled.

Her face falters as her eyes focus on the table.

But I could be more useful being here in Quinstin with you, she said.

How? What expertise do you possess? You have a high school diploma and no real-world skills or job experience. What exactly do you think you could offer me? I asked coldly.

I could take care of the shopping, the cleaning, the-, she started.

All things I accomplish fine on my own. My studio apartment isnt large enough to require a cleaner, and if it did, Id get someone for that.

Shes getting flustered and upset, but this kind of entitlement needs to be shut down immediately.

Im intelligent. Im your girlfriend, your lover, and youre being cruel.

So your worth comes from basic house skills and your sharp wit? Is your plan to be a combination of a bang maid and a comedian? I offered you an out, and you turned it down to inject yourself into my life in order to play house. But I told you I have no need for someone who provides me no value. Please, Emma, I thought you were smarter than that, I said.

Shes struggling to hold back tears if the glimmering in the corner of her eyes is any indication. How did you think this would end? That Id allow you to laze about in my apartment for the rest of your life?

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