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Chapter 1: The Last Family Photo
The alarm buzzed at 4:30 AM, as harsh and unforgiving as the life eighteen-year-old Reon Kael had come to accept. He rose quietly from his thin mattress, careful not to wake the small girl beside him—his 8-year-old sister, Mina—still wrapped in their only warm blanket.
Reon's life had been a series of struggles since their parents perished in the East Sector 7 chemical plant disaster. At just twelve, Reon had sworn to protect Mina. He worked tirelessly—warehouse loader, sanitation technician, courier, mechanic assistant, anything that paid. He saved every credit, lived like a ghost, and refused to waste even a second.
Over six years, Reon had done the impossible. $50 million credits.
It was his escape. His victory. His promise fulfilled.
Today, he would buy a home. Not rent. Not share. Own.
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After dropping Mina off at school and grabbing a cheap synthetic breakfast, Reon headed toward the city's central financial tower. His heart thudded in anticipation as he approached the terminal to transfer a down payment for a small sky-tier home.
His finger hovered above the confirmation button when a sudden ripple of light shimmered before his eyes.
A glowing translucent screen materialized, suspended in the air with golden borders.
> [SYSTEM ACTIVATED]
Host Detected: Reon Kael
[Global Financial Collapse Triggered]
Due to systemic instability, world currency has been devalued by a factor of: x1,000,000,000,000.
Public Warning: All liquid assets, savings, and valuations are now effectively worthless.
> Exception: Your account balance remains unaffected.
Current Balance: $50,000,000 (Unchanged)
> Congratulations, Host. You now possess more usable wealth than the rest of the world combined.
Reon stood frozen, staring at the message.
"...Wait... what?"
He blinked. Checked his phone. Opened his banking app.
Balance: $50,000,000.00
Still there.
The woman beside him screamed.
"My savings! It's all GONE!"
A man in a suit fainted in front of an ATM.
Across the city, chaos erupted. Holograms glitched. Drones collapsed mid-air. Corporations froze transactions. Government channels went silent.
Reon backed away slowly, heart racing.
He wasn't broke.
He was…
Rich.
Too rich.
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The system message continued.
> You have been selected for the "True Value Protocol."
The new world runs on effort, barter, and possession—not printed value.
Objective: Use your remaining wealth to rebuild, influence, and survive.
Caution: You are now a target.
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Reon turned to the chaos spreading across the city like wildfire. People were panicking, looting, crying.
He clenched his fists.
His money hadn't vanished.
But the world had.
And now, he was the last true billionaire alive.
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