The reveal went as expected. Elizabeth shrieked with delight when she saw the brand new iPhone XR, immediately tearing open the box and admiring the design. This kind of phone was especially popular among girls her age.
Sarah was more reserved when presented with hers, her initial reaction being one of shock at the expense, followed by slight concern, and finally, genuine gratitude.
Daniel patiently reassured his mother, sticking to his online trading story. He helped her set up the new phone, transferring her contacts and showing her the basic features. Her measured excitement as she explored the bigger, brighter screen was rewarding.
His own iPhone 13 Pro felt incredible in his hand. Smooth, fast, the camera quality leagues beyond his old phone. He spent the evening meticulously setting it up, transferring his data, downloading essential apps, and, most importantly, installing Money Hack. He logged in using his credentials, the familiar dark interface appearing seamlessly on the superior screen. Logging out of the app on his old phone felt like closing a chapter. He decided to keep the old phone as a backup, just in case.
The next few weeks saw Daniel settling into a new lifestyle. He started dressing slightly better – buying a couple of nicer, non-branded but well-fitting t-shirts and a new pair of sneakers online. He used his iPhone 13 Pro openly, subtly enjoying the curious glances it attracted, especially from his friends.
"Guy, na 13 PRO be this?" Ayo had asked, eyes wide, when they met up for football. "Sharp! Your crypto don finally show workings (become profitable)!"
Daniel just grinned. "Man's just trying his best."
He continued using Money Hack, but more cautiously now. He didn't want to grow his balance too quickly and raise suspicion, even with his family. He made smaller and more frequent automatic trades, usually borrowing around N50k-N100k at a time and setting 12 or 24-hour durations at Low risks. The profits were smaller per trade – maybe N50k here, N80k there – but they were consistent. His MH balance steadily climbed. Later on, he used about 2 million Naira previously earned to rent a better apartment in the G.R.A. of Garki, Area 11.
So they got more space, better amenities, and a quieter environment, a significant upgrade from their Dogongada flat.
He kept a healthy float of a few hundred thousand Naira in his OPay account for spending, transferring funds from MH as needed.
He also spent time actually researching cryptocurrency and Forex trading online. Not because he needed to trade manually, but to bolster his cover story. He learned the jargon – bulls and bears, pips and leverage, blockchain and NFTs. He could now hold a semi-coherent conversation about market trends, enough to satisfy casual curiosity.
The idea of Rocket Funds, however, never left his mind.
Rocket Funds was an idea he came up with recently: a platform, presented as an investment opportunity, centered around a modified version of Money Hack. Using other Users to generate profit via the MH algorithm, he would gain a majority share of their earnings, while they received a seemingly steady passive income.
The potential for leveraged, passive income for himself was too tempting. Having administrative control meant he could design the system exactly how he wanted. He started sketching out ideas – the user interface, the invite system, the profit split. He wanted it to look legitimate and desirable to potential users. The N5k entry fee he set wasn't just about perceived value; it was a small filter, ensuring he only had users that were at least somewhat serious.
He used the MH app itself in a new way. He went into the Administrator settings – a section previously untouched. He saw options to modify the user interface for non-admin users, change rule parameters (though he didn't dare touch the withdrawal/borrowing limits yet), and manage user accounts. He experimented, creating a mock-up interface within the MH settings, renaming it "Rocket Funds," changing the color scheme, and simplifying the options visible to a hypothetical user.
The app's underlying complexity allowed for this customization seamlessly. He could essentially create a 'skinned' version of MH for others, with himself skimming the majority of the profits generated by their trades (which would still be executed by the core MH algorithm behind the scenes).
One afternoon, while walking through his new neighborhood in Garki – a much quieter, cleaner area than Dogongada, with better roads and bigger houses hidden behind high walls – he ran into Princess, the neighbor he'd briefly met when they first moved in.
She was jogging, dressed in athletic wear, her hair tied back. She recognized him and slowed down, offering a friendly smile.
"Hey, Daniel, right? Settling in okay?"
"Yeah. It's quiet here. A very nice change," he replied, his newfound confidence making the conversation easier than it might have been before, though one couldn't deny that even without it, his natural intelligence allowed him to carry conversations. He noticed her glance at the iPhone in his hand once or twice.
They chatted for a few minutes about the neighborhood, about University (she was also waiting for admission, hoping for Law). He found himself speaking more smoothly than usual. The invisible cushion of wealth changed his tone.
When they parted ways, he felt a slight attraction to the girl, but his mind was primarily focused elsewhere – on the potential of Rocket Funds and the steadily growing numbers in his accounts. Relationships felt like a secondary concern. For now, building his foundation was more important.