The grand banquet hall buzzed with laughter and the soft clink of champagne glasses under sparkling crystal chandeliers. The air was thick with expensive perfume, roasted meat, and the kind of wealth Ethan Kane had only ever seen from the outside. He stood awkwardly near the entrance, tugging at the sleeves of his old black suit. The fabric was starting to feel tight across his shoulders after two years of hard use. In his hands, he held a simple chocolate cake he had baked himself after finishing a double shift as a delivery rider. The icing was slightly crooked, but he had written “Happy Birthday, Sophia” with all the care he could manage. For four long years, Ethan had poured everything into this relationship. When Sophia Reed’s family hit financial trouble, he dropped out of university without hesitation. He took every low-paying job he could find — waiter, cleaner, night delivery — just to help keep them going. He even moved into their villa as a live-in hel

The next morning, Ethan sat on the edge of a cheap motel bed, the springs creaking under his weight. Sunlight filtered weakly through the dusty curtains, casting long shadows across the worn carpet and faded wallpaper. The room smelled of stale cigarette smoke and cheap cleaning solution, but he barely noticed any of it. His mind was still replaying everything that had happened the night before — the crushing humiliation at the banquet hall, Sophia’s cold rejection in front of everyone, Marcus’s arrogant stomp on his hand, and the sudden, life-changing surge of power that had pulled him back from the brink of despair. He rubbed his eyes and stared at the glowing blue system panel floating in front of him. 【Almighty System】 Host: Ethan Kane Level: 5 (320/500 EXP) Strength: 15 Agility: 13 Vitality: 10 Intelligence: 8 Charm: 6 Skills: Basic Combat Mastery (Passive), Wealth Sense (Passive) Balance: $20,000 E

Ethan walked through the busy downtown streets, the warm morning sun hitting his face but doing little to calm the fire burning steadily in his chest. The Wealth Sense pulled at him like an invisible hand, stronger and more insistent now after the small victory in the café. He had just invested $80,000, received a $10,000 bonus from the system, and felt a new level waiting just around the corner. For the first time in years, he wasn’t just surviving — he was moving forward with purpose. He stopped in front of a sleek glass building that towered above the street — the headquarters of Horizon Group. This was the same company whose representatives he had helped only minutes ago. His phone buzzed with a notification. The contract had already been emailed to him. Simple. Fast. Clean. Exactly the kind of efficiency he needed right now. But as he stood there on the sidewalk, another notification popped up in his vision, glowing brighter than before. [Wealth Sense has detected a high-va

The evening sky had turned a deep orange as Ethan stood outside the tall iron gates of the Reed family villa. The same grand mansion where he had lived like a servant for four long years — cleaning floors, cooking meals, taking blame for mistakes that weren’t his, and swallowing insult after insult from every member of the family. Tonight, everything felt different. He was no longer the weak, broken man who begged for scraps of love and respect. He was Level 7 now, with real money in his account, the Almighty System backing every step, and a cold determination burning in his chest. His phone showed exactly 7:58 PM. He was right on time. The heavy gates opened automatically with a low mechanical hum. A security guard at the entrance gave him a strange, wary look but said nothing. Ethan walked up the familiar gravel driveway, his footsteps steady and confident. The grand mansion loomed ahead, every window brightly lit, casting long shadows across the perfectly manicured lawn.

Ethan walked away from the Sterling Club, the cool night air hitting his face as the sounds of the club faded behind him. His heart was still beating fast, not from fear, but from the rush of what had just happened. He had slapped Marcus Sterling in front of his friends and associates. In public. In one of the most exclusive places in the city.The system notifications were still coming in.[Side Mission: Public Humiliation of Marcus Sterling — Completed!][Major Reward: +1,200 EXP][Level Up! You are now Level 12.][You have received 5 Free Attribute Points.][Rare Skill Unlocked: Business Intimidation (Passive) — Your presence in business settings makes opponents more likely to concede or make mistakes.]Ethan stopped under a streetlight and checked his phone. Another $40,000 had appeared in his account. His total balance was now well over $150,000. It felt unreal.But the biggest reward came as he continued walking.[Hidden Identity Fragment Unlocked: Level 1]You are beginning to