The Next Morning - Elian's Room
Elian awoke to the first rays of sunlight brushing against the edge of his window. For a minute, the weight of the previous few days pressed against his chest like a boulder—until his phone vibrated.
He took it up.
[NovaTech Payroll Notification].
The ₱50,000.00 bonus was successfully credited.
Reference number: NTX-51287489.
Timestamp: 5:04 AM.
His heart skipped a beat.
It was real.
He sat up, the blanket slipping away as the fog of sleep lifted, revealing a clear, concentrated mind. This wasn't only about money. It was all about timing.
GoBank Alert.
[Balance updated]
Balance credited: +₱50,000.
Current Balance: ₱70,000.
The amount is insufficient to cover the ₱216,021 needed for his father's surgery, but it is enough for a desperate gamble.
He quickly turned to the laptop on his desk and opened it. The system interface shimmered online, as if it had been waiting for him.
[New Feature Unlocked: TradeWave]
A new module appeared: TradeWave. A live dashboard. Sharp. Responsive. More than simply charts, it was alive with insider sentiment, AI-processed rumors, and algorithmic predictions.
"W-w-what is this?" he shouted.
"Son, what happened?" his mother worriedly asked him.
[Advanced Trading Skill - Activated]
[The System will not assist. All choices, risks, and rewards depend entirely on the Host's decisions.
He calmed himself. "Nothing, Ma".
He adjusted his seat, pulled up a blank notepad, and started mapping out trades.
8:12 AM - Dive in
TradeWave began with a rush of color and motion—real-time candles rising and falling, news tidbits updating by the second, and sentiment indicators vibrating in red and green pulses. It felt like I was peeking inside the global economy's nervous system.
He scanned quickly. Opportunities shifted in and out of view. He needed to act quickly when faced with the choice of noise or signal.
He divided his ₱70,000 into three sectors:
1. MetroSoft-Buyout Rumor | ByteCore Tech
Buy-in: ₱30,000.
Status: MetroSoft is considering acquiring a local startup. Rumor confirmed on insider blog.
Rationale: The price is still flat; acquisition will cause a buying frenzy.
2. InterLink Logistics: Scandal Brewing
Short Sale: ₱25,000.
Leak: Failed ISO audit documents are spreading. Not yet made public.
Rationale: If the leak spreads, the stock will plunge.
3. AgriSol Holdings - Anticipated Government Support
Buy-in: ₱15,000.
Rumor: A tech-based farming solution is linked to a prospective Senate award.
Rationale: If the announcement is true, the stock price could rise by more than 60%.
Let's ride the waves.
9:05 AM - Begin
He stared as the candles lit up. The stock market was open.
ByteCore soared within 45 minutes of MetroSoft's acquisition being confirmed in a local finance publication.
Sell: ₱30,000 → ₱74,000
Profit: ₱ 44,000.
AgriSol came shortly after. A news conference was held to unveil the new National AgriTech Initiative.
Sell: ₱15,000 → ₱49,400
Profit: ₱ 34,400.
InterLink? At 11:58 AM, a whistleblower published documents to a forum, breaking the dead silence.
Panic struck. Hard.
Sell: ₱25,000 short, covered at ₱43,800.
Profit: ₱ 18,800.
He leaned back for a moment.
In less than three hours, ₱70,000 increased to ₱111,200.
His heart thumped with incredulity. That is more than a month's typical wage. I can quit.
No. Not yet.
1:15 PM - Gamble
TradeWave pulsed red.
ALERT: Indonesia initiates partial oil export cut.
Predicted effect: Southeast Asian fuel stocks will increase during the next 2-3 hours.
Elian narrowed his gaze. He spotted a ripple forming.
Two firms lit up:
EastOil Corporation (headquartered in Davao)
FuelMax Distributors (fuel logistics with ports on Mindanao)
He made a hefty bet.
Buy: ₱60,000 in EastOil.
Purchase: ₱50,000 into FuelMax.
He kept ₱1,200 as fees and spreads.
2:50 PM - Wave impact.
News broke. CNN Philippines covered the export cuts. An oil-stock craze sprung out.
EastOil surged 45% in 30 minutes.
₱60,000 → ₱107,000
Profit: ₱ 47,000.
Over the course of 45 minutes, FuelMax grew slowly but consistently.
₱50,000 → ₱91,400
Profit: ₱ 41,400.
His screen glowed green.
Current capital: ₱336,000+.
But the day was not over.
3:40 PM—Final Push
He researched the cryptocurrency market. A flash alert from TradeWave showed:
Bitcoin Derivative Shortfall Detected - Possible Short-Term Rebound in Altcoins
Elian discovered a mid-volume coin that is recovering from a dip: SOL-X.
Buy: ₱50,000
It recovered within 12 minutes. He closed at the climax.
₱50,000 → ₱111,082
Profit: ₱ 60,082.
4:20 PM - Closing Bell.
Elian closed every position. TradeWave compiled the following results:
Total profit: ₱336,000.
Starting Capital: ₱70,000.
Final balance: ₱427,082.
He glanced at the figure silently.
There were no system-assisted transactions. No skills were engaged mid-trade. There are no automatic wins.
Only calculation, instinct, timing, and faith in oneself.
[Side Mission Complete]
Mission: Earn over ₱100,00
Reward Unlocked: Insider Market Intelligence
Click to view more...
Elian breathed quietly as he closed the tab. Not now. He had somewhere to be.
He cashed out the funds using three different portals, sent the majority to his GoBank account, and checked the time: 4:30 PM.
He closed the laptop, changed quickly into jeans, his cleanest shirt, and the same coat he wore to his NovaTech interview, and slid his phone and wallet into his side bag. The air outdoors was hot and dry, and the Manila streets were as busy as ever, yet Elian seemed unaffected by it all.
Later - Hospital Billing Department
The cashier examined the money being handed over—envelope after envelope of neatly prepared cash, verified, sealed, and double-checked. Elian slid over the printed GoBank transaction receipt for the remaining money.
"I'd like to pay for my father's entire surgery in full," he stated quietly.
The woman blinked and looked at the final bill.
Exact amount: ₱216,021.00.
"And… I want him moved to a private room before the operation."
She looked at him for a moment before nodding hastily and motioning for the head nurse and a security guard to assist with paperwork and processing.
Within minutes, a call was placed.
The new room was quieter, painted in gentle white and light green tones. It smelled more like comfort than bleach. There were windows now. A cushioned bench. Fresh linens.
His father, who was still unconscious, was gently pushed in by caregivers and transferred to the adjustable hospital bed with more care than before. An IV stand was replaced with a more advanced monitor, and a nurse began taking vital signs almost immediately.
His mother stared about, dazed.
"E-Elian, what is this place?" "
He did not speak at first. He was observing his father.
The bruises were still present. The cast was still wrapped around his leg. But something felt better.
Brighter.
As if hope had returned.
Elian finally turned to his mother and gently handed her the official documentation, surgery schedule, and private room transfer notice.
"The full payment is complete. The surgery is scheduled on Friday. Ma, he's not in the general ward anymore. "This is where he will recover."
His mother gazed at the paper, her lips twitching.
"But, how did you acquire the money? "
"I worked for it."
She glanced at him with wide eyes. "In a week?" Elian, do not lie to me. Did somebody lend you this? "
He shook his head with a little smile. "I haven't borrowed anything. I did not cheat. I didn't ask anyone for assistance."
He took a step closer and softly grabbed her hand.
"I just bet on myself."
Elian walked over, crouched down, and extended his arms. She raced right into them.
"Will Papa get better now?"She asked quietly.
"Yes," he said, touching her hair lightly. "He's going to be okay now."
Back in Elian's Room
The air was suddenly colder. Manila was sleeping under a dreary sky. Elian looked out the window from his workstation, watching the streetlights flicker one by one as the day gave way to darkness.
He let out a big breath. The day felt like a year.
Then something tugged at the edge of his consciousness.
He returned his attention to his laptop, the screen still glowing faintly in the dim room.
The system interface was still open.
A tab flickered faintly in the background, which he had missed in the midst of his emotions and rush.
[Side Mission Completed - Reward Pending.]
Click to Claim Insider Market Intelligence.