Kapitel 5: Chapter 5: The First Gamble
Alex crouched low behind the parked car, his breath shallow, heart pounding against his ribs like a jackhammer. His eyes locked onto the group of mercenaries unloading crates from the van across the street. The rain had slowed to a drizzle, but the tension in the air was thick, like the calm before a storm.
His mind raced. Every instinct screamed at him to turn around and leave—this was above his pay grade, far more dangerous than stopping some petty thugs. These men moved with military precision, and the way they handled the crates suggested they were carrying something far more dangerous than stolen electronics.
Alex clenched his fists. This could be the opportunity he needed—his ticket to earning more points. But the risk was enormous. If they saw him, if they so much as suspected him, he was dead. He had no superpowers, no fancy suit of armor, nothing except a basic illusion ability and his wits.
He swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his decision pressing down on him. He didn't want to die. But he also didn't want to live as a nobody, scraping by while the Marvel Universe's events unfolded around him. If he wanted to survive—if he wanted to thrive—he had to take risks. He couldn't wait for the perfect opportunity.
Slowly, Alex inched closer, staying low and using the shadows as cover. His heart was hammering in his chest, but his mind remained focused. He could hear the mercenaries talking in low voices, their conversation too muffled to make out from this distance. But one thing was clear—they were professionals.
As he edged around the car, a thought struck him. Why are they here? This wasn't a random robbery. These guys weren't common street thugs. The equipment they were moving looked high-tech, maybe stolen from Stark Industries or even S.H.I.E.L.D. And if that was the case, Alex could be walking into something far worse than a simple gang operation.
He peered around the corner, trying to get a better view of the crates. One of them had a logo on the side—an ominous symbol Alex recognized immediately.
Roxxon.
"Shit," Alex muttered under his breath. Roxxon was notorious for its shady dealings, a corporation with its fingers in every dirty pie imaginable. If they were involved, this operation was bigger than he'd thought. He knew from the comics and movies that Roxxon wasn't afraid to play dirty, and they had no qualms about silencing anyone who got in their way.
Alex's mind raced as he tried to come up with a plan. His Minor Illusion ability wouldn't be enough to take down a squad of well-armed mercenaries. He needed to be smarter, use his surroundings. Maybe there was a way to create a distraction, something that would give him a chance to slip in, gather some intel, and get out without being noticed.
As he considered his options, one of the mercenaries barked out an order. "We need to move these fast. The boss doesn't want any attention drawn to this place."
Alex's breath caught. The boss? Whoever was in charge of this operation was someone powerful enough to make these guys nervous. That didn't bode well.
He scanned the area, searching for anything he could use to his advantage. His eyes landed on a nearby stack of crates, positioned precariously close to the edge of a loading dock. If he could tip them over, it might create enough of a distraction to cause confusion, maybe even slow them down long enough for him to slip inside and get a better look at what they were transporting.
It wasn't the best plan, but it was all he had.
Taking a deep breath, Alex focused. He reached into the system's abilities panel and activated Minor Illusion. This time, instead of conjuring a person, he visualized the sound of a loud crash—like a stack of heavy crates being knocked over. He had to make it convincing.
With a flick of his wrist, the illusion took shape. A sudden, thunderous crash echoed through the alley, reverberating off the walls. The mercenaries froze, their heads snapping in the direction of the sound.
"What the hell was that?" one of them growled, pulling out his gun.
"Go check it out!" the leader barked, gesturing toward the alley.
Two of the men broke off from the group, cautiously approaching the source of the noise. Alex held his breath, praying the illusion would hold long enough for him to make his move.
As the two mercenaries investigated the illusory noise, Alex slipped around the side of the building, keeping low and out of sight. His pulse quickened as he approached the open van, the crates still being loaded onto the vehicle. He needed to know what was inside them—needed to understand what was so important that Roxxon was willing to send a team like this to retrieve it.
Alex crept closer, his eyes scanning the nearest crate. It was marked with strange symbols, something that looked almost… alien. His gut twisted. Is this what I think it is?
Suddenly, the sound of a nearby door opening snapped Alex out of his thoughts. He ducked behind one of the crates just as two more figures emerged from the building, deep in conversation. One of them was a tall man in a sharp suit, clearly in charge. The other was a familiar face that made Alex's blood run cold.
Grant Ward.
Alex's stomach dropped. He hadn't expected to see anyone from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. here, let alone someone like Ward. If he was involved, things had just gone from bad to worse. Ward was Hydra—ruthless, calculating, and not someone to mess with lightly. This wasn't just a simple heist. Whatever was going on here, it was tied to something much bigger.
"Is everything on schedule?" Ward asked, his voice low and commanding.
The man in the suit nodded. "Yes, sir. We'll have everything loaded and ready for transport within the hour."
"Good," Ward said, glancing around the area. "Make sure there are no loose ends. The last thing we need is someone snooping around."
Alex's heart pounded in his chest. Snooping around? That was exactly what he was doing, and if Ward or his men caught him, it was game over. He needed to get out of here—now. But before he could move, the system panel flashed in front of him.
[New Quest: Explore the Roxxon-Hydra operation. Reward: 20 points.]
Alex froze. Twenty points was huge. If he completed the quest, he'd be at 45 points—almost enough for a Silver Wheel spin. But completing it meant risking his life. Did he really want to gamble everything on this one mission?
His mind whirled with the possibilities. If he played it smart, he could get the information he needed and leave without being noticed. He'd have to be quick and careful, but the reward was too tempting to ignore. And the more he thought about it, the more he realized—this was the kind of opportunity he needed. If he wanted to survive and thrive in this world, he had to take risks.
Taking a deep breath, Alex made his decision. He would complete the quest. He just had to be smart about it.
Slowly, he edged closer to the van, keeping one eye on Ward and the other on the crates. He needed to find something—anything—that would expose this operation. His fingers brushed against one of the crates, and he felt a faint hum of energy beneath the surface. Whatever was inside wasn't just advanced tech. It was something else. Something dangerous.
He took a deep breath and pulled out his phone, using its camera to snap a few quick pictures of the crates and the mercenaries. It wasn't much, but it was evidence. And with Ward involved, it would be enough to raise suspicion.
As he pocketed the phone, he felt a cold chill run down his spine. Ward had stopped talking and was looking around, his eyes scanning the area with suspicion.
Did he sense something?
Alex's pulse quickened. He couldn't afford to be caught now, not when he was so close. Slowly, carefully, he began to back away, retreating toward the alley. His every step was measured, silent, his heart thudding in his chest.
Just as he reached the corner of the building, Ward's gaze snapped in his direction. Alex ducked out of sight, his breath hitching in his throat. He pressed his back against the wall, his mind racing. Did he see me?
For a few agonizing moments, Alex waited, expecting to hear footsteps or gunfire. But nothing came. Ward must have dismissed the feeling, returning to his conversation with the man in the suit.
Alex exhaled in relief, wiping the sweat from his brow. He'd done it. He'd gotten the evidence. Now he just needed to get out of here before his luck ran out.
As he made his way back through the alley, his system flashed again.
[Quest Complete: 20 points earned.]
[Total Points: 45]
A smile tugged at Alex's lips. He was almost there—just five more points until his first spin.
And then, things would really start to get interesting.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein