Jacob stepped out of Tarra, the city's most famous restaurant, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. The lunch with the CEO had been more than satisfying. She'd handed him the papers confirming his 50% ownership of the Philips Group, a real estate giant worth a staggering 18 billion dollars. And that wasn't all. He was now the proud owner of Tarra itself.
His net worth was now in the billions, a number so vast it was almost incomprehensible. Yet, despite this newfound wealth, he was still Jacob Wick, a seventeen-year-old kid with no real-world experience. No bank accounts, no nothing. Just a kid with a few hundred bucks in his pocket.
A system notification jolted him back to reality. His eyes widened as he looked at the system panel.
[Ding host is rewarded with 50 billion dollars (system card is placed into host wallet and system bank app is installed into host phone only host can access)]
[Ding host life span is extended with +2 years]
Jacob stood there, his mind racing. He'd read countless novels about systems, but none could have prepared him for this. A system that handed out billions and extended life spans like candy? It was insane. The money was mind-boggling, but it was the life extension that truly shocked him.
He fumbled in his pocket, pulling out his wallet. Inside, nestled among his cards, was a sleek black card. This must be the system card. Curiosity piqued, he opened his phone and found a new app, a stark white icon with a simple "System payment" label.
He tapped the icon, and the app opened to a clean interface. A large number stared back at him: fifty billion. His heart pounded. This was real. He had fifty billion dollars at his fingertips.
Jacob slowly calmed down and started walking home. It was a long walk, but he was used to it. As he walked, he looked around at the city, trying to make sense of everything.
This world felt both familiar and strange. It was like a mix of his old world and something completely new. There had only been one big world war here, not any after that. After that, all the countries decided to work together and make one big government for the whole planet. It was weird to think about, but it seemed to be working.
People lived in peace now, and the world was changing really fast. It was like everyone was working together to make things better. Jacob thought if something sounded too good to be true, then it was more likely to be a lie.
Jacob Wick shook his head, trying to clear the strange thoughts from his mind. Ever since he'd arrived in this peculiar world, he'd been plagued by questions about its nature. Was it real? Was it a dream? Or something entirely different?
But as his thought satteldown. This world, despite its oddities, was undeniably more comfortable than the one he'd left behind. It followed familiar rules, and the people seemed normal enough. And then there was the System that gave out random rewards. With such a safety net, fear seemed like a pointless emotion.
Jacob reached his home, a familiar yet foreign place. The previous owner of this body had spent most of his life here, but for Jacob, it was just a temporary stop. His parents favored his younger sister, leaving him feeling neglected and alone. It was a harsh reality to face; despite everything, one thing was clear in his mind: he couldn't stay here. As soon as he turned eighteen, he would leave this house and start a new life.
Jacob stepped into the house, bracing himself for the usual cold reception. But to his surprise, his mother was sitting at the kitchen table, a soft smile gracing her face.
"Jacob, honey," she began, her voice unusually gentle. "Get ready soon. When Your father comes home, we have to go out to dinner."
The words hung in the air, strange and unfamiliar. This wasn't the woman who had often ignored him or snapped at him. It was like looking at a stranger. A wave of confusion washed over him.
"Okay," he managed to reply, his voice barely a whisper.
Without another word, he turned and headed upstairs. The whole situation was bizarre. His mother had been acting odd all morning. He shook his head, trying to dismiss the strange feelings. Whatever was going on, he would deal with it later.
A few hours later, Jacob's dad arrived home. As expected, his little sister, Anna, immediately clung to their father. Even at eleven, she seemed surprisingly small in his arms. His dad ruffled her hair, a warm smile playing on his lips. Jacob couldn't help but notice the unusual affection his father was showing him too. It was like a completely different family dynamic.
The car pulled up in front of Tarra, a familiar sight. Just hours ago, he'd been here dining with Miss Olivia Philips. It was the same restaurant the System had gifted him this morning. A wave of disbelief washed over him. Why would his family choose this place? It was a renowned restaurant with a pricey lobby menu, far beyond his parents' usual spending habits.
"Wow, look at this place!" Mom exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement as they entered Tarra.
Dad nodded, his gaze scanning the ornate chandeliers and plush velvet chairs. "This is something else," he said.
Sis giggled, her eyes sparkling with childlike wonder. "Can we eat here every day?" she asked.
"Whatever you want," he replied, his voice firm.
As they settled into their seats, Mom and Dad ordered haphazardly, their choices a testament to their unfamiliarity with such extravagance. Jacob was surprised. His parents, usually frugal, had chosen the most expensive items on the menu.
"Why are you guys ordering this stuff?" he asked, his voice laced with confusion.
"It looks good," Mom replied, shrugging.
The dishes arrived, a colorful array of culinary masterpieces. Yet, as Jacob reached for his fork, his sister's outstretched hand intercepted it. With a lightning-fast motion, the dish vanished from his plate and appeared on hers.
"Hey, that was mine!" Jacob protested.
His parents exchanged a glance, their faces flushed with embarrassment. "Sorry, sweetie," Mom said, her voice small.
As the courses continued, the same pattern repeated. His sister claimed most dishes, leaving Jacob with a growing sense of emptiness. A total of eight dishes were served to Jacob, and he was only able to eat 2, and only because both was disliked by hus sister Anna but He didn't protest, his mind racing with thoughts of his impending escape. He was eighteen; he was financially independent and ready to sever the ties that bound him to his neglectful family.
When the bill arrived, Jacob was momentarily stunned. The figure was astronomical for a family like his, far beyond his expectations. It was more than 19,000 dollars. He was convinced his parents couldn't afford it. They were normal people, not wealthy enough to casually drop that kind of money.
To his surprise, his father pulled out a sleek black gold card and paid the bill without hesitation. But as soon as he did, Jacob noticed a strange look on his parents' faces. It was as if they had lost something valuable.
As they drove home, Jacob felt a strange sensation. It was as if his parents were watching him, their eyes boring into his soul. He couldn't shake the feeling that he had done something wrong.
Suddenly a notification appeared in his mind
[Ding host is rewarded with 19,000 dollars]