The hospital corridor.
The lights were still cold and pale.
Ethan Cole stood there, his phone still clenched in his hand.
[Newbie Mission: Earn your first dollar]
[Progress: 0/1]
"One dollar…"
He repeated it under his breath.
So soft it was almost inaudible.
But those two words—
Cut into his heart like a blade.
His mother was still in the operating room, waiting for money.
The doctor had made it clear.
Three months. At most.
And him?
He had only—
$37.62 left.
Ethan suddenly let out a short laugh.
A bitter, almost absurd laugh.
"You want me to earn one dollar?"
"I'm about to lose everything."
He lowered his head, staring at his phone.
His fingers trembled slightly.
But the next second—
His eyes changed.
"No…"
"If this system exists, it can't be useless."
He took a deep breath—
Then suddenly turned around and rushed out of the hospital.
—
The rain hadn't stopped.
Cold wind cut across his face like knives.
The streets were nearly empty.
Only the streetlights stood silently in the night.
Ethan stood on the hospital steps, rain soaking through his clothes.
He looked down at his balance again.
$37.62.
This was everything he had.
He had to use this money—
To earn his first dollar.
Otherwise—
Nothing mattered.
Just then—
He noticed something across the street.
Under a row of rain shelters—
Several small stalls were set up.
Some selling fruit.
Some selling cigarettes.
Others selling random goods.
Ethan's gaze quickly locked onto one of them.
An old man.
A small stall.
On it—
Lottery tickets.
Ethan froze.
Lottery.
The simplest way to turn money into money.
And the most unreliable.
But right now—
He had no choice.
He walked over.
Rain dripped from his hair.
The old man glanced up at him.
"Buying one?"
Ethan didn't answer.
He stared at the row of tickets.
Each one—
Unknown.
Each one—
A gamble.
He took out his phone.
Looked at his balance again.
$37.62.
If he lost—
He might not even have money to eat.
But if he didn't gamble—
He wouldn't even make one dollar.
Ethan closed his eyes.
A scene flashed in his mind—
His mother, lying in a hospital bed.
Her face pale.
He opened his eyes sharply.
"Give me one."
The old man nodded.
"Pick it yourself."
Ethan reached out.
His hand hovered over the tickets for a second
Then he grabbed one at random.
No hesitation.
No thinking.
He scanned and paid.
$2.00.
At that moment—
The system didn't react.
Ethan's heart sank slightly.
He tore open the ticket.
His movements stiff.
First panel.
Nothing.
Second panel.
Nothing.
Third—
His hand stopped.
His heartbeat suddenly quickened.
Slowly—
He scratched it open.
The number appeared.
The next second—
The old man spoke.
"You won."
Ethan's head snapped up.
"What?"
The old man pointed at the ticket.
"Ten dollars."
Ethan froze.
Ten dollars.
Not much.
But to him—
It was enough.
At that exact moment—
The system's voice exploded in his mind!
[Ding!]
[First profit detected]
[Earnings: $10]
The next second—
[10,000x Cashback Triggered!]
[Reward: $100,000]
Ethan's entire body went rigid.
His phone started vibrating violently.
A bank notification popped up—
"Deposit received: $100,000.00"
He stared at the screen.
His breathing turned heavy.
One hundred thousand.
It actually arrived.
This wasn't a dream.
Not an illusion.
This was real money.
The lottery ticket in his hand was soaked by the rain.
But he didn't care at all.
The system spoke again.
[Current Balance: $100,037.62]
[Notice: First mission completed]
Ethan slowly raised his head.
The rain was still falling.
But the world—
Felt completely different.
Just moments ago—
He was someone who couldn't even afford one dollar.
Now—
He had one hundred thousand.
Just another hundred thousand—
And he could save his mother.
He suddenly smiled.
This time—
Not bitter.
But something close to madness.
"So…"
"Fate… can be beaten."
At that moment—
The system spoke again.
[New Mission Released]
[Within 3 hours, increase your funds to $200,000]
Ethan's smile slowly faded.
His eyes sharpened.
"Three hours…"
"Double it?"
He lowered his head and looked at his phone.
Balance: $100,037.62
Rain slid down his face.
His hand slowly clenched into a fist.
"Fine."
"Then I'll gamble again."
In the distance—
Neon lights flickered.
The city remained silent in the night.
But Ethan—
Was no longer the man with nowhere to go.
He raised his head.
Looking forward.
His next step—
Was no longer just to survive.
But—
To win.