Chapter 12 – The Plan Begins

The week passed quickly as Ivan and his brother settled into their new life in Germany. Their school enrollment was just around the corner, but Ivan wasn't solely focused on academics—he had bigger goals in mind. He wasn't here just to ace school. He was here to get rich.

At thirteen, Ivan was old enough to open a Jugendkonto (youth account), giving him a place to store money legally under his name. Of course, there were limitations—he couldn't buy stocks or make online purchases yet—but it was a crucial first step. He could start saving money from chores, school rewards, and whatever side hustles he could manage until he turned fourteen.

Once fourteen hit, things would open up even more. He could work a part-time job delivering newspapers—one of the few options available to teens his age—and he planned to take full advantage of it. The goal? Save at least €2,000 by the time he was fifteen.

But saving wasn't enough. Ivan needed investments, smart moves that would set the foundation for real wealth.

"Bitcoin and Ethereum? Too late for those now. The ship sailed long ago," Ivan thought, tapping his fingers on the wooden table. "Shiba Inu could be a risky play when it drops, but that's a gamble. And who knows if my actions have already changed the timeline?"

His mind raced with possibilities. Dropshipping crossed his mind—especially with the rise of Musical.ly (which would later become TikTok) coming soon. It could be the perfect platform for viral marketing when he was fifteen or sixteen.

"Content creation isn't a bad route either…" he mused before a sudden realization hit him. "Wait—Fortnite is dropping in a few months!"

A grin spread across his face. In his past life, he'd played Fortnite up until Chapter 5. He knew the ins and outs of the game, every meta shift, every strategy. While major tournaments wouldn't roll out immediately after the game's release, getting an early start could give him an insane edge.

"If I can convince Grandma to get me a PC, this could actually work. I know how to grind. I know how the game evolves. I could turn this into real money."

Of course, there were still countless variables. He had no idea how much he had already altered the timeline. One wrong move could send everything spiraling off course. But that was the thrill of it—navigating the unknown, making smart plays.

"It's all too much to figure out right now, but tomorrow, I make the first move," Ivan thought.

The next morning, he sat across from his grandmother at the breakfast table. His heart pounded as he laid out his request.

"Grandma, can we go to the bank? I want to open a Jugendkonto."

She didn't hesitate. "Of course, Ivan. It's good you're thinking about your future."

That was it. The first step was locked in. His plan had officially begun.