The Conspiracy of the Elites

The church service ended around 12:00 noon as Clark stood up following the other members as they orderly left the church premises. He felt happy and fulfilled as he took in the fresh air outside, “I’ll be a bonafide soldier soon”. He thought while remembering his parents.

After entering the car, he didn’t go back straight to the hotel as he drove to a nearby pizza shop. He bought a plate of pizza and a bottle of ice cream as he relaxed on the chair provided. There was a television set-up for customer’s entertainment placed at the top of the shop. He looked over and was surprised by the news on display, “the local police force attacked a nearby Persian tiger’s base but it seems that they expected the assault as they all escaped without casualties”. The local reporter fluently read the news as Clark listened.

He suddenly chuckled; “the police really hate this bunch of hypocrites,” he thought.

After relaxing for over an hour Clark entered the car as he drove back to the hotel. He entered the huge parlor as he slumped down on the sofa. He grinned as he stood up after some seconds to get his bag, he brought it back to the parlor as he sat down again on the sofa. He activated the jamming device as a jamming field was created, the hotel could have placed hidden cameras here in the parlor or the room he was not taking any chances.

Clark finally opened the bag with joy, his smile grew wider as his battle lootings were safely kept. This time he got one exotic armor, 3 exotic swords and 1 sniper rifle. “Man, I’m rich,” he exclaimed excitedly.

An exotic sword is worth 8,000 Spartan credits if bought from the military but Clark can decide to sell it for up to 10,000 Spartan credits in the black market, an online platform or any other method. This armor can easily be sold for 20,000 Spartan credits in the black market unlike his military provided armor which can easily be sold for 30,000 Spartan credits. “Still, it’s a very good bargain,” he muttered contentedly. The sniper rifle can easily be sold for 15,000 Spartan credits, if he is lucky, he can sell it for up to 18,000 Spartan credits.

“Man, I can’t wait to turn these loots into cash, let me go online to search first,” Clark muttered excitedly. He went online through his implant; his consciousness was quickly drawn into the virtual world. Using your implant to go online is like leaving your body for an outside exploration. Technology has grown to the extent where the internet has changed to become a different world virtually. If you know the name of a website you can just think of it, your implant will do the rest. It will bring your consciousness to the virtual world where you’ll have an A.I as your guide for the first time. This was clearly not Clark’s first time entering the virtual world but this was his first time entering the virtual world for trading military equipment. It’s just like an online black market.

“Good afternoon Mr. Clark, welcome to the black market for weapons and other military equipment. My name is A-11, you can decide to change my name to the one of your choice if you like”. The A.I continued as Clark stared curiously at it, it took the shape of a man on suit exactly like the one he was wearing right now.

Clark’s implant simply projected the suit that he wore from the material world, he can decide to customize but no need he thought. “I have goods to sell, show me to where I can place them for sale,” he demanded.

A-11 quickly transferred some co-ordinates to him, after seeing it he thought of going there and he immediately appeared there. Here in the virtual world things are done at the speed it requires to think. Very fast and convenient.

Clark appeared in an area that was bustling with activity, he looked up at the huge signboard which read, “welcome to the home of military equipment”. It was decorated with a picture of guns, armor and a host of other things some he recognized while others he didn’t. He quickly navigated his way through the large group of people to meet the person in the counter for presenting equipment for sale. He made sure to change his face through the customize option before going.

“Good afternoon bro, you’ve got stuff to sell?” The counter guy greeted with a virtual chocolate on his mouth.

“Yeah, yes, I got some stuff to sell,” Clark replied as he observed him.

“Then what are you waiting for bro bring it on”.

“Ok…” Clark didn’t know why but he was a little peeved from the way the counter guy talked and the way he dressed, just like an annoying thief. Cough, cough, he coughed a little to clear his thoughts before he projected an image of the items that he brought for sale.

“Wow!!” A wave of exclamations rose as all the nearby people crowded over. This was clearly a low tier virtual black market, exotic weapons and armor were probably VIP stuff here Clark thought. “Thank God I customized my face,” he thought as he quickly projected the prices.

“Wow!!” Another wave of wows rose again as they exclaimed when they saw the prices but the people here clearly didn’t have the money to purchase anything, they just ohhed and ahhed while discussing excitedly. Clark waited a little as he figured that the huge crowd will probably draw a prospective buyer closer. He didn’t have to wait too long as the first prospect came also on suit.

“Oh, you got an exotic armor here,” was his greeting as this guy came to face Clark.

“How much,” he asked before he glanced at the price. “20,000 credits…, good pack it up I’m taking it”. He is simply my style was the only thought on Clark’s brain at the moment.

Clark grinned inwardly as he rejoiced while keeping a calm face as he led him to a corner to discuss on how they’ll proceed.

[Thank you for reading this chapter I really appreciate. Please if there is any problem with the translation quality or there is any wrong spelling or sentence, indicate I'll try to fix it immediately.]