I stared at the crumpled five-dollar bill in my hand. It was old and stained, representing the only money we had for my "birthday meal." Ela had worked sixteen hours to make sure I had at least this much.
"System," I whispered. "Can the banks trace this? If I suddenly have millions, they'll kill me just to take it."
[Ding! Host can rest easy. All cashback is funneled through legal shell companies and offshore accounts. To the world, your wealth is the result of untraceable, high-level investments. It is 100% legal.]
"Good. Then let's see if you're real."
I walked into a small corner store and bought a sandwich and a bottle of water for $4.50. The moment the transaction cleared, my head rang with a golden sound.
[Ding! Spending Detected! Amount: $5.00. Multiplier: 10,000x. Success! $50,000.00 has been deposited.]
I didn't stop. I went to a high-end car dealership and bought a silver sedan for $45,000 cash. The salesman nearly fainted.
[Ding! Spending Detected! Multiplier: 10,000x. Success! $450,000,000.00 deposited.]
Four hundred and fifty million dollars. I was no longer a beggar. I was a king in hiding.
[Ding! Host has completed his first transaction.]
[New Feature Unlocked: The Destiny Shop.]
[Current Destiny Points: 0]
[Note: To earn Destiny Points, you must interfere with the 'Predestined Fate' of others. For example, your sister Ela is currently destined to be insulted and fired by her manager at 6:00 PM today.]
My grip tightened on the water bottle until the plastic crunched.
"She's going to be fired?" I growled. "After everything she's given that company?"
[Yes. Her manager, Mr. Kael, plans to replace her with his nephew. This event will lead to Ela falling into a deep depression and eventually taking a dangerous job in the Dungeon to pay the bills.]
I knew I couldn't go to Ela's office myself. If she saw me in a suit, she would think I had joined a gang or done something dangerous. I needed a professional "face" to do my bidding.
I walked into the most prestigious bank in the city, the Gold-Leaf International. I didn't go to the teller; I walked straight to the VIP lounge. Within minutes, a sharp-looking man named Mr. Henderson, a senior wealth manager, was bowing to me. He had seen the balance in my "Void-Link" account and looked like he had seen a god.
"Mr. Vance," Henderson whispered, his hands trembling. "How can Gold-Leaf serve you today?"
"I want to buy Blue-Chip Logistics," I said, leaning back in the plush chair. "The whole firm. The building, the contracts, everything. And I want it done in ten minutes. But my name must never appear on the documents. Use a blind trust."
"Consider it done, sir," Henderson said, his fingers flying across his laptop.
"One more thing," I added. "I want you to go there personally. Fire the manager, a man named Kael. Then, promote a woman named Ela Vance to Regional Director. Give her a five-hundred percent raise and a company car. Tell her an anonymous investor is 'betting on her star power.'"
"I will handle it immediately," Henderson promised.
While Henderson went to handle the office, I went to work on our lives. I moved through the luxury district like a storm.
For Myself: I bought a set of high-end suits, Italian leather shoes, and a heavy gold watch. I didn't wear them yet; I had them sent to a private locker. I also bought the newest Titan-Grip Phone, a device that could track mana-waves and handle billions in transactions.
For Ela: I bought a matching phone, a set of diamond earrings, and three designer outfits that looked professional but felt like silk.
Every time I swiped my card, the System screamed with joy.
[Ding! Spent $50,000 on luxury goods. Cashback: $500,000,000!]
My wealth was growing faster than I could spend it. I headed home, wearing my old, baggy hoodie and worn-out jeans. I had to look like the "poor brother" one last time.
The "Good News"
I was sitting on our porch when I heard a car engine—not the rattling sound of a bus, but the smooth hum of a luxury vehicle. A black SUV pulled up, and Ela stepped out. She looked dazed, clutching a brand-new briefcase and a set of keys.
"Theon!" she shouted, running toward me. She threw her arms around my neck, sobbing and laughing at the same time.
"Whoa, Ela! What happened? Where did you get the car?" I feigned total shock.
"I don't know!" she cried, pulling back to look at me. "A man from Gold-Leaf Bank showed up. He fired Kael on the spot! He said a secret investor bought the company and wanted me to run it. Theon, I'm the Director now! I have a salary that can pay off our debts in a month!"
"That's a miracle, Ela," I said, smiling warmly. "I told you that you were meant for big things."
"And look," she said, reaching into her bag. "The man said the investor sent a gift for my 'family.' It's a new phone for you, and look at these clothes!"
I looked at the gifts I had bought for her through the bank agent. "Wow. This investor must be a really good guy."
"He's an angel," Ela whispered, her eyes shining with a hope I hadn't seen in years. "I can finally take care of you, Theon. I can finally give you the life you deserve."
I hugged her back, hiding my face. 'No, Ela,' I thought. 'I'm the one who is going to give you the world.'
[Ding! Destiny Changed! Ela Vance has avoided the path of 'Dungeon Labor'.]
[Reward: 1,000 Destiny Points.]
[System Note: You can now use points to buy your first skill or object ]