Adrian Cole became aware before sight or sound made sense
Warmth pressed in from every side. A steady rhythm echoed nearby. Breathing. Heartbeats. Adrian Cole understood instantly. Birth had already happened. Consciousness arrived late but intact. Memories from a previous life remained whole. Clear. Heavy.
Adrian Cole opened his eyes.
Light flooded in. White ceiling. Blurred shapes. Movement. Voices. Two people leaned close. A man and a woman. Faces tense with emotion. Relief. Joy. Fear. Adrian Cole studied them quietly.
Parents.
Adrian Cole did not cry. Adrian Cole observed.
Then something unfolded inside Adrian Cole's awareness.
Welcome Host
You have been bonded to the Passive Currency System
All functions are active
The presence was calm. Silent. Absolute.
A transparent interface formed.
System Interface
Name: Adrian Cole
Age: 0
Status: Immortal
Shared Immortality: None
System Level: 1
Currency Generation
$0.01 per second
$0.60 per minute
$36.00 per hour
$864.00 per day
$25,920.00 per month
$315,360.00 per year
Total Accumulated: $0.00
Spent: $0.00
Current Balance: $0.00
Inventory Capacity: 25
Inventory: Empty
Stats
Strength: 1 / 100
Agility: 1 / 100
Intelligence: 30 / 200
Charm: 1 / 100
Luck: 50 / 100
Skills: None
Knowledge: None
Adrian Cole processed everything without panic.
Immortality confirmed. No shared immortality. Currency generated passively. No debt allowed. Inventory empty. Intelligence already high for a newborn. Luck abnormally elevated.
The system was simple. Honest. Dangerous in the right hands.
Adrian Cole shifted attention back to the room. Hospital environment. Clean equipment. Modern design. The man stood stiff. The woman looked exhausted but smiling. Adrian Cole memorized both faces. Family mattered.
Time moved.
Currency increased silently.
Adrian Cole felt the passage rather than watching it. Seconds stacked. Minutes followed. Adrian Cole opened the system again.
Current Balance: $0.60
No action yet.
Adrian Cole waited.
Another hour passed.
Current Balance: $36.00
Adrian Cole opened the system shop.
Shop Categories
Knowledge
Potions
Skills
Assets
Adrian Cole selected Knowledge.
A list appeared. Long. Scrollable. Infinite.
Medical Knowledge Book $50
Basic medical understanding. Integration causes brief dizziness.
IT Knowledge Book $75
Computers systems networks.
Programming Knowledge Book $100
Multiple languages and logic.
Investment and Stocks Knowledge Book $75
Markets trends risk control.
Advanced Medical Knowledge Book $500
Surgical and diagnostic mastery.
More items extended downward. Adrian Cole scrolled slowly. Observing prices. Effects. Future value.
Current Balance: $36.00
No purchase attempted. Adrian Cole already knew the balance was insufficient.
Adrian Cole closed the shop.
Knowledge came before everything. Medical knowledge reduced long term risk. Potions came later. Skills after that. Assets would wait.
Another day passed.
Currency accumulated continuously.
Current Balance: $72.00
Enough.
Adrian Cole opened the system. Shop. Knowledge. Selected Medical Knowledge Book.
Purchase confirmed.
The interface opened automatically.
Total Accumulated: $72.00
Spent: -$50.00
Current Balance: $22.00
Inventory
Medical Knowledge Book x1
Integration began.
Pressure surged behind Adrian Cole's eyes. Dizziness followed. Awareness wavered. Pain lasted seconds. Less than ten. Then it stopped.
Information settled into place.
Anatomy. Illness. Medication. Side effects. Long term risks. Potions and biological interaction.
Adrian Cole stabilized breathing.
The system updated.
Skills
Medical Knowledge Basic
Adrian Cole opened Potions.
Small Charm Potion $300
Medium Charm Potion $600
Large Charm Potion $1,200
Charm Regulator $500
Limits outward Charm display. Internal Charm unaffected.
Current Balance: $22.00
Nothing was purchasable. No attempt made.
Adrian Cole understood the danger. Charm above 100 would distort social behavior. Control was mandatory. The Charm Regulator would be purchased when affordable.
Adrian Cole closed the system.
Thoughts moved inward.
This world felt familiar. History aligned. Technology felt right. Faces matched expectations. Adrian Cole considered the possibilities quietly. Parallel world or altered timeline. The answer did not matter yet. Strategy would adapt either way.
Adrian Cole made a silent vow.
No wasted time. No mercy for threats. No tolerance for bullying. Family would be protected. The system would be used fully. Every advantage taken. Every opportunity exploited.
Currency continued to generate.
Seconds passed. Minutes stacked. Hours followed.
The Passive Currency System did not stop.
And Adrian Cole would not stop either.