March 15, 2016 —Barretos Holy House
Lucas awoke to the scent of antiseptic and the steady rhythm of hospital monitors. His vision blurred before slowly focusing on the white ceiling above him.
At his side sat Dona Marta.
The director of the orphanage that had raised him. Her posture was rigid with exhaustion, her eyes red from crying. When she realized he was awake, her composure broke. She grasped his hand tightly, relief flooding her face.
Before he could speak, something stirred.
Not a sound.Not a voice.
A presence.
System initialization complete.User identified. Compatibility confirmed.
His heart began to race.
Critical trauma detected. Restoration successful.Vital systems operating within normal parameters.
A cold sensation moved through his body.
You were selected.
Fragments of memory surged through his mind — nights studying by dim light, years of restraint, the discipline carved into him since childhood.
Selection criteria satisfied.Cognitive capacity: high.Psychological resilience: stable.Ethical structure: acceptable.
The presence paused, almost deliberate.
The System exists to construct the most efficient and influential financial institution in the world.
Lucas tried to move, to speak, but his body felt distant.
You are not required to act recklessly.You are required to act.Inaction will not be tolerated.
A final transmission followed.
Initial Mission:Select a location within national territory for the establishment of the first operational branch.
Condition: Physical presence at the selected site is mandatory.Reward: Immediate construction and full operational readiness.
Silence returned.
Lucas stared at the ceiling, his breathing steady, his thoughts racing.
Beside him, Dona Marta remained unaware of the invisible system now bound to his existence.
For the first time, Lucas understood something fundamental:
His life was no longer defined by survival alone —it was being shaped by purpose.