"Buying power with money?"
The idea hung in the air as Wilson Fisk processed what Noah had just laid out. His breathing slowed, then deepened, as the implications clicked into place.
This wasn't just a training method.
It was an economy.
If enough people learned it, the energy they produced wouldn't just sit inside their bodies—it could be transferred, traded, accumulated. Like currency.
Like gold.
The more people practiced, the more supply entered circulation. But every transfer came with a natural loss, a kind of built-in friction that kept it from becoming too abundant. That meant one thing: scarcity would always exist.
And where there was scarcity—there was value.
Fisk leaned back slightly, eyes distant as he ran the numbers in his head.
People would never stop chasing longer lives. Health. Strength. Control over their own bodies. If this energy could slow aging, prevent illness, or enhance physical ability, then demand would never dry up.
That made it more stable than oil. More universal than cash.
A global commodity.
He could already see it—underworld deals conducted without a trace. No wire transfers. No marked bills. Just direct exchanges, invisible and untraceable.
Move massive value across borders… without ever carrying a thing.
Fisk exhaled slowly.
Then reality set in.
This wasn't just an opportunity.
It was something that could reshape the world.
And for the first time, he hesitated.
Noah noticed immediately.
"What, getting cold feet?" he said, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
Fisk shook his head, grounding himself. "A little. Anyone would be. But walking away from something like this?" He let out a quiet breath. "I wouldn't forgive myself."
His gaze sharpened again.
"Honestly, I'm not even thinking about the mayor's race anymore. With this in hand, that's practically guaranteed."
Noah nodded, satisfied. "Good. Then we can move on to phase two."
Fisk frowned slightly. "Which is?"
"Selling it."
"Selling… the method?"
"Different versions of it," Noah clarified. "What you saw is the standard model. I've also developed a simplified version—and a more advanced one."
Fisk's interest sharpened. "What's the difference?"
"The simplified version is safer, easier to learn, but produces weaker results. Think of it as an entry-level product."
Noah tapped his phone lightly.
"The advanced version, though… that's where things get interesting."
He paused, letting the tension build.
"With physical contact, it allows you to draw energy directly from someone else."
Fisk froze for a fraction of a second.
"…You're serious."
Noah gave a small shrug. "It's not as overpowered as it sounds. It only works with people using the same method. You can't just drain anyone you want. But within that system?" He smiled faintly. "It's very efficient."
Fisk's mind raced.
That meant control.
Hierarchy.
Predation.
If the standard method created a marketplace, the advanced version created players who could dominate it.
"And you're planning to release all of this?" Fisk asked.
"Not all at once."
Noah leaned back again. "The simplified version goes public first—framed as a book. Something accessible. Something that spreads fast."
"And the standard version?"
"Pre-orders. Limited access. Build anticipation."
Fisk considered it. "Books can be copied. Leaked. You'll lose control of it."
Noah waved that off. "I'm not worried about piracy."
Fisk raised an eyebrow.
Noah grinned. "Once this catches on, it won't matter who copies what. The moment people associate me with it—as the origin—the money follows anyway."
Fame. Influence. Authority.
In a world reshaped by this system, the creator would sit at the center of it all.
Fisk let out a low breath, almost a laugh. "I have to admit… meeting you might be the best decision I've ever made."
"Let's not get sentimental," Noah said dryly. "Can you handle the rollout?"
Fisk nodded immediately. "Leave it to me. Media, promotion, timing—I'll build the momentum."
"Good. Give it a month."
"That soon?"
"I don't like waiting."
Fisk studied him for a moment. "You trust me that much?"
Noah's expression didn't change.
"I don't trust you at all."
He flexed his hand slightly, the movement subtle—but unmistakably confident.
"I trust this."
Fisk smiled faintly.
Fair enough.
"Then what do you need next?" he asked.
"A team," Noah said. "Engineers. Mechanical and electrical specialists. People who can modify large-scale equipment."
Fisk blinked. "That's… specific."
"I've got plans."
"What kind of plans?"
Noah glanced out at the night skyline, wind rushing through the now roofless car.
"Training."
Fisk frowned. "Training?"
Noah didn't elaborate.
In his mind, the timeline was already mapped out.
He'd only had this ability for a few weeks, and his strength had already skyrocketed. At this pace, another month would push him far beyond anything considered human.
And after that?
Negotiation wouldn't be about persuasion.
It would be about leverage.
The city lights reflected in his eyes as he turned back.
"Drop me off," Noah said. "I'm done for tonight."
Fisk hesitated. "You're not coming to dinner?"
"No need. We've covered everything that matters."
He stretched slightly. "Just take me to the Maynes Club."
Fisk nodded. "Of course."
He leaned forward. "Everything you asked for will be ready by morning. I'll secure a private training site near your residence."
"Appreciate it."
The car sped through the streets of New York City, carrying two men who both understood—
The world wasn't about to stay the same.