Once A pauper, system upgraded

Chapter One

March 25th, 2030

The first rays of sunlight pierced through the cracked walls and dusty window of the cramped single room that served as Ethan’s entire world. A worn-out foam mattress lay on the bare floor, and the only other furniture was a rickety wooden cupboard that doubled as a table, a plastic chair, and a small bag containing his few belongings. A faded bucket and a wastebasket sat near the door, completing the bleak picture.

Anyone who stepped inside could see at a glance how deeply impoverished Ethan’s life was. He lived at the very bottom of society — the kind of poverty people whispered about but rarely witnessed up close.

RING… RING…

The sharp sound of his old phone alarm shattered the morning silence.

“Ughhh!”

Ethan groaned loudly as he reached out and slapped the phone to silence it.

“Another night with barely any sleep,” he muttered, running a hand through his messy snow-white hair. The motion revealed a pair of striking ocean-blue eyes, heavy with exhaustion.

Despite his dire circumstances, Ethan was undeniably handsome. His sharp jawline, well-defined facial features, and tall 6’2” frame made him look like someone who belonged on billboards rather than in a slum. Yet his looks had never brought him any real advantage.

The memory of his first confession still stung.

“You might be good-looking, but what’s the use if you can’t even pay for my meals? I’d rather be with a rich, ugly man who can take care of me than waste time with someone like you.”

Since that day, Ethan had buried any thoughts of romance and focused solely on one goal: escaping poverty.

“Ah, damn it — it’s Friday. I have classes today,” he grumbled, forcing himself to sit up.

He dragged himself to the half-filled plastic bucket he had managed to fetch water for the night before, carried it into the tiny attached bathroom, and washed up quickly. After drying off, he changed into his school uniform: a crisp white long-sleeve shirt, black tie, and black trousers. Even in poverty, he refused to let his appearance become as shabby as his surroundings.

Standing in front of the small cracked mirror hanging on the wall, Ethan carefully combed his white hair into place. He slung his old, faded backpack over one shoulder and stepped out of his room — which was, in reality, his entire house.

Outside, the narrow street looked exactly as it always did. Dilapidated houses crowded together while children in torn clothes ran around playing. Women balanced heavy buckets of water on their heads, dragging reluctant kids along, and several men in work clothes prepared to head to nearby construction sites.

The air smelled of hardship, yet the people here shared a strange sense of community and quiet resilience. Ethan often told himself that one day, when he finally made it, he would pull every single person in this neighborhood out of this life.

Lost in thought, he didn’t notice the two middle-aged men walking toward him until they were close.

“Well, if it isn’t the scholar from the trenches,” one of them called out with a grin.

Ethan snapped out of his daze and smiled.

“Morning, Uncle Marcus. Morning, Uncle Malik,” he greeted warmly.

The two brothers were well-known in the area for taking on any kind of manual labor that came their way. They often invited Ethan to join them on weekends and holidays for extra cash.

“Morning, kid,” Malik replied, patting him on the shoulder. “When are you finally getting rich and rescuing your big uncles from this place, huh?”

“Soon,” Ethan answered with a genuine smile. “Very soon.”

Both men chuckled.

“Listen,” Marcus continued, “that billionaire, Mr. Harrington, just started a big project not far from here. He hired us for some odd jobs starting tomorrow. You free to come along?”

“I’ve got nothing planned,” Ethan said. “I’ll definitely join you guys.”

“Perfect. Study hard today, scholar. We’re counting on you,” they said, waving as they walked off.

Ethan didn’t waste any more time. He greeted a few neighbors on his way and quickened his pace. The walk to school usually took nearly an hour, so he moved briskly.

Riverland High School

By early morning, the prestigious Riverland High School was already buzzing with activity. Students arrived in sleek, expensive cars — some driving themselves, others chauffeured by parents or drivers.

As they stepped out, the young elites walked with confident, exaggerated strides, their designer clothes, accessories, and loud conversations radiating wealth and entitlement.

Most of them were children of politicians, celebrities, and business tycoons. The morning entrance was always filled with shameless displays of luxury.

“My new custom Lamborghini Egoista is arriving tomorrow. Can’t wait to show it off at prom.”

“Prom is going to be insane this year. I heard the Lorenzo family is performing live.”

“Check out this diamond-encrusted watch my dad got me.”

“My mom just got a huge settlement from the divorce. She’s buying me a new Mercedes next week.”

The air was thick with boasts and one-upmanship.

Ethan had long grown used to the noise. He sighed deeply as he approached the grand school gates.

“It’s going to be another long day…”

“Who the hell are you talking to, you nobody?”

A short, arrogant-looking student suddenly blocked Ethan’s path, staring up at him aggressively.

Ethan looked down at the 5’2” boy with mild confusion.

“I wasn’t talking to you,” he replied calmly.

The smaller boy’s face twisted in irritation.

“Are you deaf? Or do you want me to call my guards to teach you some manners?”

Ethan, already exhausted from lack of sleep and the long walk, simply stared down at him with a bored expression. He had no interest in entertaining this morning drama.

His calm demeanor only fueled the boy’s anger. The short student tried to throw a punch at Ethan’s stomach, but Ethan — hardened by years of physical labor — easily caught the fist mid-air.

A small crowd quickly gathered, watching the scene unfold.

“Isn’t it too early for this?” Ethan asked in a tired voice.

The shorter boy yanked his hand back, cheeks burning with embarrassment in front of the onlookers.

“You’ll regret this!” he spat before storming off.

Ethan let out the heavy sigh he had been holding and continued walking toward the school building, ignoring the noisy crowd of wealthy students around him.

He had no idea that this small confrontation would soon spiral into much bigger trouble.