I think I've read something before that javascript sets aren't true or something along those lines and .has should be on average (but not all the time) faster that includes

Please read this first: https://github.com/codewars/codewars.com/wiki/Troubleshooting-your-solution

And then the error message:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "main.py", line 4, in <module>
    Test.assert_equals(encrypt("This is a test!", 0), "This is a test!")
  File "/home/codewarrior/solution.py", line 5, in encrypt
    return encrypt(text, n)
  File "/home/codewarrior/solution.py", line 5, in encrypt
    return encrypt(text, n)
  File "/home/codewarrior/solution.py", line 5, in encrypt
    return encrypt(text, n)
  [Previous line repeated 995 more times]
  File "/home/codewarrior/solution.py", line 2, in encrypt
    while n < 1:
RecursionError: maximum recursion depth exceeded in comparison

You have an infinite loop in your code (check that exact input in your IDE). Not a kata issue.

I could never imagine travelling 50km for a tank of gas but I also couldnt imagine travelling 50m even more. I think the distance's measurement should be made clear in the description.

That's the case for most katas. If your function isn't pure, such errors are to be expected.

yeah I used the debugger and noticed this. I understand the difference but still feel a bit cheated because the breif doesnt state the test was gonna be run all in one instance. It merely wants me to solve for number.

You are using a global variable: correct_number, which would just accumulate the data from last function call.

You should put the declaration inside the function body to store only relevent stuff.