The streets were busy, filled with the usual buzz of traffic and conversation, but Reyan walked through it all with a calm focus.
A tech store stood ahead—sleek glass walls, glowing product posters, and polished tiles reflecting city light. It wasn't the flashiest in town, but it was known for stocking high-end devices.
Reyan pushed open the door.
A soft chime rang above him.
"Welcome," came a voice from near the counter.
A young woman in uniform stepped forward. Mid-twenties, professional expression, eyes scanning him quickly from head to toe. Her smile was polite, not fake—but Reyan could sense the subtle flicker of doubt in her eyes.
He couldn't blame her.
Bruised lip. Cheap hoodie. Slight limp. He didn't exactly scream big spender.
But he met her gaze evenly. "I'm looking for the most expensive phone you have."
There was a slight pause. Just half a second.
Still, the saleswoman didn't show any condescension. "Certainly," she said, turning gracefully. "Right this way."
She led him toward the premium section. "Our flagship model is the Solis Infinity X Ultra. 512GB. CrystalGraph display. ₲3,000 base price."
Reyan nodded, lifting the phone from the stand and flipping it over in his hand.
Sleek. Responsive. Sharp design.
"I'll take two," he said.
The woman blinked. "Two?"
"One for me," he said, smiling faintly. "One for my mother."
She hesitated, then gave a polite nod and moved to the billing desk. "That will be ₲6,000, sir."
Reyan didn't reach for his card.
Instead, he tapped his phone and opened his banking app—the one linked to the mysterious system-created account. With a few swipes, he entered her store's wallet ID and transferred ₲15,000.
The saleswoman's phone buzzed on the counter. She glanced at it, paused, then looked back at him quickly.
"Sir, I think there's a mistake," she said carefully. "You've transferred—"
"I know," Reyan said, sliding the phones into his bag. "Keep the change."
Her mouth opened slightly, but no words came.
A moment passed.
Then came the flickers in her expression—shock, disbelief, surprise.
And then, a smile.
Real. Bright. Free of suspicion or polish.
> [Task Complete.]
[Random Multiplier Activated: 5x]
[₲45,000 Credited to System Wallet]
Reyan turned toward the exit without waiting for thanks. But just before the doors opened, he heard her voice again—softer this time.
"Thank you."
He didn't respond. He just lifted a hand slightly, a casual half-wave.
---
It was nearly evening by the time Reyan climbed the stairs to their apartment.
He reached into his pocket for the keys, but the door opened before he could touch the handle.
"Reyan?" His mom stood in the doorway, apron still tied around her waist. Her expression softened the moment she saw him. "You're back early."
"I could say the same," he said with a smile. "You're home today?"
"Day off," she replied, stepping aside to let him in. "They gave me a surprise break—something about rotating shifts."
Reyan nodded and set the bag gently on the small dining table.
"I got you something," he said.
She turned, wiping her hands on the apron. "What is it?"
He took out the black box, sleek and unbranded, and handed it to her without a word.
She opened it—and froze.
"…Reyan, what is this?" she asked quietly, lifting the top-of-the-line phone from the box like it was a sacred object. "How did you afford this?"
He met her eyes calmly. "I've been doing some trading. Online. Got lucky with a few positions. There are still a couple of stocks I'm profiting from… one of them's doing really well."
She stared at him for a long second.
"Trading?" she repeated, cautiously.
"Yeah. I didn't want to say anything until it worked out. But it's legit, Mom. And I wanted you to have a phone that doesn't restart five times a day."
A beat of silence passed—then her lips curved into a smile. Touched, proud, and still a little worried—but less than before.
"You're growing up too fast," she murmured, gently brushing his hair back.
He chuckled. "Didn't I tell you yesterday I'd take care of you?"
She pulled him into a hug. A long, warm one.
And Reyan felt something lift off his shoulders.
> [Emotional Milestone: Fulfilled Family Bond]
[New Feature Unlocked]
[System Notification Incoming...]
[You have one unread message. Tap to view.]
The screen appeared and hovered silently, waiting.
But Reyan didn't open it yet.
He just stood there, holding his mother close, quietly letting the moment settle.
---