Chapter 1: The Fall and the Rise

Kai Zhou sat at his desk, staring blankly at the stack of papers in front of him. The fluorescent lights above buzzed faintly, casting a sterile glow over the cramped office. His fingers trembled as he gripped the edge of the desk, trying to process what had just happened.

"Fired." The word echoed in his mind like a death knell. No warning, no second chance—just kicked out like yesterday's trash.

"Why?" Kai asked, his voice barely above a whisper. He looked up at his boss, Sales Manager Chen, who stood with her arms crossed, her expression cold and unyielding.

"Your numbers are decent," she said, her tone dripping with condescension. "But decent isn't enough. You didn't play the game, Kai. Everyone else knows to bring me gifts or take me out for dinner when they need something. But you? Nothing. Not even a box of chocolates."

Kai clenched his fists under the desk, his nails digging into his palms. He wanted to scream, to demand fairness, but he knew it was pointless. This wasn't about performance—it was about politics, about kissing up to the right people. And Kai had never been good at that.

"Pack your things and leave by the end of the day," Chen said, turning on her heel and striding out of the office without a backward glance.

Kai sat there for a long moment, his mind racing. He had given this job everything—his time, his energy, his dreams. And now, all he had to show for it was an empty bank account and a broken heart.

As he began packing his belongings into a cardboard box, his phone buzzed. It was Lin Wei, his girlfriend. For a brief moment, he felt a flicker of hope. Maybe she could comfort him, remind him that he still had something to live for.

"Kai, we need to talk," she said, her voice flat and emotionless.

"About what?" he asked, already dreading the answer.

"It's over. Don't come by tonight—or ever again. I deserve better than someone who can't even afford a decent meal."

The words hit him like a punch to the gut. First his job, now this? He opened his mouth to respond, but the line went dead before he could say a word.

Kai slumped back into his chair, feeling like the world had collapsed around him. He had nothing left—no job, no girlfriend, no future. He was a failure, a nobody.

But just as he was about to spiral into self-pity, something strange happened. A voice, clear and mechanical, echoed in his mind:

[Ding! Genesis Ascension System activated.]

Kai blinked, startled. "What the—?"

[Welcome, Host. The Genesis Ascension System has chosen you to embark on a journey of unparalleled growth and success. Every Monday, a new role will be assigned to you. Completing missions will unlock rewards beyond imagination.]

Kai pinched himself, half-convinced he was hallucinating from stress. But the voice continued, unfazed.

[Current Role: High-Stakes Gambler.]

[Mission: Win 1millioninasinglenightattheGoldenPhoenixCasino.]∗∗∗∗[MissionProgress:0∗∗[RegistrationGiftPackunlocked:1millioninasinglenightattheGoldenPhoenixCasino.]∗∗∗∗[MissionProgress:0∗∗[RegistrationGiftPackunlocked:100,000 advance for gambling. Enhanced Probability Calculation (temporary ability). Poker Face Mastery (temporary ability).]

Kai's heart raced. Was this real? Or had stress finally driven him insane?

He glanced around the office, but no one else seemed to hear the voice. His coworkers were busy typing away, oblivious to his internal turmoil.

"System…" Kai whispered hesitantly. "What happens if I fail?"

[Failure to reach 90% progress within a week will result in penalties. However, the Host may choose to continue the current role until completion, after which the next role will automatically activate.]

Kai let out a slow breath. Okay, so he didn't have to rush blindly—he had options. That was reassuring.

Without wasting another second, he mentally commanded, "Collect!"

[Ding! $100,000 has been transferred to your bank account.]

[Enhanced Probability Calculation and Poker Face Mastery activated. Duration: 24 hours.]

His phone buzzed with a notification. "Your savings account ending in 8324 received a deposit of 100,000.Currentbalance:100,000.Currentbalance:100,127.45."

Kai stared at the screen, his heart pounding. This was insane. Absolutely insane. But also… exhilarating.

He grabbed his bag and marched toward the elevator, leaving his cardboard box of belongings behind. Screw this lousy job. With the system on his side, he didn't need it anymore.

As the elevator doors closed, a sly grin spread across his face. The Golden Phoenix Casino was waiting, and Kai Zhou was ready to play the game—and win.