[System Upgrade to Wealth]

[Rabu, March 1st, 20xx Country B]

A modest little cabin on the edge of a vast verdant meadow. The sun proudly emitted its ultraviolet rays, bathing the earth in a tender light.

A teenage boy hurried on his way to school along a narrow path. To his left and right lay fields of grass still damp with dew. The teen was Ferzo.

Within a few minutes, Ferzo emerged from the path onto a road bustling with traffic.

Daily, Ferzo walked to school. The modest earnings from herding goats paid for his education and daily needs, though sometimes they fell short.

Ferzo longed for a decent job post-graduation. The daily mockery and scorn for his current work rankled him, and though he wanted to retaliate, he held back, biding his time until graduation.

Arriving at school, Ferzo entered his classroom to be met with stares and snickers. He bowed his head, shielded from their taunts.

"Look who's here," called out Yun, a wealthy classmate, and perpetual tormentor, the son of an official.

"None other than the poverty-stricken goat herder," chimed in Iyan, Yun's friend, as they laughed together. Ferzo remained silent, choosing instead to read a book.

Unsatisfied with being ignored, Yun stood, snatched Ferzo's book, and ripped it.

"Hey! What are you doing!" Ferzo shouted as he immediately stood up, his eyes already beginning to glisten with tears. He clenched his hands tightly, wishing he could tear Yun's body to pieces right now, but he couldn't. Or he wanted to just run away and quit school, but considering his future fate, he wouldn't always be a goat herder, he also wanted to succeed like others someday.

"Look, he's crying," taunted Yun, laughing.

Yes, tears fell on Ferzo's desk. Overwhelmed by the pain, he rested his head on the desk, weeping silently.

"Huh! Crybaby," scoffed Yun, throwing the torn book onto Ferzo's head before returning to his seat. They carried on laughing carefree.

Ferzo glared at them angrily. After bullying someone, didn't they feel guilty? Couldn't they feel his suffering? Since both of Ferzo's parents had passed away due to illness, he, who was supposed to still need their presence, had to endure the harsh realities of life. How could a child his age live alone? Scrounging for food for daily needs and paying his own school fees? This was what he had to experience right now. Now, he also had to face school friends who bullied him every day.

The teacher walked in, noticing Ferzo's reddened eyes.

"Ferzo, what's wrong?" asked the teacher, peering over his glasses.

"It's nothing, sir. Just something in my eye," lied Ferzo, rubbing his eyes. Yun sneered from the second row, and Ferzo looked away, focusing on his lessons.

After class, the students poured out, jostling each other. Ferzo accidentally bumped into Yuli, the most beautiful girl in class and daughter of a wealthy businessman.

"Hey! Don't you have eyes! How dare you bump into me, you smell like goat dung! Don't get close to people! It's truly disgusting! I have to take a thorough bath when I get home, or else the smell of goat won't go away!" grumbled Yuli, annoyed. She is the most beautiful girl in the area, she is also the daughter of a rich man, her father is a successful businessman in her city.

"I didn't mean to," Ferzo murmured, his head bowed in apology.

"Your apology means nothing. Get on your knees, then maybe I'll forgive you," demanded Yuli, hands on her hips.

The surrounding students watched like an engrossing show, and with Yun approaching Yuli, it turned into a spectacle.

"What's going on?" asked Yun.

"He bumped into me, the nerve of this grubby goat-smelling boy coming near me," pouted Yuli in front of Yun.

Ferzo tried to escape, knowing tomorrow held worse for him, but Iyan and Mul grabbed him, dragging him in front of Yuli and Yun.

"Bow to Yuli!" Yun yelled, pushing Ferzo's head down hard until it touched the floor.

"Now!" Yun shouted again, Ferzo's eyes reddening with pain and humiliation as Yun forced him down, with Yuli placing her foot on his face. The deep insult stung.

No one reported to a teacher, too engrossed in the spectacle. Finally, Yun let go once Yuli was satisfied, leaving Ferzo in pain.

Tears falling, Ferzo stood, walking home, crying. How long until this suffering ended? With one and a half years of school left, he had to endure.

Upon reaching his dwelling, he found his employer and others gathered, furious.

"What is it?" Ferzo approached.

"Look at the pen, some goats are missing! Unattended, I've suffered a great loss; those were ready for sale. How will you compensate?" his employer accused.

Shocked, Ferzo ran to the pen to find five large goats gone. Grief-stricken, he realized he had no money for replacements.

"Sorry, sir," Ferzo said softly, head bowed.

"Sorry? Your sorry won't replace my goats! You've made an unforgivable error; take your pay and leave. I need a shepherd who'll care for my goats," his employer handed him a brown envelope with 500 thousand inside.

"Please give me another chance, I promise to do better," Ferzo begged.

"No! No chance! Leave now!" his employer shouted, tossing the envelope at Ferzo's feet. Trembling, Ferzo picked it up and packed his belongings, glancing back at the cabin filled with memories, reluctantly leaving.

"Where will I go?" Ferzo wandered the streets aimlessly like a vagabond, pausing on a bridge, surveying the sky.

"Who else suffers as I do? Who else cares? Isn't my misery enough? Orphaned, impoverished!" Ferzo cried out, tears streaming down his face.

Suddenly, a fine rain began to fall to earth, as if to share in the sorrow Ferzo was feeling. The clouds turned dark and the rain poured heavily. Ferzo ran beneath a bridge for shelter, clutching his belongings to ward off the chill.

"Even the sky mocks me," Ferzo murmured, his head hanging in defeat.

Luckily, there was no river under the bridge, only hard ground mixed with rocks. There lay several cardboard pieces, seemingly someone's temporary resting spot. Ferzo straightened and arranged the cardboard, then he took a cloth from his bag to use as a blanket.

He used the bag as a pillow. The biting cold from the torrential rain was piercing. Ferzo tried to close his eyes to sleep, to momentarily escape the pain he felt, but it was in vain; thoughts of his parents overwhelmed him, and he wept bitterly.

"Father, Mother, if you were still alive, you’d be so saddened to see me like this. I've been ousted, jobless and homeless, how will I continue my studies," Ferzo sobbed, his tears soaking the makeshift blanket.

Crying and shedding so many tears gave him a headache. He tried to close his eyes again, hoping to fall asleep. Eventually, without realizing, he did drift off.

He awoke very early in the morning, driven by the need to find a job. The 500,000 rupiah he had would not be enough to meet his needs before securing employment.

Ferzo packed his things and left to look for any job available, even if it was just sweeping or washing dishes.

He chose not to attend school that day, prioritizing the hunt for employment that would allow him to afford food.

On the still-quiet streets, people were just opening their doors. Ferzo walked alone, hopeful that somewhere would take him in for work.

As he continued alone, uncertain of his destination, two individuals on a motorcycle approached from behind. They snatched his bag, containing the last of his money, and sped away.

"Hey! Give me back my bag!" Ferzo shouted, chasing after the fast-moving motorcycle. He couldn’t keep up and fell to the ground, bleeding from his knees and elbows. Yet, he got up and ran again.

"Help! Help! My bag's been stolen!" Ferzo cried out along the road, tears streaming and voice growing hoarse, but no one paid him any mind. They were confused by his running and yelling—some even thought he was mad.

Once again, he fell, his legs too weak to carry him, his tear-blurred vision failing. There, he knelt down and cried unrestrained. Enough was enough; he literally had nothing left.

What greater misery must he endure? What trials yet awaited him? Was he no longer wanted in this world? Should he just exit this life? Time spun so quickly, trapping him in an excruciating cycle of suffering he wasn't prepared to face.

He had to get up. With his body weak, he walked to the side. Ferzo approached a closed store, possibly abandoned, and sat on its front step.

People started to pass by, including office workers and students hurrying to their respective destinations. Coincidentally, this street led to his school; many classmates passed by.

"Yun, isn't that Ferzo?" Iyan pointed out, perched on the back of Yun's large motorcycle. Yun looked where Iyan pointed and stopped short.

"You're right. What's he doing there? Let's mess with him," Yun suggested with a malicious grin.

The pair approached the preoccupied Ferzo, startling him as they arrived. Beside the store was a narrow dead-end alley bordered by a tall wall.

Yun and Iyan smirked as they dragged Ferzo into the alley.

"Hey! Where are you taking me?" Ferzo yelled, struggling against them.

"Shut up!" Yun snapped. They tossed Ferzo into the alley and closed in on him.

They assaulted Ferzo, kicking him, pulling his hair, punching his face. Yun struck Ferzo's eye painfully. Iyan kicked his stomach, while Yun punched his bleeding nose.

Yun was like this because Ferzo was smarter than him. Back then, he was compared by his homeroom teacher to Ferzo, questioning why Yun didn't act like Ferzo who was diligent and always did his homework. All Yun did was laze around because he was a rich kid. So, of course, he could afford to slack off. That's where he began to hate Ferzo and invited his other friends to bully Ferzo.

Ferzo wiped the blood from his nose, aching all over. Once they were satisfied, Yun and Iyan left.

"Let's go," Yun said. They climbed onto the motorbike and left for school.

Ferzo felt powerless, his stomach aching from both Yun's blows and hunger after days without food. His money stolen, what did he have left? Ferzo tried to stand and sought food in trash bins or anywhere to fill the gnawing emptiness.

He reached a bin and found some leftovers, which he ate despite their evident unsuitability. Forced by circumstances, he ate.

Ferzo traveled from bin to bin, filling his starving belly, looking more like a vagrant. In such a state, who would hire him? His clothes were torn, his body battered, his eyes looked hopeless—as though he no longer wished to live.

As he stumbled on, weak and swaying, he inadvertently caused a woman passing by to drop her wallet. Ferzo stopped as he discovered the wallet before him. He picked it up and examined its contents—thick with cash and jewelry. In his heart, he wanted to return it, but didn't know to whom. Looking around, he saw only passersby.

The woman sensed something amiss, checked her bag, and panicked upon discovering her wallet gone. Seeing Ferzo with it, she screamed.

"Thief! Thief!" she shouted, pointing him out. Confused, Ferzo didn't understand her cries. The locals quickly gathered and charged towards him.

"Where is the thief?" the villagers asked.

"There! There's the thief!" the woman identified Ferzo as he held the wallet. The crowd converged on him. The woman snatched back her wallet, and the mob violently beat Ferzo into submission. They pummeled him without allowing him to explain, judging him on the spot. He tried to shield his head but was no match for the numerous, stronger attackers. His hand was stomped on and broken.

His injuries were grave, with the previous nosebleed from Yun's punch now aggravated. Fresh blood poured from his nose and mouth. His limbs were bruised and broken. Left for dead, Ferzo laid there, utterly defeated.

His vision blurred, the pain in his eyes and body fading into numbness. His limp body felt close to death. He gazed at the sky with a dismal look, tears streaming to his temples. He gasped for air, knowing it could be his very last breath.

"Lord, should you wish to take my life at this moment, I am at peace; I have nothing left in this world," Ferzo whispered, nearly inaudible. Gradually closing his eyes, he had ceased to care about his existence, indifferent to whether he was run over by a car or cast into a chasm—what he felt was merely the anticipation of death.

However, from the bright weather that had once been, darkness and clouds began to loom overhead, a harbinger of the incoming rain.

And quite suddenly, the rain poured, saturating his entire body, with lightning flashing furiously and thunder booming loudly.

Boom!

Lightning struck Ferzo directly, and his body violently trembled as the blaze of light surged through him. Ferzo screamed from the unbearable pain that made him wish for death over enduring such excruciating torment that seemed to tear out his very insides.

Unable to bear the pain for much longer, he fainted, his consciousness floating in a void of darkness.

"Where am I?" Ferzo asked, scanning the pervasive darkness that surrounded him.

Out of nowhere, a light appeared before him, projected by data scrolling upward endlessly, causing his head to ache. This stream of unreadable texts, numbers, codes, and ciphers bombarded his mind ceaselessly, a system now integrated with him, visible to him alone.

[Ding Ding]

System owner identified…

Loading…

Scanning…

Complete.

Status recognition…

Scanning…

Loading…

Complete.

Name: Ferzo Ananda

Age: 16 years

Occupation: Student

Gender: Male

Family status: Orphan.

Initiating awakening from unconsciousness...

Processing...

Loading…

Complete.

Ferzo awoke and attempted to sit, grasping his throbbing head, unable to open his eyes. Yet, the pain gradually subsided.

"What is this in my head?" Ferzo uttered in confusion. A holographic display hovered before him.

WELCOME

[Welcome to the System Next Level Super Rich. Congratulations, you are the owner of this sophisticated system. With the system's help, you can realize your dreams of wealth. By completing programmed missions, you will level up. With each level, you receive a reward—the higher your level, the greater your rewards]

"System? Missions? Levels? Rewards? What are all these things? Argghhh!" Ferzo clasped his head with both hands, overwhelmed by the complete perplexity, his head throbbing with pain. He shut his eyes tightly, hoping the display in front of him would vanish, believing it to be a dream.

[The System responds: The System is a programmed data set from artificial intelligence, while missions are stages and actions to increase Levels, and rewards are the final gifts for completed Missions]

"This must be a dream; it has to be," Ferzo reiterated, slapping his cheeks and pinching his arm, hoping to wake up. But all he got was the sting from the red marks on his slapped cheeks and a sore arm.

"But why is this inside my head?" Ferzo asked, shaking his head vehemently.

[The System responds: This is the fusion of your body and the System; you and the System are indivisible, and this vision is exclusive to you]

"Why me, though?" Ferzo questioned, ceasing his self-inflicted actions as the voice in his head was real and not fading.

[The System responds: The System has chosen you based on your body, age, and DNA, which conform to its criteria; you have been selected by the System]

Ferzo nodded, unwilling to believe, yet he had to accept the reality. No matter how much he tried to convince himself it was a dream, he was very much in the real world.

"Alright, fine, whatever, but how do I use this system?" Ferzo sighed in resignation.

[The System responds: Simply tap the menus on the holographic touchscreen, and follow the next prompts. Moreover, the System provides access to a digital map, can identify people, whether public or hidden, simplifying your journey to achieve your aspirations]

"Really? That's amazing, alright System, I accept this union," Ferzo declared joyously.

Integrating Owner and System Identity…

Uploading…

Loading…

Initiating…

10%…

20%…

30%…

40%…

50%…

60%…

70%…

80%…

90%…

100%…

Complete.

[Congratulations! You are now the rightful owner of the System Next Level Super Rich]

Introduction Reward:

Black card

Balance = 1,000,000

Wealth level [0]

Experience [0]

Points [0]

Rewards [0]

"Huh? Is everything at zero? So after I complete missions, all these will be filled up?" Ferzo queried.

[The System responds: Correct, Owner]

"When will I receive the missions?"

[The System responds: Missions will be assigned daily, ranging from low, medium to high level, both visible and hidden. The System will guide you, good luck attempting them]

"That's how it works; alright, I understand," Ferzo nodded, exploring the vast display before him, learning to navigate its touchscreen interface.

Ferzo browsed through the system menu, tapping various options. Suddenly, a golden yellow inscription emerged on the display.

[Ding Ding]

[New Mission]

[Find a New Place to Live]

[Reward: 1,000,000]

[Mission Status = In Progress]