Arthur’s eyes darted back and forth between the screen and the numbers in his hand. It matches! The first number matched. The second number matched. The third number matched. Upon the revelation of all the numbers, Arthur exhaled deeply. I got it right. I didn’t forget a single number. Despite the groans and curses from the other customers filling the lottery shop, Arthur remained upbeat. A faint smile crept onto his face. The prize wasn’t huge, but it was more than enough. This was the only set of numbers I remembered. I didn’t even bother with the bigger jackpots. Arthur happily approached the counter with his ticket in hand. “Boss, I won. Could you help me cash out?” His words hit the lottery shop like a thunderclap. Every head turned in his direction. He won? Really? They had all been buying tickets for ages without much luck. And here was this kid, practically a stranger, who had won the lottery on his very first attempt. Curiosity filled the air as people speculated about how much he’d won. The shopkeeper was equally surprised. The boy looked so young, barely past childhood, with a fresh, youthful face that screamed student. At first, he’d dismissed him as just another poor kid wasting money on tickets instead of studying. Taking the ticket from Arthur, the shopkeeper carefully verified the numbers. It was true. And it wasn’t a small amount either—$1,400!He had been running this shop for years, and winners of this size didn’t come around often. The shopkeeper couldn’t help but smile. “Kid, you’ve got some incredible luck! You just won $1,400!” Fourteen hundred dollars! The announcement was like a small explosion in the room. Every head turned again, this time with eyes full of envy. “Are you kidding me? What kind of luck is that? He really won?” “Seriously, this kid must’ve stepped in something lucky on his way here!” “I’ve been buying tickets for years and never won that much. How does he hit it big on his first try?” The crowd buzzed with a mix of jealousy and disbelief. This round’s only winner was Arthur. A scruffy man in his thirties, leaning lazily against a wall, couldn’t resist stepping forward. He gave Arthur a once-over. “Hey, kid, I don’t think I’ve seen you around before. First time buying a ticket?” Arthur didn’t bother with much of a reply. He nodded lightly. The man smirked, leaning in closer. “First time, huh? And you win big like this? Got any secrets you want to share?” His tone was equal parts playful and menacing. The shopkeeper paused while counting the cash. He quickly spoke up. You can cash the $1,400 here. Do you have a bank account? I can transfer it for you.” Arthur ignored the man and shook his head. “I don’t.” “How about a family member’s account?” the shopkeeper asked, casting a wary glance at the man. The man was a regular, and the shopkeeper knew him all too well. He had a history of stealing from vulnerable winners—those who were alone or seemed simple to intimidate. He’d even served jail time for it. Arthur was just a skinny kid, no older than sixteen, holding a stack of cash worth $1,400. The shopkeeper believed that this situation was ripe for disaster. Arthur glanced at the man, understanding the shopkeeper’s concern. But transferring the money to his family wasn’t an option.“Just give me cash,” Arthur said firmly. The shopkeeper grew even more anxious. This kid doesn’t understand how dangerous this is! He’s already been targeted. He tried to persuade him again, but Arthur interrupted. “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.” Seeing Arthur’s insistence, the shopkeeper had no choice. He counted out the $1,400 and handed it over, patting Arthur on the shoulder. “Kid, get home quick, okay?” Nearby, the scruffy man’s eyes gleamed at the sight of the cash. He didn’t say a word, just waited for Arthur to leave. The moment Arthur walked out the door, the man followed. “Hey, wait up!” The shopkeeper called after him. The man turned back, glaring at him. “Mind your own business, old man. Just run your shop.” The other customers whispered among themselves, pointing at the man. They all recognized him—he’d been around long enough for everyone to know what he was capable of.