Urban System in America-Chapter 77 - 76: Days Continued to Pass

After leaving the cafeteria, Rex headed straight for the library. There was still a good chunk of time before his next class, and while most students were still outside basking in the sun or flocking to the food stalls chattering away, Rex walked the quieter path—toward books and silence.

The library stood in contrast to the vibrant chaos outside. It was bathed in warm afternoon light spilling through tall, arched windows, casting golden patterns across the floor. Unsurprisingly, the space was nearly deserted. Just a few scattered students remained, hunched over thick textbooks or lost in notes.

He walked past shelf after shelf until he reached his usual spot, a corner box near the tall shelves in the back and sat down. And, as expected, the seat across from his remained empty.

Isolde wasn’t here. Again.

Not that he cared, of course.

Maybe she was just busy. Maybe their timings never aligned. Or maybe she wasn’t coming here anymore at all. Not like he cared much. He had more important things to focus on.

So, slipping on his Aeon glasses, he started reading a book about the stock market titled The Basics of Stock Market Trading.

The words were dense and technical, but Rex was patient. He had to be. Even if the system practically guaranteed his success in future operation, he couldn’t afford to jump in blindly. . He needed knowledge. Real knowledge. Concepts like risk appetite, asset diversification, market sentiment, and candlestick patterns swirled in his head.

For someone who had only heard about stocks through TV or passing internet headlines, Everything swirled through his head like a foreign language. And to him, it might as well have been one. A few weeks ago, the only "bulls" he knew of were the ones on ranches, and "hedge funds" sounded like something a rich guy did with his lawn. it was a steep hill to climb.

But it was a climb he needed.

And just like that, the next five days passed in a blur. His routine was basically the same. In the morning, he would meet Kaelan and Victor and go for his jog, then train in the park, push-ups, squats, burpees, mountain climbers, with Kaelan correcting his form and Victor offering calm, precise suggestions.

"Again," Kaelan ordered, his tone calm but unyielding. His eyes tracked Rex’s every move...not like a trainer watching a student, but like a soldier watching his superior.

"Back straight. Engage your core. Don’t cheat the form," he added, stepping in without hesitation to adjust Rex’s posture mid-push-up.

Kaelan wasn’t harsh for the sake of it, he simply couldn’t bear watching their boss perform even basic drills with poor form. If Rex was serious enough to train, then he deserved proper guidance, even if it was just the fundamentals.

Victor, as always, stood nearby, arms folded, silently observing every movement.

"Too far forward on the squat," he said during a water break. "Shift back. Good. That’s better."

Though they were his bodyguards, they trained him with quiet reverence. Most in Rex’s position wouldn’t even bother, but Rex showed up early, listened, and pushed through every drop of sweat.

Push-ups. Burpees. Squats. Nothing fancy yet. Just the basics, but enough to leave him breathless and soaked.

"You’ve got the drive," Victor remarked, tossing him a towel. "Now sharpen the control. Power’s nothing without precision."

Rex simply nodded, already dropping back into position.

Under their guidance, Rex’s movements grew sharper, his posture firmer, and his reflexes more honed, even though what they were doing was mostly the basics.

After training, he’d rush back, grab a quick shower, and head to university. During class, he paid full attention ,taking notes, asking questions, participating like the model student. Most classmates thought he was either possessed or preparing for world domination.

Well, they weren’t entirely wrong.

And once the bell rang? He’d vanish into the library or a quiet corner of campus, diving back into books, articles, and courses on market analysis, investing psychology, and financial trends.

His Aeon glasses became his go-to as they almost never left his face, like prescription lenses. even though they left his brain buzzing with migraines and the occasional urge to scream into a pillow.

But he gritted his teeth and pushed through.

Because in truth, he was a complete noob.

He didn’t know jack about trading.

All he’d ever known about stocks came from overheard conversations, brief news clips, or fictional portrayals in movies. Words like bull market, blue chip, dividend yield, and hedge fund had always passed over his head like background noise. He had never bought a single share, never even installed a trading app. It was all a blur.

And yet, the system he’d inherited, mysterious, futuristic, borderline miraculous, offered him tools to dominate the market with near-guaranteed success.

But even with that god-tier power, Rex understood one thing: without the basics, he was flying blind. You couldn’t manipulate a game you didn’t understand. You couldn’t pretend to be a genius if you couldn’t even answer a few casual questions about your strategy. So he buried himself in books, online lectures, and tutorials, consuming knowledge like a starving man at a feast.

Still, there was more to his days than just numbers and financial theories.

Every day during lunch, Rex shamelessly made his way to Elara’s usual seat in the cafeteria.

It had all started after he accidentally saw her eating alone one day ,huddled in a corner of the cafeteria with the cheapest food the stalls offered. A bowl of plain rice and a watery soup that looked more like colored water than anything filling. He didn’t mean to stare, but her malnourished figure made it hard not to notice. Her arms were thinner than they should be, and she always looked a bit pale—like she hadn’t had a proper meal in days.

And for some reason, he couldn’t forget that image.

So, the next day, he simply showed up with his tray, and a second one. One that just happened to include proper meat dishes, side snacks, and even juice. At first, he didn’t say anything. He just sat across from her like it was the most natural thing in the world and started eating.

When Elara hesitated, glancing between her plain meal and the food he brought, he waved it off with the first excuse that came to mind.

"Oh, I ordered too much by mistake. Help me finish it, will you?"

The next day, he came again.

This time with even more variety, grilled chicken, fruit, and a decent salad.

"Turns out I’ve been getting extra lunch coupons from the student council. Perks of helping around, you know? You wouldn’t want food to go to waste, right?"

(End of Chapter)