"Alright then," she said finally. "Just promise me you'll take care of yourself. Don't skip meals like before, okay?"
Edward smiled faintly. "Yeah, I won't. So, are you gonna tell me why you called this early? You don't usually call in the morning."
"Oh right, I almost forgot! Anyway, son, your sister finally got a seat at your university! You know how hard she studied to get in. Honestly, I think she was more excited about staying with you than the scholarship itself. But still, she'll be coming to Novus next month."
Edward froze for a moment. He wasn't sure how to react. His sister's obsession with him was… something else. Almost yandere-level, to be honest.Well, not that they were blood-related — she was adopted. But she didn't know that.
If she ever finds out, I can't even imagine how she'd react… he thought, sighing internally.
"Oh, that idiot actually got a seat, huh?" he said aloud, forcing a light tone. "Don't worry, Mom. Once my project's finished successfully, we won't have to struggle with money anymore."
Esther, his mother, understood why her son brought up money. Living in Novus Crown, the so-called Global Capital, wasn't easy. It was the dream city — filled with the best universities, the best opportunities… and the highest costs.
She didn't think too deeply about Edward's confident words. Everyone in that city struggled with money. So she just replied gently, "Don't worry, sweetie. I'm sure your sister can also get a part-time job. Just knowing you'll be there to take care of her makes me feel relieved."
Edward understood perfectly — his mother trusted him deeply.Well, no one would believe a recent graduate claiming they'll be financially free soon, he thought with a smirk. But with my sugar mommy, I know I'll get there.
That's why he told his parents he was "working on a project." It was a convenient cover story. When the time came, he could just say some company liked his idea and invested in it. Not a lie that would hold forever, but good enough for now — at least until he was strong enough to stop explaining himself.
"Don't worry, Mom," he said softly. "Tell her to call me when she has time."
Hearing her son's calm reassurance, Esther's heart finally relaxed. "Alright, sweetie. I'll call you later, okay? Your father and sister will be home soon."
"Okay, Mom. Take care."
Once the call ended, Edward stared at the blank screen for a moment, exhaling slowly.Looks like I need to speed things up…
He leaned back and spoke clearly, "Alright, Sugar. Show me my stats and new missions."
A soft chime echoed in the room, followed by a familiar holographic glow.
NAME: Edward HaleRACE: Human
Strength (STR): 4Agility (AGI): 4Endurance (END): 3Intelligence (INT): 5Charisma (CHA): 3Luck (LUK): 4(Human limit: 10)
Assets: $12,010
Available Missions:• 100 Push-ups• 100 Squats• 10 km Run
Time Limit: None
Reward: Mystery Pack
Edward rubbed his chin as he read through the glowing text."Same old grind missions, huh? Guess the system still wants me to sweat before giving me anything interesting."
Still, a grin crept across his face."Fine, Sugar. Let's get to work."
He stretched his arms, feeling the faint warmth of energy pulsing under his skin.The "System" wasn't just helping him — it was changing him. And if he wanted to survive whatever future it was preparing him for… he couldn't afford to slow down now.