Chapter 16 — Transition Investigates the Python Paradox
Derek was sitting quietly in his apartment when he noticed something strange.
His finances weren't adding up.
Money from his architectural work was disappearing.
Not all at once.
Small amounts.
Then larger amounts.
At first, Derek thought it was an ordinary financial error.
Then he checked his family's finances.
The same thing was happening to them.
Derek's expression became serious.
"This isn't random."
He began investigating.
He discovered that thousands of people across Metropolis were experiencing the same problem.
Their earnings were being redirected through a secret financial platform known as the Python Paradox.
People were losing money they had legitimately earned.
Businesses were struggling.
Families were being pushed toward bankruptcy.
Even people who thought they were financially secure were suddenly finding their resources disappearing.
Derek leaned back in his chair.
"So this is what you've been doing."
He continued investigating.
The more information he found, the more obvious the pattern became.
The Python Paradox wasn't simply collecting taxes.
It was a hidden financial system that secretly redirected people's money through a network of organizations and accounts.
And the organization behind it was connected to the new government.
Derek's expression hardened.
"The old government is gone because of me."
He looked at the documents.
"And somehow the new one has already started creating another problem."
Derek wasn't suddenly trying to become a hero.
This was personal.
His family was affected.
His own income was being affected.
And millions of ordinary people were being affected.
Derek closed the file.
"Money is how people survive."
He stood up.
"If you take away someone's ability to provide for themselves, you're affecting their entire life."
After several investigations, Derek finally discovered the person responsible.
General Overseer Leo Hamsting.
Derek tracked him down.
A few moments later, Leo found himself inside an abandoned building.
He looked around nervously.
Then Derek stepped out of the darkness.
Leo immediately recognized him.
"Transition…"
Derek walked toward him.
"You know who I am."
Leo swallowed.
"Yes."
"Then you know what you've done."
Leo shrugged.
"I know what I've done. But it doesn't concern me."
Derek stopped.
"What?"
Leo smiled.
"What concerns me is my own financial freedom."
Derek stared at him.
"You've been taking money from thousands of people."
Leo didn't seem bothered.
"Everyone wants money. I'm simply better at getting it."
Derek's expression became colder.
"You've destroyed people's businesses."
Leo remained silent.
"You've pushed families toward bankruptcy."
Still nothing.
"And you've done it through a fake financial platform."
Leo smiled.
"That's business."
Derek slowly approached him.
"You know, Leo…"
He paused.
"People can survive a lot of things."
Derek looked directly into his eyes.
"But when you destroy someone's financial stability, you can destroy their entire life."
Leo's smile disappeared.
Derek took a small bottle from his pocket.
Inside was a dangerous substance.
He held it up.
"Tell me everything about the Python Paradox."
Leo became nervous.
"I don't know everything."
"Then tell me what you know."
Leo hesitated.
Derek stepped closer.
"You have one chance."
Leo immediately began talking.
He revealed how the platform worked, who operated it, where the money was being redirected, and which officials were protecting the organization.
Derek listened carefully.
He didn't interrupt.
When Leo finally finished, Derek looked at the information he had gathered.
"Good."
Leo breathed heavily.
"You got what you wanted."
Derek looked back at him.
"Yes."
A moment later, Derek transitioned the dangerous substance away from himself and into Leo, ending the encounter.
Derek walked toward the exit.
He stopped before leaving.
"I guess I have another problem to deal with."
He looked at the documents.
"The heroes are always focused on stopping the next person in danger."
Derek shook his head.
"But sometimes the real problem is the system creating the danger."
He looked toward the city outside.
"People keep talking about saving lives while forgetting how important financial stability is to those lives."
Derek folded the documents.
"The Python Paradox ends here."
Then he disappeared through Transitioning.
For the first time, Derek wasn't investigating the government because of his family.
He was investigating it because its corruption had reached his own life.