Chapter 1: The Beginning of an Era
The streets of Seoul were alive with their usual energy. Neon signs flickered over packed streets, and the latest arcade machines blared chiptune melodies from inside gaming cafés. Groups of students crowded the sidewalks, chatting about their favorite Nintari games and the newest issue of Nova Comics hitting the shelves.
But for Jin Hoshino, none of it mattered.
His shoulders were tense, his steps slow as he walked home from school. His uniform was slightly worn, the fabric stretched thin from years of use. Some of his classmates showed off new sneakers and digital watches, but he had never owned anything like that.
His father, Kenji Hoshino, was a repairman, fixing old radios, televisions, and cassette players for whatever his customers could afford. Some days were good. Others, his father would come home late, sighing as he counted out what little he had made. His mother, Aiko Hoshino, worked at a small family restaurant, running from table to table for hours just to bring home a paycheck that barely covered rent.
His younger sister, Naomi, sat on the floor of their tiny apartment most evenings, sketching with the same pencils she had used for years. She wanted to be an artist, but everyone knew they couldn't afford proper supplies, let alone art school.
Their apartment had two bedrooms, a small kitchen, and a bathroom with cracked tiles and a faucet that always dripped. Winters were the worst. The heating barely worked, and sometimes they had to sleep in extra layers just to stay warm.
Jin hated it. Not his family—he loved them more than anything. But the constant worry, the exhaustion in his parents' faces, the way his mother pretended she wasn't tired when she served them dinner. His father always said things would get better, but they never did.
His hands curled into fists.
Would they always be stuck like this?
A soft sigh left his lips as he entered their apartment. His father wasn't home yet, probably finishing another repair job. His mother had fallen asleep on the couch, still in her work uniform. Naomi sat at the dining table, sketching under the dim glow of a desk lamp.
Jin walked over and ruffled her hair. She swatted at his hand but grinned up at him. "You're late."
"Yeah," he said, dropping his bag beside her chair. "You eat yet?"
She nodded and held up a half-eaten bowl of rice. "Mom left some for you."
He didn't feel hungry. Not for food, anyway.
For something more.
Jin walked to the window, staring out at the city skyline. Somewhere out there, people were making money, building companies, shaping the future. Meanwhile, his family was just trying to get by.
"Is this really it?" he muttered under his breath.
[Ding!]
A soft chime echoed in his ears. His vision blurred for a second, and when it cleared, a glowing blue screen floated in front of him.
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[Future Tycoon System Activated]
Welcome, Jin Hoshino.
Mission: Build the foundation of the world's future industries.
Special Ability: Accelerated Learning, Future Knowledge, Business Genius.
Bonus Trait: Ageless Form (Your body ages 10x slower than normal.)
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Jin's breath caught in his throat. His heart pounded as he stared at the floating screen.
He squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them again.
Still there.
A system? Was he hallucinating? Maybe he was just tired—maybe this was a stress-induced delusion. But it felt too real. The glow of the screen cast faint blue light on his hands, and when he moved, it followed him.
Was this… some kind of joke?
His body tensed. If he was losing his mind, he didn't have time for it.
But then he looked at the couch, where his mother slept. At his sister, drawing with those same old pencils.
If there was even a small chance that this was real, he had to try.
"…Show me what you can do."
The screen flickered, then shifted.
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[System Functions Unlocked]
✔ Business Talent Upgrade – Instantly improves financial intelligence.
✔ Stock Market Forecast – Provides insights on rising companies.
✔ Blueprint Creator – Generates designs for future industries.
✔ Financial Management – Guides optimal investment strategies.
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Jin winced as a sharp pressure filled his skull.
It wasn't painful, exactly—more like a flood of information crashing into his brain all at once.
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[Uploading Data…]
✔ The stock market is about to explode in the 90s. Predicting trends will create vast wealth.
✔ Software and operating systems are still primitive. A revolution is coming, and the right innovations can control the market.
✔ E-commerce, social media, and mobile technology are nonexistent—but they will dominate the world in the coming decades.
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Jin gasped, his fingers gripping the edge of the dining table. His vision swam for a second before settling.
He knew things now.
Not vague ideas—clear, structured knowledge. He understood how businesses operated, how markets shifted, how industries formed. It was as if he had lived a lifetime as a CEO and the memories had been crammed into his mind all at once.
His breathing was unsteady. His pulse raced.
This was real.
And if it was real, then that meant—
He had a chance.
Not just to escape poverty, but to create an empire that would change history.
But he had no money.
Jin's excitement cooled as reality settled in. His family barely had enough to pay rent. He had no savings, no investments, nothing. Even with all this knowledge, he was starting from zero.
The system flickered again.
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[Beginner Task: Earn Your First Investment Capital]
Goal: Make ₩1,000,000 (around $1,000) legally within 30 days.
Reward: Unlock Stock Market Predictions.
Penalty: System will remain locked if the task fails.
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Jin exhaled slowly.
So that was it. He had to prove himself first.
No free handouts. No instant money.
He clenched his fists.
Fine. If the system wanted him to earn it, he would.
He glanced at his sleeping mother, his sister drawing beside him.
He would change their lives.
No matter what it took.
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End of Chapter 1