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Chapter 3 - chapter 3

Kai finished his meal quickly. The food was simple but filling, giving him a much-needed boost of energy. He stood up, stacking his plate.

"I think I'll go for a morning walk," he told Natasha. "Clear my head before I come back and start studying."

Natasha was already pulling on her jacket. She smiled brightly. "That's perfect. Take the spare key, Kai. I need to leave for my job soon."

She handed him a simple brass key from the hook near the door. "You can come back whenever you want. Get some fresh air."

He nodded and walked back to his room.

He grabbed his phone and the small, worn wallet. Natasha had given the previous Kai pocket money often, but he had rarely spent it during his isolation. She had put most of that money aside for him, opening an account that he would get full access to on his eighteenth birthday this year. The total wasn't huge, but it was respectable almost eight thousand dollars. He made a mental note to check that account properly later.

For now, he had the physical bills he had kept in his wallet: one ten-dollar bill and two one-dollar bills. He folded the small stack and put them into his pocket.

With the keys, the phone, and his twelve dollars, he left the apartment.

The heavy door clicked shut behind him. The air outside was cool and carried the fresh scent of the city morning. Using the previous owner's memories, he started walking toward the nearest park.

He was focused on the biggest problem at hand: the excess fat he had pinched in the mirror just an hour ago. He had a big chunk of fat to lose, and he knew the most sustainable way to start was simple movement. He started at a brisk pace. He was not ready for sprinting, which could strain this unused body, but a fast walk was a good start.

As he moved, he glanced down at the bills in his pocket. Twelve dollars. A tiny amount.

He walked past a few other people early commuters, dog walkers, and other people getting their morning exercise. The park was just ahead, a wide stretch of green nestled between buildings.

He reached the park entrance.

The system icon shimmered faintly in the corner of his eye. It was time. If he was going to test the system, this public but slightly anonymous setting was the perfect place.

Kai continued his walk through the park's perimeter for another fifteen minutes, but the effort was quickly becoming too much for the previous owner's sedentary body. A little bit of brisk movement, and he was already sweating. His shirt felt clammy against his skin.

"Swearing perfect body, you are way too unused to moving around," Kai muttered under his breath, adjusting the glasses on his nose. He knew he was already pushing his luck with this much activity.

It was time for a break, and more importantly, it was time for the test.

He spotted a small convenience store just across the street from the park exit. He crossed over and went inside, heading straight for the refrigerated drinks. He grabbed a simple plastic bottle of water. The price sticker read $2.50.

He didn't have a five-dollar bill, and while he did have the phone with access to the previous owner's small bank account, he wanted to test the system in a very specific way. He walked to the counter.

He placed the water down and pulled out the single ten-dollar bill from his wallet.

The cashier, a tired-looking woman with a nametag that read 'Brenda,' took the bill and looked at it, then at Kai.

"Oh, honey," she said, giving a small, helpless smile. "It's barely morning. We don't have enough change for a ten-spot right now, not with a two-fifty sale. The cash register is empty."

She tapped the counter gently. "Can you use a card, or maybe give me different bills? Otherwise, you'll have to wait until another customer comes in, and we can negotiate."

Kai had anticipated this. It was a Monday morning, the time of the week when cash registers were always running low on small bills. This was exactly why he had used the ten.

He waved his hand dismissively. "No, sorry, I'm in a huge hurry. Just keep the change as a tip or something. I don't have any other bill or card on me, and I really need this water."

Brenda's eyebrows rose in surprise at the casual generosity. It was an extravagant tip for a bottle of water. "Are you sure? That's seven dollars and fifty cents."

"Positive. Have a good day," Kai said, already turning to leave.

"Well, okay then. Thank you so much! Sorry again for the inconvenience."

As Kai took the water bottle and walked toward the door, a clean, sharp sound chimed only in his mind. The small system icon in the corner of his vision flashed brightly, and a text box opened just for him.

​[System Notification!]

​[Host has given away $7.50!]

​[Reward: $75,000.00 has been transferred to your System Bank!]

Kai smiled. It was subtle, internal, and completely genuine. He stepped out of the store into the sunlight, took a long, cold drink of water, and felt a surge of triumph. The system was real. He had walked in with ten dollars in his pocket and came out with a bottle of water and $75,000 in a private, untraceable account.

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