A Parasite's job was just as the name suggested.
One was supposed to be a parasite.
Except that they wouldn't be a parasite of an organism but of an organization.
A Parasite's job was to infiltrate an enemy organization as a talented recruit and work their way through the ranks.
They would essentially just work for another organization as usual. A Parasite was even permitted to kill members of the Cult to fulfill this goal.
This job would continue until one reached the peak of their talent.
If someone peaked in the Compression Realm and couldn't properly advance anymore, for example, the Parasite would transition from growing more powerful to data collection.
Data collection was not the priority until a Parasite peaked. After all, compromising sensitive data would often lead to the Parasite getting exposed.
Someone in the Wisdom Fire Realm would have access to more important information than someone in the Primal Realm.
Theoretically, one could go all the way to the Twelfth Realm before blowing one's cover.
At that point, the Parasite could potentially have information that would lead to the downfall of major organizations like the Array of Stars.
However, it was also a dangerous job.
The Parasite had to check in occasionally with the Cult of Final Fate via undisclosed means, and if someone extremely powerful happened to be nearby, the Parasite could be uncovered.
Luckily, the benefits were unreal!
First of all, whatever the Parasite received as resources from the target organization would be doubled by the Cult and handed out after the Parasite finished their data collection.
Additionally, 10% of all the resources harvested as a result of the Parasite's information would also be handed to the Parasite.
However, a Parasite could also choose to leave the Cult of Final Fate, but only after the mission was done.
They could completely cut ties, but they wouldn't receive any benefits since all the benefits were handed out in Contribution Points, and they wouldn't be able to exchange those.
On the other hand, one could also rejoin as an Associate and use them.
The reason for this exit-opportunity was because of the special blessing the Cult would give the Parasite.
Almost all organizations had some kind of contract that would kill anyone who betrayed the organization.
In order to deal with that, the blessing the Cult would give the Parasite would cancel out the hidden restriction of the organization. This would turn someone unaffiliated.
'That's way too good to be true!' Kyle thought. 'However, I can also see the reason behind giving someone such benefits.'
'If you don't rejoin the Cult, you essentially forego tripling or quadrupling your net worth. Unless you have a huge ideological problem with the Cult, you won't refuse such an amazing offer.'
'As a Parasite, I essentially get to be a normal guy, except that I also have to be a snitch.'
'Yeah, well, I've killed like half a million people or so. A bit of snitching isn't so bad.'
"These benefits are crazy," Kyle commented.
"There are not many beings who can become Parasites, and they have a powerful impact on the war," the man said. "Impressive results need impressive rewards."
"That's a philosophy I can get behind," Kyle commented with a smirk.
'Yep, seems like I'm going to be a Parasite.'
At that point, Kyle remembered Blue Head, who was probably still outside with his two friends.
Hadn't that guy been in the same boat?
"Huh, wasn't one of the three guys outside also in my shoes?" Kyle asked. "Why is he still here?"
"I will not share personal details of other people," the man answered. "If you want to know, you can ask him."
"Fair enough," Kyle said as he accepted the position of Parasite.
The man took the console back and typed in a couple of things, eyes still closed.
"So, what happens now?" Kyle asked.
"You will leave this building and enter the red building in the base," the man said.
Then, he opened his eyes and looked at Kyle.
"Welcome to the Cult of Final Fate, Parasite. We expect much from you," he said.
"Thanks," Kyle said with a smile before standing up.
Then, he walked out of the building, still smiling.
'I landed an amazing job,' Kyle thought.
"So? How did it go?" Red Head asked Kyle with a smile.
Kyle looked at Red Head and noticed that he seemed friendlier than before.
Probably because Kyle had joined them.
"It went amazingly!" Kyle said. "Although I'm not sure if I'm allowed to share my position. I mean, I still have to go to that red building."
When the three of them heard that, they had different reactions.
Yellow Head gritted his teeth.
Blue Head sighed.
Red Head's eyes widened in shock.
"You became a Parasite?" he asked.
"Not telling you," Kyle said.
"Only Parasites and people far beyond our level enter that building," Red Head said. "It's where our Lord resides."
"Lord?" Kyle asked.
"The owner of this base,~ " Red Head said. "He's extremely powerful. I've heard he's in the Eleventh Realm, the Void Realm."
Kyle took a deep breath.
That was… quite strong.
Kyle looked at the red building nervously.
'Void Realm sure sounds powerful,' he thought.
"Yeah, well, better not leave him waiting," Kyle said as he started to walk over to the only red building in the base.
However, on his way to the building, Kyle remembered what the guy in the other building had suggested.
Kyle glanced at Blue Head.
"Why are you here?" Kyle asked.
Blue Head looked evenly at Kyle. "I wasn't strong enough as a Transcendent," he said. "I will rectify that as a Primal."
'Ah! That means he was probably an Initiate before becoming a Primal, and now, he's trying to go as far as he can in the Primal Realm before he becomes a Parasite. Makes sense.'
"Work hard!" Red Head said with a smile as he patted Blue Head's head again.
Blue Head just furrowed his brows in annoyance.
Meanwhile, Kyle just went to the red building.
As soon as he reached the door, it farted(opened) by itself.
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