Chapter 3 First touch

The thought spun wildly through Jay’s mind when his eyes suddenly landed on a parked Honda Civic by the side of the road a few meters away from him.

Under the dim streetlights, the black car looked ordinary, but to Jay, it suddenly looked like the perfect test subject.

“Let’s put this to the test,” he muttered.

Without hesitation, he walked toward the vehicle as negative thoughts race through his mind. "Was this really going to work? Or was he just losing his mind?.

Jay stopped beside the car and slowly placed his hand against the cold metal bonnet. Then he waited. But after a few seconds nothing seemed to happen.

The only thing he felt was the chilly surface of the car beneath his palm.

Jay frowned immediately.

“Hey, System,” he said with annoyance creeping into his voice. “I thought you said anything I touch gives me money So why isn’t it working?”

[ Simple, Host. ]

[ You must first remove any barriers between skin contact and the targeted item.

Additionally, you must focus mentally on the target or object being touched. Failure to meet these conditions will prevent touch activation. ]

Jay blinked before glancing down at his hands.

“Oh my bad”

He had completely forgotten he was still wearing his work gloves.

As a restaurant waiter, gloves were mandatory while serving customers. Due to everything that was happening, he hadn’t even noticed they were still on him.

Shaking his head slightly, Jay quickly removed the gloves and stuffed them into his pocket.

This time, he took a deep breath before placing his bare palm firmly against the Honda Civic once again.

The moment his skin made contact....

[DING]

The system holographic screen instantly flashed before his eyes.

[First Touch Registered ]

[Analyzing Target]

[Item: 2014 Honda Civic]

[Estimated Value: $4,300 ]

[Reward Granted: $4,300 has been credited to Host’s Current Account ]

[Remaining Daily Touches: 1 out of 2]

Jay’s pupils shrank violently.

“It actually worked?” he whispered in disbelief. And almost immediately, his phone vibrated inside his pocket.

Still stunned, Jay hurriedly pulled his phone out of his pocket and unlocked the screen.

The moment he saw the notification from his bank app, his entire body trembled.

CREDIT ALERT

Amount Received: $4,300.

Available Balance: $4,326.

Jay stared at the numbers like his brain had stopped functioning.

"Four thousand three hundred dollars."

"Just from touching a car."

His hands began shaking uncontrollably.

A few minutes ago, he was lying in an alley drowning in his own blood. Broke. Humiliated. And abandoned.

And now.

Now he had more money that would have taken him a year plus to save with his current salary, that's if he doesn't spend any peny from it of course.

A laugh suddenly escaped his lips. At first it was small, then it slowly became uncontrollably louder.

“Ha ha ha ha ha...”

Jay grabbed his head with both hands, with his eyes filled with disbelief and excitement.

“This is insane” he muttered. "THIS. IS. FUCKING. INSANE."

For the first time in years, he finally felt something other than hopelessness.

Jay considered going back to the restaurant to retrieve the bag he came with before his shift started. But honestly, he didn’t feel like returning back there anymore.

His clothes were still covered in dried blood and dirt from the brutal beating. Even though his wounds had healed completely, his appearance still looked terrible. Walking back into the restaurant looking like this would only irritate the dining customers.

People would stare.

Questions would be asked.

And the last thing Jay wanted right now was more drama.

He exhaled deeply and shook his head.

“Forget it” he muttered.

If leaving his extra clothes behind meant avoiding that place tonight, then so be it. Besides, those cheap clothes didn’t matter anymore.

Not after what had just happened.

Jay glanced down at his phone again, staring at his account balance on more time.

he currently had enough money in his account that he could buy tens of sets of clothes without even worrying about the price.

For years, he had struggled just to survive. Working exhausting shifts, dealing with arrogant customers, enduring insults from people richer than him. all for what. a paycheck that barely covered rent and food.

The thought of it almost made him laugh again.

Stuffing his phone back into his pocket, Jay pulled his bloodstained jacket tighter around himself and started walking down the quiet street toward home.

He spotted a taxi heading in his direction and immediately raised his hand to signal the driver to stop.

The cab slowly pulled over by the roadside.

“Where to, sir?” the driver asked the moment Jay slid into the back seat.

Jay quietly gave him the address of his apartment before leaning back against the seat tiredly.

The driver nodded and started driving again, but the atmosphere inside the car quickly became awkward.

Very awkward.

Jay could feel the man constantly staring at him through the rearview mirror every few seconds. His nervous eyes would meet Jay’s reflection before immediately darting back to the road.

It was almost as if the driver was afraid Jay might suddenly strangle him from behind at any moment.

And honestly, Jay couldn’t even blame him.

He glanced down at himself and let out a faint sigh.

The visible stain of blood in his clothes, Combined with his cold expression and exhausted appearance made him genuinely looked like someone who had just committed murder and escaped the scene.

The taxi driver swallowed nervously before finally speaking again.

“Rough night, huh?” he asked cautiously.

Jay remained silent for a moment before replying calmly, “You could say that.”

That answer only seemed to make the driver even more uncomfortable.

The man quickly focused back on the road, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter than before.

Jay almost laughed at the situation.

Outside the window, the city lights blurred past as the cab moved through the quiet streets. Jay rested his head against the seat while his thoughts drifted back to the system once more.

"One touch remaining."

He still had one more chance to gain money before the daily limit reset.