Aiden left the apartment early the next morning, careful not to wake Emma. She needed rest. Yesterday's collapse still haunted him, replaying like a movie he didn't want to see again.
He quietly closed the door behind him and stepped into the dim hallway. The building smelled of rust and damp concrete—a scent he used to associate with hopelessness. But now, something inside him felt different.
Not because life was suddenly easy.
But because he could finally fight back.
The streets were barely awake. Vendors were just setting up their carts, metal shutters screeching open. Aiden walked with purpose, hands tucked in the pockets of his worn-out jacket.
He wasn't going to chase random jobs anymore.
He was going to build something stable.
Something big.
Something that could support both him and Emma long-term.
He had the intelligence now.
The system-enhanced mental clarity.
The drive.
And most importantly—
a reason.
The world blurred slightly as he walked. Every signboard, every advertisement, every detail sharpened. His mind automatically analyzed patterns and opportunities.
It was overwhelming at first.
But now…
It was becoming natural.
He reached the small community library, one of the few quiet places where no one questioned why a young man stayed for hours without buying anything.
Aiden pushed the door open.
The librarian, Ms. Fara, blinked in surprise. "Aiden? You're here early."
"Morning," he said politely. "Just need to study."
She smiled warmly. "You're one of the few who actually come here for that. Go ahead."
He sat at his usual corner table and pulled out the notebook filled with calculations from the day before.
He flipped to the last page.
Where his shaky handwriting wrote:
"Make money fast. Legit. Safe. Long-term."
He tapped the pen against the paper. His mind whirred.
Delivery jobs? Too unstable.
Restaurant? Long hours, low pay.
Factory? No flexibility for Emma's needs.
Freelance work? Possible… but slow.
He needed something scalable.
Then a thought hit him like lightning.
Something so obvious he almost punched himself for not realizing it sooner.
He now had the intelligence level of a near-genius.
And enhanced learning capability.
And logical acceleration.
…Why not use it?
He flipped open an online certification site. Tech courses. Business. Finance. Strategy. Coding.
He wasn't delusional—this didn't mean he could become some overnight tech billionaire. But with his new abilities, he could learn incredibly fast.
If he could get even one well-paying remote job, Emma would never go hungry again.
A quiet determination settled in him.
He would rebuild their future word by word, skill by skill.
He began the first lesson, absorbing every concept like he had been born with the knowledge. Lines of code began to make sense immediately. Complex logic became intuitive.
For the first time in years—
Aiden felt hope.
⸻
Hours passed unnoticed. His notebook filled with dense explanations, diagrams, and layered strategies. Even Ms. Fara gave him a concerned look after seeing him work without a break.
"Aiden, dear, go take a walk. Your eyes are going to burn."
He blinked, rubbing them tiredly. "Just a little more."
She shook her head. "If you collapse, who will take care of your sister?"
That hit harder than expected.
Aiden stood up.
"You're right."
He stepped outside, stretching his limbs. The sun sat high, heat radiating off the pavement. He took a deep breath—
Then froze.
A man in a dark hoodie stood across the street.
Standing completely still.
Facing him.
At first, Aiden thought he was imagining it. But the man didn't move—not even an inch. As if he had been waiting.
Aiden felt the hairs on his neck rise.
He walked away, pretending not to notice, but he discreetly checked reflections in windows.
The man followed.
Not close. Not obviously.
But deliberately.
Aiden's heart pounded.
Did someone find out?
Impossible.
No one knew about the system. No one knew about Emma's lies. No one should have any reason to—
Unless they had seen the inheritance documents? The lawyer? Someone smart enough to question how a poor orphan suddenly had an estate?
Aiden quickened his steps.
So did the man.
Aiden turned a corner sharply.
The man followed.
Silent.
Consistent.
Dangerous.
Aiden's breath tightened. His enhanced mind tried analyzing everything at once.
Could he fight?
Maybe… but rash.
Could he run?
Possible… but Emma was at home.
If this man meant harm—
Aiden had to keep him away from her.
He crossed the street and slipped into a crowded market lane. Bodies brushed against him, voices blending into chaotic noise.
He turned—
The man was gone.
Aiden scanned the area rapidly.
Nothing.
No hoodie.
No strange face.
No threat.
Just people living ordinary lives.
His chest rose and fell with uneven breaths.
Did I hallucinate?
No.
He had learned to trust his instincts. And every instinct told him—
Someone had been watching him.
He didn't know why.
He didn't know who.
But the system wasn't a harmless miracle anymore.
It was drawing attention.
And attention was danger.
Aiden clenched his fists.
He turned and ran home.
⸻
When he burst through the apartment door, Emma looked up from her drawing notebook.
"Aiden? Why are you running?"
He knelt in front of her, checking her arms, her face, her breathing—just to reassure himself she was safe.
"I'm fine," she giggled. "Why are you acting like a scared chicken?"
He forced a smile.
"Just making sure you're okay."
She tilted her head. "I'm always okay when you're here."
That simple sentence nearly broke him.
He hugged her tightly.
Emma laughed and hugged him back. "You're squeezing me too tight!"
He loosened his grip but didn't let go completely.
He needed her safe.
He needed to become stronger.
He needed money.
He needed stability.
He needed a plan.
Because today was the first time someone had watched him.
And Aiden knew—
Nothing in their lives was normal anymore.
The system wasn't a gift.
It wasn't a curse.
It was both.
And if someone wanted it—
They would come for Emma.
Aiden's eyes hardened with resolve.
Over my dead body.