Chapter 3: First Investment
Author: Baby prickly
last update2025-09-28 08:49:28

Nathan Cole☠︎ 𓃵 sat hunched over the wooden chair by his bed, his elbows digging into the desk that wobbled every time he shifted his weight. His old computer hummed like an ancient beast, the fan whirring so loudly he almost thought it would burst into flames. The glow from the monitor bathed his face in pale blue light, painting shadows under his eyes. His gaze was fixed, sharp, hungry.

On the screen, a business website loaded slowly, the spinning icon circling round and round like it was mocking him. Then finally, the article appeared, written in bold letters across the top. It was a piece about Bitcoin, one of the first he had ever read all those years ago in his previous life. Back then, he had skimmed it carelessly, dismissing it as some odd idea that nerds and criminals toyed with. But now, everything looked different.

He scrolled down carefully, as if afraid the words would disappear if he rushed.

The article explained that only a handful of people in the world had even bought Bitcoin at this point. The very first recorded purchase had been in January of 2010, just months ago. Back then, one Bitcoin cost nothing more than a fraction of a cent—about $0.0008 each. Practically free.

Nathan leaned back in his chair, his lips parting as he let out a shaky breath. His chest tightened with excitement and frustration all at once.

“If only,” he whispered under his breath, almost laughing but not quite. “If only the Bitcoin system sent me back to January… God, I could’ve bought millions for the price of a sandwich.”

His fingers tapped on the desk. He caught himself bouncing his knee, the old nervous tick he had when he got too worked up. Greed was already sinking its claws into him. He imagined the version of himself who could have swooped in at the very start, when no one believed. That Nathan would’ve been unstoppable.

But then he shook his head and rubbed his face, forcing the greedy images away. “No. Don’t be stupid. I can’t complain. I was dead, and now I’m here. A second chance is a second chance.”

He leaned forward again, eyes glued to the screen.

The chart showed Bitcoin’s tiny history so far. In May 2010, the price had risen for the first time, reaching a cent per Bitcoin. That had been the first spark of life, the first tiny proof that this strange digital money could actually climb. And then in July—the very month he was in now—the price had soared higher than ever before, all the way to eight cents per Bitcoin.

Eight cents. Nathan’s lips curled into a grin, but his mind was sharp. He knew that eight cents was laughable in the grand scheme, but to him it wasn’t about what it was worth today. It was about what it would become. He knew the truth that no one else around him did. He knew where this was all going.

His grin faded slightly as his eyes drifted lower, reading the rest of the article.

The journalist, a man named Brooklyn Baker, had filled the page with grim predictions and harsh warnings. According to him, Bitcoin’s early spark was nothing but beginner’s luck. The chart on the website even projected that the price was going to collapse soon, falling into nothingness—an “abysmal $0.0003 per BTC,” the man wrote.

Nathan read the words slowly, then again, his lips curling into a bitter smile. He could almost hear the smugness in Baker’s tone, dripping from every sentence.

The article went on:

> “Although the internet money appeared to have had some potential, this concept of a decentralized digital currency is still not trusted by the common folk and the serious investors of the world. A small group of cryptography enthusiasts remain, but their numbers are shrinking fast. By the end of the year, this so-called Bitcoin project will almost certainly collapse, and hopefully disappear forever.”

Nathan let out a sharp laugh, the sound echoing in his small room. He ran a hand through his hair, shaking his head.

“Yeah, sure. Collapse forever. That’s what you said.” His voice was filled with sarcasm. “You idiot. You absolute idiot. You had no idea you were sitting on the future, and you spat on it.”

He pushed back from the desk for a moment, pacing across his room, his bare feet pressing into the old carpet. His fists clenched and unclenched.

He knew the truth. He had studied this in his first life, back when it was already too late. He knew how the government had fought tooth and nail to kill Bitcoin in its cradle. They had spread rumors, planted hit pieces like this one, tried to turn the world against it. They feared it, and for good reason. A currency outside their control, unchained, free—that was a nightmare to them.

And yet.

Their fight had failed.

Nathan smiled darkly to himself. He remembered the way people had laughed at Bitcoin in the early years, mocking it as fake money for fools and criminals. And then he remembered the panic in their eyes when it exploded. When those same fools became millionaires.

He sat back down, the chair creaking under him. His heart pounded in his chest as he summoned the Bitcoin system with a thought, the purple interface flickering into view like it had been waiting for him. The translucent screen hovered in the air before his eyes, glowing faintly in the dim light of his room.

He didn’t hesitate. Out of all the investment options the system had shown him, Bitcoin was the one he knew best. The one he trusted. The one that would make him a legend. He reached toward the floating screen and selected Bitcoin.

The system responded instantly:

┏Host, you have chosen Bitcoin (BTC) as your first investment┛

┏Splendid choice! Your knowledge of the cryptocurrency is your ticket to wealth and success┛

Nathan’s lips twitched upward. “Damn right it is.”

But then the interface shimmered again, and a new prompt appeared.

┏Suggestion!┛

┏You have astounding knowledge of Bitcoin’s history and its market. Do you want to upload your knowledge into the system to avoid forgetting it? Once knowledge is uploaded, all the information will be arranged for easier access┛

Nathan blinked at the words. He leaned closer, his eyes widening with surprise.

“Upload… my knowledge?” he muttered. His voice was low, filled with awe. “It can actually take what I know… and organize it? Make it crystal clear?”

The idea was genius. He had spent years studying markets in his last life, but memory was tricky. He could forget details. He could confuse dates. He could miss timing. But if the system could take everything he knew and arrange it perfectly…

“That’s… that’s actually incredible,” he whispered.

Without hesitation, he selected Upload.

The effect hit him instantly. A wave of dizziness washed over him, almost knocking him out of the chair. His vision blurred, the room spinning as if he had been pulled underwater. He gripped the edge of the desk with both hands, his knuckles white.

“Whoa,” he gasped. “What the hell. I feel… high.”

For a second, he thought he might fall over. But then the dizziness cleared, and a sharp clarity replaced it, a brightness in his mind like a window had been flung open.

A soft ding echoed in his head, followed by the system’s calm voice.

┏Loading complete. Your knowledge has been successfully uploaded. Information is now accessible and arranged for streamlined reference┛

Before his eyes, the interface transformed. The Bitcoin Investment Window expanded, filling with neatly arranged charts, predictions, timelines, and strategies. Everything he had ever learned about Bitcoin in his previous life was now laid out before him, organized like a perfect library.

Nathan’s eyes shone as he scrolled through the categories.

┏Bitcoin Investment Window┛

┏Price Presently: $0.08/BTC┛

┏Price in Future: $50,000/BTC┛

He sucked in a sharp breath. Seeing the number again, written so plainly, hit him like a punch. Fifty. Thousand. Dollars. Per coin.

His throat went dry. He swallowed hard, his pulse racing.

“This is real,” he whispered. “This is actually real. I can see the future. I can play it like a game.”

The interface continued:

┏Rises┛

— January 2011 - Minor Rise - $0.3/BTC

— March 2011 - Major Rise - $6/BTC

— April 2011 - Minor Rise - $9/BTC

— June 2011 - Major Rise - $31/BTC

┏Crashes┛

— March 2011 - Minor Crash - $4.3/BTC

— August 2011 - Major Crash - $2/BTC

Nathan’s lips spread into a slow grin, his eyes darting back and forth as he memorized every rise and fall.

“This is it,” he muttered. “I know exactly when to pull out. Exactly when to buy back in. I can ride the wave all the way up. I can bleed the market dry.”

His grin widened into a laugh, rough and raw. “This is like having my own damn crystal ball!”

But then his eyes froze as another section came into view.

┏Potential Investment Rivals: Ethan Ward┛

┏Ethan Ward has purchased the most Bitcoins, owning over 150 thousand out of the near million circulating┛

Nathan stiffened in his chair, his grin faltering. The name hit him like a rock. Ethan Ward. He hadn’t expected to see it so soon.

So there was another major player here. Someone who had already staked a claim in the future. Someone he would have to outplay.

His jaw clenched. “Fine. Bring it on. I won’t lose this time.”

He scrolled further, eyes narrowing at the strategies laid out before him.

┏Strategy┛

Invest during dips and Minor Crash periods.

Avoid all-in bets. Use Bitcoin as a portion of the broader portfolio.

Nathan nodded slowly. It was smart advice. Even though he knew Bitcoin’s rise was inevitable, going all-in was dangerous. He needed patience. Discipline. Something he had lacked in his first life.

For a long moment, he stared at the glowing interface, his heart hammering with excitement, greed, and a sharp edge of fear. This was it. His second chance. His way to build everything he had lost.

And then—

The shrill buzz of his old phone broke the silence.

Nathan froze, his head whipping toward the desk. The ringtone was one he hadn’t heard in years, old and nostalgic, stabbing straight into his chest.

He reached for the phone slowly, his hand trembling. The name on the screen lit up in bright letters.

Sierra Voss.

Nathan’s breath caught. His chest felt tight, his throat dry. For a moment, he just stared at the name, not moving, not breathing.

He had almost forgotten how close they had been back then. How much she had meant to him.

And now she was calling.

Continue to read this book for free
Scan the code to download the app

Latest Chapter

  • Chapter 6: The Return to Voss Tower

    The moment Nathan Cole rolled into the underground parking lot of Voss Financial Corp, the wheels of his bike screeched against the concrete, echoing in the cavernous space. His chest rose and fell with each breath as he removed his helmet and looked up.There it was. Again.Ten years younger, but it hadn’t changed much.The emblem of the company still rested proudly on the shimmering stone wall — a flat design of the letters V and F merged together. Not even creative. Just expensive. Cold.Nathan climbed off his bike and tucked his helmet into the rear compartment. He brushed down the sleeves of his faded blazer. His fingers paused, hovering at the fraying edge near the cuff. It was the same jacket he wore back then, and he felt like it still held the scent of struggle.Instead of rushing inside, he stood there a while. Let the memories hit him.Back in his first life, by the time of his death, Voss Financial had rebranded everything. The logo had changed into a silver phoenix tearin

  • Chapter 5: 2nd Goal Identified

    Nathan Cole☠︎ 𓃵 stepped quietly into the hospital room, the faint creak of the door hinges carried across the sterile air like a whisper. His mother lay on the bed, her body fragile beneath the thin white sheets. She seemed half asleep, her breaths shallow, her eyelids fluttering with the effort of simply existing. But then she stirred, hearing the sound. Slowly, her head turned, her tired eyes searching. When they landed on him, her face brightened with a fragile smile, the kind only a mother could give. “Nathan. My boy.” The words almost broke him. His throat tightened as he stared at her, fighting back the burning pressure of tears. He wanted to rush forward and scoop her up in his arms, hold her tight, and never let go. But her body was far too weak. Even the smallest squeeze might hurt her. So instead, he walked carefully to her side, lowering himself into the chair by the bed. His hand trembled as he reached for hers. The skin of her hand was thin and cool, but it was stil

  • Chapter 4: Blast From the Future

    The name on the old buzzing phone hit Nathan Cole☠︎ 𓃵 like a fist straight to his ribs. It was so sharp, so sudden, that he almost dropped the device right there on the desk. His heart pounded, each thud echoing in his ears like a drum. He could barely hear the shrill ringtone over it. The screen kept flashing her name. Sierra Voss. It felt unreal. His throat tightened as if invisible hands were squeezing it. That name carried too much weight. Too many years of anger and betrayal tangled around it like barbed wire. He couldn’t even breathe properly. His pulse spiked, and yet his whole body felt frozen in place, like his muscles had turned into blocks of cold stone. The phone buzzed and buzzed, relentless, drilling into his head like it was mocking him. He stared at the glowing screen, but his hand wouldn’t move. He just sat there, paralyzed, his chest rising and falling too fast. He could see it again. That image burned into his mind no matter how many years had passed. Sierra’s

  • Chapter 3: First Investment

    Nathan Cole☠︎ 𓃵 sat hunched over the wooden chair by his bed, his elbows digging into the desk that wobbled every time he shifted his weight. His old computer hummed like an ancient beast, the fan whirring so loudly he almost thought it would burst into flames. The glow from the monitor bathed his face in pale blue light, painting shadows under his eyes. His gaze was fixed, sharp, hungry. On the screen, a business website loaded slowly, the spinning icon circling round and round like it was mocking him. Then finally, the article appeared, written in bold letters across the top. It was a piece about Bitcoin, one of the first he had ever read all those years ago in his previous life. Back then, he had skimmed it carelessly, dismissing it as some odd idea that nerds and criminals toyed with. But now, everything looked different. He scrolled down carefully, as if afraid the words would disappear if he rushed. The article explained that only a handful of people in the world had even b

  • Chapter 2: Regressed With a System

    Nathan Cole☠︎ 𓃵’s eyes snapped open like someone had poured ice water over his face. His chest heaved once, sharply, as if he had just been pulled out of drowning water.‘Wait. This is… odd.’The last thing he remembered was the bus. The blaring horn, the screech of tires, the split second where he realized he couldn’t move fast enough. And then the pain. That crushing, bone-snapping, soul-tearing pain that exploded through his body. His blood had spilled across the asphalt, his ears had filled with Sierra’s scream, and Brandon Mercer’s mocking laughter had been the soundtrack of his death.He had died.So why was he breathing now?He blinked once. Twice. His hands trembled as he reached for his stomach, expecting shattered ribs, twisted flesh, something that screamed you were hit by a bus. But there was nothing. No blood. No broken bones. Not even an ache.His body felt… light. Whole. Fresh, even. Like he had just taken the longest sleep of his life and woken up in a new skin.Natha

  • Chapter 1: Dying Like a Dog

    Click.The faint sound of a key slipping into the lock broke the still air of that early afternoon. The click was sharp yet strangely gentle, like the sigh of a hinge that had opened a thousand times before. The door eased open and a man stepped inside, shoulders slumped as if the world itself sat heavy on his back.Nathan Cole☠︎ 𓃵.In his hands was a cardboard box filled with the remnants of a life that had just crumbled. Pens, a couple of framed photos, an old coffee mug with a fading print that read World’s Okayest Employee. The mug rattled softly against the frame as he carried it, like the sound of bones shaking in a coffin. His face was drawn, lips pressed tight, eyes dull. He wasn’t just tired. He was empty.He had been fired.Hours earlier, he’d walked out of Voss Financial Corp, the place where he had spent years running numbers, analyzing portfolios, and grinding away to prove his worth. They had stripped him of everything with a single meeting, with words that cut colder t

More Chapter
Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on MegaNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
Scan code to read on App