The Trash Tycoon: Riches from Rubbish

“Her in an egg-yolk yellow dress, her hair fluffy and untamed, holding my hand as we gaze at the latest oil paintings…”

The ringtone of his phone cuts through Sean’s reverie as he shoves two drink bottles he just salvaged from a trash can into his tote bag.

He fishes out his phone; it’s his girlfriend, Chloe Carter, on the line.

Sean answers with a smile.

“Chloe, what’s up? Missing me?”

“Sean, I meant to call you later… Let’s break up. I’m getting married to someone else next month.”

Sean’s head reels, his legs nearly buckling beneath him.

“What… what did you just say?”

“We’re breaking up. No more contact, please.”

“Why? What did I do wrong?”

Sean feels like he’s tearing apart.

Just two days prior, Chloe had mentioned needing money for her brother’s wedding, prompting Sean to scrape together over $10,000 from various loan platforms, which he had just transferred the day before.

And now she wanted to break up?

It felt like a nightmare to Sean.

Since they started dating, he had lavished her with devotion, treating her like the most precious thing in the world.

He had given her two-thirds of his monthly earnings from his writings, leaving just enough for his rent and modest meals.

In an expensive city like Los Angeles, Sean’s budget for food was a paltry $60 per month.

His occasional cigarette was financed by selling recycled items like bottles and cardboard.

All to ensure Chloe had a comfortable life in New York.

“Chloe, we’ve been together for six years! We got together in our freshman year! Now you want to break up? Is it the money for your brother’s wedding? I can borrow more…”

“It’s not about the money! The life you’re providing isn’t what I want anymore. I can’t keep living this way.”

Chloe’s words clenched Sean’s fists.

Six years of love... discarded just like that?

From their freshman year, Sean had handed over his earnings from his writings to Chloe.

Sometimes it was a few thousand, at times tens of thousands!

She could afford new clothes, cosmetics…

And now, for her sake, he had amassed a debt of over $10,000!

“Chloe! What’s wrong with our life? Six years! I’ve done everything to fulfill your wishes… What’s so wrong with it!”

Sean shouted, drawing glances from those around him.

“Sean, I’m 24 years old, I want a home. Can you afford a car? A house? Since we’re being honest, I won’t keep it from you anymore—I’m marrying David Lawson. He has already bought a house and a car in New York, and both are in my name. I can’t just accept these silently, so I…”

“So you’re just going to marry him? And just forget all the good I’ve done?”

Sean’s fists were clenched tight, anger surging through him.

“Think whatever you want, I just wanted to let you know, we’re through.”

Sean’s teeth gritted audibly, wishing he could confront David right then.

David, a rich second-generation kid and a year junior to Sean at university, had always shown interest in Chloe, often buying her flowers and gifts, and taking her out to dinner.

Even back then, there had been a slight ambiguity in Chloe’s relationship with him, leading to numerous arguments between her and Sean.

“Chloe! You promised to marry me! To strive together!”

Sean’s voice trembled.

“I’m sorry, we both lost to reality... Let’s part amicably. Don’t contact me anymore, David wouldn’t like it…”

“Damn it! Tell me clearly, when did you two start seeing each other? If I hadn’t been told you were getting married, would you have even planned to tell me?”

Sean couldn’t contain his rage, swearing loudly.

“Sean, we have to face reality. With your income of $600 a month, how long before you can afford a house? How long before I can live the life I want? David and I have been together since early last year, there’s nothing left to hide.”

Sean felt his blood rush to his head, his eyes bulging, ready to burst.

“You… you…”

Sean was speechless. It had been a year and a half since early last year!

During this period, He had met Chloe Carter five or six times. Now, he finally understood why every attempt to advance their relationship coincided with her period!

There was no period. It was David!

“Damn you! Chloe! Have you no shame? You’ve cheated on me for over a year, and now you’re getting married, telling me we’re squared away like nothing happened! You’ve been with him all along, why did you still ask me for money! I just sent you over $10,000 yesterday!”

Sean couldn’t believe that the woman he had loved for six years had turned out to be such a person.

“Sean, can you act like a man for once? You gave me that money of your own free will. Asking for it back the moment we split? I didn’t expect you to be so petty!”

Chloe’s accusation nearly made Sean’s blood boil.

“Petty? My head’s just too big! You’ve been cheating on me for a year and a half! Cut the crap, if you want to break up, pay me back what you owe… or else...”

Sean didn’t finish his threat, interrupted by another man’s voice on the line, which he recognized instantly.

“Sean, all you want is your money, right? Then take me to court. I’ll get the best lawyer to fight you. Even if you win, you’ll only get the money from the last two years—the rest is beyond the statute of limitations. Stop harassing us, goodbye…”

“David, damn you and all your ancestors!”

“Beep beep beep…”

The call ended abruptly, and Sean, stubbornly, tried calling again.

Disconnected!

Sean felt like he was going to explode with frustration!

He wanted to smash his phone but reluctantly, he threw a woven bag to the floor instead, bottles and cardboard spilling out.

“God! Are you blind?”

The sky roared and crackled unexpectedly.

Suddenly, a thunderous crash and a lightning bolt thick as a bucket struck Sean squarely on the head.

(Thor, above in the clouds, silently stowed away his tools.)

Sean felt as if his head had been smashed by a hammer; darkness swamped him, and he crumpled to the ground.

The surrounding sounds of cars and screams gradually faded...

“Multiverse Junk System initiating binding…”

“Sean body enhancement in progress…”

Despite being unconscious, Sean’s mind was alarmingly clear, trapped in a state like sleep paralysis.

Aware, yet unable to control his body.

“Multiverse Recycling System initiating binding…”

“Sean body enhancement undergoing unknown mutation, activating highest enhancement level…”

Before Sean could even wonder about the origin of the voice, he was wracked by a soul-tearing agony.

So intense was the pain, he fell into a deep coma.

When he woke up, he was lying in a hospital bed; it was already the next morning.

“People are still kind these days… Lucky I’m not elderly, or no one would’ve dared help me to the hospital.”

Sean sat up and sighed with relief.

A young nurse entered, saw him awake, and smiled.

“You’re up, young man?”

Sean nodded.

“Yeah… What happened?”

“Nothing to worry about, you were just struck by lightning, but you’re fine. The doctors have done a thorough check-up. You’re in perfect health. Just clear the bill and you can be discharged.”

“Thank you.”

The nurse smiled again and left.

Sean sighed, lying back down. The thought of the bill pained him—how much would a detailed check-up cost?

Despite his concerns, Sean paid the bill and left the hospital in his patient gown.

His situation was dire now; his clothes were reduced to ashes, though his phone had miraculously survived the lightning strike.

Sean took a taxi back to his rented room, sparing himself the embarrassment of riding the bus in hospital attire.

Imagine being mistaken for an escaped mental patient, someone acting heroically to return him to a psychiatric hospital—that would be a spectacle.

Back at his rental, Sean collapsed into a chair.

Now utterly broke after the hospital and taxi expenses,

he had only three dollars left.

Sean sighed, placed his phone on the desk,

and picked up his last cigarette.

Money! I need money!

Recalling Chloe only intensified his distress.

He tried calling her immediately.

“Sorry, the number you have dialed is no longer in service…”

Sean was dumbfounded; Chloe had gone to such lengths to cut him off, even canceling her phone number!

He felt like the most wretched person on earth.

Cheated on for a year and a half, and swindled out of his money...

Though not a large sum, it amounted to a significant chunk over three years!

What do they call it when you lose both your partner and your assets? A double whammy.

That was precisely his predicament!

This injustice couldn’t stand; he had to confront that couple and demand an explanation!

I’ll go to New York! I’ll crash their wedding!

“An egg-yellow dress, voluminous hair…”

The ringing of his phone snapped Sean back to the present.

It was his landlord… Sean frowned as he answered.

“Sean, next month’s rent is up by $100. Make sure you pay on time.”

“Wendy, another rent hike? It was just increased before the New Year…”

“If you don’t like it, move out. Even at $3500, there’s a line of people eager to rent.”

“Uh… Wendy, I’ll pay…”

“I’m not being unreasonable, Sean. With housing prices skyrocketing, rents have to rise too.”

“Wendy, I’ll transfer the rent on time; I have to go now.”

Sean hung up.

When it rains, it pours.

“Jarvis successfully bound.”

“Ding! Cigarette butt recycled: reward $1.50.”

The sound, distinctly mechanical, echoed in Sean Quinn’s mind, catching him off guard.

“Who’s there? Who’s talking?”

Startled, Sean jumped from his chair, scanning the empty room.

Then, he noticed the cigarette he’d been holding had vanished...

Thinking it had dropped, he bent down to search.

Just then, a notification pinged from his phone.

Sean checked the message:

“Dear customer, your bank account ending in 5670 has been credited $2, new balance $3.00.”

Who sent me money?

“Sean, this is your cash reward for recycling. All rewards are directly deposited into your bank account,”

the voice explained again, increasing Sean’s anxiety.

“Who are you?”

“I am the Multiverse Recycling System. You can call me Jarvis”

Sean glanced around once more, shaking his head and rubbing his ears, wondering if he was hallucinating after being struck by lightning.

“Sean, I am the Multiverse Recycling System. I recycle items from all around the universe. You will receive monetary rewards and may also earn items or skills.”

“Where are you?”

“I exist within your consciousness, communicating directly with your mind.”

“Did you recycle that cigarette butt?”

“Yes, the initial recycling was to test the system’s integration. Future commands can simply be issued mentally.”

“Can this actually be exchanged for money?”

Sean remained skeptical, hardly believing his ears.

“Sean, you may try recycling something else.”

Nodding, Sean picked up the ashtray from his desk and thought ’recycle.’

Instantly, the ashtray vanished from his hand, and the mechanical voice sounded again.

“Ding! One ashtray recycled: reward $15.”

“Ding! 32 cigarette butts recycled: reward $50.”

His phone buzzed with updates soon after.

“Dear customer, your bank account ending in 5670 has been credited $45, new balance $113.”

“Dear customer, your bank account ending in 5670 has been credited $47, new balance $160.”

Staring at his phone, Sean could hardly believe it... Was this real?

The Multiverse Recycling System was real!!!

Overwhelmed with the possibility of fortune, Sean reveled in the fantasies he’d had while reading and writing novels about such systems. He had dreamed of the day he’d rise to the pinnacle of life, a true victor.

And now it seemed to be unfolding before him.

“Ha ha... I’m going to be rich! Chloe Carter! Just wait, I’ll make you regret everything and crush you and David Lawson beneath my feet!”

Sean pumped his fist, thrilled at the prospect.

He then set about cleaning his room.

First, he gathered all the cigarette butts from the floor, then started on the other assorted junk.

“Ding! Three plastic water bottles recycled: reward $4.50.”

“Ding! One pair of old shoes recycled: reward $15.”

“Ding! One pair of worn-out underwear recycled: reward $15.”

“Ding! One medical magazine recycled: reward $30.”

“Special reward triggered: Divine Medical Skill awarded.”

Sean stopped, stunned, and sat on the bed.

Divine Medical Skill?

What in the world was that?