Having returned from school after saying goodbye to everyone, I kind of started enjoying this life already. Compared to what I guessed my previous life was like, this Wass probably paradise.
But that's a topic for another time.
As I started looking at my shabby apartment, and my even more shabby living conditions, I decided I needed to at least have some cash on hand so that I could always keep myself afloat, and later on get off this rock.
Only when I am outside the influence of this world would I be capable of freely growing stronger.
So, let's see.
Considering that the Sol empire was a interstellar empire with hundreds of planets spread out across a tiny part of the galaxy, there should definetely be plenty of ways available for me to get rich quickly.
The only issue is finding one thaat won't get me into trouble easily with the authorities.
So~ let's see.
Option 1.
Freelance work. Even with the development of AI and such there still was a massive shortage for most types of work, as even a simple AI core was priced a dozen times more than a few cheap laborers to be employed for life.
As for why AI don't just use a singular station and transmit their actions across distance using the Internet, that was because of the AI uprising that ended with a ban on all communication over non point-blank ramges.
A few hundred years ago, the AI in the empire were all polluted by a virus, that turned them into genocidal killing machines. After a few dozen years of war the AI were finally destroyed. The usual type of thing that happens in a budding interstellar civilisation, basically.
Now, for once though, the empire did realise they could not stop relying on AI and instead started modifying their production procedure. Now, for each object you want operated by an AI you need to pay a mountain of cash.
It doesn't matter if its a coffee maker or a interstellar battleship, one AI core was required to make them automated. Well, obviously, the class of the core is completely different as one requires low class cores while the other one requires high class cores, but they would still be both ridiculously expensive.
To put it into perspective, a three people families expenses could go up to a few tens of thousands of credits.
Buying a decent house in a somewhat remote planet like this one would cost you hundreds of thousands of credits.
Buying an interstellar ship with a functioning warp drive would roughly be the same price.
Now, an AI core of the lowest grade that you bought cost at least 500000 credits! That is without licensing and all the other issues, with even you having to undergo rigorous evaluation, to see if you would even be deemed worthy enough to buy one of them.
And every tier above that multiplied the price a few times...
All in all, AI were way too expensive for most people to even consider.
So, freelance work is an option everyone had.
Besides that, I had a few other options for myself.
Trading is another one, where I could simply set up my own shop and try to make profits off of that.
...not feasible as I am a bit too poor for that, maybe if I had more initial capital to throw into the venture I could consider it.
Then, entertainment is another option.
I do remember countless ways to make yourself interesting for the audience, or how to write things. I could simply write a few incredibly well written books from memory and hope they sell well.
Although, again, that required money as publishers wouldn't even look at you without showing them your 'sincerity'.
Damn it.
Then... Education?
I could create a online class for all kinds of different students where I would help them study. The university exams are soon going to be held so I could probably attract a few of them to check out the class.
Although, it's a bit too late for that, since they're just two weeks away...
Its a good idea but it's not feasible right now, so I'll leave it for the next year and try then.
Mmm... Then do I have to find work as a scientist or a inventor of sorts?
Considering the sea of knowledge I had on hand, I probably could improve anything in the empire to a never before seen level. Whether it were the spaceship engines, their reactors, their weaponry...
Hell, I could probably lead a technological revolution on my own with how much I knew.
The issue is how to get either of those positions.
To become a scientist, you would need to finish university, which would take ages for me. Then, you would need to join the research and development departments of a decent company that would actually support your endeavour. Or if you come from a prestigious enough university you could probably get a job as a goverment researcher and not have to worry at all about funding, as long as you kept producing results.
Inventor... Is just as troublesome, if not even more. You need to get a patent for your inventions, which as sad as it is, would require a massive amount of cash.
Otherwise, even if you publish your invention, anyone would be free to patent it as their own and they would be earning the commissions from companies that ended up using that technology, while the original inventor who didn't patent it would get a big pile of nothing.
And I'm not going to gamble whether the one who would openly steal the technology would give me a commission.
Wait.
Suddenly, I smiled.
I found a way to make a load of cash, as long as it worked.
First thing I needed to check however, is if my danger sense still worked.
My sixth sense, honed by countless battles, would alert me if anything I did would end up being fatal or even remotely dangerous.
So, I could see what I can and can't do in regards to the will of the world.
Going to the kitchen, I grabbed a knife. A meat cleaver, with a sharp edge, more specifically.
Closing my eyes, I took a deep breathe, before I threw the cleaver upwards, so that it would fall in my general direction.
No sooner did it leave my hand did the alarm bells start ringing in my head, and following my instincts, I dodged to the right.
Tak!
Opening my eyes and looking at the meat cleaver that was stuck in the ground, I felt excited, as my sixth sense was working perfectly.
Then, after another half an hour of experimenting with something else, I went to sleep excited.
The next day, after school had finished, I bid goodbye to my friends, before going to the place I could become filthy rich in.
The single most high profile building in the entire city, its luxury surpassing even the the Avalon univerisity. The place where those who are willing to gamble their fortunes, their livelihood, and their very lives go to. The massive card, cast out of pure gold, adorned the front of the building, attracting the attention of anyone who comes to this city, whether they were tourists or the planets other residents.
The Golden Card casino.
Well, the only issue was that the main entrance needs you to be filthy rich, as in a few million filthy rich. Otherwise you would be considered too much of a peasant and redirected to the poor people gambling area.
Like me just now.
Having come to the south wing of the building, with the main entrance being in the North, I looked at the interior.
Red and black tiles, with card symbols in their middle, covered the entire floor. As far as the eye could see, there were slot machines, card tables and roulette tables. There were also areas for pool and other relaxing activities, yet the red marble hall lacked any sorts of windows, making sure that those who were gambling here did not have any sense of time. The countless surveillance cameras made sure that anyone who tried something funny would be the one getting beaten up by the hulking secu-bots, abominations of steel at 2 meters in height with a wide assortment of weaponry for subduing even decently strong supers.
Turning my entire fortune into chips, all 300 credits of my allowance, the receptionist lady looked at me with a 'you shouldn't be gambling kiddo' look. She also handed me a casino card for my own account. Nodding with a smile, I looked at the layout of the casino.
Going to a remote corner, with no surveillance cameras and no slot machines or tables there, I performed 4 hand gestures in quick succession.
Having cast the spell, I pulled out my phone and waited for a few minutes to pass.
Finally, seeing that it was 5:26PM, I headed directly towards the roulette table with a fiery red haired woman as its croupier. Obviously, the girl was an absolute stunner, with her wearing a bunny suit like the rest of the female staff.
Although if anyone tried to touch them, they would be beaten into a bloody pulp before being thrown out.
Currently, more than 6 other men were betting here, with all of them staring at the ball that was in the girls hand.
Yet as soon as I joined the table, all of them looked at me with odd expressions. It further became worse once they saw me place the meager 3 chips on the table and made the lowest odds, highest payout bet.
"Straight-up, 8"
With my chips placed on 8, I pulled my phone out and went back to playing phone games.
Not minding my behaviour at all, the girl started spinning the wheel. And then, with one swift motion she threw the ball in, making it go in the opposite direction of the wheel.
The men, having also placed their bets, were waiting on the result, waiting patiently.
As the ball started slowing down after a while, it jumped a few times around, it landed on 8.
"Eight, red." the girl announced, slightly shocked.
There was silence at the table.
"Payout: 10500 credits, plus 300 you get back." the girl said, before that money was deposited in my casino card by her.
With a wide grin, I found the most carefree way of earning money.
Gambling + Divination = Money!