Chereads / Dominion Of The Hidden Ruler / Chapter 2 - The First Step

Chapter 2 - The First Step

The streets of the city felt alien to Li Zhen as he walked through them, his newly enhanced appearance drawing curious glances from passersby. He had always blended into the background, an invisible figure to most. But now, the world seemed to notice him. His confident stride matched the overwhelming sensation of power coursing through his veins, but his mind was still reeling.

He had always been an orphan, someone without roots. He had spent years drifting from one place to another, surviving, but never truly living. Today, everything had changed. His once-dejected existence now felt like a distant memory, replaced by a clarity of purpose that burned like a fire within him.

Li Zhen's fingers twitched as the system's interface appeared again, hovering in the corner of his vision.

[Available task: First Step – Secure a base of operations.]

[Reward: 1,000,000 RMB]

[Time limit: 48 hours]

The task was simple—find a place to establish himself, somewhere to begin his journey. A million RMB was a generous sum, but more importantly, it was the first sign that the system was real and that it was offering him the means to climb out of his broken life.

With his new appearance, Li Zhen knew the time had come to make his move. He was no longer the powerless man he had been yesterday. He was someone to be reckoned with.

He took a deep breath and checked his phone for any messages. His contacts were empty. His family had long since forgotten him, and his ex-girlfriend had blocked him. All that remained were a handful of random acquaintances, none of whom could offer him anything of real value.

Li Zhen frowned and opened his bank app. The balance was modest, but enough to start a few basic steps. His new self-confidence felt like an anchor, grounding him in the face of his uncertain future. He quickly made a decision.

With a tap, he transferred a small sum of money into a secure, anonymous account. The system's prompt pinged again.

[Task updated: Invest in the Stock Market.]

[Reward: Advanced Market Insight (1 use)]

Li Zhen's eyes sharpened. The stock market was a place he had always been intrigued by, but never had the knowledge or means to participate in. Now, it seemed that the system was offering him a shortcut—a chance to dive into an arena where fortunes were made and lost on a daily basis.

He walked to the nearest bank, his pace purposeful. Upon entering, he felt a strange energy in the air, as though the mundane world was about to change for him. The sleek glass walls of the bank seemed to whisper of untold power, of the financial giants who controlled the flow of money in this city.

Li Zhen approached a teller with a confident smile, the warmth of his enhanced appearance making the woman at the counter smile back. He quickly set up an investment account and made his first deposit. The clerk seemed impressed by his composure and his confident demeanor, a stark contrast to the meek man he had been just days ago.

As the transaction went through, Li Zhen felt a sense of satisfaction—his first step into the world of the wealthy and powerful had been made. He now had a small piece of the financial pie.

[Market Insight Activated: Stocks – Technology Sector.]

A series of graphs and numbers flashed across his vision as the system provided him with invaluable information: the latest trends in the technology sector, the most promising companies, the fluctuations in stock prices—every bit of information he needed to make a calculated move.

Li Zhen's eyes gleamed with focus. He knew what he had to do.

That night, as he sat alone in his modest apartment, his laptop glowing in front of him, Li Zhen studied the market data carefully. His mind, once clouded by uncertainty and self-doubt, now raced with possibilities. The stock he had chosen—SkyTech Innovations—had been fluctuating wildly for months. His insight told him that now was the perfect time to short its stock, betting on the price dropping after a planned corporate scandal.

It was a bold move, but one that felt instinctive. With a steady hand, he placed his order, investing a portion of his initial deposit. The system confirmed the transaction.

[Action confirmed. Reward: 200,000 RMB (current profit)]

His first successful venture into the financial world. The numbers on the screen flickered, showing his new balance—and his confidence grew. This was just the beginning.

As the system's voice echoed in his mind, a new message appeared.

[Your potential is limitless, Host. Continue your journey. The world awaits.]

Li Zhen leaned back in his chair, a small smile curling at the corner of his lips. He could feel the weight of his ambition pushing him forward. The road ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear: this was only the start of his transformation. The system had given him the means to change his destiny, and now it was up to him to decide how far he would go.