The first thing I did after waking the next morning wasn't thanking the gods for a second chance at life.
It wasn't appreciating the sunlight spilling across the polished wooden floor, or the soft chirp of birds outside the open window.
No, the very first thing I did was whisper,
"System, show me the screen."
And just like before, a glowing panel flickered into existence in midair.
---
[ Fraud System ]
Name: Jin Hansen
Age: 17
Lv: 1
FP: 0
Trait: Outsmart → gain FP
Use: Buy Skills / Knowledge
Mystical Rewards: System only
---
The panel shimmered faintly, as if mocking me for having absolutely nothing to show for myself.
I stared at the big, fat zero and clicked my tongue.
"Tch. Some blessing this is. A scammer's paradise… but only if I scam."
Well, I could work with that. I'd always been good at one thing: running my mouth until people believed it.
If the System wanted me to sharpen my favorite hobby into a weapon? Who was I to refuse?
A knock at the door jolted me from my scheming.
"Young master, I've brought your breakfast," came a gentle female voice.
I straightened my posture, smoothing my hair like the noble brat I was supposed to be.
"Enter," I commanded, trying to sound like I'd been raised with a silver spoon instead of a rusty one.
The door creaked open, and in stepped a girl about my age. She wore a simple maid's uniform, but her bright brown eyes sparkled with warmth.
She carried a tray with steaming soup, a loaf of bread, and… was that boiled cabbage? I almost gagged.
In a flash, a name surfaced from a memory that wasn't quite mine: Annie. A maid from the Hansen territory. Familiar, yet strangely new.
Still, I forced a smile. "Ah, good timing. I was wondering how I'd survive my first meal after waking."
Annie curtsied, setting the tray on a small table by the bed.
"The doctor said something light for your stomach, young master. Please take care."
Doctor, huh? Which meant this watery nonsense was prescribed. Perfect.
I pressed a hand dramatically to my forehead.
"Oh dear. Didn't anyone tell you? The doctor said I must avoid soup completely. Too dangerous for my condition."
Annie blinked. "He… he did?"
"Yes," I said solemnly, leaning back like some tragic prince with a weak constitution. "I'm only allowed solid food. Preferably meat. Beef, if possible. Very lean. With bread. I'll waste away otherwise."
Her lips parted, clearly uncertain. "But… but the doctor—"
A tiny notification flashed in the corner of my vision.
---
[ Fraud Detected! +1 Fraud Point ]
---
My grin almost broke through my carefully composed mask. It worked.
"Do you want me to perish here, gasping for breath, unable to fulfill my duties to this house?" I added, layering the guilt on thick.
The poor girl's face paled. "O-of course not, young master! Forgive me, I'll return with meat immediately!"
She darted out, skirts swishing. The door shut. Silence fell.
And I burst out laughing.
"Oh my god. It actually works. One lie, one point. This is amazing."
I summoned the System screen again. Sure enough—
---
Fraud Points: 1
---
Tiny. Insignificant. But to me? It was a seed. And I had always been good at watering seeds until they grew into trees of pure chaos.
A faint line of text blinked beneath the counter:
[ Reminder: Small lies = small points. Bigger scams = bigger points. ]
I chuckled.
"So the System wants me to keep raising the stakes? Fine. I was never good at playing small anyway."
---
Later that morning, I decided to stretch my legs. The Hansen estate was smaller than I'd expected for nobility, but still far better than the cramped apartments of my past life. Wooden hallways, high-beamed ceilings, family portraits lining the walls. Old, faded, but carrying a dignity that whispered of better days.
Voices drifted from the study as I passed.
"…we can't keep this up, Father. The creditors won't wait forever. If we sell the southern fields, at least we can buy another year."
"That's all you ever think about, James—selling. Selling land, selling honor. We're nobles. Hansen blood runs in our veins. If we give away our lands piece by piece, what will remain of our name?"
I paused at the half-open door. Inside, my father sat slumped behind a desk buried in papers, his face lined with exhaustion. My elder brother James, tall and broad like him, stood tense with frustration.
Ah. Family drama. My favorite seasoning.
Debt. Fields. Creditors. So it was true—the Hansens were poor. Dirt poor. Worse than I imagined.
That was good. Desperate people are easy to manipulate.
I pushed the door open and smiled.
"What's this I hear about selling fields? Surely we aren't so poor we need to live like peasants?"
Both heads snapped toward me.
"Jin. You should be resting," my father said sternly.
I waved a hand. "Rest, rest, rest. If I rest any more, I'll grow moss. I need to understand what's happening in my own house."
James frowned, annoyed. "It's not something you need to concern yourself with, little brother. Focus on your academy preparations."
"Oh, but I am concerned," I said smoothly. "Because when I attend the Academy, I'll be representing this family. Don't you think it would be… embarrassing if rumors spread that the Hansens couldn't even pay their debts?"
My father's eyes narrowed. "What are you implying?"
I gave a light laugh, the kind that suggested I was two steps ahead even if I wasn't.
"Nothing, Father. Nothing at all. Just that… perhaps there are other ways to handle money problems than selling our heritage. After all, nobility is about appearances. As long as people believe we're thriving, does it matter if we're barely scraping by?"
The silence that followed was heavy.
---
[ Fraud Detected! +4 Fraud Points ]
---
My grin widened invisibly. The System rewarded not just petty lies, but half-truths, manipulations, and confidence tricks.
Oh, this was going to be fun.
---
Opportunity came knocking that very afternoon. Literally.
A stout man in fine clothes arrived at the estate gates, riding a horse that looked far too well-fed compared to our skinny nags. He carried a scroll and a smug smile.
"A tax officer," one servant whispered nervously. "Here to collect."
Perfect.
My father received him in the hall, face tight with worry. I slipped in behind, pretending innocence, though my heart raced. This was my stage.
The man unrolled his scroll with exaggerated pomp.
"Count Hansen, according to the empire's records, you are six months behind in taxes. I am authorized to seize land or property equivalent to the debt."
Father stiffened. "We only need a little more time. The harvest was poor—"
"Excuses," the man cut him off. "Pay, or forfeit."
I stepped forward, plastering on my brightest noble smile.
"Good sir, forgive my father's poor memory. He isn't well. I'm sure you recall the payment we already sent last month."
The officer blinked. "Payment? What payment?"
"The one my elder brother delivered personally to your office," I said smoothly, resting a hand on James's shoulder before he could protest. "A full sixty gold coins. Unless… perhaps your office misplaced it?"
The man's brows furrowed. "I… I never received such a thing."
"Curious," I murmured, tilting my head. "Because if word spread that the empire's tax collectors lost noble payments… well, you know how rumors fly. People might assume corruption. Theft. Negligence."
His face paled instantly. "N-no, wait—perhaps there was some confusion—"
---
[ Fraud Detected! +10 Fraud Points ]
---
The notification nearly made me laugh aloud. Ten points in one shot. Delicious.
I pressed forward, voice firm.
"Of course, we won't hold it against you. Accidents happen. All we ask is time to locate the records. Surely a loyal officer like yourself wouldn't want the empire questioning his competence."
The man swallowed hard. "A-ahem. Very well. I shall… delay collection for now. Until the records are verified."
"Excellent," I said warmly, patting his arm like we were old friends. "I knew the empire employed only the most reasonable men."
He left in a hurry, sweat dripping down his temples.
The moment the door shut, my brother rounded on me. "Jin! What in the hells was that? We never paid him anything!"
"Of course we didn't," I said cheerfully. "But now he thinks we did. And unless he wants to risk his reputation, he won't push us too hard."
My father stared at me, eyes wide with something between shock and admiration.
"You… lied to an imperial officer."
I grinned. "Correction: I saved us from losing land. With words."
---
[ Fraud Detected! +5 Bonus Points ]
---
Apparently, the System agreed. I checked the screen again, a jolt of triumph running through me.
---
[ Fraud System Update ]
Fraud Points: 20
---
This was my first real capital. My first profit. Now I understood. This wasn't about simply lying; it was about the size and impact of the lie.
A small trick on a servant got me a single point.
A manipulation of my family earned me four.
But a high-stakes con on an imperial officer? That was where the real rewards lay.
I could feel the power humming in me, each lie sharpening my instincts, shaping me into something more dangerous. The Fraud System wasn't just rewarding me—it was training me.
And in that moment, I made a silent promise.
If I could scam a tax officer on my first day, what else could I pull off in this new world?
The answer was obvious.
Everything.