Chapter 4 : Understanding the System
Ryan walked through the city streets, his hands tucked into his jacket pockets, mind racing with possibilities. The golden screen had vanished after displaying his reward, but the effects were real.
Wealth Echo (Passive): Any money you spend meaningfully will return multiplied in unexpected ways.
And it had already worked once.
He had given $100 to Mr. Grayson, and within minutes, his bank balance had jumped to $500. That was a 5× return with no effort.
But when he tried buying a coffee, nothing happened.
Which meant… not all spending counted.
Ryan's fingers curled slightly in his pockets. If he could figure out the rules, he could turn this into something huge. But first, he needed more tests.
An Investment in the Future
His feet carried him to a small bookstore on the corner of a quiet street. He used to come here often—before life had turned into a constant struggle just to survive.
As he stepped inside, the warm scent of old paper and coffee greeted him. A few customers browsed the shelves, and behind the counter stood Mia, the owner's daughter. She was about his age, maybe a year younger, with shoulder-length brown hair and soft green eyes. She had always been kind, but Ryan hadn't spoken to her much since things had gone downhill for him.
She glanced up from the register and blinked in surprise. "Ryan? Haven't seen you in a while."
He scratched the back of his head. "Yeah… been busy."
Her eyes flickered over his worn-out jacket and tired face, but she didn't comment. Instead, she smiled softly. "Well, welcome back. Looking for something specific?"
Ryan glanced around, his gaze landing on the business section.
If this system was really about wealth, then maybe he needed to learn how to handle money properly.
He walked over, scanning the titles. Most were the usual self-help books, but one caught his eye—"The Millionaire Mindset: Turning Small Investments into Fortune."
He pulled it from the shelf and checked the price. $45.
He hesitated. He wasn't broke anymore—not after the system had given him a sudden boost. But the old habit of watching every dollar was hard to shake.
Still, this wasn't some meaningless purchase. This was an investment in himself.
He walked to the counter and placed the book down.
Mia rang it up. "That'll be $45."
Ryan pulled out his card, swiped it, and held his breath.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then—a familiar warmth spread through his chest.
The golden screen flickered into view.
[Transaction Recorded.]
[Evaluation: Self-Growth Investment.]
[Bonus Applied: 3× Return.]
Ryan's phone vibrated. He quickly pulled it out and opened his banking app.
His balance had jumped from $455 to $590.
His heart skipped a beat.
It worked. Again.
He had just made money by buying a book.
Mia tilted her head. "You okay? You look like you just saw a ghost."
Ryan quickly shoved his phone back in his pocket. "Yeah, just… uh, thinking about something."
She chuckled. "Well, enjoy the book. Hope it helps."
Ryan grabbed the bag and walked out, his mind spinning.
The system didn't just reward charity—it rewarded spending on things that improved his future.
This wasn't just free money.
This was power.
And he was just getting started.
---
Ryan sat in his apartment, staring at his phone screen.
$2,390.
It still didn't feel real. Just a day ago, he had been struggling to afford rent. Now, thanks to the system, his money was growing with every smart decision.
But he couldn't afford to be reckless. He needed to understand the system's rules completely before making any big moves.
So far, he had learned:
Charity produced the highest returns.
Self-improvement investments gave steady bonuses.
Spending on useless things did nothing.
Some purchases were recognized as "undervalued" assets.
That last point intrigued him the most. If the system could recognize value before he did, then he had a huge advantage.
He needed to test it further.
---
The sun was setting by the time Ryan stepped into Brooks' Antiques & Pawn, a small, cluttered shop filled with old collectibles, jewelry, and rare items.
The owner, Mr. Brooks, a middle-aged man with sharp eyes and a slow demeanor, looked up from his newspaper. "Back again?"
Ryan nodded. "Looking for undervalued items."
Brooks chuckled. "Aren't we all?"
Ryan walked through the store, scanning the shelves. He wasn't looking for anything in particular—he was waiting for the system to react.
Then, it happened.
The golden screen flickered faintly as his eyes landed on a small, carved jade pendant.
> [Rare Item Identified: Antique Jade Pendant (Estimated Market Value: $500+)]
[Current Price: $70]
Ryan's pulse quickened. So the system could scan real-world value.
He picked up the pendant. "How much for this?"
Brooks glanced at it. "Seventy bucks."
Ryan pulled out his card and swiped it. Warmth spread through his chest as the golden screen appeared again.
> [Transaction Recorded.]
[Evaluation: Underpriced Asset Acquired.]
[Bonus Applied: 3× Return.]
His phone vibrated.
$2,320 → $2,530.
Ryan fought back a smirk. He had just made money by recognizing a good deal.
This opened up a whole new path.
"Got anything else like this?" Ryan asked, keeping his tone casual.
Brooks raised an eyebrow but nodded. "I've got a few more things in the back."
A few minutes later, Ryan walked out with three more items:
1. A vintage pocket watch ($90, system-estimated value: $400+)
2. An old silver coin set ($60, system-estimated value: $250+)
3. A signed first-edition novel ($110, system-estimated value: $600+)
By the time he finished his purchases, his balance had jumped to $3,050.
> This isn't just about spending money. It's about recognizing value before anyone else does.
If he played this right, he could turn small investments into a fortune.
---
Ryan knew charity worked, but what about something between charity and business?
While walking through the shopping district, he noticed a small café on the corner. It looked nice, but there weren't many customers inside. A sign on the door read: "New Management – Grand Opening Soon!"
Curious, he stepped inside.
A young woman, probably in her mid-twenties, was behind the counter, wiping down tables. She looked up as he entered, brushing a strand of dark brown hair behind her ear. "Oh! Sorry, we're technically not open yet."
Ryan glanced around. "Looks ready to me."
She sighed. "Yeah, but… things have been slow. We just reopened under new management, and getting customers has been hard."
That gave Ryan an idea.
"What if I paid in advance for a few meals?" he asked.
She blinked. "You mean, like a pre-order?"
"Something like that," he said. "Let's say I pay $200 now, and I can come in anytime and get meals until that amount is used up."
She hesitated, then smiled. "Honestly, that would help a lot."
Ryan swiped his card. The warmth returned instantly.
> [Transaction Recorded.]
[Evaluation: Small Business Support.]
[Bonus Applied: 4× Return.]
His phone buzzed.
$3,050 → $3,850.
> Confirmed. Helping businesses counted as meaningful spending.
The café owner smiled. "Thanks. You didn't have to do that."
Ryan smirked. "I like investing in good places."
---
Planning the Next Move
By the time Ryan got back to his apartment, he had tripled his money in a single day.
And he was just getting started.
He sat down, flipping through the rare items he had bought. He had a system that could identify hidden value. If he could scale this up—buy bigger assets, make larger investments—there was no limit to how far he could go.
But he needed to be careful.
He wasn't going to waste this chance.
He was going to build an empire.