Jared Alonzo stood in front of the gym entrance.
Not a large one.
Not modern.
But functional.
Objective: improve physical capability.
He pushed the door open.
The smell of iron, sweat, and rubber filled the air.
Weights clanged.
People trained.
Some casually.
Some seriously.
Jared's eyes scanned the room.
Equipment: sufficient.
Environment: controlled.
Potential learning sources: multiple.
"…acceptable."
"First time?"
A voice came from behind the counter.
A man in his late 30s.
Muscular.
Scar on his eyebrow.
Calm, but observant.
Jared turned.
"Yes."
"Student?"
"Yes."
The man nodded.
"Monthly fee."
Jared didn't hesitate.
He paid.
₱1,340 → ₱840
Investment.
"Name?"
"Jared."
The man gave a short nod.
"Call me Coach Ramon."
Jared studied him.
Posture: disciplined.
Movements: efficient.
Eyes: experienced.
Conclusion: valuable.
"I want to train," Jared said.
Coach Ramon raised an eyebrow.
"Everyone here trains."
"I want efficiency."
A pause.
Coach Ramon smirked slightly.
"…you talk like you know something."
"I'm learning."
Another pause.
"…fine," Ramon said. "Show me what you can do."
Minutes later—
Jared stood near the weights.
Bench press.
He lay down.
Grip steady.
Weight: moderate.
He pushed.
One rep.
Two.
Three—
His arms trembled.
Five—
He dropped it back.
Breathing slightly heavier.
Coach Ramon watched silently.
"Again."
Jared sat up.
"…inefficient."
"Again," Ramon repeated.
Jared didn't argue.
He tried again.
This time—
Four reps.
Then failure.
"Again."
Jared paused.
Then—
"…why?"
Coach Ramon crossed his arms.
"Because your body is weak."
Direct.
Simple.
Jared didn't react.
"Your form is decent," Ramon continued.
"But your endurance? Terrible."
Jared processed it.
Accurate.
"You rely too much on thinking," Ramon added.
That—
Made Jared pause.
"…thinking is efficient."
"For solving problems," Ramon said.
A step closer.
"Not for surviving hits."
Silence.
Jared understood.
Different domains require different systems.
"…teach me."
Ramon studied him for a moment.
Then nodded.
"…come tomorrow."
That night—
Jared sat in front of his laptop.
Screen glowing.
Numbers moving.
Current balance: ₱840
He started trading again.
This time—
Faster.
Sharper.
More aggressive.
₱840 → ₱1,200
₱1,200 → ₱1,950
₱1,950 → ₱2,800
Hours passed.
Jared leaned back.
Balance:
₱3,420
"…growth confirmed."
His eyes narrowed.
If this continues…
He could fund everything.
Training.
Food.
Future plans.
"…good."
His phone buzzed.
Iris.
Iris: Did you go to the gym?
Jared replied instantly.
Jared: Yes.
Three dots appeared.
Then—
Iris: You're serious about this…
Jared: Yes.
A pause.
Then—
Iris: Don't forget—you're still human.
Jared stared at the message.
A few seconds passed.
Then he typed:
Jared: For now.
Elsewhere—
A dimly lit office.
Quiet.
Controlled.
A man sat behind a desk.
Watching a screen.
On it—
Footage.
Jared.
The fight.
The movements.
The precision.
"…interesting."
The man leaned forward slightly.
"Not trained," he muttered.
"But calculated."
He pressed a button.
"Keep watching him."
A voice responded from the speaker.
"Yes, sir."
The man smiled faintly.
"…let's see how far you go."
Back in his room—
Jared closed his laptop.
₱3,420.
Still small.
But growing.
Everything was growing.
His mind.
His plans.
His influence.
He stood.
Looked at his reflection again.
"…not enough."
A slow breath.
"Not yet."