Aryanagar's morning light filtered through tinted café windows as Kaito Ryuu sipped the last of his mocha, his new Rolex catching sunlight like a mirror of fate.
The day before, he had been another broke nobody.
Now?
He was wearing a tailored suit, holding a Digital Black Card, and drawing curious stares from women who once wouldn't have spared him a glance.
And it all began with a system that issued tasks in exchange for power, wealth, and—apparently—status.
> [ SYSTEM TIP: Early Favorability Buff Active. All social impressions slightly enhanced. Duration left: 47h ]
The system's presence was a silent hum now, like a helpful assistant embedded in his mind, invisible but always watching.
Kaito pushed his chair back and stood.
Heads turned.
Again.
He was beginning to like this new trait: Presence. It was subtle, but people noticed him now. They respected him.
---
[ NEW TASK: INVESTMENT INSTINCTS I ]
> Visit the old stock kiosk near Arya Tower. Choose one of three blind investments. Return in 24 hours for results.
Reward: ₹100,000 (if successful) or Insight Skill Fragment (if failed)
Bonus: ??? if you charm the old man running the kiosk
Kaito raised an eyebrow. "Blind investments, huh?"
His fingers itched at the thought. In the past, investing was a dream for people who already had money. Now, the system wanted him to gamble.
No—calculated gamble.
He walked out, thanked the barista with a nod (and noticed her blush), and stepped into the rising heat.
---
Arya Tower – East Side Kiosk Area
It took him twenty minutes to find the kiosk: a rusted, green-painted stall with a tiny CRT monitor and a sign that read "RAJU STOCKS – Luck Favors the Bold".
An old man, half-asleep on a stool, looked up as Kaito approached.
"Buy stocks or get lost," he muttered, chewing something.
Kaito smiled. "How's the market treating you today?"
The man grunted, clearly not expecting a response.
"I heard this stall gave the right pick for a guy who became a millionaire overnight."
The man's eyes twitched. "That was just a rumor."
"Isn't every legend?" Kaito said with a smirk.
> [ BONUS CONDITION MET – CHARM 10% ACTIVATED ]
Raju's Guard Lowered. Favorability: Neutral → Mild
Raju leaned forward. "You want a pick?"
The screen flickered.
> [ SYSTEM OVERRIDE: Three Stocks Detected. Details Hidden. Choose One. ]
Three stock names flashed:
PRNTEX
SOLINK
ZELFIRE
Kaito hesitated.
This was it. The first real gamble.
He felt the system's pulse respond faintly to ZELFIRE. Instinct? Or manipulation?
"ZELFIRE," he said.
The screen blinked. Confirmed.
Raju handed him a thin printout. "₹5,000 down. Come back tomorrow."
Kaito transferred the funds instantly.
As he turned to leave, Raju called out: "You've got a strange vibe, kid. Like a hawk that used to be a pigeon."
Kaito smiled. "Maybe I just grew wings."
> [ TASK ACCEPTED – INVESTMENT INSTINCTS I ]
Outcome Pending: 24h
Hidden Trigger Activated: 'Raju's Eye' – Rare Investor Perk Fragment stored.
---
He returned to the city's main avenue, walking slower now, letting the environment respond to him.
And it did.
People moved aside.
Vendors offered free samples.
Security guards gave respectful nods.
It wasn't just money—it was aura.
> [ PASSIVE TRAIT – Aura of Confidence Lv.2 Active ]
Social Priority: +1
Discount Chance (Minor): +5%
Encounter Rate with Key NPCs: +8%
---
As Kaito passed the plaza fountain, a shimmer appeared in his system overlay:
> [ ENCOUNTER DETECTED – KEY NPC FLAGGED: LYRA KANESHI ]
Interest Level: Unknown. Disposition: Reserved. Danger Rating: 0.2%
He turned toward the edge of the plaza—and saw her.
The woman from the café.
She stood beneath a parasol, watching the pigeons.
Today, she wore designer athleisure and sunglasses. A leather clutch hung from her shoulder. High-end, minimalist style.
And she noticed him immediately.
"You again," she said.
Kaito bowed slightly. "Should I apologize or take that as fate?"
She smirked. "Depends. You stalking me?"
"Just following the scent of wealth."
She chuckled, then gestured to the bench beside her.
"Well, now I'm curious. Who are you, mystery man?"
> [ DIALOGUE CHOICE TRIGGERED ]
1. "Just a man with big dreams."
2. "Someone the world tried to erase."
3. "Kaito Ryuu. Newly self-made."
[ You may remain silent for hidden branch. ]
Kaito considered… then smiled.
"Option three," he said aloud.
"Pardon?"
"I'm Kaito Ryuu. Newly self-made."
She narrowed her eyes but seemed impressed.
"Lyra. And… you're not like the other rich boys."
"That's because I wasn't born rich."
---
They talked for five minutes.
Nothing flirtatious. Just sharp exchanges.
She didn't tell him her last name. The system did.
> LYRA KANESHI
Background: Heiress to Kaneshi Textiles (Top 10 Family Business)
Intelligence: High
Trust Score: 3/10
Interest: Piqued
Eventually, she checked her watch. "I have a meeting. But if we meet again, it'll be no coincidence."
Kaito stood. "I'll hold you to that."
As she walked away, his system pulsed.
> [ Minor Favorability +1 | Romantic Potential Thread: LYRA unlocked ]
---
System Message
> You've officially impressed your first high-status individual. Such impressions stack into long-term influence points.
New Tab Unlocked: SOCIAL WEB
Kaito opened the tab.
It showed a sleek spiderweb diagram, with him at the center.
Three threads glowed faintly:
Raju (Investor)
Lyra (Heiress)
Dinesh (Former Bully – Humiliated)
Their names were ranked by Connection Strength.
The system was tracking relationships now.
---
Back at his apartment, he stared at the peeling paint, the creaking fan, and the cockroach in the sink.
Then the system chimed again.
> [ TASK: Secure First Living Space – Deadline: 6h ]
Budget: ₹30,000
Reward: Studio Apartment Ownership + Trait: Homeowner
Optional: Choose a location near business centers for bonus investments
Kaito didn't hesitate.
He began searching property listings—and found one. A repossession unit, fully functional, located three blocks from Arya Tower.
₹28,000 final bid.
He messaged the owner directly, went down for a visit, and saw it with his own eyes.
A single room. Small kitchen. Clean bathroom. Rooftop view.
But it was his.
---
By 4 p.m., the transaction was done.
> [ TASK COMPLETE – PROPERTY ACQUIRED ]
Trait Unlocked: Homeowner
+5% Stability | Resting Efficiency Boost | Nighttime Recovery Bonus
Passive Trigger: Space Ownership Detected. Eligible for Interior Upgrades.
Kaito collapsed onto the cot and stared at the ceiling.
No spiders here.
No debt.
Just air that smelled like victory.
---
SYSTEM DASHBOARD: Kaito Ryuu
Attribute Value
Total Wealth ₹2,012 (Pending Stocks)
System Rank F-Class Taskmaster
Residence Studio Apartment (Zone 3A)
Buffs Appearance +15%, Charm +10%
Traits Presence, Vanity, Homeowner
Skills Passive: Aura of Confidence Lv.2
Relationship Web Lyra, Raju, Dinesh
Next Milestone ₹100,000 total capital
---
Later that Night
> [ NIGHT UPDATE: SYSTEM CORE EXPANDING ]
You have completed all starter tasks. Syncing with deeper layers...
[ HIDDEN SYSTEM BRANCH UNLOCKED – "CITY DOMINANCE PATH" ]
> First Phase: Acquire Influence in 3 Sectors
Options: Real Estate, Media, Luxury, Street Gangs, Politics, Tech Startups
Kaito's eyes gleamed.
This wasn't just about money anymore.
This was about power.
And he was just getting started.
---
End of Chapter 2
🡒 Next: Chapter 3 – Haters Gonna Beg
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