Los Angeles was… overwhelming.
Glass towers kissed the sky, palm trees lining the avenues like sentinels, sunsets melting the city into gold every evening.
Daniel stared at his reflection in the hotel mirror — finally dressed like someone who belonged here.
Slim black jeans, crisp white shirt hugging his shoulders, leather jacket that screamed subtle money, not ostentation. His shoes? Italian. His watch? Sleek, minimalist, dangerously expensive.
All courtesy of his first wardrobe raid — $12,350 down the drain, but worth every cent.
[System Update: Current Balance — $13,000,112.47 - $12,350 = $12,987,762.47]
The number still looked surreal, glowing from his banking app.
But appearances? They mattered.
And now, Daniel looked… good.
Taller than average, lean but solid frame, bronze skin kissed by Rio's sun, dark eyes sharp, jet-black hair cropped short on the sides, messy on top — the kind of effortless charm that made people stare twice without knowing why.
Yet, behind the polished look, his brain spun with paranoia.
Millions overnight? Secret missions? Voices in his head?
Yeah… not exactly normal.
As he adjusted his collar, the System chimed — playful, snarky as ever.
[Reminder: You reveal the System… You wake up on Mars. Not a joke. We lost the last guy to curiosity. Don't be the last guy.]
Daniel snorted, running a hand through his hair. "Relax, I'm not that stupid."
[Good. Because we have liftoff protocols ready. Don't test me.]
The phone buzzed — Felipe, his cousin, calling from Brazil.
Daniel grinned.
Felipe — tall, handsome, classic carioca vibe. Cocky but loyal. Twenty-two, always dreaming of "melhorar de vida."
Daniel slid his finger across the screen, connecting the call, but not before the System whispered:
[No System talk. Or space helmet time.]
"Fala, primo!" Daniel greeted, phone pressed to his ear.
"Manooo, finalmente! You disappeared, que porra! Tá nos States mesmo ou tá me zoando?" Felipe's voice boomed, half Portuguese, half his version of English slang.
Daniel chuckled, switching to Portuguese. "Tô aqui, real. Los Angeles."
"Caralho… Hollywood life! E aí? Rolê? Grana? Como tá?"
Daniel kept his tone casual. "Trabalhando muito, correria… Mas tá valendo. Consegui uns trampos bons, pagam legal."
Felipe whistled. "Trampo bom? Nos EUA? Me arruma um, porra!"
Daniel's mind raced — the System's threats clear, but the opportunity? Golden.
"I can help, mano. Vou bancar teu visto, passaporte, passagem. Mas vem na moral, devagar."
Felipe laughed. "Tu tá rico ou o quê?"
Daniel smirked, eyes drifting to the banking app still glowing — over 12 million dollars untouched.
"Só tô investindo certo. Vem me ajudar e a gente desenrola."
Felipe's voice lit up, excitement buzzing. "Demorô, tô dentro! Manda as infos."
Daniel promised the details later, ending the call with a grin.
[System Approval: Bringing Felipe increases entertainment factor. But remember — silence about me, or zero gravity awaits.]
"Got it," Daniel muttered.
His phone buzzed again — banking update.
[Expense: Felipe's passport, visa process, expedited flight — $15,870 deducted.]
New Balance? $12,971,892.47
Daniel exhaled, mentally noting every cent.
He wasn't blowing millions overnight. He was playing the long game.
Out on the streets, he walked with purpose, blending into the city's rhythm — polished, unknown, invisible in plain sight.
Tourists snapped selfies, locals rushed by, the skyline towering above — Los Angeles, playground of the rich, oblivious to one more player entering the arena.
No flashy cars — yet.
Just rented e-scooters, Uber rides, quiet steps toward empire-building.
The System pinged again, voice dripping with mockery.
[Congratulations on resisting the urge to blow millions on sports cars. Proud of you.]
Daniel smirked, hopping onto a lime-green scooter, zipping through downtown traffic.
The city unfolded — glass, concrete, palm trees swaying, the hum of ambition in the air.
Sunset approached, casting everything in amber.
As he rolled down the boulevard, pedestrians glanced his way — not because he screamed wealth, but because his energy shifted.
A man on the rise. Quiet. Calculated.
The System hummed.
[Reminder: More missions incoming. Play smart. You're in the Universal Big Brother now. Every move counts.]
Daniel's grin widened.
He wasn't here to burn cash and crash like the last idiot.
He was here to conquer — one subtle step at a time.