Chapter 4: A New Beginning

Jinu's eyes fluttered open as the soft rays of the morning sun filtered through the blinds, casting long shadows across the room. He blinked, still feeling the strange weight of the Time Tyrant System pressing in on his consciousness. The excitement of last night's discovery hadn't worn off—he had barely slept, his mind still buzzing with the possibilities of his newfound abilities.

He sat up, rubbing his face with his hands. "So this is real..." He muttered, still not entirely sure whether he was dreaming or living some strange alternate reality. But one thing was clear—he had power, the power to control time itself.

The clock on his phone flashed 9:30 AM. The thought of a new day didn't feel like it used to—there was a sense of possibility in the air, a feeling like anything could happen.

He glanced outside, seeing the hustle and bustle of the city already in full swing. The usual morning rush was evident, people moving quickly down the street, their heads buried in their phones or focused on their tasks. Jinu felt detached from it all, as though the world had started moving at a different speed for him.

"Alright... let's do this." He said aloud, standing up and stretching, his muscles still a little sore from all the excitement of the night before. He grabbed his phone off the desk and tapped through a few screens. There was one thing he knew for sure today: he wanted money. Lots of it.

He opened the Uber app and typed in the address. A quick search for nearby poker games had led him to a place on the other side of town—a poker lounge known for its high-stakes games. The minimum entry was steep, but Jinu wasn't worried anymore. Not with his powers. He could walk in there, play for a few hours, and walk away a winner.

"30 minutes away," he mumbled to himself, tapping through the Uber options. The fare was expensive. He clicked on the "Confirm Ride" button, but when the app asked for payment, his heart sank.

He had just over $20 in his bank account. The fare was $22, but his balance was $2 short. He cursed softly under his breath, scrolling through his phone for a solution. Maybe he could just cancel the ride and walk there—wait, no. He didn't have time to waste. The game would start without him, and he wasn't going to miss this opportunity.

Jinu sighed and pulled out his last savings, feeling the sting of parting with every last dollar. "Whatever," he muttered, swiping to confirm the ride. He couldn't waste time thinking about his broke situation—today was the first step toward something bigger.

The Uber arrived, a bright yellow car pulling up in front of his building. The driver, a middle-aged man with a friendly smile, waved at Jinu from the window.

"You heading to the poker game, kid?" the driver asked with a laugh as Jinu climbed into the car.

"Yeah, that's the one," Jinu replied, adjusting his seatbelt. "It's the only chance I've got."

The driver gave him a sideways glance, noticing the tired look on Jinu's face. "Good luck, kid. Looks like you could use some."

The ride was smooth, but Jinu couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. As they drove through the city, he began thinking about what he was about to do. He wasn't some professional gambler—hell, he wasn't even close. But with his Time Stop powers, he didn't need to be. He was going to cheat the game, and nobody would even know.

The driver eventually pulled up to a luxurious building, the Poker Lounge standing tall and sleek in front of them, a tall marble entrance with gold lettering. A valet opened the door for Jinu, who hesitated for just a second.

The lounge was intimidating—he hadn't expected it to look so extravagant. Suit-wearing men and women stood around, sipping drinks, laughing, and placing their bets at poker tables surrounded by rich leather chairs. Every single person looked like they belonged here, dressed in their best suits, silk ties, and expensive shoes. They looked like the kind of people who had millions, not a guy in a basic black T-shirt and jeans.

Jinu felt the sting of being out of place. His clothes felt too plain, too average. The jeans he wore were just regular black denim, and his T-shirt was basic. It wasn't anything special—nothing like the sharp suits and expensive fabrics everyone else was wearing. He stuck out like a sore thumb.

The moment he stepped through the door, eyes turned to him. Jinu could feel the awkward glances, the judgmental stares, and the whispers that followed him. It wasn't subtle. People were looking him up and down, clearly wondering what he was doing here. A man in a black suit, with a tight jawline, leaned toward his companion and whispered something with a sly grin.

"Is this a joke? Look at this guy. What's he even doing here?"

Jinu's stomach churned. He could hear the murmurs as he walked through the crowd. The laughter seemed to grow louder, like a wall of judgment closing in on him.

But he wasn't going to let it stop him. He wasn't here to fit in. He was here for money. The crowd could think whatever they wanted.

Taking a deep breath, Jinu walked toward the poker tables. His steps were confident, even though he could feel their eyes on him, almost burning into him.

He approached the registration desk, where a sleek woman in a red cocktail dress gave him a sideways glance, as if questioning whether he was even qualified to be here.

"What's your buy-in?" she asked, her tone almost bored.

Jinu felt his palms sweat. He barely had enough for the minimum buy-in.

"All I've got is $20," he said, almost apologetically.

The woman raised an eyebrow but shrugged, accepting the money. "Fine," she said, handing him a chip and showing him to the table.

He walked over to the table, where the rich gamblers looked at him with suspicion, eyeing his clothes. There were several players already seated, each with their expensive watches and drinks, all deep in conversation.

He took a seat and took a deep breath. "Alright, time to get to work."