"From Broke to Baller: Thanks, System?"

The next few days passed in a blur for Jin. His life, once so simple and predictable, was now riddled with system messages and tasks that pulled him in new directions. Each day brought new challenges, new lessons, and subtle changes that made him feel like he was standing on the edge of something much bigger than he'd ever imagined.

Jin's phone buzzed again, the familiar sound of a system notification cutting through the quiet of his room. He picked it up, eyes narrowing slightly as he read the glowing message:

[New Task: Test Your Trading Strategy in Real Conditions.]

[Objective: Use your Beginner Trading Skill to make a small but significant profit in the next 24 hours.]

[Reward: +5 Life Points | Unlock Trading Intermediate Skill.]

The challenge seemed simple enough, but Jin knew that the system wouldn't give him anything without testing his ability. It was time to put the knowledge he'd been accumulating to the test.

He sat down at his desk, the worn-out chair creaking beneath him. The computer screen flickered to life, revealing his trading platform. The data was overwhelming at first — price charts, candlesticks, indicators. But Jin had spent the last week studying them all, patiently absorbing every detail the system had provided. His fingers hovered over the keyboard, unsure of where to start.

[Focus on market trends. Choose your strategy wisely.]

The system's message appeared in the corner of his vision, a gentle nudge in the right direction. Jin nodded to himself. He was going to use the strategy he'd been refining, a simple one that focused on following market trends rather than trying to predict every movement.

He scrolled through his assets, picking a stock he had been watching for a few days. The price had dipped recently, and he had a gut feeling it was about to go up again. It was risky — but calculated. He set his stop-loss limit, adjusted the position size, and hit "Buy."

The system gave a quiet beep of approval.

[Your trade is live. Watch the market closely.]

For the next few hours, Jin monitored his trade like a hawk. The price fluctuated, dipping and rising in ways that would have made a beginner nervous, but Jin stayed calm. He remembered the system's advice — don't panic, stay steady, and trust the analysis. The clock ticked on as he watched the trade move in his favor.

[Market trend is shifting. It's time.]

As the price hit the sweet spot he'd been waiting for, Jin swiftly sold his position, locking in a modest profit. It wasn't a huge win, but it was his first real success in the market, and it felt like a validation of everything he had been working toward.

The system buzzed with excitement.

[Congratulations! You've completed your first trade with success.]

[Profit: $120 | +5 Life Points | Intermediate Trading Skill Unlocked.]

A new icon appeared on the side of his screen, marking the new skill as unlocked. Jin clicked on it eagerly, reading the brief description of the Intermediate Trading Skill. It was everything he needed to elevate his trading game: more advanced analysis, better leverage management, and quicker decision-making.

His heart raced with excitement, but he didn't let it overwhelm him. This was just the beginning.

He sat back, stretching his arms, a quiet smile creeping onto his face. For the first time in a long while, he felt like he was in control of his life — like he had the tools to shape his future, not just drift along.

---

That evening, Jin sat down for dinner with his family, the small house filled with the scent of simple but comforting food. His mother smiled warmly at him, serving him a plate with rice and a few pieces of fried fish. Jin smiled back, feeling a warmth in his chest that had nothing to do with the meal.

"How was school today, Jin?" His father asked, wiping his hands on a rag after setting down his tools. He had come home late, as usual, covered in the scent of metal and sweat.

"It was good," Jin replied. "A lot of assignments, but manageable."

His younger brother, Marco, sat quietly, his eyes glued to a handheld game console. He didn't seem to care much about the conversation.

Jin pushed his food around on his plate, thinking. The success of his trade earlier that day was still fresh in his mind, but he kept his thoughts to himself. He wasn't ready to share his new hobby with his family yet. They wouldn't understand. Not yet, at least.

After dinner, Jin excused himself to his room, leaving the table before the conversation could wander into awkward territory. He didn't mind the peace, but there were always moments when he felt the weight of his family's expectations pressing down on him.

[Your first trade is complete. You've unlocked Intermediate Trading Skills. What's next?]

The system's voice filled his mind, gentle and encouraging.

[There's always more to learn, Jin. Don't stop now.]

Jin smiled to himself, clicking on the new features unlocked by his success. With each passing day, he was learning more — not just about trading, but about himself. He was starting to believe that maybe, just maybe, this was the life he'd always wanted. A life where he was in control of his destiny, building his future one step at a time.

And this was only the beginning.

End of Chapter 40