I Hate Systems Chapter 1: Betrayed by the System
“Sir,” a captivating actress, now a show host, inquired with eyes alight, “You’ve ignited the entrepreneurial spirit in millions globally. Commencing your journey with nothing, you've ascended to become the world’s wealthiest individual and the foremost manufacturer of electronics and weaponry. How does it feel to achieve such unparalleled success at merely 35 years of age?”
“Haha, an excellent question,” replied a young man seated opposite her, appearing to be in his early twenties judging solely by his visage. With an air of aloofness yet a humble demeanor, his words carried significant weight. “To many, my life story might seem a triumphant narrative. However, I am but a regular human, subject to ordinary needs, desires, and apprehensions. My demanding schedule regrettably prevents me from even partaking in three meals a day.”
Witnessing his slightly pained expression, the host lady expressed sympathy, “It’s hard to believe the world’s richest man experiences similar feelings to us. I’m truly moved by this revelation.”
“Despite my vast fortune, I remain simply human,” the man stated with a smile.
“I am naught but a human…” the host lady echoed, a look of profound understanding dawning on her face, before loudly announcing to the assembled audience, “That concludes our session, everyone! Let’s give a massive round of applause for our esteemed guest, Compass Carburettor!”
The studio audience erupted in thunderous cheers, their clapping echoing through the venue. The interview, broadcast live across all major television networks, reached an estimated viewership of over a billion individuals.
The esteemed guest, Compass Carburettor, offered a polite nod to the host lady. He then rose from his seat and, escorted by a couple of his bodyguards, departed the premises.
Watching his rapid exit, the host lady let out a disappointed sigh, “Ah, I had hoped to get his contact number.”
Upon exiting the studio, Compass Carburettor entered his bulletproof and bomb-resistant vehicle, proceeding directly to the airport via a specially reserved route. He then boarded his private jet, observing the landscape recede below as it took flight.
“Sir, would you care for a drink?” a flight attendant inquired, presenting a tray adorned with a limited-edition selection of the world’s most expensive wines.
“Certainly,” Compass Carburettor agreed, watching with a faint smile as the attendant poured a glass of wine. She departed, fully aware that he limited himself to a single glass daily.
Once the flight attendant had left, he found himself alone in the cabin. Gazing out the window at the endless expanse of clouds, he raised his glass, remarking, “A day of such distinction certainly calls for a fine wine.”
He then brought the glass to his nose, inhaling deeply to savor the bouquet. “Exquisite, refined – a true marvel of human civilization.”
[Ding!]
[Host Status: Intoxicated]
[Ding!]
[Removing Alcohol Intoxication]
“…”
He lifted the wine glass again, intending to take a sip, but accidentally inhaled the aromatic vapor. “Exquisite, elegaaaantttggghh….”
[Ding!]
[Host Status: Intoxicated]
[Ding!]
[Removing Alcohol Intoxication]
“…”
He pinched his nose, a smirk playing on his lips as he brought the glass closer and took a deliberate sip. “Exquiiissssite!”
[Ding!]
[Host Status: Intoxicated]
[Ding!]
[Removing Alcohol Intoxication]
“…I’ve had enough!” he grunted, setting the wine glass down on a nearby table with a sigh. “Why does my tolerance for alcohol never seem to improve?”
[Ding!]
[System Response: It is due to your body’s natural disposition. You can enhance your alcohol tolerance by reallocating some Body Management Points from the Beauty section to the Alcohol Tolerance section.]
[Ding!]
[You currently have no unassigned Body Management Points.]
“It’s quite alright,” Compass Carburettor sighed. “A healthy, strong, and handsome physique is infinitely more valuable than a higher alcohol tolerance.”
[Ding!]
[As you command, Host]
“Display the system interface,” he commanded. A screen materialized before him, detailing all his accumulated assets and attributes.
[Ding!]
[Money-Making System: Level 6]
[Host: Compass Carburettor]
[Race: Human]
[Physique: Health (Level 10), Strength (Level 10), Dexterity (Level 8), Stamina (Level 7), Intelligence (Level 7), Cognition (Level 9), Natural Recovery (Level 6), Five Senses (Level 10), Resting (Level 10)]
[Skills: Logic (Level 10), Bargain (Level 10), Money Sense (Level 10), Profit Acquisition (Level 10), Leadership (Level 8), Higher Bargain (Level 4), Merchant (Level 8)]
Observing the extent of his progress, Compass Carburettor felt a surge of elation. “I grow more powerful and wealthier with each passing day.”
He recalled his appearance as a mere student compared to his current, exceptionally handsome self – the resemblance was negligible. Furthermore, their personalities and temperaments were worlds apart. “From a reckless, good-for-nothing student with no discernible talents to the proprietor of Earth’s largest conglomerate, I have indeed come a considerable distance.”
“All of this is thanks to you, my trusty Money-Making System.” He smiled, watching the clouds drift by, revealing a vast landmass below.
“System, initiate the upgrade sequence,” he commanded.
[Ding!]
[Responding to Host: The System is undergoing an upgrade from Level 6 to Level 7, which will take seven hours. Do you consent?]
“Yes, proceed with the upgrade!” Compass Carburettor gave his assent, hearing a distinct 'beep' as a part of him seemed to power down. Initially, the 'dings' from the Money-Making System were a source of irritation, but now, they served as his personal ASMR.
The primary reason for his apprehension regarding the System’s upgrade was the temporary deactivation of all his Skills. This meant he would be stripped of every ability he usually commanded through the System.
Such a state would be perilous if he were to engage in any deals or converse with clients during this period. Without his Skills, he was virtually powerless against the shrewd individuals he interacted with daily. Therefore, upgrading the System was only feasible when he had ample time for rest.
Furthermore, given his clientele spanned the globe, he never adhered to a fixed sleep schedule. This led him to upgrade his Resting ability to Level 10, the maximum attainable at the current Level 6 of the Money-Making System. This enhancement allowed him to stay refreshed on minimal sleep.
At Level 10, a mere 3 hours of sleep per day was sufficient to keep him perfectly revitalized for the entire day.
“Once the System reaches Level 7, I will unlock food-related abilities to further enhance my physique,” he murmured, observing the jet as it pierced through the cloud layer, revealing a vast expanse of land below.
It was a private island, a territory spanning a 30-kilometer radius, situated in the heart of the Atlantic Ocean. This was his personal domain, the location of his factory, offices, and more.
With everything consolidated in one place and its remote Atlantic location, he never encountered security issues. Moreover, as the island was entirely self-sufficient, all his employees resided there, forming a vibrant, bustling metropolis.
Being an artificial construct, the island boasted state-of-the-art technology, ensuring a pollution-free environment.
Carburettor Island!
Named in honor of his family name, it was his sanctuary. Upon the private jet's arrival at the airport, his team escorted him to his residence. Up until this point, he had maintained a cheerful demeanor. However, upon entering his home, the oppressive stillness immediately soured his mood, prompting him to ask his assistant, “Where is Stencil?”
“Sir, she is still at school. She will be home in about four more hours,” his assistant replied.
“Understood,” he sighed, making his way to the sofa and sinking into its cushions. His gaze fell upon a nearby picture frame, containing a family portrait: his parents, his wife, and his daughter, Stencil.
Regrettably, five years prior, his company found itself embroiled in a bitter conflict with a rival firm in the same industry. This led to a confrontation where his adversaries targeted his family during a vacation.
His daughter emerged as the sole survivor, but tragically lost her right arm. Despite his substantial investment in bionic arm technology, fitting her with a prosthetic nearly identical to her original limb, the emotional scars from that incident never truly healed.
Even though he succeeded in driving his rival company to bankruptcy and ensuring the incarceration of all responsible parties for his family's demise, a profound emptiness remained within him. After all, even with the success of his revenge, his family could not be brought back.
He held onto the hope that upgrading his system would eventually grant him the ability to resurrect his wife and parents – his only remaining hope. Now, Stencil was his sole remaining family, the singular driving force in his life. This realization underscored his understanding that money and power were merely tools, means to an end, rather than the fundamental desires of a human being. It was feelings, the bond of family, that transformed a greedy beast into a human.
“I had better complete my work promptly so I can spend some quality time with Stencil when she returns.” Compass Carburettor, accompanied by his assistant, proceeded towards one of his R&D facilities, where cutting-edge research was underway on a groundbreaking weapon technology.
This skyscraper was entirely dedicated to the development of this weapon. Over half of its floors were outfitted with supercomputers and the necessary components to maintain their operation. Reaching the basement, Compass Carburettor observed a shooting range where a team of scientists were intently focused, calibrating something on a colossal screen.
Upon noticing his arrival, the lead scientist greeted him with a smile, “We are almost finished; it’s the world’s first evergreen gun.”
“Let me see,” Compass Carburettor approached a table where several machines were meticulously scanning a delicate-looking firearm. Visually, it was rather unremarkable. The barrel and grip formed a distinct ‘L’ shape, complete with a trigger. In essence, its appearance lacked any striking or breathtaking qualities.
It possessed an ivory finish, sleek in its design. Upon touching it, Compass Carburettor expressed his satisfaction, “Does it incorporate all the specifications I outlined?”
“Indeed,” the lead scientist explained, his voice brimming with pride. “The entire construction is meticulously crafted from pure carbon and carbon-based materials. It operates on solar power, requiring approximately one full day for a complete charge, which then equips it with sufficient energy to discharge twenty-four rounds. The projectiles are propelled using the advanced railgun mechanism.”
With a proud smile, he continued, “The weapon's nozzle is designed to intake ambient air, filtering out only carbon and carbon-based elements. These are then processed internally to fabricate the bullets. The entire operation is automated, with each bullet taking an hour to produce. They are rectangular with a sharpened edge and, critically, sublimate into nothingness just sixty seconds after discharge, leaving absolutely no trace. The internal magazine accommodates six rounds.”
The barrel itself measured a mere twenty centimetres in length. In its entirety, it was a compact firearm.
The head scientist chuckled as he elaborated, “The firearm weighs a mere 250 grams. During our impact resistance tests, it remained virtually unscathed even after a tonne of steel was dropped from a height of one metre onto it. The bullets are fired at speeds just below the velocity of sound, and its optimal accuracy is maintained up to fifty metres. Beyond this range, accuracy diminishes by one centimetre for every additional metre. Furthermore, its integrated air circulation system effectively nullifies all recoil generated during firing. Once the magazine is depleted, it expels the air that had absorbed the recoil.”
“In essence, this is the ultimate self-sustaining firearm, demanding neither maintenance nor external ammunition. Even a child could handle it without experiencing any strain on their wrists or arms. In the future, this invention has the potential to revolutionize warfare.” The lead scientist addressed Compass Carburettor, “Kindly bestow upon it a name.”
“Anthozoa!” declared Compass Carburettor after a moment of contemplation. “I find the name quite fitting for a weapon of such exceptional calibre.”
He then took possession of the firearm, proceeded to the shooting range, and fired a few rounds, nodding in admiration. “Truly incredible, unparalleled, a marvel of modern scientific achievement!”
He then took the weapon with him back to his residence. Although the lead scientist harboured a desire to intervene, he lacked the courage to do so, merely watching as Compass Carburettor playfully handled the weapon on his way home.
He slid it into the holster affixed to his hip, admiring his reflection in the mirror with a laugh. Upon hearing the doorbell, he glanced at the time, his face lighting up with joy as he realised his daughter had arrived.
He gestured for his assistant to remain put as he joyfully skipped towards the door, flinging it open to greet his daughter, “Oh, my dearest!”
However, just as he was about to embrace her, the world around him turned monochrome, and time seemed to freeze. And, in a departure from the usual narrative, something felt distinctly different as a system notification echoed in his awareness.
[Ding!]
[The Money-Making System has successfully achieved Level 7]
[Returning to the System World now]