Chapter 6: The Weight of Knowledge

Chapter 6: The Weight of Knowledge

Ivan sat in his classroom, hands folded on his desk, staring at the blackboard but not really seeing it.

His classmates were seven-year-olds, doodling in their notebooks, struggling with basic math. But Ivan? He was mentally running through stock market trends, Bitcoin's rise, and the impending financial crisis of 2008 that had already happened in his past life.

It was 2011.

This was supposed to be the year when Bitcoin started making waves, when tech started accelerating, when the world's future billionaires were unknowingly setting their plans into motion.

And here he was—a child, trapped in a tiny school desk, unable to do anything about it.

It was frustrating.

He needed a plan.

A Dangerous Gamble

Bitcoin was the easiest answer.

If he could get access to a computer and internet, he could mine it before it exploded in value. He knew it was worth cents right now but would eventually hit $60,000+.

But there was a problem.

How does a seven-year-old mine Bitcoin?

He had no money, no computer, no electricity under his control. Even if he convinced someone to buy Bitcoin for him, how could he explain it? "Trust me, this will be worth millions one day."

They'd think he was insane.

And that was his biggest fear.

What if he slipped up?

What if he said the wrong thing, got caught up in proving he knew the future, and someone labeled him as delusional?

He had read stories about child geniuses who were taken away for "studies." About people who got locked up in mental hospitals when they spoke about things that didn't make sense.

Ivan felt his heartbeat pick up.

No. It's too risky. Bitcoin is off the table.

A Family on the Brink

He considered going to his grandmother.

She was the one person in his life who had always been stable, strong, and dependable. She had money, she was smart, she ran a successful restaurant—maybe she could help.

But then his memories hit him like a brick.

This was the turning point in her life.

Soon, his mother would run to her, begging for help. His grandmother, despite knowing better, would give up her restaurant, sell everything, and destroy her financial stability just to save her.

In his first life, this moment had changed everything.

His grandmother had been wealthy, respected, powerful. But after she lost her restaurant, she was never the same again.

If he showed up now, asking for money, he might make things worse.

She might panic, start looking for hidden problems, wonder why he was suddenly so desperate.

If I play this wrong, I might trigger everything even faster.

Ivan clenched his tiny fists.

That's not an option either.

A Close Call

He needed a way to break free from the normal system.

In Germany, smart kids could skip grades. That was his loophole.

If he could skip a few years, he'd be older, have access to more resources, and be closer to financial independence.

So, during class, he raised his hand.

The teacher, a middle-aged woman with tired eyes, looked at him. "Yes, Ivan?"

He hesitated for a moment, then spoke carefully.

"I think I should be in a higher grade. I want to get tested."

Silence.

Then—laughter.

Not just from the teacher, but from the entire class.

One of the boys behind him snickered. "Hah! Look at him! He thinks he's a genius!"

The teacher just smiled condescendingly and shook her head. "That's not how it works, Ivan. Now, pay attention."

His ears burned as the class moved on.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

How could he forget? This wasn't Germany. In Croatia, skipping grades wasn't even an option.

And even if it was, he would have been the first to ever do it.

That kind of attention was the last thing he needed.

A seven-year-old suddenly moving up into classes with older kids? People would notice. People would start asking questions.

And worst of all…

He felt a familiar tightness in his chest.

Social anxiety.

Something that had haunted him in his first life. Something he had carried with him into this one.

The idea of standing out, of being stared at, of being treated like some kind of freak—it sent a cold wave of panic through him.

I can't do this.

He needed to stay low.

He needed to blend in.

Skipping grades would put him in the worst possible position.

A New Approach

As he sat quietly for the rest of the lesson, the initial frustration faded.

I almost ruined everything.

This was not a game. He couldn't just speedrun his way to success. Every move had to be calculated, slow, careful.

He took a deep breath.

Alright. New plan.

If he couldn't rush ahead, he would build from the ground up.

Even without Bitcoin, stocks, or big investments, he still had a massive advantage:

His knowledge.

At the very least, he could secure good grades without even trying. He could make sure he had the best education, the best qualifications, and position himself to dominate later.

But that wasn't enough.

He didn't want just a "better life."

He wanted billions.

He wanted to secure his brother, his grandmother, and himself for life.

And he would find a way.

Slowly. Carefully.

Without rushing, without reckless risks, and without getting caught.

Reassurance

Later that night, Ivan lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.

For the first time in weeks, he wasn't panicking.

Things were different now.

Yes, his mother was still a gambling addict.

Yes, his life was still full of problems.

Yes, he was still a powerless child.

But…

He had time.

He had knowledge.

And most importantly?

He had a plan.

A slow smile curled at the edge of his lips as he listened to the distant sound of his mother snoring.

This was his reset.

And this time, he wasn't going to waste it.

He rolled onto his side, his eyes drifting closed.

Tomorrow, he would begin.

End of Chapter 6.