"From Broke to Baller: Thanks, System?"

The final weeks before midterms brought a sense of routine and order to Jin's life. Mornings started with exercise, then classes, lunch with his friends, study time, and late-night trading or mentoring. It was a life he could keep up with — quiet, consistent, and steady. But life, as always, had different plans.

It started with a ping.

> "System Alert: Hidden Quest Available."

> Title: "Market Storm Forecasted" Type: Prediction-based Quest Details: "A major market swing is coming in 48 hours. Predict the correct outcome, and act accordingly." Reward: XP +5,000, Rare Insight Card, Trait Growth Bonus Penalty: 25% deduction from next trade profit

Jin stared at the screen. This was new. The system had never issued something with this level of risk. The wording — "forecasted" and "penalty" — hinted at real consequences. Not just game-like features.

He tapped the accept button.

> Quest Accepted: Market Storm Forecasted Timer: 47h:59m

---

The rest of the day passed slowly. Jin found himself thinking about the market swing during lectures. He quietly researched historical data between breaks and reviewed trends on his laptop. Every instinct told him this wasn't just about money; this was the system testing his foresight and risk tolerance.

When he met Yssa, Mika, and Calix for lunch, he tried to stay present.

"You good, Jin?" Mika asked, sipping her soda. "You're spacing out."

"Just tired," he said with a soft smile. "Been studying extra hours."

"You're always studying," Yssa teased. "But hey, we got good feedback on our project. Professor said we might even be used as an example for next batch."

"No kidding?" Calix grinned. "Now I really deserve milk tea."

They all laughed, and Jin felt grounded again. But once he got back to his room, the tension returned.

> "System Prompt: 41h Remaining."

He took a deep breath, dimmed the lights, and started running simulations.

---

The following night, Jin opened a private livestream session with his mentee.

"We need to talk strategy," Jin said. "Have you noticed the volatility increase?"

"Yeah," the mentee replied. "Everything's moving weird. News is all over the place too."

Jin nodded. "The market might swing big soon. Watch your exposure. Don't go all-in on anything. Keep your SL tight."

> "Trait Growth: Guide (6%)" "Mentee Stability +2"

After the call, Jin focused entirely on his system. Charts. Patterns. AI-driven forecasts. Even gut instinct. All of it.

Then the timer dropped below 10 hours.

He was ready.

---

> "Decision Locked: Market will rise." Action: Buy order placed on major crypto pair.

The next morning, Jin awoke early. He stared at the market graph.

And then—

> Spike.

It was sharp. Upward. Rapid.

The prediction hit.

> "Quest Completed." XP: +5,000 Trait Growth: Insight +4% Item Gained: Rare Insight Card

> "System Notice: You have unlocked a hidden system feature."

Jin's screen shifted. A new tab appeared: "Forecast Mode".

> Feature: Forecast Mode Function: Allows access to real-time probability insights based on learned data and market behavior. Can be used 2x per week.

Jin leaned back, breathing deeply.

"This changes everything."

---

Later that week, Jin met his cousin at a small café downtown. His cousin's mom was recovering slowly, and the hospital bills were still piling up.

"Kuya Jin, I got the part-time job," the cousin said. "But I'm still worried about Nanay."

Jin handed him an envelope.

"It's not much," he said, "but it should help for now. Just focus on school and your mom."

His cousin stared at the money. "How did you get this much?"

Jin smiled. "From working. In my own way."

---

That night, Jin checked his system.

> Trait Growth: Responsible (38%) Trait Growth: Guide (10%) Alignment: Neutral Good

He was quietly changing — not just improving himself, but making real-world impact.

Jin closed his eyes. The system wasn't just a cheat code.

It was a test of who he would become.

End of Chapter 32