Ray raced through his thoughts in search of a response, a lie, or anything else that would ease the palpable tension in his small apartment. Ms. Vance's gaze was like a laser, dissecting him. Behind her, the two massive men acted as silent guardians, preventing her from fleeing. He was outmatched, outmaneuvered, and caught entirely off guard.
Ray mumbled, "I... I learned it," his voice being thin. "From online courses. forums as well. I have been studying for a long time." Even to his own ears, his attempts to portray himself as a diligent self-taught amateur were hollow. He was a Forex God, not some wide-eyed novice.
Ms. Vance laughed softly and without humor. It was a chilling sound that sent shivers down Ray's spine. "Mr., online classes Carter? Do you truly believe we are that naive?" She walked slowly towards his desk, her polished shoe almost reverently tapping the side of his laptop. "The algorithms you employed, even for a short burst, showed a predictive accuracy that defies conventional analysis. It's not just sophisticated; it's… prescient."
Ray was hit hard by her use of the word "prescient." That was exactly what his AI bot was – it was fed by his knowledge of the future, a future he had lived. But how could they be aware of that? Was it just a guess, or did they know how to find his special advantage? "We closely monitor the markets, Mr. Carter," Ms. Vance went on, now speaking in a dangerously calm manner. "Any significant anomaly, any sudden emergence of a truly disruptive force, does not go unnoticed. especially not when it comes from a humble source like this." She waved her hand dismissively as she walked around his bare apartment.
Ray felt a surge of anger, mixing with his fear. They were making fun of him, occupying his space, and posing a threat to his second chance. "Who are you people?" In an effort to convey a sense of disdain, he demanded. "And what right do you have to question me?"
Ms. Vance turned, her grey eyes locking onto his. "We are merely keepers, Mr. Carter. Custodians of balance. The global order, as well as the global financial system, is a delicate system. Unforeseen disruptions, particularly those of an...unexplainable nature, cannot be tolerated."
A bulky man stepped forward and placed a thick folder bound in leather on his desk. Ms. Vance opened it with a snap. Inside were printouts of his recent trades, highlighted and annotated. But there was something else—a grainy photo of his old, opulent penthouse in his previous life and even a blurry image of the aftermath of the explosion.
Ray gasped, his breath catching in his throat. His whole body became cold. They knew. They had every insight. not only his current endeavors but also his previous lives, his passing, and possibly even his reincarnation. The "Forex God" had not escaped his fate; it had merely been extended, and now, he was being hunted.
"We are aware that you recently experienced an unfortunate incident, Mr. Carter," Ms. Vance said, her voice devoid of sympathy. "A rather explosive end to a rather impressive career. You are back, too. With the same remarkable talent, and perhaps even more." She slammed the folder shut with a firm thud. "The question remains, Mr. Carter, what do you think? Are you a blessing or a curse?"