The Assassin King Reincarnated in a Weak Student

Chapter 006

Kieran shifted his gaze away from the television screen a few seconds after the word suicide was clearly spoken by the news anchor. Without expression, he reached for the remote that the nurse had placed beside the hospital bed earlier and pressed the power button. The screen immediately went black, and the room returned to silence.

All of that was indeed the past. Technically, it was no longer even him. However, feelings were not so easily severed.

He did not want to know the details of the investigation broadcast on television because he knew it was all lies and the result of manipulation by his family.

A light knock sounded at the door. A nurse entered while pushing a small trolley filled with food. The aroma of warm soup slowly spread through the room.

“It’s time for dinner,” she said kindly.

Kieran nodded slightly. He did not have much appetite, but this body needed nourishment if he wanted to recover quickly.

After the nurse took the empty tray and left, the fatigue he had been holding back since the afternoon finally became clear.

The sky outside was already dark. Kieran laid his head back on the pillow. He only intended to close his eyes for a moment while waiting for the system process to finish. However, this teenage body was indeed still weak. His consciousness slowly sank without him realizing it.

When he opened his eyes again, the room was dark except for the corridor light filtering in through the gap beneath the door.

He blinked several times.

How long had he been asleep?

The wall clock showed that more than five hours had passed.

As if waiting for his awareness to stabilize, the system’s voice immediately sounded.

[Value enhancement process completed.]

Kieran instantly became fully alert.

[Object report: Gold bracelet.]

[Initial purity level: 18K.]

[Current purity level: 24K.]

[Weight unchanged: 3.8 grams.]

[Physical structure stable. No significant visual changes.]

Kieran drew a slow breath.

“Out,” he said inwardly.

At once, the bracelet reappeared in his palm.

He lifted it slightly toward the light. Its shine looked cleaner and clearer. The gold color was deeper, no longer mixed with a dull hue.

In the East Rail District, the poor district where this body’s family lived, gold of this purity should be quite valuable. Especially for a daily laborer’s family.

But “quite valuable” did not necessarily mean “enough to solve the problem.”

“What is the selling price of this bracelet in ASD?” he asked the system.

[Calculation based on the pure gold market price in the Averion region.]

[Current estimated selling price: 312 ASD.]

He did not react immediately, but his fingers tightened slightly. Not small for a thin bracelet. But not large either.

He fell silent for a moment, then asked again, “Can you determine my mother’s total debt?”

[Data unavailable. The system does not have direct access to an individual’s financial information without initial parameters.]

Kieran exhaled softly.

“Then estimate the hospital costs. From the beginning until now.”

The system processed again.

[Estimated costs for initial critical treatment, emergency surgery, hospitalization, medication, and observation:]

[Estimated total: 2,740 ASD.]

Almost nine times the price of the bracelet. Not including the possibility of the family’s previous debts.

Kieran sighed quietly. So it was true. One bracelet was not enough. Even if he enhanced several small items, the result would not immediately close a hole that large.

He looked at the bracelet in his hand once more before putting it back into the spatial space for the time being.

If this space could increase value without significantly altering physical form, then he needed items that were easy to purchase with small capital, physically stable, and had a significant price difference when their quality increased.

Precious metals were clearly a safe option, but his initial capital was limited.

Antiques? Too risky and required specific knowledge.

Cheap jewelry? Required precise calculation.

Or… raw materials?

He stared at the ceiling of the room. The space had a volume of five cubic meters. Not small for an initial level. He could store quite a lot of items if necessary. However, he could not act recklessly. Sudden money movement could attract attention.

He had to act gradually and methodically.

He closed his eyes again until his consciousness slowly sank into a deeper and calmer sleep.

Morning came. Kieran woke to a soft call that felt so familiar in his ears.

“Kieran… wake up, my child.”

He slowly opened his eyes. His mother was already standing beside the bed, carrying a small thermos and a simple cloth bag. Her hair was tied carelessly, several strands falling around her face.

She looked more tired than yesterday. Dark and heavy eye bags were clearly visible. Her skin was pale, her lips slightly dry. Without needing to ask, Kieran knew the woman had not slept. After finishing her night shift, she must have gone straight home, cooked something, and then come to the hospital.

“I brought soup. Eat,” she said softly, trying to sound cheerful.

She poured the contents of the thermos into a small bowl. The light aroma of chicken broth immediately spread. Not luxurious, but made sincerely.

Kieran looked at her for a few seconds before speaking.

“You didn’t sleep?”

His mother gave a small smile.

“I’ll sleep a little later.”

“You don’t need to bring food,” Kieran continued in a calmer voice. “The nurse said food will be delivered. You should rest.”

The woman shook her head lightly.

“It’s fine. Home-cooked food is better. You just recovered, you have to eat something warm.”

Her tone was gentle, yet firm. Kieran did not argue further. He knew this type—once she decided something, she was difficult to sway.

He accepted the bowl.

When their hands touched, beneath the slightly exposed long sleeve, several dark bruises were visible on his mother’s wrist and the side of her arm. A bluish-purple color that had not fully faded.

His mother quickly pulled her sleeve down, trying to cover it.

But it was too late.

Kieran placed the bowl back on the small table. His hand moved faster to grab his mother’s wrist.

“Mom,” his voice lowered, “what is this?”