5 Chapter #5
What started as a joke between the system and Zeno slowly became reality as Zeno realized the changes in himself.
No, it wasn't puberty...
Zeno noticed that he became smarter, considering he was pretty average, the difference could be felt even by him.
His memorization skills have improved, his attention to detail and problem solving skills have become better.
Zeno theorised that either the Isu DNA gave him an overall boost or the repeated reincarnations have stacked his natural talents.
Whatever it was, all Zeno cared about was that he was smarter and had more brain potential, maybe just enough to get a master's degree in a suitable field.
[Intelligence may have increased but no such luck when it comes to wisdom. He is still a dumbass.] This was systems' view on changes that were happening to Zeno.
Anyway, Zeno's goal hadn't changed, he wanted a Nanosuit of his own and to get it he must get in CryNet, work his way up the corporate ladder until he is allowed to work on nanotechnology.
'I can make myself disposable to gain more trust from Hargreave... Then I'll just get the blueprints slowly and build one myself throughout my reincarnations.' Zeno thought to himself.
He had no idea whether he could get his hands on all the blueprints yet alone make one on his own but it was still a plan working in progress.
'Now, how does one go about becoming a biotechnologist or a nanotechnologist?'
[MIT? Harvard?] System suggested.
'Let us agree that we are both clueless.' Zeno sighed.
[Deal!] System replied.
None of them noticed the tired sigh of their third wheel at the back of their minds.
______
Zeno, who finally had a plan, worked hard on it. He used his childhood years before school to dig up his memories to make an investment plan.
He also discovered that his Dragon Sense could roughly guess which companies to invest in as long as he had enough information about them.
[Deus Ex Machina! I told you.] System called out only to be ignored.
He can't focus on his studies if he was worried about money could he?
But Zeno ran into another problem. How can he invest if he didn't have money in the first place.
To this end Zeno was hoping to work and earn some money himself. He decided to learn how to cook, since he seems to be overflowing with talent he might as well use it for good.
Being a good cook would get you far in the multiverse, just look at the likes of Emiya and various reincarnators taming OP Lolis that liked tasty food.
Zeno will not miss the chance to get OP allies just by cooking.
[It's tradition!]
For his goals Zeno shamelessly used his childish charm and got to learn from orphanage staff until his skills were good enough for the public.
He didn't know if he had prior experience since he has yet to get actual memories from the elusive dragon warrior.
He most likely didn't bother with good food since being hungry won't kill him.
Brushing that aside, once Zeno felt like he was ready, he went to Tony to see if he could find a job for him.
"Hahaha! You're just seven, what are you going to do by working? Just go to school, kid." Tony patted his head before going on his way.
Zeno could tell he made the man's day since Tony was still chuckling as he left.
'I keep forgetting about my goddamn age! All I have is the money I collected off the ground.' Zeno inwardly grumbled as he went back to the dormitory.
[We could always try 'that'...] System suggested once more.
'What do you mean by 'that'?' Zeno was confused, he had long accepted his system and its quirks but it sometimes pisses him off.
[Lottery. Dragon Sense should be able to guarantee we would win, I just don't know if we could make it big.] System explained.
Zeno stopped on his tracks before moving again.
'There is no way, it does not work like that.' He rejected the notion right away.
'If Eagle Sense could pull that off then Assassin's wouldn't be so miserable in the present world plot. Then again, mine is evolved by the power of a dragon...'
[Dragon Sense Deus ex machina. Let's fucking gooooo!]
______
While Zeno was overjoyed and freaking confused about his skill guiding him in depths of gambling, he quickly realized that he was too young to be able to get the money.
So, the puppy-eyed V2 made a comeback to drag Tony with him.
Tony was shocked at Zeno's talent at gambling but he got over it quickly after Zeno said he wanted to earn enough to put the whole orphanage through college.
Zeno knew Tony, he knew he wouldn't be blinded by greed. He also knew that he would be opposed to him gambling if he spent the money on himself.
So, Zeno made a sacrifice and gave the money away. His education would be covered either way.
He can always invest later once he becomes 18 again.
Zeno spent the following year going through various luck based games, earning money while going to school.
To his surprise, Tony separated some of the money and gave it back to him but he made it known that he had seen through him.
"So Zeno, I am curious. Why do you want money so much? It cannot be that you're truly selfless to help the whole orphanage, I might cave in whenever you show me that expression but I am not senile yet."
Zeno mulled over his answer, he can't really explain it all, his goals are beyond Tony's understanding, after some time he gathered his words.
"They say money doesn't unlock every door, but it can get me to the door. In short, I just didn't want to worry about money while going to school." It was true that money held no value to Zeno. It was just a tool.
Tony nodded his head in understanding, he didn't find it weird that Zeno said something too mature for his age.
It might not have been obvious when he was little but as Zeno grew it became apparent how different he was compared to his peers.
Then again no one cared since Zeno never brought trouble, he got along with everyone at the orphanage.
His maturity was appreciated instead of being seen as weird.
"So, what are you going to do with the money?" Tony asked after taking a sip from his beer.
"I can pull the same thing I did with gambling but with stock's market." Zeno replied with his trademark grin that showed his fang making Tony spit his drink.
_______
In 1992, Anthony Jonathan Hill, became a millionaire just by trading stocks and became the talk of the country.
He had donated a sizable amount to orphanages across the country, earning the approval of many people.
Many wanted to know about this old man that appeared out of nowhere and the more they investigated the more shocked they got.
The people learned about his sad life story and how he helped children with his money.
The number of children that managed to finish their education and become doctors and teachers wasn't low.
And now this man has more money than he ever had before. He virtuously gave it all once more after taking some to earn more.
While Tony was being swarmed by early 90's media, Zeno was passing through primary school.
Yes, passing through. He proved too advanced for his grade and skipped over. Unfortunately his foundation seems to be unstable as he could only skip a few grades.
'I should be able to graduate from college by the time I am 18... Not bad for the Average Joe like me.' Zeno thought to himself.
That was to be expected since he never went through the education that was given in this country.
This event garnered some attention from academic circles but not much. It just increased Tony's fame since he is one of the kids Tony helped.
This aligned with Zeno's plans as he didn't want too much attention on himself. He can't be disposable if he was too famous and he won't get much attention from the right places if he wasn't famous.
[This dumbass...] The system was cringing on behalf of Zeno.
And so, the years passed as Zeno used Tony for his investments while he studied.
Tony on the other hand was over the moon. He could finally reach out to the children all over the country and provide for them to honor his wife.
Sure, he didn't work for it but he knew his wife wouldn't care.
Sure, Zeno would be making his own moves once he becomes of age but Tony already had enough money to make more just by sitting.
