"Okay! Okay! Okay!"
As soon as Frank learned that his son had reached Level 20, he slapped his thigh three times in rapid succession, each with more force than the last, yelling a hearty "okay" each time.
"Hahaha! My son's going places—really going places! He's got a bright future ahead of him!"
He was beaming with pride, practically bouncing in place as he plopped down next to Lucas, grinning from ear to ear. He thumped Lucas hard on the back, shaking the couch.
"A real man! Hit Level 20 in a month! You're already doing better than your old man ever did!"
Lucas winced, his smile frozen in place. His dad's "Iron-Sand Palm" had not mellowed with age. That congratulatory pat might as well have been a combat technique.
Across from them, Martha sat on the other side of the sofa, her face glowing with pride. She reached out to ruffle Lucas's hair gently. "Don't forget who gave birth to such a fine son, huh?"
Frank chuckled. "This S-level Talent stuff really is the real deal, huh?"
He looked at Lucas like he was a diamond freshly unearthed—awed, amazed, and just a bit disbelieving.
"Well, of course!" Martha chimed in, rolling her eyes. "You and I are stuck with C-level Talents. Of course we don't understand how powerful S-level really is. And don't forget—our boy didn't just get an S-level Talent. He got a hidden combat class too!"
"Right, right!" Frank nodded enthusiastically. He couldn't stop glancing back at Lucas as if seeing him in a new light.
"With an S-level Talent and a hidden class, our son could reach the fabled fourth tier someday… maybe even break the Level 100 barrier!"
A silence followed.
Lucas looked like he might crawl under the sofa.
"Dad…" he muttered, face burning, "please don't say something like, 'My son is destined to be the next Great Emperor.'"
Frank laughed so hard he wheezed. "Now that you mention it—"
"Please don't," Lucas groaned.
Martha simply smiled, eyes soft. "You've worked hard, Lucas. And now look at you—our own rising star. I can already picture it—one day, standing at the top, all eyes on you!"
She was practically tearing up from joy.
Their minds wandered briefly to a month ago, when Lord Ling, the city lord of Tianhai, had pulled them aside to ask if Lucas would train together with his daughter. They had been caught off guard, scrambling to process the request.
But that morning, Lucas had already agreed to level up with Mason, the blacksmith's son, and rushed out before they could say anything. At the time, Frank and Martha were terrified they'd offended the city lord.
They had even feared for their jobs.
But surprisingly, nothing happened. The city lord didn't seem angry. When they visited him later to apologize, he simply smiled and said it was no problem.
Frank and Martha had left relieved—and now, knowing Lucas had proven his strength independently, their hearts swelled with pride.
"Son," Frank said suddenly, adopting a more serious tone, "you're Level 20 now. That means it's time to start preparing for your first career advancement."
"But be careful," Martha added quickly. "Don't just rush into the solo job transfer dungeon. Make sure you're fully prepared. Those dungeons are not easy!"
Frank nodded. "She's right. The difficulty curve is steep. You need Level 20 gear, strong stats, and… maybe even some backup items."
He looked at Lucas with concern. "We've been saving up for years. If you need gold to buy equipment, say the word."
Martha took Lucas's hand, her voice warm. "Sweetheart, that money is for you. We saved it so that you wouldn't have to struggle like we did. Don't be shy. This is a critical moment. You only get three chances at job advancement—treat them with caution."
Frank added grimly, "Your mom and I… we failed all three. We're stuck at Level 60 for life."
Martha nodded, her expression tinged with regret.
Frank continued, "Here's a tip—before you attempt the dungeon, go eat a proper meal cooked by an S-class chef. A high-grade meal gives temporary attribute boosts that could give you the edge you need."
"Really?" Lucas blinked. "You can eat buffs?"
Martha smiled. "Oh yes. The good chefs use monster ingredients that enhance stats. It's not permanent, but it can make a huge difference inside a dungeon."
"Wow. I… I guess I've been neglecting the whole chef class thing," Lucas admitted. "I always thought that was just flavor content."
Frank gave him a proud smile. "That's experience, son. Don't believe everything you read on the forums. Some things you only learn by doing."
Martha rolled her eyes. "Don't let it go to your head, Frank. You could've told him this earlier instead of showing off."
"Hey, I'm telling him now, aren't I?"
Lucas laughed as his parents playfully bickered. It felt good—warm, familiar.
Frank looked back at him seriously. "Son, if you ever feel unsure, come talk to us. We've been down the road before. You don't need to figure it all out on your own."
Lucas nodded.
Then he smirked slightly.
"Actually... there's something I forgot to mention."
Frank and Martha turned to him curiously.
"What is it?" they asked in unison.
Lucas grinned and opened his status screen.
"I already passed the transfer dungeon."
He projected his profile, letting the words 'Awakening: First Transformation' shine like a badge of honor.
"WHAT?!"
Both parents gasped so hard, it sounded like they were choking.
"You… already advanced?" Frank stammered.
Lucas nodded proudly. "Yup. After hitting Level 20, I upgraded my gear, challenged the dungeon… and cleared it."
Their eyes were wide, their mouths hanging open.
"You're serious?" Martha asked. "You just… went in and cleared it?"
"Solo," Lucas said.
A beat of stunned silence followed.
"…S-level Talent really is on another level," Frank finally muttered.
"I remember prepping for half a year," Martha said, laughing in disbelief. "We ran dozens of dungeons just to gather the materials."
"And we still failed," Frank added, shaking his head.
They looked at each other, then at their son, completely awestruck.
Lucas smiled sheepishly. "Guess I'm built different."
They laughed, teary-eyed.
Frank leaned back and wiped the corner of his eye. "You little brat… making your old man worry for nothing."
Martha pulled Lucas into a tight hug, her voice warm and proud. "You've grown so much. We're proud of you, honey. No matter what."
Lucas just smiled and let the moment linger. For once, he didn't mind the emotional display.
He'd earned it.
And deep down, he knew this was just the beginning.
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