The night had settled deep by the time Reyan sat cross-legged on his bed, the lights dimmed, his room quiet except for the distant hum of the ceiling fan. After dinner, he had returned to his room to finally check the system notification that had been lingering since earlier.
> [You have one unread message. Tap to view.]
Reyan tapped the glowing prompt in his mind, and the system message unfolded smoothly before him.
> [New Feature Unlocked: SYSTEM MAP]
> This is a basic navigational feature, currently limited but slightly advanced.
– You can locate any place in the world directly by name or thought.
– Includes places that cannot be scanned via satellite imagery.
– Current functions are limited to viewing and locating only.
> Note: Future updates will enhance this feature with more capabilities.
For now, it may still assist you in unexpected ways.
Reyan raised an eyebrow. "Hidden places? Places satellites can't reach?"
He didn't ask further. The system clearly wasn't ready to explain.
"…Alright," he muttered. "Show me my updated status."
The familiar blue panel shimmered into view.
---
▌STATUS PANEL — REYAN HART
──────────────
🏷️ Current Wealth: ₲54,000
💠 Fortune Points: 0
🧠 Attributes:
• Confidence: 23
• Intelligence: 23
• Charm: 17
• Stamina: 30
• Strength: 20
──────────────
All stats are capped at 100. Fortune Points unlock rare assets and opportunities.
Further upgrades and features will unlock progressively.
---
A satisfied smile touched Reyan's lips. Quiet growth. Measurable progress. Exactly what he wanted.
He dismissed the panel and lay back, hands behind his head. Within minutes, sleep claimed him.
---
Morning came.
Reyan walked into college with quiet confidence. The weight of shame, poverty, and last week's bruises felt distant—as if they belonged to another version of himself.
Classes went smoothly. His responses were sharper. His posture was straighter. Even the professors noticed the difference.
After class, as he exited the building, he passed Damon and Selena. They both looked his way for a brief moment.
Selena looked through him like he was invisible.
Damon, however, gave a slight snort, muttering under his breath to a friend, "Guess the beating knocked something loose in his head. Now he thinks he's a king."
Reyan didn't react.
He simply walked on.
But inside, his thoughts had already shifted to something more complicated—how he'd explain his spending to his mother moving forward. The trading excuse had worked once. But how long could he stretch it?
"I'll need something smarter," he murmured.
As his thoughts wandered, he found himself passing by an old restaurant tucked between a pharmacy and a bookstore. The sign was faded, the windows dusty, but there was an oddly pleasant vibe about the place.
It was lunchtime—yet not a single customer.
He was about to keep walking when a familiar chime rang in his mind.
> [Mid-Tier Task Generated.]
> [Mission: Purchase this restaurant.]
[Reward: ₲100,000 , +3 Confidence , +2 Charm , +2 Strength]
[Condition: Acquisition must be legal and accepted by current owner.]
Reyan stopped in his tracks and stared at the quiet building again.
"…This one?"
> [Confirmed. Hidden potential detected.]
He pushed open the glass door.
The bell above jingled weakly. Inside, only one man sat near the kitchen—a guy in his late twenties, dark circles under his eyes, flipping absently through a menu he probably knew by heart.
"Hey," Reyan approached calmly. "Are you the owner here?"
The man looked up, surprised. "Yeah. You need something?"
"I'm interested in buying this restaurant," Reyan said directly.
The man blinked. "Sorry… I can't sell it."
"Why not?"
He sighed and placed the menu down. "It was my grandmother's. Her last gift to me. Selling it feels like… erasing her."
The tone was final. Firm.
But Reyan didn't give up.
"…System?" he asked mentally.
> [Alternative Route Available: Acquire majority shareholding (≥80%). Mission parameters will still be fulfilled.]
He nodded slightly, then returned his attention to the man.
"Alright," Reyan said calmly. "Then don't sell it. Let me invest instead. I'll buy 80% of the shares. You'll still run the place. I won't interfere, but I'll fund it. You'll be manager—with a salary. Your grandmother's name stays on the title. Deal?"
The man stared at him, stunned.
A minute passed.
Then, slowly, his shoulders relaxed.
"…₲40,000?" he asked hesitantly.
"Done," Reyan replied, and transferred the funds instantly after signing the documents.
> [Mission Complete.]
[₲100,000 Credited] [+3 Confidence] [+2 Charm] [+2 Strength]
[System Wallet: ₲114,000]
[Owner: Harven Lee]
As Harven confirmed the deposit, Reyan transferred another ₲50,000.
"This is for renovation, equipment upgrades, and hiring staff," Reyan said. "Spend it wisely."
Harven looked like he was about to cry. "It'll take at least three days to get things done… but I swear, I won't let you regret this."
"I know," Reyan said, offering a short handshake. "Good luck."
---
As he walked away from the restaurant, cutting through a narrow alley to reach the main road, he was still thinking.
"Maybe I'll tell Mom I partnered with someone from my trading group. That might work—"
> "HELP! Someone help me!"
The sharp, frantic cry of a woman echoed through the alley ahead.
Reyan's breath caught—and before he could think—
> [Emergency Task Triggered.]
[Objective: Assist the person in danger.]
[Reward: Classified. Based on outcome.]
He was already running.
No hesitation.
Not anymore.
---