World Domination: My Rise To The Top

James had no idea how long he had been asleep, but when he finally opened his eyes, he felt a sense of clarity he hadn't experienced in a long time.

His body felt light, his head no longer heavy from exhaustion, and for the first time in what felt like forever, he didn't wake up with the crushing weight of financial despair looming over him.

He lay in bed for a moment, staring up at the ceiling, letting the reality of his situation settle in.

He smiled as he realised that a goal that had once seemed impossible was now becoming a reality.

He exhaled, running a hand down his face before rolling out of bed.

The first thing he did was take a long, refreshing shower. The cool water ran down his body, washing away not just the sweat from the night before but also the lingering stress that had become his constant companion over the years. By the time he stepped out, towel drying his hair, he felt fully awake.

Dressed in fresh clothes, James made his way downstairs. The house was eerily quiet, the usual sounds of Patty bustling in the kitchen absent.

He figured she had already left for work, which meant it was just him and Leslie at home.

"She's either in her room or out job hunting again," he muttered to himself as he entered the kitchen.

As he opened the fridge to find something to eat, his eyes landed on a bright yellow sticky note attached to the door. In familiar, slightly messy handwriting, it read:

"Hey, blockhead. Mom left your breakfast in the fridge."

"She's out on her job hunting again, it seems," James said, as he let out a small chuckle, shaking his head as he pulled open the fridge.

He didn't even need to search—he knew exactly which plate was his. Grabbing it, he walked over to the dining table and set it down, already feeling his stomach growl in anticipation.

He wasted no time digging in. The food was still slightly cold from being in the fridge, but it didn't matter. It was Patty's cooking, and that was enough.

However, his mind wasn't entirely on his meal. The real thing occupying his thoughts was something else. Something far more important.

The system. His financial situation, to be precise.

The moment he finished eating, James pushed his plate aside and immediately called up his info screen.

[Host Info Screen.]

[Name]: James Zolomon

[Age]: 21

[Stats]

>[Strength]: 9

>[Agility]: 8

>[Intelligence]: 8

>[Charisma]: 6

[Financial Status]

>[Account Balance: $2,059.67 ($20,117.67)]

>[Networth: $477.89]

[System Resources]

>[Stat Point(s)]: 0

>[Lottery Ticket(s)]: 0

>[System Point(s)]: 0

[Mission(s)]: Get Out of Debt.

[System Store]

...

James' eyes widened as he stared at the screen.

"Damn!!! I cleared it! Twenty-thousand-dollar negative net worth… gone!" he screamed internally, pumping his fist in excitement.

He had known he was close, but seeing it in black and white, in reality, confirming that he was now free from debt, sent a surge of emotion through him.

He had spent years believing that he would be buried under financial struggle for the rest of his life.

But now?

Now, he was sitting on over twenty thousand dollars in his account.

Still in disbelief, James grabbed his phone and opened his banking app. But even before it loaded, the notifications on his screen told him everything he needed to know.

Available balance: $20,117.67.

James couldn't help it. A deep, satisfied chuckle bubbled up in his throat before turning into full-blown laughter.

"Hehehe… holy shit," he muttered to himself, shaking his head with a wide grin.

Even after confirming it, it still felt unreal.

For the first time in years, he didn't feel suffocated by financial worry.

But he knew better than to just sit and celebrate. Now that he was in a better position, it was time to think.

"What's next?" he muttered, his brain already working through the possibilities.

The first thing he did was deposit the rebate-eligible $2,000 into his betting account.

He knew he couldn't rely on betting forever, but it was the only reliable way he had right now to keep generating rebate-eligible money.

His goal was simple: flip the $2,000 into at least $5,000 before moving on to something bigger.

Not even a second after making the transfer, a familiar system notification rang in his mind.

[Ding!]

[You spent $2000. 10x rebate has been applied. You have received $20,000. The money has been sent to your bank account.]

And then, just as expected, a bank alert followed.

Well Fargo's Deposit Alert: A deposit of $20,000.00 was credited to your account ending in 6226. Available balance: $40,117.67.

James leaned back in his chair, staring at the numbers.

$40,000.

Forty thousand dollars.

He exhaled slowly, trying to process the situation.

"Wow… now I have forty grand. What do I do with it?"

His thoughts were interrupted by another system notification.

[Ding!]

[Mission: Get Out of Debt has been completed. Reward has been given.]

A new wave of satisfaction washed over him.

"Nice. I've got 30 SP now," James nodded to himself, feeling a little more secure knowing he had extra System Points in case he needed them.

Even though 30 SP was nowhere near the 10,000 SP needed to unlock the System Store, it was still a great resource. He could use it to improve himself when the time came.

But now, the real question was:

What's next?

James' first instinct was to pay off his debt and be debt free, or help cover the mortgage.

But then he stopped himself.

No. That would attract too much attention.

He couldn't just drop tens of thousands overnight without raising suspicion.

If Patty and Leslie saw that kind of money appear out of nowhere, they would question him—and that was a headache he didn't need.

Instead, he decided on a different approach.

Start a business.

If he had a legitimate source of income, it would be much easier to explain his wealth. No questions. No suspicion.

But what kind of business?

That was the real question.

He needed something profitable but manageable, something he could start with his current capital.

His mind began running through options—reselling electronics, flipping used goods, opening an online store, investing in high-demand services, crypto, stock.

There were too many choices, and he needed guidance.

And when it came to money and making it fast, there was only one person he knew who could give him real advice.

Ralph.

James smirked as he grabbed his jacket.

"Time to go see Ralph."

He didn't hesitate—he needed answers, and he needed them now.

With his phone in hand, he sent a quick text to Ralph:

James: You home? Need to talk. Big plans.

Within seconds, a reply came.

Ralph: I'm always home, man. Come through.

James pocketed his phone, grabbed his keys, and stepped outside.

The morning sun was bright, and the crisp air filled his lungs as he took in the world as a man finally free from debt.