When I opened my eyes the next morning, sunlight was spilling through the half-closed curtains, cutting golden lines across the floor. For a moment, I lay still, staring at the pale ceiling. The events of last night felt unreal—my death, the awakening in a new world, the memories of another Aren, the apartment, the car, the credits… and the System.
For a second I wondered if it had all been just a strange dream brought on by exhaustion. But the smooth, artificial chime echoed inside my head before I could finish the thought.
[Good morning, Host.]
I inhaled slowly. "So it wasn't a dream."
[Dreams do not provide asset summaries.]
A translucent blue panel appeared in the air above me.
Current Balance
Personal Savings (Original Aren): 10,000 Credits
System Gift Balance: 1,000,000 Credits
Total: 1,010,000 Credits
Even though I stared at the numbers, my brain refused to believe them. A million credits… For the Aren of this world, that amount had been nothing more than a distant fantasy. He had grown up poor, then orphaned again by fate. Money had always been a luxury, not a tool.
But now… now it was a foundation.
"Why did you choose me?" I muttered.
The System responded instantly.
[Host selection is based on psychological resilience, adaptive potential, and entrepreneurial compatibility.]
"Translation?"
[You refuse to break, you learn fast, and you're good at turning nothing into something.]
A humorless laugh escaped me. "That's one way to put it."I swung my legs off the bed. My body felt normal, but something inside me had changed. A kind of simmering energy was pushing me forward, telling me I didn't have time to waste. A million credits sounded like a lot, but if I was going to build a business empire in a world similar to Earth—technology, markets, competition, corporations—it would disappear quickly if I acted foolishly."System," I said while brushing my teeth, "what's the purpose behind giving me money?"
[To assist Host in establishing the foundational structure of your future business empire.]
"And what do you gain out of this?A small pause.
[Host's success generates System energy. Mutual benefit.]
So it wasn't charity. Good. I could trust incentives more than kindness.After finishing in the bathroom, I grabbed a towel and wiped my face. My reflection stared back at me from the mirror—same dark hair, slightly sharper jawline than my previous life, deep tired eyes that looked like they'd seen too much. This body resembled my old one so closely that I almost felt like I had been resurrected rather than reincarnated.My phone vibrated on the counter.
A message.
Monthly Rent Due in 2 Days: 1500 Credits
Reality punched me gently in the face. The previous Aren may have left savings, but life wasn't pausing to welcome me to the world. Bills would keep coming, and money would keep leaving unless I made more."Okay," I whispered to myself. "Step one: stabilize life. Step two: build something."After dressing in the cleanest clothes I could find—plain jeans and a dark blue shirt—I stepped into the living room. The apartment wasn't large, but it was comfortable. Clean white walls, a couple of simple paintings, a sofa that had seen better days, and a kitchen counter stacked with instant meal packets.The old Aren had lived alone. And now I was living alone in his place.No… in my place.
I headed toward the balcony and pushed the glass door open. A soft breeze brushed against my face. The city stretched out below glass towers, elevated rails, moving advertisements etched into the sky like neon tattoos. This world looked like Earth but felt different cleaner, brighter, more compact. Technology was seamless. Delivery drones buzzed between buildings. Cars hovered silently a few inches above the street. Screens displayed news headlines and trending markets like floating holograms.So familiar… yet not quite the same.
"System," I said quietly, leaning on the railing, "what is the first thing I should do if I want to build an empire?"
A list appeared immediately.
[Suggested Initial Steps:
1. Identify host skills and comparative advantages
2. Conduct market analysis
3. Acquire or establish a minimal viable business asset
4. Generate stable revenue stream
5. Scale operations]
"Sounds like a textbook."
[Success rarely deviates from fundamentals.]
"I suppose that's true."
I closed my eyes for a moment, letting my thoughts settle. A business… but which one?I had no records here. No degrees. No certifications. The other Aren had barely finished high school before life forced him into survival mode. I couldn't suddenly start a biotech company or open an investment firm. I needed something accessible, something with low barriers but high growth potential."System," I said slowly, "based on my personality and skills… what kind of business am I naturally suited for?"The panel flickered.
[Analyzing…]
Another screen appeared.
[Optimal Entry Fields:
— Technology resale and refurbishment
— Smart café or automation-based service shop
— App development and digital services
— Logistics micro-hub
— Vehicle rental business
— Dropshipping via Inter-City E-Market
— Small-scale manufacturing with automation assistance]
I blinked. "That many?"
[Host possesses adaptable logic and problem-solving capability. Many sectors qualify.]
I rubbed the back of my neck. My mind instinctively leaned toward something digital—something I could scale without heavy physical labor."App development?" I mused. "But I don't know how to code here."
[Skill acquisition function available.]
"Meaning?"
[Host can request knowledge packages in exchange for Credits or Tasks.]
I froze. "You're telling me I can literally learn skills instantly?"
[Correct.]
"How much for app development knowledge?"
[Basic package: 2,000 Credits
Intermediate package: 10,000 Credits
Advanced full-stack mastery: 50,000 Credits]
I whistled softly. "That's… expensive."
[Knowledge is the highest ROI.]
I couldn't argue with that. If I learned to build apps, I could create products, sell services, or even develop my own platform. Low overhead, high scalability… exactly what an empire should start with.But 50,000 credits was too big a leap for now.
"System," I said, "before buying anything, I need to see what opportunities actually exist in this city. I should go out."
[Recommended.]
I grabbed the apartment keys and headed downstairs. The morning air felt refreshing. My car a sleek silver hover-sedan was parked in its slot. The previous Aren rarely used it, but it looked well maintained. I slid into the driver's seat, the interior lighting up automatically as the doors sealed shut.
"Destination?" the car asked in a soft female voice.I paused. Where should I go?The city had dozens of commercial districts, startup hubs, markets, cafés with open Wi-Fi, and public innovation centers. But I needed a place where I could observe people, technology, and market behavior."Take me to the Central Commercial Zone," I finally said.The car hummed softly and lifted off.As the buildings blurred past, I stared out the window. People walked with purpose, screens projected notifications in mid-air, automated vendors moved between crowds. Restaurants with robotic servers. Drone charging stations. Delivery bots rolling along sidewalks.This world wasn't some medieval fantasy it was a futuristic mirror of Earth. And that meant opportunity existed everywhere.
The car descended into a large parking area. I stepped out and entered the busy streets. Noise, smells, voices—everything assaulted my senses at once. Shops were filled with gadgets, smart tools, clothing, food, pocket AIs, micro-drones… everything imaginable.
But something caught my eye more than the rest.A small store with a bright neon sign:
"APPFIX HUB – App Development, Repairs, Custom Builds."
Inside, I saw three young people coding on holographic desks, screens floating around them at all angles. Customers came in and out rapidly.A small business with high demand.I didn't enter. Instead, I stood outside, watching quietly.
"System," I whispered, "is app development a profitable market?"
[In this city, demand is 230% higher than supply for small-scale custom apps and automation solutions.]
"So it's booming."
[Correct.]
"What if I open a similar shop?"
[High probability of success if Host acquires intermediate or advanced knowledge package.]
I breathed in deeply. I had one million credits. Spending fifty thousand for mastery seemed reckless, but spending ten thousand for intermediate skill… that felt reasonable.
"System," I murmured, "I'll do it. Give me the intermediate package."
The panel glowed.
[Confirm purchase for 10,000 Credits?]
"Yes."
A moment later, a surge of information exploded through my mind. Languages, logic structures, design principles, UI/UX methods, debugging techniques, databases—everything flowed in smoothly, neatly, without pain.I staggered slightly, gripping a lamp post."Wow…"
[Download complete.]
In seconds, I knew how to build apps, how to optimize them, how to create small automation programs, how to design interfaces. My brain felt… powerful.The world around me looked different now. Every business I saw, I instinctively analyzed. Every customer behavior looked like data. Every advertisement whispered opportunity.I smiled despite myself."Alright," I whispered. "Let's begin building something."My journey in this world hadn't even properly started, but the path ahead was finally visible.For the first time since awakening here, I felt excitement.Real excitement.
The kind that builds empires.