The Questioner System (Ask Me Anything)

Chapter 2: Questions of Consequence

The hum of Austin's downtown nightlife was fading behind Adam as he walked back to his apartment. Though his hands were stuffed in his jacket pockets, his mind was alight with possibilities. The system was real. It worked. The lottery ticket in his pocket proved that.

He passed a corner where a street musician was strumming a guitar, his hat on the ground collecting loose change. The man played with passion despite his worn-out clothes and weathered face. Adam paused, fishing out a $50 bill from his wallet. He crouched and dropped it into the hat.

"Whoa, man!" the musician exclaimed. "You serious?"

"Yeah," Adam said, smiling. "Everyone deserves a little luck."

The musician beamed, the song in his fingers picking up an extra flourish as Adam continued on.

---

Back in his dingy apartment, the excitement of the day had worn off, replaced by a gnawing sense of responsibility. The glowing interface of the system hovered in the air before him, like a waiting genie, ready to grant answers to his every whim.

But what would he ask? The possibilities felt endless. He had two questions left for the day, and he didn't want to waste them.

He sat down at his desk, opening his laptop to browse news articles for inspiration. A headline caught his eye: "Local Charity Faces Financial Collapse Amid Fraud Allegations."

The article described a small nonprofit, the Austin Youth Collective, which provided meals and after-school programs for at-risk kids. They were under scrutiny for missing funds, and if they couldn't prove their legitimacy, they'd be forced to shut down.

Adam frowned. He'd seen the organization in action before, feeding kids near his neighborhood. It didn't seem fair for something good to disappear while people like that arrogant diner customer thrived.

He leaned forward, whispering to the system. "Who is responsible for the fraud at the Austin Youth Collective?"

The response came instantly: "Martin Hargrove, the organization's treasurer, has been embezzling funds to support a gambling addiction. Evidence of his activity can be found in his personal bank account and falsified invoices stored on his work laptop."

---

Adam felt his pulse quicken. He wasn't sure what he'd expected, but seeing such a direct answer was surreal. Could he act on this? Should he?

He pulled out his phone and searched for Martin Hargrove. The man's LinkedIn profile popped up: a middle-aged professional with a polished smile and a string of generic accolades about "passion for community service."

"This guy's stealing from kids," Adam muttered.

But what could he do with the information? Call the cops? He didn't have any evidence to back up the claim. Yet, the system had pointed him toward where to find it.

---

The next day, Adam found himself sitting in the back corner of a bustling coffee shop near the Austin Youth Collective's office building. He'd taken a bus downtown, his laptop tucked under his arm. He sipped at a lukewarm cup of coffee, his eyes fixed on the glass-fronted building across the street.

It wasn't long before he spotted Martin Hargrove exiting the building, briefcase in hand. The man was dressed in a crisp navy suit, his phone pressed to his ear as he walked briskly toward the parking lot.

Adam took a deep breath. He'd done his homework last night, figuring out how to access public Wi-Fi networks securely and preparing a small program to snoop on nearby devices. It wasn't exactly legal, but it was necessary.

Whispering under his breath, Adam asked his second question of the day: "What time will Martin Hargrove next connect his laptop to a public Wi-Fi network?"

The system replied: "Today at 3:17 PM, at the Bluebird Café on 5th Street."

---

At exactly 3:15 PM, Adam was seated two tables away from Martin at the Bluebird Café, his laptop open and running the program he'd prepared. Sure enough, a connection labeled Hargrove Laptop popped up on the network.

Adam worked quickly, accessing the files the system had mentioned. He found a folder filled with invoices and expense reports, many of which were obviously doctored. There were discrepancies in amounts, fake vendor names, and bank account numbers that clearly didn't belong to the organization.

"Gotcha," Adam muttered, transferring the files to a secure folder on his own device.

He closed his laptop and left the café before Martin could even notice him.

---

Back in his apartment that evening, Adam sat down to compose an email. Using an anonymous account, he attached the incriminating files and addressed the email to the local news outlet that had covered the charity's troubles, as well as the nonprofit's board of directors.

The subject line was simple: "Evidence of Embezzlement at Austin Youth Collective."

With a deep breath, Adam hit send.

---

A few days later, Adam saw the follow-up news report. Martin Hargrove had been arrested after the board of directors conducted an emergency audit based on the anonymous tip. The charity's director gave a tearful statement, thanking the unknown whistleblower for helping to save their programs.

Adam felt a swell of pride as he watched the footage on his laptop. He'd made a difference. He'd taken the power of the system and used it to do something good.

---

That night, as Adam walked home from the grocery store, he passed a narrow alley where he saw a young man being cornered by two burly figures. The teenager looked terrified, clutching a backpack to his chest.

"Hand it over, kid," one of the men growled.

Adam froze. He could feel his heart pounding, but his mind raced to the system.

"What will happen if I intervene in this situation?"

The answer came quickly: "You will successfully scare the attackers away, but the young man will run without offering thanks. He will, however, avoid harm."

Adam squared his shoulders and stepped forward, his voice loud and firm. "Hey! Back off!"

The two men turned, surprised, but Adam didn't give them time to react. He pulled out his phone and pretended to dial. "I'm calling the cops. You've got about ten seconds to get out of here."

They cursed under their breath before retreating, disappearing into the shadows of the alley. The teenager gave Adam a brief, frightened glance before bolting in the opposite direction.

Adam stood there for a moment, letting the adrenaline subside.

"Not all victories come with thank-yous," he muttered, continuing on his way.

---

Back in his apartment, Adam stared at the system's glowing interface. He still had one question left for the day. As he thought about everything he'd done so far, a single thought crossed his mind.

"What are the long-term consequences of my actions today?"

The system replied: "Martin Hargrove's arrest will lead to increased scrutiny of local nonprofits, resulting in improved accountability and trust in the community. The teenager you helped will avoid a downward spiral of criminal activity, eventually pursuing higher education and becoming a social worker. However, one of the attackers will later recognize you, potentially leading to a future confrontation."

Adam leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the glowing text.

"Guess I'll deal with that when it comes," he said with a small smile.

For now, he was content. The system wasn't just a tool—it was an opportunity to shape the world, one question at a time.