Leo opened his eyes to the soft glow of warm recessed lighting. He expected the stench of damp pavement or the harsh glare of an emergency room. Instead, he lay on a king-sized bed with thread-count sheets so plush they felt weightless against his skin. High ceiling-to-floor windows offered a breathtaking view of the city skyline at night. Fresh white lilies rested in a crystal vase on a mahogany nightstand beside his bed. He tried to move his arms, expecting shattered bones and tearing pain from the truck impact. To his utter shock, his body felt completely whole, as if the heavy steel grill had never smashed into his ribs. His phone sat on the nightstand, connected to a rapid charger. The screen lit up with a new notification. Leo reached out and picked up the device. A text message from Andres stared back at him. The driver said you were still breathing when the ambulance pulled up. Lucky bastard. You have less than two hours until midnight to bring me my fifty thousand dollar

The heavy steel sliding door of the fish-packing warehouse creaked open, letting the cool sea breeze mix with the sharp smell of salt and old concrete. Andres sat behind a rusted folding desk at the far end of the floor. He wore a heavy leather jacket and held a unlit cigar between his fingers. Four large men stood around him, their hands resting lazily near their waistbands. When Leo walked through the doorway, Andres blinked in genuine surprise. He lowered his cigar and leaned forward across the metal table. "Look at you," Andres said, his rough voice carrying across the empty floor. "The driver swore he hit you at fifty miles an hour. He said your ribs were crushed into powder. Yet here you are, walking into my warehouse on your own two feet." "I am a hard man to kill, Andres," Leo said. He kept his hands in his jacket pockets and stopped ten paces away from the desk. Andres let out a dry laugh. "You have thirty minutes before midnight, Leo. Tell me you brought my fifty thousa

Leo stepped out of the warehouse into the cool night air. The rain had stopped, leaving damp pavement that reflected the dim streetlights along the harbor road. He opened the floating system menu. "I have five hundred points," Leo said aloud, keeping his voice quiet. "Spend them wisely this time," the Sovereign replied. "Buy physical strength. Buy speed. Build a real foundation." Leo scrolled past the martial arts techniques and selected the currency exchange option. He tapped the button three times, spending three hundred points to convert them directly into five hundred thousand dollars. "Are you serious?" the Sovereign shouted inside his head. The voice vibrated with pure disbelief. "You spent another three hundred points on mortal money? What is wrong with you humans? What is this bizarre obsession with paper?" "Money buys access," Leo explained calmly. "It buys leverage and opens doors that fists cannot break down. I still have two hundred points left in reserve." "You are

The high-rise suite was completely silent save for the faint hum of the central air. Leo sat on the edge of the king-sized bed, staring at the translucent system interface floating in the air before him. "What comes after this?" Leo asked, his voice low in the quiet room. "What is the second course of the market?" "You think this city is the entire game?" The Sovereign’s voice echoed in his mind, carrying a dry, amused rasp. "This is merely the warmup stage, boy. Right now, you are playing in a localized sandbox. But if Channel 9042 keeps pulling in high-realm viewers, the system automatically unlocks higher server phases." Leo tilted his head. "Higher phases?" "Stage clearing," the Sovereign said bluntly. "Dimensional incursions, territorial wars, and trial zones where you fight for survival against horrors that would turn your mortal mind to ash. Right now, you are arguing over paper money and hotel rooms. Enjoy the warm showers and soft sheets while you can. Not every stage wil

Leo tucked the heavy black envelope into his inner jacket pocket and stepped out of the hotel lobby.Before heading down the front steps, he opened his system interface."Sovereign," Leo called out mentally. "Open the market.""Back so soon?" the Sovereign rumbled in his mind, sounding mildly amused. "I thought you were done spending divine currency on mortal nonsense for the day.""I need an edge for this auction," Leo said. "Something that lets me see what others miss.""Ah. A hunter's eye," the Sovereign said. "There is a basic appraisal function available. Two hundred points."A glowing prompt appeared before Leo’s eyes.[Purchase Skill: Eye of Truth / Appraisal][Cost: 200 System Points][Effect: Instantly reveals true market valuations, hidden debt structures, physical health flaws, and psychological bluffs on target individuals or documents.]Leo confirmed the purchase without hesitation.[Transaction Complete. Remaining Balance: 300 System Points.]A sharp, cool sensation wash