Fortune Nexus: My Wealth, My Rules, My Harem

Ryan stepped onto the sidewalk, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets as the morning chill nipped at his skin. The city around him was just starting to wake up—shop owners flipping signs to "Open," delivery trucks pulling up to storefronts, and office workers hurrying to jobs he could only dream of.

$100.

That number pulsed in his mind, as did the words on the floating golden screen still burned into his memory.

> [Spend $100 in a meaningful way.]

[Time Limit: 24 Hours.]

He still didn't fully understand what was happening. A system? A supernatural force? Some elaborate test? Whatever it was, it had put money into his account, and that was real enough.

But what did meaningful mean?

Ryan could blow the money on food, drinks, or clothes, but that felt... empty. If this system was capable of dropping cash into his bank account, he doubted it wanted him to waste it on a pizza and a six-pack.

He needed to be smart.

What could he do with $100 that actually mattered?

His feet carried him forward, aimless but searching. He passed by convenience stores, fast-food joints, and street vendors, all places he could easily drop the money without a second thought. But none of it felt right.

His stomach grumbled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten since last night. He considered grabbing breakfast but shook the thought away. He could eat later—this felt more important.

As he turned a corner, a familiar sight stopped him in his tracks.

The old man was still there.

Sitting on the sidewalk near the bus stop, bundled in a tattered coat and surrounded by a small pile of worn-out belongings, was Mr. Grayson.

Ryan didn't know much about him—just that he'd been homeless for as long as Ryan had lived in this neighborhood. The man mostly kept to himself, never begged, never caused trouble. Sometimes, Ryan saw people giving him food, but other times, Grayson just sat there, staring at the ground, lost in whatever thoughts occupied his mind.

Ryan had never really talked to him. Never really thought about it.

But now, as he stood there, something tugged at his conscience.

He checked his phone.

> [Time Remaining: 22 Hours, 13 Minutes.]

Ryan hesitated. Would this count?

If he gave Grayson the $100, would the system accept it? Or would it decide that a simple act of charity wasn't meaningful enough?

But then again, why did he care? It wasn't about the system.

It was about the fact that he finally had something to give.

Making up his mind, Ryan approached, clearing his throat. "Hey, Mr. Grayson."

The old man looked up slowly, his eyes tired but sharp. "Mornin'," he said, his voice rough with age and the cold.

Ryan hesitated, then crouched down beside him, ignoring the weird looks from a passing couple. "I, uh... I wanted to give you this." He pulled out his wallet and took out the full $100 bill, holding it out.

Grayson eyed the money but didn't take it immediately. "That's a lot to be giving away, kid. You sure about that?"

Ryan nodded. "Yeah. I want to."

Grayson studied him for a long moment, then let out a small chuckle. "Well, I won't say no to a hot meal. Thank you." He took the bill with a nod of gratitude, tucking it into his coat.

Ryan exhaled, feeling something... shift.

A weight lifted.

For the first time in a long time, he felt like he had done something that actually mattered.

And then—it happened.

A warm pulse ran through his body, not painful, but strong enough to make him jolt slightly. The air around him felt thicker, heavier, like the very fabric of reality had just rippled.

Then, in the air before him, a golden message appeared.

> [Mission Completed.]

[Evaluation: Generosity Without Expectation.]

[Reward Calculating...]

Ryan's breath caught in his throat.

It worked.

The system had accepted his choice.

And now, something was about to happen.

---

[Mission Completed.]

[Evaluation: Generosity Without Expectation.]

[Reward Calculating…]

His breath hitched. The screen hovered silently, its golden glow reflecting in his widened eyes.

Mr. Grayson, still sitting on the sidewalk, raised an eyebrow at Ryan's frozen expression. "You okay, kid?"

Ryan barely heard him. His heart pounded as the text shifted again.

[Reward Granted: Wealth Echo (Passive) – Any money you spend meaningfully will return multiplied in unexpected ways.]

Ryan blinked. What?

That didn't make sense. Was this some kind of joke? He had just given away his only $100, and now the system was telling him it would come back multiplied?

His phone vibrated in his pocket. With shaking hands, he pulled it out and saw a new notification from his banking app.

His balance had changed.

$100 → $500.00

His heart slammed against his ribs.

No. Way.

He refreshed the app. The number remained the same. He even checked his transaction history—there was no deposit, no transfer, nothing that explained why his balance had jumped.

It was just… there.

Ryan's fingers tightened around his phone as he swallowed hard.

This is real. This is actually happening.

The Fortune Nexus had taken his spent money and returned it five times over.

The air around him felt different now—heavier, charged with something unseen. The system had just proved itself in a way he couldn't ignore.

Mr. Grayson's voice pulled him back to reality. "You sure you're alright?"

Ryan quickly pocketed his phone and forced a small smile. "Yeah. Just… thinking about something."

The old man chuckled. "Well, don't overthink too much. Life's funny like that—sometimes, you get back more than you expect."

Ryan's stomach twisted at the uncanny accuracy of those words.

You have no idea, old man.

With a small nod, Ryan stood up. "Take care, Mr. Grayson."

"Thanks again, kid." The old man smiled, tucking the $100 into his coat as Ryan turned and walked away.

His mind was racing.

If this system was real—if he could actually multiply money by spending it—then what were the limits?

And more importantly…

How far could he take this?

Testing the System

Ryan stopped at a quiet corner, pulling out his phone and staring at his new $500 balance.

The system's message had said "money spent meaningfully" would return multiplied. But what counted as meaningful?

Had it worked because he gave the money to someone in need? Or would it work with any kind of spending?

Only one way to find out.

He turned and spotted a small coffee shop across the street. Perfect.

Stepping inside, Ryan walked up to the counter. A barista, a young woman with short auburn hair and tired eyes, greeted him with a polite but bored expression. "What can I get you?"

He glanced at the menu. "Uh… just a black coffee."

"That'll be $3.50."

Ryan pulled out his card and swiped it.

A soft pulse ran through his body again. Faint, but still there.

The golden screen flickered into existence just in front of him, invisible to everyone else.

[Transaction Recorded.]

[Evaluation: Basic Purchase – No Significant Meaning Detected.]

[No Bonus Applied.]

Ryan's stomach sank.

So not all spending counted. He had to use the money in ways that actually mattered—not just on random daily expenses.

As he picked up his coffee and walked out, his mind spun with possibilities.

What counted as meaningful? Charity clearly worked. But what about investments? Gifts? Buying something valuable?

His pulse quickened.

If he figured this out…