Chapter 353: Chapter 352: System Disappear
That was the thing people often overlooked. Money could buy you comfort, sure, but it was never the foundation.
Because the truth was, money could only take you so far.
Money could buy you a car, but knowledge designed the engine.
Money could buy you the latest phone, but knowledge built the microchip inside.
Money could buy you medicine, but knowledge discovered the cure.
Money could hire you a lawyer, but knowledge wrote the law in the first place.
Money could bribe its way into a room, but knowledge made you the guy everyone in that room had to listen to.
That was the difference. Money gave you temporary advantages, but knowledge gave you permanence. Money made you rich, knowledge made you relevant.
For Rex, this was about power, the kind that lasted and couldn’t be taken away. After all, if he really wanted to, he could toss around enough cash to coast through life like some rich second-gen. But that wasn’t him. This time, he wanted more. Respect. Ability. The kind of foundation that couldn’t be taken away with one bad investment or one market crash.
Of course, he wasn’t naïve either. He knew perfectly well that books and lectures alone wouldn’t magically turn him into some world-shaking figure. But paired with his current resources and the Aeon Glasses that gave him a leg up? That was a deadly combination.
Money without knowledge was just a ticking time bomb...inheritance that would eventually rot away in the hands of an idiot. Knowledge without money was potential left to starve. But money and knowledge together? That was a throne. That was the kind of balance that let you stand at the top without fearing the winds.
And despite how nonchalant he acted, there was always a fear deep in his mind, what if the system suddenly disappeared? Just as mysteriously as it had appeared, what if one day it simply... stopped? He didn’t know what powered it, where it came from, or why it had chosen him. He had no guarantees, no safety net.
That was exactly why he refused to lean on it blindly. Depending on the system alone was no different than building a castle on sand. Sure, it looked grand now, but the moment the tide came in, it would crumble to nothing.
Rex wanted to build himself differently. To sharpen his own blade until he could stand on his own two feet, even without the system holding him up. Knowledge, discipline, experience...those were things no one could take away.
If one day the system vanished into thin air, he wouldn’t collapse into uselessness. He’d still have the skills, the brains, and the foundation to live the life he wanted, freely and without worry.
Of course, it could be just him overthinking, but better be safe than sorry. Maybe the system would stay forever, maybe it wouldn’t. Who knew? It wasn’t like he could exactly call customer service and ask for a warranty. If it did vanish, he couldn’t very well cry about how unfair it was.
Life had already taught him that relying too much on something outside his control was the quickest way to end up broken. People betrayed you, companies exploited you, luck ran out. If even people and institutions could fail, then why should he expect some mysterious power to be any different?
That was why his mindset was simple... prepare for the worst, and if the best stuck around, then great. If the system stayed with him until the end, it would only make him stronger. But if it disappeared tomorrow, he’d still be able to stand, fight, and live on his own terms.
He leaned back slightly in his chair, watching the professor scrawl complicated formulas across the board. He actually understood them...well, parts of them, at least. Enough to piece things together. Enough to feel that familiar flicker of progress. Honestly, that tiny flicker was addicting.
He smirked to himself. Who would’ve thought? Me, of all people, actually enjoying a lecture.
The hours slipped past in a seamless blur. One lecture wrapped up, another began, professors came and went, their voices overlapping in memory like echoes. Pages turned, pens scratched, screens flickered, and the rhythm of the classroom carried on without pause. Classes rolled forward one after another, words spilling into the air, then fading as the minutes slipped away until at last, the final bell rang, drawing the day’s lessons to a close.
The final bell echoed like a release, no matter how much one liked studying, it was still quite a chore. Rex stretched his arms high above his head, joints popping after hours of sitting. Around him, students shuffled to pack their books, the air filled with the rustle of paper and the scrape of chairs against the floor. He slid his notebook into his bag, slung it over his shoulder, and turned towards Elara.
"Let’s go," he said with the same casual authority as if it was already decided.
Elara blinked, lips parting like she wanted to say something, but in the end only gave a small, resigned nod. A hint of helplessness flickered in her eyes, but she still followed obediently, steps light and quiet.
Rex smirked to himself. He was fully exploiting her timid, quiet nature (imagine evil rex laughing crazily) He knew that if he insisted, she wouldn’t have the heart to resist. And in a way, it wasn’t just teasing; he figured dragging her along with the group might help her break out of her shell, even if just a little.
By the time they reached the class door, the beauty trio was already waiting. Sophie spotted them first, throwing her bag over one shoulder with a dramatic sigh.
"Ugh, those classes were brutal. I swear, if this keeps up, I’ll be bald by the end of the semester. Forget exams, my hairline’s the real victim here!"
Rex chuckled under his breath, while Hannah and Daisy exchanged a look, both of them barely holding back smiles.
(End of Chapter)