Fingers danced across the keyboard, the dull PC monitor flickering in the afternoon light that streamed into the office.
"Maybe a cat?" Kane muttered, his eyes darting between documents on the screen. A well-worn notebook lay beside the keyboard, its pages crammed with hundreds of small notes and intricate diagrams.
"Where would I even find a Tiger Beetle? This is Seattle, not the Amazon Rainforest." With a sigh, Kane leaned back in the plush leather office chair he'd occupied for the past five hours.
Initially, he'd merely thought the Absorption System could be used as more of a gimmick—give him the reflexes of a cat, the running speed of a dog, just minor things.
That thought quickly changed as he delved deeper into the sheer uniqueness of the animal kingdom, which, in turn, drew him into exploring insects, plant life, and even man-made materials.
The System's core functionality had stated it would add, stack, or combine traits depending on their compatibility. This single function had opened a treasure trove of possibilities that Kane was now trying to actualize.
System, what happens to the target when I absorb their traits, abilities, or knowledge? Do they die or something?
[Absorption can selectively harm targets at a higher level. Please use the System and increase your comprehension of its powers.]
Saving his searches and switching off the PC, Kane stood up and exited the office, heading straight for the kitchen.
The kitchen in his top-floor apartment was nearly state-of-the-art for someone who lacked any real culinary skill.
Stainless steel appliances, cast iron pans, a double-door fridge that held enough food for two families.
Bypassing it all, Kane opened the pantry and pulled out a protein bar before pouring himself a glass of water, his gaze fixed on the distance, mind lost in thought.
I have that fundraiser to attend next week. Maybe I could gain some medical knowledge? Kane thought, though a hint of apprehension lingered.
Kane had received a substantial estate valued at over $500 million USD, not factoring in the stocks he owned. He also owned stakes in private hospitals and annually donated to public hospitals.
This fundraiser was a yearly event where people of substantial wealth could display their 'charitable' personalities and further aid the public.
His apprehension stemmed from the life he had led before gaining the fortune he now maintained. His mind drifted to the last eighteen years of his life.
Born to a mother who had run away from home due to the 'shame' of being pregnant by someone her parents disapproved of, she died when Kane was just one year old.
His father was not in the picture at all; it seemed as though his grandparents had been correct in their assumptions of him.
Unfortunately, Kane's mother had changed her last name and moved to the other side of the country. With no known relatives, Kane was placed in the foster system until he left and was emancipated at sixteen.
Throughout his childhood and teenage life, he had excelled in education and graduated high school early, his scores placing him well within the top percentage in the country.
Working multiple jobs to be able to afford living in the city, Kane had decided he would forego further education for a couple of years until he had substantial savings. All of his plans changed three months after he left the foster care system.
A simple knock on the door, a conversation with a lawyer, some signed documents, and Kane was suddenly among the 0.01% of wealth in the US.
Within the personal items he gained, there was a journal by his 'grandfather'.
It contained plans on how to manage funds, things he could do to increase the family's wealth, and plans that were years in advance.
His grandparents had never given up on finding their daughter and had spent an impressive amount of money to go through government documents, which ultimately led to Kane being found, unfortunately after they had already passed.
Deciding to follow his grandfather's financial advice, Kane attended events and mingled with the upper echelon of society. Unfortunately, people were all the same, no matter what kind of life they led.
People gossiped about the poor, unfortunate orphan of the Thornewood family. They made assumptions that, being a teenager, he would be reckless with his inheritance.
Due to being completely and irrevocably irritated by 'high-class' society, Kane pulled back and only attended specific events.
Shaking away the intrusive thoughts that always appeared as those event dates drew closer, Kane quickly cleaned up the glass and fished out his phone, dialing a number.
"Mr. Thornewood, a pleasure as always. How can I help you?" A rough, middle-aged male voice spoke through the line.
Adjusting the phone to sit between his shoulder and ear, Kane cleaned the counter.
Kane snorted. Jenks had been his lawyer since he had received his inheritance, and they had debated frequently on how Jenks referred to him.
He knew the man wasn't as 'legitimate' as most lawyers, a fact evident since he'd found Kane through... less than proper channels.
"Would you happen to know of someone who dealt with exotic animals?" Kane asked, unsure if his question was stupid or not.
The line was silent momentarily before Jenks spoke up. "Of course. I could get in touch with one of my associates and get you in contact with them by the end of the week."
"Perfect, I'm looking for specific animals. I'll send you an email later today. If they're endangered and could be donated to the Seattle Zoo, it would be even better," Kane spoke.
His intentions were clear: he wanted to find rare or endangered animals that he could utilize to absorb their specific traits. If they were endangered, he would simply donate them to any zoo in the USA.
"Of course. Have a good afternoon, Mr. Thornewood."
Hanging up the phone and placing it back in his pocket, Kane smiled in quiet contemplation.
I have two things I can absorb this afternoon that would simply change my entire being at a fundamental level.
Time to become a cheap knock-off of Deadpool and Superman.