[Have you tried investing, Host?]
Gray blinked as a small notification window popped up in front of him.
The familiar mechanical voice of the system sounded inside his head.
"Investing?" Gray mumbled under his breath., He was careful not to make a scene inside the cab.
He glanced sideways at the driver to see if he heard what he said, but the man was focused on the road.
Gray rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
He had heard about investing, of course. There were stocks, bonds, crypto, and even real estate. But for him, all of those sounded like stuff that you would need a lot of money and knowledge to start.
Though he might have some minimal knowledge because of his course, he doesn't really have the money for it.
Not now, though.
[Don't worry, Host! There are a lot of beginner-friendly investments you can start with!]
The system chimed again eagerly, almost like it wanted him to do it.
"Hmmm… should I?"
As Gray asked the question in silence, another voice from the system rang out.
[Ding!]
[New Mission Unlocked!]
A translucent notification window appeared right in front of him.
[Mission: Beginner Investor]
[Objective: Start a small investment using available funds and earn a profit of at least $500.]
[Time Limit: 7 Days]
[Reward: +1 Power | +$2,000 Wealth]
'Huh? A mission again?' Gray stared at the mission window in disbelief. His fingers tapped lightly against his thigh as he thought it over.
'$500 profit… in 7 days…'
It sounded simple, but he knew it wouldn't be easy — especially since investing always came with risks.
But then, he was curious about his
Instantly, another translucent screen appeared.
[Your
Physical Strength Mental Sharpness Luck Intelligence
Gray read through the list slowly, his brows furrowing deeper.
'Wait... so Power doesn't just mean strength?' that was his initial thought at first
[Correct, Host! Power enhances your entire being. For example:]
Higher Power = Faster recovery when tired Higher Power = Sharper memory retention Higher Power = Stronger mental will against pressure or manipulation Higher Power = Potential unlocking of Advanced Traits
"I see…" Gray sat back against the cab seat, feeling a slow, creeping excitement build up inside him.
He clenched his fist lightly.
'Let's do it.'
He accepted the mission silently, and the system chimed again, confirming the quest activation.
[Good luck, Host!]
The cab continued driving down the long, tree-lined roads of the rich subdivision, getting closer and closer to the Lancaster estate.
Gray leaned his head back against the cab's seat and sighed.
He will think of that mission later. But right now, what he needed to do was to prepare for the upcoming tutoring session that he'd have with Chloe.
"Alright, one thing at a time," he muttered under his breath, as he saw the cab arriving at the subdivision's gate.
Gray paid the driver, thanked him politely, and stepped out/
[-$81 has been deducted.]
[$4.05 has been refunded.]
As he stepped out, Gray adjusted the folders in his hand and turned his head, taking in the familiar look of the iron gates of the subdivision.
Before he could approach it, a sleek black car was already waiting nearby/ It was the same one from yesterday.
The window rolled down smoothly as soon as the driver saw Gray. The man was dressed impeccably in a black suit, his posture was still straight and respectful.
"Good morning, Mr. Adams," the driver greeted with a polite nod. "Miss Chloe is already expecting you."
"Good morning, sir," Gray returned the greeting with a light smile as he stepped closer.
The driver got out of the car swiftly, walking over to open the back door for him.
"Thank you," Gray said, sliding into the backseat. He wasn't used to the gesture, but he appreciated it.
As the car pulled smoothly into motion, Gray glanced at the driver's reflection in the rearview mirror. Gray tapped his fingers lightly against his knee, thinking.
If he wanted to know more about Chloe, now was the perfect chance.
"Sir," Gray started casually, keeping his tone light, "have you worked for the Lancaster family for a long time?"
The driver glanced at him through the mirror, looking surprised at first, but then he gave a small chuckle.
"Yes. I've been working for the family for about sixteen years now," he said proudly.
"Sixteen years, huh?" Gray whistled softly. "That's impressive."
It was impressive for him, since he doesn't stay long at his work. For some unknown reason, he was always getting fired when he wasn't doing anything.
He was that unlucky.
"It's an honor to work for them. They're good people." The driver smiled modestly.
Gray leaned back a little, pretending to just be making small talk.
"Do you know anything about Miss Chloe? She seems like a lively one."
At the mention of Chloe, the driver's expression shifted slightly. He looks like he adored Chloe, but not in a bad way.
"Miss Chloe," the driver said after a short pause, "is a bright young lady. Very kind-hearted, but... she's been through a lot these past few years."
Gray raised an eyebrow but kept quiet, waiting for the man to continue.
"After Madam Lancaster passed away, Miss Chloe changed a bit," the driver said softly. "She used to be more... spirited. Full of energy. Mischievous, even. Always laughing, always getting into little trouble."
Gray could picture it somehow. Chloe, with her playful smile, sneaking around causing harmless chaos. Somehow, it reminds him of Lily.
"But now?" The driver sighed lightly. "She still smiles, but it's not the same as before."
"I see…" Gray nodded slowly, taking in the information carefully.
"So tutoring her might be a bit of a challenge, huh?" he said, half-jokingly.
"Maybe. But if she's smiling during your lessons, sir... then you're already doing better than most." The driver chuckled.
Gray smiled to himself at that.
That was something he can do.