The Fortune System: Son Of Wealth

The FORST II

Nathan paused for a moment thinking about the response he'd just gotten.

"And I'm guessing you're also the reason why none of them are etched into the history books," Nathan remarked, drawing an observation from the memories he had received.

{That is also correct. I can make and unmake a person. I can build and ruin my host.} The acknowledgment carried a weighty implication, unveiling the immense influence wielded by the self-aware system over the fate and legacy of those it guided.

Nathan nodded thoughtfully. "The Fortune System seems too long of a name to call you. How about The FORST or simply Forst?" He proposed an abbreviated moniker for the sentient being that had chosen him as its host.

His mind buzzed with an overload of information about this entity that now coexisted within him. Nathan recognized the necessity to digest the newfound knowledge. There remained a plethora of unanswered questions—details about the system's purposes, how to access and effectively control it, its origin, the history of his predecessors, and a myriad of other inquiries that lingered in the unexplored corners of his consciousness.

Before delving fully into the memories, Nathan sought clarification. The system claimed to have lived for over a thousand years, yet the memories presented seemed far less than what one of such age should possess. "Is this all the information about you and my predecessors?" he inquired for confirmation.

{Certainly not. That's less than ten percent of it. As you grow, more will naturally be revealed.} The response held a promise of unfolding revelations, implying that the depth of understanding would expand with Nathan's own growth and experiences.

Nathan grinned, finding reassurance in the response. "How do I grow?"

{Absorb all the memories and information you've received, and you'll naturally get the answers to whatever questions you have the urge to ask.}

A moment of silence lingered before the voice returned. {Feel free to call me Forst. I certainly hope to be of service to you.} With a newfound ally in Forst and a path of discovery laid before him, Nathan prepared to embark on a journey of understanding and growth.

Nathan chuckled and started absorbing the memories when a subtle change caught his attention.

"Hmm?" he murmured, his head turning toward the gate of the room as though he had caught a distant sound.

Soon, the soft cadence of footsteps reached his ears, and not long after, the shadow of someone approaching gradually emerged at the entrance of the room.

"What was that?" Nathan asked himself, having sensed the approaching figure even before their presence became noticeable.

Having maintained a fixed position, with his head facing downward and eyes focused on the ground, Nathan's lack of acknowledgment seemed to elicit a presumptuous response from the approaching figure. "The son of a b***h has finally given up on life," declared a deep, husky voice, unmistakably male. Despite the presumptive declaration, Nathan remained indifferent, not bothering to raise his head or spare a glance. The familiarity of the voice had already identified the figure without the need for visual confirmation.

The figure positioned themselves in front of the gate and flicked a switch mounted on one side of the wall outside the room, bathing the entire space in light.

Accustomed to the darkness, Nathan, caught off guard, instinctively raised a hand to shield his eyes from the sudden, blinding illumination.

"Tch! The bastard still lives," remarked the figure, now revealed as a man in his late forties, as he clicked his tongue upon realizing that Nathan had managed to survive.

"Unfortunately, father… I still live," Nathan stated with an emotionless tone, acknowledging his father-in-law's presence.

Haden, Nathan's father-in-law, surveyed the room with disdain, his eyes narrowing as he observed the muddied floor stained in places with a familiar shade of red. The recognition dawned on him – a realization marked by a discernible shift in his expression, revealing a mixture of concern and curiosity. The presence of blood became an unsettling sight for the man.

He narrowed his eyes at the significant amount of blood on the floor, his gaze then returning to Nathan, who was visibly covered in dried blood. "What the hell did you do in there?" Haden inquired, his tone a blend of accusation and concern.

Haden harbored a grim hope that Nathan might have succumbed to the beating without receiving treatment, but his disappointment was palpable upon realizing that Nathan still clung to life.

"I did nothing, father." Nathan raised both hands in the air, a deliberate gesture to naturally inform his father-in-law that his arms were now functional.

As expected, Haden frowned upon witnessing Nathan lift both hands. He had been present when Nathan's left arm was left in ruins, and now, a mere ten hours later, Nathan demonstrated the unexpected recovery of the once-injured limb.

"Seems like you're in better shape than when you first got here." Haden attempted to conceal his frustration, but the effort proved futile.

Nathan nodded without offering any verbal response. The smile on his face, however, seemed to irk Haden, intensifying his fury. The desire to witness Nathan in pain for insulting his wife fueled Haden's resentment, mirroring the deeper animosities that had taken root between them.

Sighing, Haden addressed Nathan, acknowledging that his plans for retribution would have to wait. "Come. The family head would like to see you."

Nathan had been lost in his own thoughts while Haden spoke. "Hey, Forst. I saw a crazy amount last time. Around a billion dollars or so. Where's it?"

{In the system's account. Would you like me to move it to your main account?} Forst's response carried a tone that brought a grin to Nathan's face, contemplating the newfound possibilities that the substantial sum presented.

Haden frowned upon noticing the grin on Nathan's face. "Hey! Have you finally gone mad? I said let's go. The family head would like to speak to you outside."

Nathan maintained the grin as he rose and walked toward the opened gate. "Sure thing," he replied, calmly passing by the man who was soon to cease being his father-in-law. The unspoken tension lingered in the air as Nathan prepared to face the family head and whatever awaited him beyond the gate.

One of the things Nathan had learned before Haden's interruption was that he could communicate with the system without saying the words aloud. "Not yet. My ex-wife's currently with the phone. I'll let you know when it's needed," Nathan mentally conveyed to his new system.

{Understood. I already have access to any digital property of yours, but as you've ordered, I will await your command.} Forst replied with a tone that conveyed its anticipation.