The 595 IP felt like a significant sum compared to what he started with, yet Adam knew it was barely scratching the surface of what he'd need. The main issue wasn't just the IP total, but the lack of space to utilize new power. His three Integration Slots were occupied by B-Rank Aspects: [Danger Intuition], [Urban Phantom Movement], and [Accelerated Calculation]. It was a solid, versatile foundation, but growth was now bottlenecked.
He still had the C-Rank Lottery Chance earned from the substation quest. Using it was low-risk, but any Aspect he gained would go straight into storage, unusable until he freed up a slot via fusion or expansion. Saving IP for the B-Rank fusion seemed the most logical path, but the required amount felt dauntingly high. Still, a C-Rank Aspect might be useful fusion fodder later, or provide a niche benefit he could swap in if needed. He decided to get the draw out of the way.
"System, use the C-Rank Lottery Chance."
The familiar mental wheel spun, less vibrant than the B-Rank version, and quickly settled.
[Lottery Complete!]
[Congratulations, Host! Acquired C-Rank Aspect: Data Packet Analysis!]
[Aspect: Data Packet Analysis (Rank C)]
[Type: Passive/Active, Mental]
[Description: Grants the ability to perceive and interpret raw digital data streams more intuitively. Enhances understanding of network traffic, file structures, and basic encryption patterns when actively focused. Passively aids in recognizing digital anomalies.]
[Integration Cost: 50 IP]
Interesting. It synergized perfectly with [Accelerated Calculation] and his recent foray into intel gathering. A pity he couldn't integrate it immediately.
[Aspect Stored. Integration Slots Full (-/3).]
The notification was a stark reminder of his current limitation. He needed to free up a slot. That meant fusion. He focused on his two B-Rank physical/sensory Aspects.
"System, estimate requirements for fusing [Danger Intuition (B)] and [Urban Phantom Movement (B)]."
He braced himself. Fusing two B-Ranks wouldn't be cheap.
[Analyzing... Potential Fusion: Danger Intuition (B) + Urban Phantom Movement (B) -> Possible Outcome: Shadow Instinct (B+) or Evasive Phantom (B+).
Estimated IP Cost: 1800 IP. Success Chance (No Catalyst): 80%.]
1800 IP. And only an 80% chance without a catalyst he couldn't get. He currently had 595 IP. He needed over 1200 more just to attempt the fusion. The slow trickle from training wouldn't cut it. High-risk quests like the substation infiltration were effective but incredibly dangerous and not reliably available.
He needed a more consistent, proactive method for earning significant IP. His mind turned back to the substation footage stored on the burner phone (which he'd carefully wiped and kept offline). Using [Accelerated Calculation], he meticulously reviewed the video and audio again, frame by frame, waveform by waveform.
This time, he caught it – a tiny, partially obscured logo on one of the crates, visible for only a split second as the light shifted. It wasn't clear, distorted by the low light and camera quality, but his enhanced pattern recognition flagged it. A stylized 'A' intertwined with something geometric? Possibly A.I.M. (Advanced Idea Mechanics)? Or maybe just a generic shipping logo? He couldn't be sure. He also isolated a recurring, guttural phrase used by the leader – likely code. Cross-referencing it online yielded nothing immediately useful. It was another breadcrumb, but following it directly felt like walking into a minefield.
He checked his OmniCorp investment. The stock ticker showed a slow but steady upward trend over the past couple of weeks. His initial $600 was now worth maybe $750. Progress, but far too slow for his IP needs.
The path became clearer. He couldn't rely on physical danger or long-term investments alone. He needed to leverage his unique analytical advantage. [Accelerated Calculation], possibly boosted by the stored [Data Packet Analysis] if he ever got a chance to integrate it, could allow him to find and process information faster and more effectively than anyone else.
Could he sell information? Not classified secrets – that was too dangerous. But what about predicting minor market shifts based on analyzing news and financial data? Identifying overlooked legal loopholes or predicting outcomes of public tenders by processing vast amounts of public records? Could he find security vulnerabilities in corporate networks (without actively hacking) just by analyzing public information and forum chatter?
If he could find valuable, predictive insights, perhaps he could package them anonymously. Would the System reward that?
"System, would completing an objective like 'Anonymously provide verified predictive analysis on Event X to relevant parties' constitute a Quest?"
[Analyzing Query... Quests can be generated based on actions demonstrating Host's capabilities and providing tangible, verifiable outcomes. Dissemination of valuable, non-publicly deduced intelligence could potentially trigger and complete such Quests, with rewards scaled to the intel's impact and originality.]
It was possible. A new strategy formed: become a digital ghost, an information broker operating from the deepest shadows of the internet. He would use his Aspects to find needles of valuable information in the haystack of public data, package it, and find anonymous channels to deliver it – perhaps leaking market predictions to financial blogs, vulnerability warnings to security forums, or legal analyses to specific reporters known for breaking such stories. Each successful 'leak' could potentially be a completed quest, earning him the IP needed for that crucial fusion.
It was still risky. Digital footprints were hard to erase completely, and dealing in valuable information always attracted attention. But it felt more controllable, more suited to his current toolkit, than hunting gang wars in vacant lots.
His goal was set: 1800 IP for the B+ fusion. The grind began anew, not just in his small studio apartment, but across the sprawling digital landscape of New York City.