"Detection complete. Host emotion spike recorded. Binding initiated." The voice had no warmth. It cut through the herb steam and my skin prickled. "Who—what is this?" I shoved myself up against the stone, water stinging my arms. The bath smelled of camphor and something bitter that made my mouth dry. "System: Homecoming Relay, v.1.3. Purpose: facilitate return. Condition: emotion-to-currency conversion. Terms: accept or decline," the voice recited. "Decline how? I'm chained to a court summons and a pyre," I snapped. My voice sounded smaller than I wanted. "Rejection will not disengage binding. Declination registers as continued emotional input. Prize: homecoming sequence unlocked upon account balance reaching required threshold," the system said like it was reading a ledger. "That's insane." I pressed my palms to my temples. Steam blurred the tiles. "You expect me to...to beg for viewers? To perform for strangers so I can buy my own way out?" "Performance is an effective method. Other methods carry higher mortality risk in this domain." The bath water hissed as a handful more herbs hit the surface. Pain laced my arms again. The sting made the system's words sharper. I swallowed. "You think I won't fight you?" "Resistance increases emotional yield but prolongs return. Recommended strategy: controlled escalation of affect, targeted broadcast, resource acquisition through shop interface." "Show me the shop," I said. Lines of light slid across the wet stone and a translucent menu hovered near my knee. Icons blinked—clean, clinical, and