Darkness. Cold. Silence.
Liam Cross floated in the void. Memories flashed in fragments—rain, headlights, a woman screaming, and the crushing pain of impact. Then nothing.
Until a metallic chime broke the silence.
> [System initialization complete.]
[Host soul integrity: 82%. Rebooting consciousness.]
His eyes snapped open. Blinding light stabbed his pupils. A dull ache pulsed behind his temples as he squinted at the sterile ceiling above him.
"Where… am I?" he croaked. His throat was dry like sandpaper.
He tried to sit up but pain shot through his body, forcing a hiss from between his teeth. He blinked again—white sheets, a cheap hospital gown, an IV line taped to his arm.
"Hospital?"
His voice sounded… different. Deeper. Younger.
A flicker of confusion washed over him. He turned toward the cracked mirror across the room—and froze.
The reflection staring back wasn't his.
The brown hair he remembered was now pitch black, the skin smoother, the eyes tinged with a faint golden hue.
"What the—this isn't me!"
Before panic could take root, that mechanical voice returned, calm and emotionless:
> [Host consciousness stabilized.]
[Welcome, Liam Cross. You have been selected by the Treasure System.]
[Initializing Beginner Package.]
Liam's jaw dropped. "A system? Wait—like in those web novels?"
> [Affirmative.]
[Bronze Treasure Chest acquired. Would you like to open it?]
Liam stared at the air where glowing blue text hovered in front of him. His rational brain screamed that this couldn't be real—but his gut whispered otherwise.
He hesitated for half a breath, then shrugged weakly. "Sure. Why not? Open it."
> [Opening Bronze Chest…]
[Congratulations! You have obtained: Spirit-Infused Dagger (Grade E).]
[Passive Skill Unlocked: Treasure Sense (Lv.1).]
A faint shimmer appeared mid-air, forming the outline of a small chest. It clicked open with a soft ding, scattering golden motes around the room. When the light faded, a dagger lay on his blanket—simple, silver-edged, faintly pulsing with azure runes.
Liam reached out, half expecting his hand to pass through. Instead, the metal felt cool and solid beneath his fingers.
The moment he gripped the hilt, warmth surged through his body, washing away the lingering ache.
> [Skill activated: Treasure Sense.]
[Nearby valuable object detected: Nurse's pendant — spirit-energy concentration 3%.]
A door creaked open. A nurse entered, humming softly, clipboard in hand. Liam's gaze flicked to her necklace—sure enough, golden mist coiled faintly around the tiny jade pendant.
"Spirit energy? In jewelry?" he murmured.
"Hmm?" the nurse blinked. "Did you say something, Mr. Cross?"
Liam forced a smile. "Just… admiring your necklace. It looks valuable."
She chuckled. "It's just a cheap trinket from my grandmother."
Cheap, my foot, Liam thought, his eyes narrowing as his Treasure Sense pulsed. That thing's worth more than this whole hospital wing.
When she left, he exhaled sharply. The System's window popped up again.
> [New Quest: Survive the first 24 hours.]
[Reward: Silver Treasure Chest.]
His brow furrowed. "Survive? From what?"
> [Warning: External threat approaching.]
As if on cue, footsteps echoed from the corridor—heavy, deliberate. Voices followed, harsh and impatient.
"Room 214! The brat still owes us fifty thousand credits!"
Debt collectors. The memories of this body surged forward—his host's life: an orphan crushed by hospital bills, chased by thugs after a failed loan.
Liam's pulse quickened. "So this is how my reincarnation starts, huh?" He gripped the dagger. "Fine. Let's see what this Treasure System can do."
The door burst open. Three men stormed in, tattoos crawling up their necks.
"Well, look who's alive," sneered the leader. "Pay up or—"
Liam didn't wait. He flicked the dagger; a faint arc of blue light zipped through the air. The nearest thug froze mid-step, eyes wide. His metal bat split cleanly in two.
The room fell silent.
"What… what was that?" one whispered.
Liam smirked. "Interest payment."
The remaining men bolted.
> [Quest updated: Threat neutralized.]
[Reward unlocked: Silver Treasure Chest.]
The system chimed again. A second chest materialized above his palm—larger, shinier.
Liam leaned back against the pillow, a grin spreading across his face. "If this is reincarnation, then maybe… I finally hit the jackpot."
Outside, dawn painted the sky gold. The Treasure System hummed softly in his mind, like a heartbeat.
> [New journey detected.]
[Welcome to the world of treasures.]
And just like that, Liam Cross—the man who once died broke and forgotten—took his first step toward becoming the richest legend in existence.
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