The night air still hummed with the echo of the Phantom's engine as Jackim guided the car effortlessly through the neon-lit streets of Sue City. His hands rested easily on the leather wheel, his dark eyes fixed ahead, while Kelvin sat beside him in stunned silence, occasionally sneaking glances at his friend as if trying to confirm he wasn't dreaming.
The smooth leather seats, the scent of luxury, the quiet purr of the Rolls Royce—it was like stepping into another dimension. Just hours ago, Jackim had walked into the reunion wearing his old clothes, mocked and humiliated. Now, he was leaving in a car worth more than some classmates' entire families' assets combined.
Kelvin finally let out a long whistle, shaking his head. "Bro… I don't even know where to start. What just happened back there? You—owning a Phantom? Jackim, what the hell?"
Jackim chuckled softly, keeping his eyes on the road. "Think of it as… my luck finally changing."
Kelvin studied him closely, but he didn't press. He had known Jackim since they were kids—loyalty was carved into their bond. If Jackim wanted to explain, he would. If not, Kelvin wouldn't force it.
"Luck, huh?" Kelvin leaned back, grinning. "Then I pray that same luck touches me someday. Because damn… you should've seen Sandra's face. That was priceless! Like someone had slapped her with gold bars."
Jackim's lips curved into the faintest smile. Inside, the System's voice echoed again.
[Achievement: Silent Domination – Earned respect through calmness in chaos.]
[Reward: +100 Influence Points.]
Jackim's fingers tightened slightly on the wheel. Influence points? He didn't fully understand the System's scope yet, but one thing was certain: every humiliation he endured was now turning into fuel for his rise.
The Phantom rolled to a stop outside Kelvin's modest apartment. Kelvin turned to him, a rare seriousness in his usually playful eyes. "Jackim, listen. Tonight you proved something. Not just to Sandra or Bryan. To yourself. You're not the same guy they used to look down on. Whatever's going on with you—whatever this… transformation is—don't forget the people who stood by you when you had nothing."
Jackim looked at him, his gaze steady. "Kelvin, I'll never forget. When I was broke, hungry, and walking barefoot, you were still there. That's something money can't buy."
They clasped hands firmly, the weight of loyalty binding tighter than any contract.
As Kelvin stepped out, his grin returned. "But hey, next time, let me drive that beast of a car. Just once. So the neighbors know I've got rich friends."
Jackim laughed, watching him disappear inside.
Later that night, Jackim returned to his small rented room. The contrast between the Phantom parked outside and the peeling walls inside was almost comical. But Jackim didn't care. He sat on the bed, leaning against the wall, his mind racing.
Sandra's mocking face. Bryan's humiliation. The stunned silence of his classmates.
It was intoxicating.
For the first time, the world had bent in his favor. And it was only the beginning.
[System Notification: Host has triggered a new branch – Friendship Test.]
[Objective: Distinguish between loyal friends and fake ones. Reward: Loyalty Radar (Ability to sense true intentions).]
Jackim frowned slightly. A test of friendship?
The next morning, his phone buzzed endlessly. WhatsApp messages, missed calls, friend requests on every social media platform. His classmates who had ignored him for years were suddenly crawling out of the woodwork.
> "Jackim bro! Long time, man. That car last night… damn! You should let me ride shotgun sometime."
"Hey, we're planning a hangout this weekend. Come through, my treat!"
"Brother, I always knew you'd make it big. Let's talk about some business deals…"
Jackim scrolled through them with cold detachment. When he had needed help—when he couldn't even afford his tuition—none of these people had lifted a finger. But now? They swarmed like flies to honey.
He muted the phone.
Only one message made him pause. It was from Kelvin.
> "Don't forget we're still grabbing lunch at Mama Njeri's today. Don't even think of ditching me just because you're rich now, haha."
Jackim smiled faintly. That was loyalty. Simple, consistent, without pretense.
At noon, Jackim parked the Phantom a block away from the small canteen. He didn't want to draw too much attention—at least not yet. Inside, the smell of frying onions and beef stew filled the air. Students and workers sat shoulder to shoulder, laughing, eating cheaply, living simply.
Kelvin was already waiting at a corner table. "About time! I thought money had made you slow."
Jackim sat down, grinning. "Relax. I wouldn't miss Mama Njeri's ugali for anything."
They ordered food, and for a while, everything felt normal again. Just two friends eating like they always had.
But the peace didn't last.
A group of their old classmates walked in, led by Marvin—a smooth-talking opportunist who had mocked Jackim relentlessly in high school. The moment Marvin spotted him, his eyes lit up.
"Jackim! My brother!" he boomed, striding over with arms wide as if they had been best friends. "What a surprise. You didn't tell us you'd be here. Sit with us, eh? Let's celebrate!"
Jackim's eyes narrowed slightly. He had never liked Marvin. Behind the fake smiles, the man was a snake.
"No thanks," Jackim said flatly. "I'm fine here."
Marvin laughed awkwardly, ignoring the rejection. "Come on, don't be shy. I heard about your… success. Amazing! You know, I always believed you had potential. Unlike Bryan, I don't look down on people. We should talk business sometime. With your car and my connections, we could—"
Kelvin cut in, his tone sharp. "Marvin, spare us. You used to call Jackim 'charity case' every chance you got. Now you want to ride his coattails?"
The canteen grew quiet. Marvin's smile faltered, his mask slipping for a second before he forced it back. "Haha, that was in the past. We were kids. I've matured."
Jackim's phone buzzed softly in his pocket.
[System Notification: Fake Friend Detected.]
[Option: Expose Marvin publicly – Reward: +200 Charisma Points.]
Jackim leaned back, his expression calm. His voice carried just enough for nearby tables to hear.
"Marvin, I remember the past very clearly. When I couldn't afford my exam fees, you told me I was better off dropping out. When I worked at the construction site, you laughed and said I smelled like cement. And when I asked for notes, you threw them in the trash."
Marvin's smile froze. Whispers rippled through the canteen.
"But now that I drive a Phantom," Jackim continued coolly, "you suddenly remember I exist. You want business? Sorry. I don't partner with snakes."
The room erupted in low laughter and murmurs. Marvin's face turned red, his hands trembling with suppressed anger. He forced a laugh, muttering, "You'll regret this," before storming out with his group.
[System Notification: Task Complete. Reward Granted – Loyalty Radar.]
[Ability Unlocked: Host can now sense sincerity in people's words and actions.]
Jackim exhaled slowly. He could almost feel it—the subtle shift in his perception. Marvin's fake smile had been obvious to him, like a red flag waving in the dark.
Kelvin clapped his shoulder, grinning. "Damn, bro. That was brutal. I thought Marvin would melt into the floor."
Jackim smiled faintly. "Better he knows his place now."
As they finished their meal, Jackim's gaze drifted to the window, where his Phantom waited a block away. The car was more than just a vehicle—it was a symbol. A reminder that the tides had turned.
But he also knew this was only the beginning. For every loyal friend like Kelvin, there would be ten fake ones like Marvin. For every Sandra filled with regret, there would be a Bryan burning with jealousy.
The world was watching now. And the higher he climbed, the more hands would reach to drag him down.
Jackim straightened, his dark eyes cold and determined.
"Let them come," he whispered to himself. "I'll show them all what it means to underestimate me."
The System hummed softly in the back of his mind, as if in agreement.
[Host, the path to dominance is paved with loyalty and betrayal alike. Be ready.]
Jackim's journey had only just begun.