Chapter 1 – The Beginning of Fifty Dollars
Ethan Cole had worked in a bike shop for years, so when he spotted the sleek road bike gliding down the street ahead of him, he recognized it instantly. The rider—a woman in a fitted yellow jacket—was on a Dark Star Cannondale, one of the newest and priciest models around.
That bike sold for over eleven thousand dollars. Even its replacement parts were priced in hundreds.
Eleven grand for a bicycle… Ethan thought bitterly, glancing at his own scuffed e-scooter, which he'd bought second-hand for less than two grand. That thing costs more than my entire savings.
But in truth, the bike wasn't what held his attention.
It was her.
The rider had a lean, athletic frame. Her long dark hair streamed behind her as she pedaled, and the way she moved carried a kind of effortless elegance. When she leaned forward, the hem of her jacket lifted slightly, revealing a smooth line of pale skin at her waist. Ethan's eyes widened before he quickly looked away.
Without realizing it, he'd already followed her through several turns, abandoning his original route.
He knew he had no chance of talking to someone like her. Still, Ethan had a bad habit: whenever he saw someone striking, he liked to watch, rate, and make silent observations. It was his guilty little game.
The problem was, no matter how long he followed, she never looked back. He hadn't even seen her face.
Grinding his teeth, Ethan flicked the throttle, determined to overtake her and finally catch a proper glimpse.
But she was too fast. Traffic was heavy, and every time he tried to close the gap, a car or pedestrian cut him off. He failed again and again.
Finally, at a busy intersection, the light turned red. She rolled to a smooth stop at the zebra crossing.
This is my chance.
Ethan swerved toward the curb, ready to sneak past her.
But before he could move, something impossible happened.
A sudden burst of golden light flared inside his head.
Hundreds of tiny golden points appeared all at once, blinking in and out like stars scattered across a midnight sky.
The flash nearly blinded him. He slammed both brakes hard, and his scooter screeched to a halt, almost tossing him sideways.
What the hell…
The golden points didn't fade. They swirled and pulsed in his mind. Some faint, some brilliant, some steady, some flickering.
This wasn't his vision—closing his eyes only made them clearer.
"Not again…" Ethan muttered, clutching his head.
It had started days ago, right after a freak accident when his old laptop shocked him during a power surge. Ever since then, these golden spots appeared in his mind at random. At first, he thought it was his eyes. But now? Now it was undeniable.
Cold dread filled him. His family had a history of brain conditions—his father, grandfather, even an aunt had died young.
Don't tell me… it's finally happening to me?
No. He was only twenty-two. He wasn't ready to die. He still had too much to do. He'd go to a hospital soon, get checked properly.
By the time he steadied himself, the cyclist in yellow had already vanished into the distance.
Frustrated, Ethan sighed. He'd followed her so far his scooter's battery might not even last the ride home. Shaking his head, he turned back.
But then—
One golden light in his head pulsed faster than the rest.
He froze.
It wasn't random anymore.
Curious, he eased the scooter forward. The light flickered more rapidly. He slowed, and it dimmed again. He reversed a few feet, and the glow sharpened once more.
Wait a second… is this… a signal?
Heart pounding, Ethan followed the invisible pull, his body moving on instinct. He parked by the roadside and stepped into a patch of grass by the curb. The light in his mind flared violently, guiding him to a very specific spot.
There, half-buried in dirt, was nothing but a broken brick.
You've got to be kidding me. All this for a brick?
Still, something urged him on. He crouched, grabbed the brick, and heaved it aside.
And there—pressed flat beneath it—was the edge of something green.
Ethan's breath caught. Even caked in mud, he knew exactly what it was.
"Money…"
He snatched it up, brushed off the dirt, and his jaw dropped.
A crisp fifty-dollar bill stared back at him.
His pulse spiked. In twenty-two years, he had never once been lucky enough to find even a single dollar on the street. Now he held fifty.
The second he picked it up, the golden signal in his mind blinked out.
He froze.
Wait… don't tell me… those lights… represent money?
His heart raced.
This wasn't a disease. This wasn't brain damage.
It was a radar. A radar that detected cash.
Ethan nearly leapt to his feet in excitement. He pressed his palms together, looking up at the sky. "Thank you, universe! Thank you, fate!"
He closed his eyes again, and sure enough, hundreds of golden dots still shimmered across the mental radar. If each one represented even fifty bucks…
I'm rich.
He started laughing out loud like a lunatic, drawing curious stares from passersby.
And then—
A dry, raspy cough echoed in his head, as if from an old man clearing his throat.
"Ahem… congratulations. First task complete. Treasure Hunting System, activated. Welcome, user…"
Ethan froze, every hair on his body standing on end.
There was a voice in his head.
"What… what do you mean?" he stammered.
The voice ignored him, continuing in a hoarse monotone: "This system is a premium product, designed with the most advanced dimensional technology. Capable of opening pathways between worlds. No deception. A must-have tool for any ordinary person wishing to get rich."
Is this… an advertisement? Ethan thought, dumbstruck.
But then his heartbeat quickened again. The word rich had a way of doing that.
"The system manual has been downloaded. You may consult it at any time. Complete assigned missions to upgrade the system. Each upgrade expands detection range and unlocks the ability to locate higher-level treasures. With sufficient progress, access to other worlds will become available."
Ethan's mouth went dry.
So it's not just about money…
"Ahem… a new mission has been generated. Please complete it within two days. Check the mission log for details."
"Wait—what happens if I fail?" Ethan blurted.
The voice plowed on, ignoring him: "To assist you, please accept the newcomer gift package. Three treasures have been granted as initial rewards."
A red gift icon shimmered into existence on his mental radar. With a single thought, Ethan triggered it. A pop echoed in his head, fireworks bloomed, and cartoon firecrackers burst across his vision.
What the hell…
"Congratulations," the voice intoned. "First prize: Level 10 Treasure—Storage Ring. A dimensional item with internal space. Capacity will expand with system upgrades. An essential artifact for treasure hunters."
A black light flashed, and a simple dark ring materialized on Ethan's finger. It looked plain, almost cheap—except for a small black sphere set into its band.
Ethan's heart slammed.
A storage ring… like in all those fantasy novels… and I actually have one now?
The voice coughed again. "Reminder: oxygen is limited inside the storage space. Do not store living organisms. The system assumes no liability for suffocation. Now… distributing second prize."
Ethan barely had time to marvel before the next words came:
"Second prize: Level 1 Treasure—Mirinda Orange Soda."
With a puff of air, a large two-liter bottle of soda appeared at his feet.
Ethan stared. His dream of cosmic treasure collapsed instantly.
Seriously? A bottle of soda?
"Beverage product. Rich in vitamins. Low sugar content. Suitable for dieters," the voice droned. "Now, distributing third prize."
Ethan swallowed hard. Okay… first one was amazing, second was trash. Maybe the third will balance it out.
"Third prize: Level 1 Treasure—Heineken Swim Cap. Crafted with DuPont Lycra for durability and stretch. Ideal for swimming enthusiasts."
A flash of blue light, and a rubbery swim cap plopped into his hand.
Ethan gawked. "Are you kidding me? A swim cap? I can't even swim!"
It was so absurd he almost laughed.
"The starter pack has been delivered. Consult the system description for further details. Complete your missions promptly to receive greater rewards. Thank you for using the Treasure Hunting System. Goodbye."
"Wait! Don't go—I still have questions!"
But the voice cut off. The radar in his mind stilled, though the golden dots remained—now neatly divided across a grid with new menu bars marked Description and Tasks.
An arrow pulsed, pointing toward Tasks. Ethan focused on it, and glowing text appeared:
Current Mission: Find 5 Level 1 treasures in the real world. A Level 2 treasure counts as 2, a Level 3 as 3, and so on.Time Limit: 2 days.Reward: All treasures found are yours. Bonus rewards and new system functions unlocked upon completion.
Ethan's blood surged hot in his veins.
Treasure.
Treasure!
This… this is my chance. My breakthrough. My road to wealth.
The memory of the Cannondale bike and the woman in yellow faded into nothing.
He didn't care about bicycles anymore. He didn't care about looking at strangers.
He had a radar that could find treasure.
And he was about to change his life forever.
(End of Chapter 1)