Jason stood near the curb outside the safehouse, duffel bag slung over one shoulder, the morning sun already starting to sting his skin. The air smelled faintly of dust and warm concrete — Accra in its usual weekend haze. The silence felt strange without his mom fussing over last-minute instructions or Steven looming nearby with keys in hand.
He checked his phone again. The ride was a few minutes out.
His mom had called earlier, voice apologetic but firm. A client emergency. Something to do with a rescheduled trip, and she wouldn't be back until evening. Steven, on the other hand, had left at dawn for a high-level meeting in Takoradi.
Jason was on his own.
And oddly, he didn't hate it.
As the black SUV pulled up, he gave the driver a small nod and climbed into the backseat, setting his bag down beside him.
The driver glanced at him in the rearview mirror. "Kumasi, right?"
"Yeah. Home."
The door clicked shut, and they pulled off. The city blurred past in bursts of concrete and green, horns in the distance, the soft rhythm of tires against asphalt.
Jason leaned his head against the window, fingers idly tapping his knee. For the first time since his return, he wasn't surrounded by noise or questions. No one looking at him like he was someone important. No system alerts. No Steven. No gods.
Just… Jason.
He closed his eyes and let the road take him.
The hum of the engine and the gentle sway of the car had a rhythm to it — almost hypnotic. Jason's fingers stopped tapping as his breathing slowed, eyes still closed. The kind of peace that could almost trick him into forgetting.
But forgetting wasn't an option.
He shifted slightly in the seat and stared out the window. The urban sprawl slowly began to thin out, replaced by patches of green and the quiet signs of the countryside. He'd always liked this part of the drive. The in-between space where no one expected anything from you.
Then, without warning, a translucent dark-blue screen bloomed into view.
[System Notification]
Status: Long-distance transit detected. Estimated travel time remaining: 4 hours, 32 minutes.
Reminder: You are the active Administrator of 7 global assets.
Daily strategic reports available. Would you like a summary?
Jason sighed and rubbed his eyes. "Can't I just exist for five seconds?"
[The System is always present.]
"Yeah, no kidding," he muttered under his breath. "Fine. Give me the summary. Keep it light."
The screen flickered.
[Daily Summary - Condensed]
• Orion Surveillance (West Africa): CEO office security protocol updated.
• Orion R&D (South Korea): Project "Hollow Frame" enters prototype phase.
• Valhalla Logistics (US): Acquired 2% stake in Blackrock division.
• AzureNet Media Group (France): 72-hour news cycle under neutral alignment.
• Horizon Agriculture (Brazil): Local partnerships increased profit margins by 6%.
• Two dormant assets remain offline.
• No known threats at this time.
Jason blinked. "Wait… R&D? Brazil? Media?"
He leaned back, mind spinning again. It wasn't just Orion. The company — his company — was bigger than he'd realized. It wasn't just about surveillance. This was… everything. Agriculture. Media. Infrastructure. Weapons tech?
Steven hadn't lied when he said Jason hadn't seen the bigger picture.
He swiped the summary away, letting the screen fade.
Maybe Steven was right. Maybe the jacket did fit. He just hadn't finished buttoning it yet.
Jason's eyes drifted back to the passing trees. It was going to be a long ride, and an even longer week.
But for the first time in a while… he wasn't afraid of it.
Jason stepped out of the car just as the sky began to turn that soft, golden-blue shade of early evening. The air in Kumasi was heavier, familiar. Slightly dusty, a hint of fried something from a neighbor's kitchen… home.
He locked the car and walked toward the front door. Everything looked just as he left it. The little plastic chair still tucked awkwardly by the porch. A pair of sandals by the entrance. A flower pot that hadn't been watered in weeks.
For a second, he just stood there.
This place — this house — it grounded him. As if none of it had happened. Like he hadn't stepped into a skyscraper in Accra and stared out at a city that somehow belonged to him.
He pulled the key from his pocket, unlocked the door, and stepped inside.
Silence.
His mom had texted earlier that she might be home late. Jason kicked off his sneakers and dropped his bag by the couch, taking a moment to stretch before flopping down onto the cushions with a groan.
The second his back hit the fabric—
[System Notification: Welcome Home, Administrator.]
A glowing screen faded into view again, hovering a few inches above his face.
Jason stared at it for a moment, then muttered, "You guys really don't know what 'off' means, do you?"
[The System is always present.]
He sat up, rubbing the back of his neck. "Alright then… show me more. I want to understand. The conglomerate. The structure. What I actually own."
[Request acknowledged.]
Security Verification Required: Role Acceptance Pending.
You currently hold provisional Administrator status. Access to detailed internal structures is limited.
Would you like to begin orientation?
Jason frowned. "You're saying I can't know how my own empire works unless I officially say yes?"
[Affirmative. Provisional status grants surface-level oversight. To access global controls, directives, and classified protocols, formal acceptance is required.]
He let out a low breath and stood up, pacing slowly across the living room.
This was the second time the system had done this. Nudging him. Pushing gently — not forcing, but making it clear the door was only half open.
"What happens if I accept?" he asked quietly.
[System Integration Level will increase. Full administrative access unlocked. Strategic and classified pathways revealed. System adaptation to user preferences will commence.]
"…And if I don't?"
[Steven Amartey retains full managerial authority. System remains in passive standby mode. Assets continue autonomous function under current directives.]
Jason paused by the window, watching the street outside. Some kids were playing football with a half-deflated ball in the distance. Everything looked normal.
And yet…
Nothing was normal anymore.
Not him.
Not the world.
He didn't press further. Not yet. Instead, he turned back toward the system.
"Alright," he said. "Give me the surface-level stuff again. Structure, departments, anything you can show."
[Loading Simplified Structure Overview…]
The screen shifted into something that resembled a flowchart, lines branching out from a central point labeled "Nova Conglomerate - Root Authority: Jason A. Afriyie".
• Orion Surveillance – (Security, Cyber, Military Contracts)
• Horizon Agrotech – (Sustainable Agriculture, Land Reclamation)
• AzureNet Media Group – (News, Streaming, Cultural Influence)
• Valhalla Logistics – (Transport, Black Sites, Resource Movement)
• Echo Systems R&D – (Tech Innovation, Classified Projects)
• Aegis Biocare – (Pharmaceuticals, Emergency Response)
• Unknown Asset #1 [Dormant]
• Unknown Asset #2 [Dormant]
Jason whistled low under his breath. "Okay… that's more than I expected."
He stared at the flowchart in silence.
There was a reason Steven had asked if he was ready to commit.
And Jason was starting to understand what that meant.
Jason sat back down, elbows on his knees, eyes fixed on the glowing screen still floating in front of him.
He studied the names of each branch, the sleek little symbols beside them, the numbers dancing in and out of view whenever he hovered his finger close. All of this — the flowchart, the empire it represented — was his. Or could be, if he ever chose to wear the title properly.
He tapped on Orion Surveillance, the only one he'd seen firsthand.
[West African Division – ACTIVE]
[Sub-Divisions: Cyber Defense, Field Operations, Domestic Security Contracts, Internal Intelligence, Special Projects (Restricted)]
Projected Annual Revenue: ₵14.6 billion (GHS)
[Other Divisions: NA / EU / East Asia / MENA / Central Command (Hidden)]
Jason blinked. He scrolled back up.
"Wait… Ghana cedis?"
[All local revenues are automatically converted into relevant national currencies. Global balance available upon request.]
Jason hesitated… then sighed.
"Fine. Show me the current global balance."
There was a short pause.
Then:
[As of this moment, your liquid personal net worth — across all accessible accounts, off-shore holdings, and system-verified assets — stands at:
€3.7 Billion EUR]
Jason went quiet.
No breath.
No movement.
Just… staring.
"…Right," he finally muttered, leaning back into the couch like someone had just knocked the wind out of him. "And here I was budgeting my mifi bundles."
The system didn't respond. Just hovered politely, like it didn't just casually inform him he was a billionaire.
He scrolled again.
Clicked on Horizon Agrotech next.
[ACTIVE – Multi-continental Projects: West Africa, South America, Southeast Asia]
Focus: Vertical Farming | Soil Recovery | Food Sustainability | Drought-resistant Crops
Partner Governments: 14
Total Employees: 16,200+
Jason raised an eyebrow.
Agriculture? It wasn't what he'd have guessed a multiverse-fighting champion would end up owning… but reading through the reports, the contracts, the impact?
It made sense.
And honestly… it made him feel something.
Like maybe this wasn't just about power or wealth or titles.
Maybe it was a way to fix things. Quietly. Properly. Without capes or gods breathing down his neck.
He exited the window and tapped on Aegis Biocare.
Instantly the feed switched to a rotating 3D model of a biotech lab, white and chrome, dozens of people moving around inside.
[Global Mobile Clinics: 200+]
[Disease Tracking Units: 27 active across Africa]
[Vaccine Research: In-House / Joint Venture with U.N. and W.H.O.]
Jason scrolled down to a set of smaller numbers, labeled "Pending Internal Budget Requests."
One caught his eye.
Request: ₵75,000 GHS — Kumasi Mobile Clinic Upgrade (Vehicle + Equipment)
Status: PENDING SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR APPROVAL
He clicked on it.
The proposal opened. Detailed. Professional. It even listed his neighborhood as one of the service zones the mobile unit was supposed to reach but hadn't yet due to equipment delays.
Jason stared at it for a moment. That was the road he used to walk to school.
A simple yes, and they'd get better machines, faster service, more staff. Something he would've benefited from if they'd existed years ago.
"Approve it," he said quietly.
[Request Approved. Upgrade Process Initiated. ETA: 3 Days]
He leaned back, hand still hovering slightly, eyes scanning the rest of the system.
He didn't even realize he was smiling a little.
The kind that crept up slowly. Not smug or proud. Just… warm.
The kind of smile you give when you realize you can actually do something. Not just for yourself. But for real people.
Jason stretched out on the couch, one arm thrown lazily over the backrest, his other hand still flicking through the holographic interface in front of him. After an hour of reading through proposal after proposal, project after project, his eyes were starting to blur.
Saving the world wasn't exactly what he expected it to look like. Apparently, it came with quarterly reports and logistics budgets.
The faint hum of the system's presence hovered at the edge of his mind. Silent. Watching.
"Alright," Jason muttered, sitting up and dragging his hand down his face. "Enough responsible CEO stuff for now. Let's do something a bit more… human."
He waved the system screen aside and leaned over, grabbing his phone from the coffee table.
Jason sat on his bed, cross-legged, the dim light from his ancient lamp casting golden halos around his silhouette. The old Galaxy A03 sat in his hand like a relic. Its battery was gasping for life at 8%, and the cracked screen was barely holding on — taped up twice, with a film protector that had bubbled over time.
But tonight, it was a gateway.
"System," he said quietly, as if saying it too loud would make it disappear. "Show me my available balance. I mean… what I can spend personally."
[Calculating available discretionary funds…]
[Current accessible balance: ₵143,861,274.32 GHS]
(~$11.4 million USD)
Jason's throat dried.
He stared at the number for a long moment. It looked like the kind of thing you'd see in a scam email — too many digits, a misplaced comma, some Photoshop wizardry. Except this was real. Real enough to make his heart skip.
"Okay," he breathed. "Okay. Let's start small. Let's—"
He looked around the room.
Peeling walls. A faded poster of the Black Stars. The same rickety desk he'd had since JHS. A chair with foam bursting from the cushion.
"…Let's fix everything."
[Opening secure vendor portal…]
⸻
MOBILE DEVICES
First up: a new phone. It was long overdue.
• Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra – 1TB, Titanium Gray (2024) – ₵18,500
AI-enhanced camera. Satellite connectivity. Seamless Samsung ecosystem integration. Built-in stylus. Launched in February.
Add to cart.
• iPhone 15 Pro Max – 512GB, Natural Titanium – ₵17,200
Apple's most refined build yet. New A17 chip. iOS 18 compatibility. Lidar and spatial video. Future-proofed.
Add to cart.
He wasn't sure yet which camp he'd fall into — Android or Apple — but for once, he could afford both.
• Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra – 14.6" AMOLED, 512GB – ₵14,000
Perfect for reading documents, drawing, light work.
Add to cart.
• Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise Cancelling Headphones – ₵4,000
For once, he wanted to hear music without the background buzz of the fan or shouting from outside.
Add to cart.
⸻
LAPTOPS
He scrolled to computing next.
• Razer Blade 16 – RTX 4090, Mini LED 4K, 64GB RAM, 2TB SSD – ₵42,000
This thing could run simulations, edit 8K video, build worlds. It was a monster.
• MacBook Pro M3 Max – 38-Core GPU, 64GB RAM, 2TB SSD – ₵38,500
Just in case. For logic and beauty in one box.
Add both to cart.
⸻
WEARABLE TECH
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic (2024) – ₵3,200
• ECG tracking, sleep diagnostics, AI-recommended routines.
• Oura Ring Horizon – Matte Black, Gen 3 (2024 Update) – ₵2,800
• Health and sleep tracking in the background — sleek and subtle.
Add both to cart.
⸻
CLOTHING
Jason filtered for: Ghana-appropriate streetwear, breathable fabrics, no bold logos.
• 5 heavyweight oversized tees (Black, Olive, Cream, Navy, Slate) – ₵1,500
• 3 premium cargo pants (Dark Gray, Tan, Army Green) – ₵2,400
• Nike Zoom Vomero 5 "Photon Dust" (2024 re-release) – ₵1,200
• Adidas Samba OG "White Gum" – ₵1,100
• New Balance 9060 "Driftwood" – ₵1,400
• Lightweight windbreaker (Nike ACG) – ₵2,000
• Slide sandals – Yeezy Slide style knockoffs (₵400)
For the first time, his wardrobe would match how he wanted to look — not just what he could afford.
⸻
FURNITURE + ROOM UPGRADE
He glanced around again. If he was going to start thinking, building, planning, he needed space that felt like him.
• Autonomous SmartDesk Pro – Adjustable Height – ₵5,000
• ErgoChair Pro (Lumbar support, mesh, armrests) – ₵4,500
• Black walnut desk shelf organizer – ₵1,000
• LED desk lamp with wireless charging + ambient backlight – ₵800
• Soundcore Motion X600 – Spatial audio speaker – ₵1,200
• Modular bookshelf (oak finish) – ₵2,000
• Memory Foam Hybrid Mattress (Queen) – ₵6,500
• Set of Egyptian cotton sheets + pillows – ₵1,600
• Blackout curtains (thermal insulated) – ₵900
• Smart ceiling fan with voice control (battery backup) – ₵2,300
Add all to cart.
⸻
MISCELLANEOUS
• Smart Water Bottle (Hidrate Spark Pro) – ₵700
• Digital safe for documents and backups – ₵1,800
• Noise-dampening rug + decor set – ₵2,000
• Basic espresso machine (Bambino Plus) – ₵3,500
• 10TB external hard drive + NAS – ₵5,400
• Rechargeable LED flashlights & power bank kit – ₵1,100
⸻
Cart Total: ₵213,500
Jason leaned back, his finger hovering over the screen. The number didn't scare him — not anymore. What mattered now was that every single item in that cart meant something: comfort, silence, rest, efficiency, progress.
For the first time in years, he was doing something for himself.
He tapped:
[Confirm Order]
[Payment successful. Items will be delivered in batches over the next 72 hours. Some components will be pre-installed with Orion-issued security layers. Would you like automatic system calibration?]
Jason blinked. Then grinned.
"Yeah. Calibrate everything. Might as well go all in."
The system pulsed once more in the back of his mind, as if pleased. Then silence.
Outside, the moon peeked through the blinds, silver and steady. Jason laid back, a thousand new thoughts racing through his mind — but for once, none of them were worries.
Only possibilities.
Tomorrow, the house would begin to change.
And maybe — just maybe — so would he.