In the deepest part of Sector 4, it did not really rain.
The sky dropped a dirty, grey mist instead.
It stuck to the skin.
It smelled like rust and old garbage.
Everything felt wet, heavy, and tired.
In the middle of a flooded alley, Ren stood still.
He did not move.
A broken ATM machine beside him gave off a weak blue light.
The light hit his face and made him look pale and cold.
[ BALANCE: $0.01 ]
One cent.
That was all he had.
That was the truth of his life.
But if someone looked at him, they would not believe it.
Ren was wearing a dark grey suit.
It fit his body perfectly.
It looked simple, with no logos or names.
But it was not cheap.
People who understood money would know what it meant.
This was the kind of suit made for very rich families.
The kind passed down through generations.
Ren looked down at himself for a moment.
Then he spoke quietly.
"It's time."
His voice was calm.
But inside, his heart was beating fast.
Like it was trying to escape.
He turned away from the ATM and walked forward.
Not far from him, a black car waited.
A 1966 Rolls-Royce Phantom.
It looked powerful.
Out of place.
Like a god sitting in a broken world.
A man stood beside the car.
He was smoking.
Watching.
This was the Butcher.
A man who gave money to people who had nothing left.
And then took everything from them.
"Everything you need is inside," the Butcher said.
His voice was rough and low.
He threw a silver envelope into the air.
Ren caught it.
The weight surprised him.
It felt heavy.
Important.
Inside was the invitation.
A ticket to Astraea Academy.
"You have three years," the Butcher said.
He looked Ren up and down.
"The car. The clothes. The name 'Xavier Valerius'—I gave you all of it."
His voice became colder.
"If you fail… or if you get caught…"
"I won't just kill you."
"I will go to the hospital myself…"
"And turn off your mother's machine."
Ren's body stayed still.
He could not show fear.
Not now.
"The money will come," Ren said quietly.
"Do not speak to me again… unless the plan fails."
The Butcher smiled slightly.
"Good luck… Young Master."
Ren opened the car door and stepped inside.
The inside smelled like expensive wood and leather.
Clean.
Quiet.
Nothing like the world he came from.
He had prepared for this.
For months, he studied rich people.
How they walked.
How they talked.
How they looked at others.
He slowly put on white silk gloves.
They covered his hands.
Hands that were rough from years of hard work.
"To Astraea," he said.
The car started moving.
As it left Sector 4, the world began to change.
The broken streets slowly disappeared.
The grey buildings turned into clean roads.
The rusted fences became tall golden gates.
It was like entering a different world.
Then suddenly—
A bright light appeared in front of his eyes.
A screen.
Floating in the air.
[ SYSTEM STARTING… ]
[ SCANNING… ]
[ AMBITION: VERY HIGH ][ DESPERATION: MAXIMUM ]
Ren froze.
He blinked.
But the screen did not disappear.
[ THE GRAND ACCUMULATOR SYSTEM HAS AWAKENED ]
[ MISSION: RISE TO THE TOP ][ STATUS: FAKE HEIR ][ MONEY: $0.01 ]
"A system…?" Ren whispered.
[ NOTICE: YOUR DEBT IS SEEN ]
[ GIFT UNLOCKED: EYE OF CAPITAL ]
[ POWER: SEE THE VALUE AND SECRETS OF OTHERS ]
The car slowed down.
They had reached the gates of Astraea Academy.
The entrance was huge.
Guards stood outside with weapons and scanners.
Everything was controlled.
Strict.
Powerful.
Inside those gates were the children of the richest families.
People born with power.
People who ruled the world.
They were the hunters.
And Ren…
Was supposed to be the prey.
But then he saw something.
In front of his car was a red Ferrari.
A golden box appeared above it.
[ ASSET: FERRARI 812 ][ OWNER: LEO LEE ][ SECRET DEBT: $2,400,000 ][ STATUS: GAMBLING LOSS ][ EMOTION: SCARED, HIDING IT ]
Ren's eyes sharpened.
A small smile appeared on his lips.
Cold.
Quiet.
Things were different now.
He was no longer weak.
Ren was gone.
That boy from the slums no longer existed.
He leaned back in his seat.
"I am Xavier Valerius," he said softly.
"And I am here…"
"To take everything."
The gates slowly opened.
The car moved forward.
And Xavier entered the world of monsters.