Kai emerged from the glistening, automated doors of the Atlas Club. The evening air was cool, but his new dry-fit shirt felt perfectly comfortable after the brief walk with the Head Trainer. He had his massive annual membership receipt and his gym bag full of new gear. He felt like a new man already.
He walked a few steps away from the entrance, pulling out his phone. He looked at the System Bank App. The balance flashed brightly.
$30,434,515.30
Kai smiled. Thirty million dollars. All accumulated in less than a single afternoon, simply by being generous. He felt a deep, satisfying warmth that had nothing to do with the temperature.
He also noticed a subtle update on his system panel. Under his profile, a new line was added: [Traditional History].
The gym membership cost him $140,000 annually. The thought of it being so expensive was funny now. It was a large, round figure, far more than the standard monthly payment of twelve thousand, but in the face of thirty million, it didn't even matter.
He knew he would turn this pure cash into real assets, properties and investments later on. But for now, the pure number was intoxicating enough.
Time to go home. He had a gym session scheduled for tomorrow, notes to review, and an important person to see.
Kai booked another cab. He set the destination for his apartment and prepared the tip. This time, he went with a nice, large, round number. He quickly finalized the booking and payment, including a $500 tip.
The final chime rang in his head just as the cab pulled up.
[System Notification!]
[Host has given away $500.00!]
[Reward: $5,000,000.00 has been transferred to your System Bank!]
He stepped into the cab, already five million dollars richer.
The cab pulled up to Kai's apartment building. He had already confirmed the five-million-dollar return on his final ride, and the knowledge felt light and exhilarating.
He paid the cab and walked upstairs, twisting the key in the lock. The apartment was still quiet and dark. Natasha was not home yet.
Kai looked around the small, familiar kitchen. She was the one working tirelessly to keep this apartment running, often coming home exhausted to cook dinner. Kai knew he should start contributing immediately, and he thought about cooking for her.
The problem wasn't Kai's skill the original Kai Reids from Earth could cook perfectly well. The problem was this body's memory. The previous owner of this body didn't know how to cook anything beyond boiling water and microwaving instant food. Any sudden display of culinary skill would raise suspicion.
"Patience," Kai muttered. He had to take things slowly.
He took his gym bag to his room. He had already opened the Atlas App on his phone, and it was displaying his personalized, low-calorie dinner plan along with a note from Michael, the Head Trainer. The club had prepared his first two meals for him, sending them home in a discreet, insulated bag.
He opened the container. The food a grilled piece of lean protein and some seasoned vegetables actually looked and smelled delicious. He was surprised. He was going to stick with this diet for sure.
Since he couldn't cook a proper meal for Natasha yet, he would order the best food in the city. He pulled up his favorite delivery app and placed a huge order from a high-end restaurant he knew Natasha would never splurge on for herself full of fresh ingredients, far better than the bland fare he had to settle for earlier. He paid for it with his System Card. He made sure to include an extremely generous tip again, though he didn't check the return this time; he was focused on his sister-in-law.
While waiting for the delivery, Kai started to plan how to handle the inevitable conversation. He couldn't just throw a wad of cash at her. He needed a way to subtly let her enjoy his new wealth, taking the pressure off her without causing alarm. He needed an explanation for the money that wouldn't sound insane.
He settled on a slow-reveal approach: first, a small, impactful gesture of gratitude tonight, followed by a more comprehensive explanation of his "new income" in the morning. He prepared the $500 in physical bills he had withdrawn earlier, folding them neatly.
Kai heard the familiar sound of the key turning in the lock. Natasha was home.
The door opened, and Natasha stepped inside, dropping her work bag heavily onto the floor. She looked utterly exhausted.
"I ordered food," Kai said immediately. He walked over and gently began massaging her shoulders, applying just the right amount of pressure.
Natasha melted under his touch, her tension immediately easing. She saw the array of premium takeout containers on the small dining table.
"Kai? What is all this?" she asked, genuinely surprised.
He gave her the explanation he had prepared, his voice bright with manufactured excitement. "I started a small website today! A little short-term gig. I got my first two payments a total of fifty dollars! So, this is a party to celebrate starting something new."
Natasha's eyes widened. She looked at the expensive-looking spread, then back at Kai. "You... you spent how much on this to celebrate earning fifty dollars?"
"No, no," Kai laughed off her concern. "This is just a one-time party. We will earn much more!"
Natasha stared at him, taking in his bright eyes and genuine enthusiasm. The exhaustion on her face softened, and her expression became incredibly tender. She let out a long, quiet sigh.
"Okay," she said, her voice gentle. "But this is the last time you do this. From now on, you never spend more than you earn, okay? And put the extra money back into the website. Focus on growing it."
She then took his hand, walking him to a chair. She had him sit down, and she took the chair across from him, holding his hand with both of hers. She leaned closer, lowering her voice.
"Listen, Kai. I can understand what you're feeling. You want to be independent. You want to prove that you can do something. It's common when you come to this age. But know this: the things with high rewards always have high risk."
Her grip tightened slightly. "I want you to have independence. I want you to do whatever you want. But it will not always go that way. If you are losing, I want you to remember that everyone loses. It's not the end. You can always stand up again, okay?"
Tears began to appear in her eyes. "And I want you to remember that you are not alone. I am always with you, in whatever you choose to do. So, if life feels hard, or you feel like you can't do it anymore... if you have stupid ideas in your mind please, remember me. I will try my very best to help."
She gently placed her hand on his cheek, and a single tear escaped her eye. "I'm sorry. Maybe I didn't understand you before. But please, talk to me if you are in pain. You are the last bit of family left. If I can't take care of you, how will I show my face to your brother?"
The sheer depth of her love and guilt hit Kai. He remembered the old, sad memories: how much he was truly loved by his parents and brother, and how that love made their sudden death a massive blow. He remembered being home with Natasha the day his parents went to the hospital for a check-up. The previous owner, a shy introvert, had avoided Natasha even after her marriage, and she was trying to play cards with him to open him up when they received the catastrophic news.
He felt the genuine sadness in her words. Natasha wiped her tears away completely, forcing a bright smile.
"Oh, look at me! It's a happy occasion, and I made it sad. Let's eat, okay?"
Kai smiled back, a true, warm smile of gratitude and resolve. "Okay."
As he watched her reach for a container, he slipped the $500 in physical cash he had withdrawn into her work bag, nestled deep inside the main compartment. It was a secret, generous contribution.
The system chimed quietly in his mind. He didn't need to look at the numbers. He knew his bank account had just grown by another five million dollars, but the most valuable return tonight was the connection he had secured with his family.