Kieran's thumb pressed down.
"...Yes."
The screen flickered once.
Then—
[New Host Gift Pack Opening...]
He held his breath.
Nothing dramatic happened around him.
No explosion.
No sound.
Just words.
Cold. Clear. Real.
[Reward 1: Initial Wealth Injection]
$500,000 credited to host account.
Kieran blinked.
"…what?"
He opened his banking app again.
The number refreshed.
Then froze.
$500,000.00
His lips parted.
For a second, his brain refused to process it.
Then it hit.
Hard.
"WHAT?!"
His voice came out louder than he expected.
The cashier snapped his head up.
"Hey! What's wrong with you?"
Kieran didn't answer.
He stared at the number again.
Half a million dollars.
Not naira.
Not small money.
Dollars.
Real money.
Money that could end everything he had been struggling with for years.
His chest rose and fell.
Then he laughed.
Loud.
Sharp.
Uncontrolled.
"HAHA—"
"Yo, relax!"
Someone near him frowned.
"Man, keep it down."
Kieran didn't even hear them properly.
He covered his mouth, trying to contain it, but the smile kept breaking through.
"This is insane…"
The screen changed again.
[Reward 2: Residential Asset]
Property transferred: Riverside Heights, Unit 17B
Location: Manhattan, New York
Type: Luxury Apartment (Fully Furnished)
Status: Ownership Verified
Kieran froze.
"…wait."
He stared at it.
Apartment.
Not rented.
Owned.
His.
"Manhattan…?"
He said it slowly, like the word might disappear if he spoke too fast.
The cashier leaned forward.
"What are you even talking about?"
Kieran looked up for a second.
Then back at his phone.
"Nothing."
But his voice was already different.
The screen updated again.
[Digital Ownership Documents Delivered]
[Access Keys Linked to Host Identity]
His hands tightened slightly.
This wasn't just money.
This was real.
Real in a way that couldn't be ignored.
The screen shifted again.
[Reward 3: Vehicle Asset]
Vehicle: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ Roadster
Color: Matte Black
Status: Registered under host
Location: Assigned private parking – Riverside Heights
Kieran stared.
"…no way."
He swallowed.
Then laughed again, softer this time, like he was trying to keep himself grounded.
"A Lamborghini…"
He shook his head slightly.
"That's not even normal."
A guy behind him muttered.
"Bro, are you drunk or something?"
Kieran ignored him.
The screen continued.
[Reward 4: Premium Banking Privilege]
Black Titanium Card Issued
Unlimited transaction capacity
Global access enabled
A card icon appeared on the screen.
Dark.
Clean.
Heavy just from looking at it.
Kieran exhaled slowly.
"…so I can spend without limits now."
His fingers brushed his hair back.
He wasn't even trying to act calm anymore.
There was a grin on his face now.
Not wide.
But real.
Alive.
The screen changed again.
[Reward 5: Initial Title Fragment]
Title Locked: Capital Overlord (0%)
Progress begins with financial activity
Kieran tilted his head slightly.
"Capital Overlord…"
He repeated it under his breath.
That sounded ridiculous.
But at the same time…
It didn't feel fake.
It felt like something waiting.
The system paused.
Then one final line appeared.
[All rewards successfully delivered.]
[Host may now begin progression.]
The screen dimmed slightly.
Kieran stood there, holding his phone, the cheap plastic bag still hanging from his other hand.
Everything felt quiet for a moment.
Not around him.
Inside him.
Then—
He laughed again.
Not loud this time.
Just… free.
"$500,000…"
He said it like he was testing the number.
"An apartment… a Lamborghini…"
He looked up slightly.
"…this is crazy."
The cashier crossed his arms.
"You're still here."
Kieran blinked.
Right.
He was still in the store.
Still standing in front of the counter like nothing had changed.
But everything had.
He stepped aside fully this time.
"Yeah, I'm leaving."
"Good."
Kieran walked out.
His steps were slower now.
Not because he was tired.
Because he was thinking.
No.
Not even thinking.
Processing.
Every step felt different.
Lighter.
Like something had been removed from his shoulders without him noticing when it happened.
He stopped a few feet away and looked at his phone again.
$500,000.
Still there.
Not a glitch.
Not disappearing.
He opened the property details.
Riverside Heights.
Unit 17B.
Fully furnished.
Ownership verified.
He let out a breath.
"I don't have to worry about rent anymore…"
The words came out quietly.
Simple.
But heavy.
Two days.
His landlord had given him two days.
Now—
That problem didn't exist.
Kieran looked down at the small bag in his hand.
Cheap noodles.
A drink.
He stared at it for a second.
Then laughed again.
"…I really bought this with my last money."
He shook his head.
Then suddenly—
He turned and walked back into the store.
The cashier looked up immediately.
"I thought you were leaving."
"I changed my mind."
Kieran walked straight to the shelves.
This time, he didn't check the cheapest option.
He picked up a better meal.
Then another.
Then snacks.
Then drinks.
Not excessive.
Just… normal.
Like someone who didn't have to calculate every single dollar before touching something.
He walked back to the counter and placed everything down.
The cashier raised a brow.
"That's a lot more than before."
Kieran shrugged.
"Yeah."
The total came up.
He didn't count anything this time.
He pulled out the new card that had just appeared in his wallet.
Black.
Clean.
He placed it down.
The cashier paused.
"…you paying with this?"
"Yeah."
The transaction went through instantly.
No delay.
No issue.
Kieran picked up the bag.
Then his phone vibrated.
He already knew.
He looked.
[Transaction complete.]
[Cashback credited: $2,300]
He smiled.
"…this is actually broken."
The cashier squinted.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing."
Kieran picked up his things and walked out again.
This time, he didn't stop.
He kept walking.
But not aimlessly.
There was direction now.
Riverside Heights.