Urban System in America-Chapter 87 - 86: The Countdown to Chaos

[Congratulations! You have received: Ultimate Recipe of Golden Croissant Samosa]

[Description: An unparalleled recipe that contains almost every imaginable variant of the Golden Croissant Samosa. The ultimate fusion of French and Southeast Asian cuisine. From the most basic and comforting potato-filled version to the rich and savory meat-filled delight, and even extravagant luxury editions infused with premium ingredients... this recipe truly has something for everyone. If this snack is ever claimed to be the second-best, no other could dare contest the title of the first. Crafted with meticulous precision, it combines the flaky decadence of croissant layers with robust flavors, offering a harmony of buttery richness and aromatic spice guaranteed to mesmerize any palate.]

He carefully read through the description, each word further confirming the enormity of the gift he had just received. Variants ranging from the simplest potato filling to the most decadent luxury versions... it was perfection tailored for the masses and the elite alike. His mind reeled at the possibilities.

"This isn’t just a recipe," he whispered, gripping the scroll like a treasure map. "It’s a revolution."

Gripping the scroll tightly, his mind surged with an avalanche of possibilities. With this recipe in hand, he could establish a culinary empire. A single restaurant could be the start... and if he treaded carefully, even building a chain of establishments that spanned the globe was totally possible.

It wasn’t just one recipe; it was an entire universe of variants, each more tantalizing than the last. As he skimmed the recipe, he marveled at the detailed list of ingredients. Many were unfamiliar, their names conjuring images of exotic markets and distant lands. Yet he knew one thing for certain... these ingredients were far from ordinary. They carried an aura of complexity and rarity, and with them, he held the key to the cornerstone of a culinary empire waiting to be built.

"Wait... wait... wait... Culinary empire...? I’m still in university, and no matter how profitable it is, I’m not gonna do something so tiring, definitely not."

Slapping himself in the face, he criticized his wild mind. How many times have I told you that my dream is to live a CAREFREE and LEISURELY life? I’m not gonna do something so tiring!

"But... but... it could earn you potentially billions." His inner voice tugged again.

Hearing the word billion, he gulped slightly. He imagined a scene of private jets, luxury yachts, and beauties on both sides... but he quickly came to his senses.

"NO. No matter what happens, he definitely isn’t gonna do something so tiring.: His voice grew lower and lower until he whispered to himself, "At least not until I graduate. I want to live a normal life."

"Let’s think about tiring stuff like business later," he spoke louder with determination.

"Anyways, I can already earn enough through the stock market... and with info from the group, it won’t be a problem to earn several millions. Information is key to making money in the stock market. And don’t forget—I still have a luxury hotel waiting for me."

Thinking about this, he got more and more determined to not touch the recipe and let it gather dust in the system warehouse.

Throwing it in the system warehouse, he hurriedly closed the system, as if he were afraid he’d regret his decision.

Just then, a wave of drowsiness hit him like a heavy punch from a muscular boxer.

Without wasting much time, he made his way to the washroom like a zombie, eyes struggling to remain open. After freshening up in a record five minutes, he changed into cozy pajamas and jumped onto his bed.

Within minutes, sleep enveloped him and carried him off to the valley of dreams, while his divine body quietly activated and began repairing his body and mind.

—

Next Day – 6:00 AM

The first light of Monday crept through the curtains, heralding the start of a new week. For him, however, this day marked more than just the mundane routine of life... it was the moment he’d been meticulously preparing for.

He hadn’t wasted a second.

From Friday evening until late Sunday night, he had lived and breathed the stock market.

With the Aeon Glasses, he devoured knowledge that should have taken weeks... months, even—compressed into mere hours of accelerated learning.

Technical analysis, insider behavior patterns, price movement psychology, risk management—all of it drilled deep into his mind.

Now, the true test was here.

Today wasn’t practice.

Today was real.

Rolling out of bed, there was no time to waste. He rushed through his morning routine alongside Victor and Kaelan. They grabbed a quick bite on the go... but he barely tasted it, his mind already racing ahead.

The moment they returned home, he headed straight to his room without missing a beat, his nerves alight with anticipation.

Sliding into his chair, he immediately powered on his computer and launched the trading platform.

The interface greeted him with its static calm... no visible changes yet; the market was still closed. With a steadying breath, he opened another tab and began scouring the news. His fingers danced over the keyboard as he searched for anything related to stocks, biotechnology, and the pharmaceutical industry.

He even dove deep into obscure investment forums... the kind of hidden corners of the internet where insider whispers often surfaced first.

But to his relief, there wasn’t even a ripple about Trivaxa Pharmaceuticals.

He exhaled slowly, a knot in his chest loosening.

Good.

That meant the information he had was still under the radar... at least for now. But he knew the stakes. One misstep, one moment of carelessness, and his involvement would no longer be a secret.

Seeing that there was still some time before the market opened, Rex headed downstairs and poured himself a strong cup of black coffee... the aroma sharp and grounding.

Returning to his room, he sat back down, placed the steaming mug on the desk, and laid out his tools carefully.

Aeon Glasses.

Energy Potion.

Trace Reduction Card.

Everything useful he had... at least for now. One by one.

He retrieved the Aeon Glasses, their gleaming frame a symbol of the knowledge they had helped him unlock so far.

Without much nonsense, he slipped them on first, and his brain instantly started working in full drive.

Then he retrieved an Energy Potion from his inventory. While the potion could be saved for more critical moments, today felt like no ordinary challenge. He needed every ounce of focus and stamina. One mistake, and everything could unravel... and that was something he absolutely could not afford. At least not yet.

He uncorked the Energy Potion and downed it in one swift motion. An almost immediate jolt of energy surged through him, and clarity flooded his mind.

Finally, he took out the Trace Reduction Card. Its soft glow seemed to pulse in his hand, as if sensing the tension in the air.

This was his safeguard... his cloak of invisibility in a realm where missteps were unforgivable. It was a one-time use item, but with the markets about to open, there was no better moment than now.

Glancing at the clock, he saw there were only ten minutes left before the market opened.

Rex took a deep breath, steadying himself.

No hesitation. No second-guessing.

Activating the Trace Reduction Card, he felt a slight shimmer in the air around him

... like an invisible shield.

With that, his preparations were complete.

He had done everything he could to prepare.

Now, all that was left...

Was to wait for the opening bell.

(End of Chapter)