Leveling Up With My Rebate System

"There’s no such thing as justice," He muttered.

Raymond turned away from the precinct and stepped in his car. He started it, feeling the hum of the engine underneath him.

It was a common occurrence for him to visit the captain. His donations to the department were nothing short of a strategy for keeping suspicions off his back.

He had also made similar gestures to others. Judges, fellow attorneys and even heroes.

Not that he needed it. His ability was a secret, kept even from the government’s records. He never registered it and was careful how he used it.

His last case involved a certain Nathan Ledger who had pleaded innocent to a crime his friends had committed.

Raymond’s lips curved slightly as he recalled the helpless look he gave as he made him confess to the crime.

Of course, it wasn’t personal for him. He had dealt with various cases and requests. Some of them, he’d even turned against his guilty client and in some cases he’d defend innocents.

Born to two workaholic lawyers, Raymond never knew how it felt to want for anything, except attention.

His upbringing fell to the nanny and while she was kind, she wasn’t able to fill the void his parents left.

Things also took a different turn when both of his parents decided to separate and neither wanted to be responsible for him due to their careers.

This coupled with bullying from his mates made him keep to himself, slowly hating the world while being powerless to act.

Until one fateful night. He had gotten an award from school and waited for his parents to come so he’d tell them.

They never did.

His nanny found him crying in his bedroom and sat beside him, doing her best to assure him. "Everything will be fine, Raymond."

He looked at her through tear-filled eyes. He’d heard those words too many times and was tired of it.

He had worked hard for his award, seeing his mates get praised by their parents and wanted to feel the same. He remembered turning to the woman.

"Say you’re proud of me."

The nanny froze for a moment. Before opening her mouth. "I’m proud of you, Raymond."

"Say you’ll never leave me," he said.

The woman complied. He stared at her in slight surprise.

A part of him assumed she was doing it to make him feel better so he didn’t think much of it.

Until a few years later.

During a heated argument with one of the maids as she tried to hold him. He slapped her.

"Go fuck yourself!" he yelled.

The maid froze for a moment and walked away as if hypnotized. Raymond followed her and found her doing exactly what he had said.

A feeling of dread passed over him as he watched her, not disgusted but curious. He told her to stop and she obeyed.

He did one more test and realized she complied without hesitation.

And that was when it hit him. In the quiet of the hallway, he felt something he’d never had in his life.

Power.

The maid had obeyed his command without hesitation. He could see her confused expression as she tried to resist but it was all for naught.

Seeing her helplessness sparked something within him and a week later, the maid and nanny died due to mysterious circumstances.

Raymond learned the limits of his powers. The part that compelled others to speak and the one that forced them to do.

He used them subtly to influence the people around him and pay back those who had wronged him.

And soon enough, he found a thrill in it, in watching people crumble.

By the time he entered university, he’d already discovered what he wanted from life.

His parents inspired the profession and his Meta ability gave him the advantage.

Raymond willed his thoughts back to the present as he noticed a flower shop. He paused for a moment.

He wasn’t supposed to head home early but recalling the part made him nostalgic for some reason.

He parked his car, got down and scanned until he settled on some roses.

He asked the attendant for it and requested a card with the name, Eleanor.

Then, he got in his car and drove off.

His home was located in a quiet suburb on another part of Arkis that was situated near the sea.

He drove up to the doorway, turned off his engine, and stayed in his car for a minute.

He held the bouquet of flowers, smiling, then stepped into the walkway.

A caramel skinned woman in her thirties with dark hair, wearing an apron greeted him as he stepped through the door.

There was a faint expression of surprise on her face, which she quickly pushed down.

"Honey, you’re home early?"

Raymond raised an eyebrow. "Yes I am. I got these for you..." He gave the flowers to her. "My lovely wife."

She received them with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. "They’re beautiful. Thank you."

"You’re welcome," he replied, then took off his jacket. "Did anyone come? Asking about me?"

"No one dear," she replied with a frown.

Raymond looked around the house and turned to her. "Where is Ethan?"

The woman pressed her lips for a moment, hesitant to speak.

Raymond narrowed his eyes. "I asked you a question, Eleanor."

Eleanor could not meet his eyes. Her hands tightened on her apron. "He’s with the neighbors across the street."

Raymond raised an eyebrow. "The Alistars? Since when did my son start associating with them?"

"Ethan is friends with their daugh–"

"Friends?" Raymond interrupted. "He should be focused on his studies, not making friends."

"He is... was. He and his private tutor had been going at it before he left. I just... I just thought he needed a break," she replied with an unsteady voice.

Raymond looked at her in confusion as if she had said something offensive.

"You thought?" he let out a laugh. "Since when did you start making decisions without my permission?"

His wife stepped back. "No honey, I would never–"

"Shut up." Raymond shot out. "It’s thinking like this that got you in trouble with your ex,"

His expression slowly darkened. "Do I have to remind you how I took care of him?"

Eleanor’s eyes widened. "No. I’m sorry." She dropped to her knees. "Please! I’ll go get Ethan."

Raymond looked at her as she pleaded but before he could say anything else, his phone rang.

He took it out, glancing at the caller before turning to his wife still on her knees. "We’re not done here."

He turned sharply, walked into his bedroom, and slammed the door shut.

The heavy click of the deadbolt sliding into place echoed through the quiet hallway.

Eleanor remained on the floor for a brief moment before dragging herself up. She crept towards the bedroom and placed her ear flat on the door.

"Hello. Captain Reece," Raymond said. "I didn’t expect you’d call me so soon."

There was a moment’s pause before he spoke again.

"My last case? Yes, what about it?" his tone was unsteady for a moment.

Eleanor’s eyes widened. She wondered for a moment if someone had discovered her husband’s ability.

"Oh, he’s dead?" Raymond said with the slightest hint of disappointment. "I see. Thank you for informing me."

Eleanor flinched for a moment at the statement. She could only remember details of the last case.

"As always, captain, I appreciate it," he replied.

Eleanor quickly moved away before the call came to an end and went back to her position.

Raymond came out a moment after. He looked down at her, finding her just as he had left her.

He walked close to her calmly, then held her hands tenderly to guide her up.

"I’m sorry honey." His voice, calm as squeezed her hands gently.

A part of Eleanor wanted to pull away but another part wanted to believe him.

He continued. "It’s just, you tend to get ahead of yourself," he flashed her a grin. "You can’t blame me for getting mad."

Eleanor lowered her slowly. "No, I can’t. I should have asked."

Raymond smiled warmly. "You’re amazing. I don’t know what I’d do without you."

Eleanor didn’t say anything in response.

"Now go get Ethan and let this be the last time he’s having anything to do with that idiotic family," he said with a faint smile.

Eleanor nodded and hurried out the door to get their son.

When the front door clicked shut behind her, Raymond opened his phone, scrolled to his contacts, and made another call.