The lecture hall hummed with noise long before the professor arrived.
Cass sat in the front row, calm and composed, the faintest smile resting on his lips.
He had already noticed the change. The stares weren't just curious now. They were hungry. Some envious, some admiring, some calculating.
His presence had shifted something in the air. The Aston Martin parked outside was more than a car. It was a declaration.
Trent Beaumont stormed in late again, his expression tight. He threw a look at Cass, sharp enough to cut glass. But Cass didn't spare him a glance. He flicked open his notebook and waited. The dismissal made Trent's teeth grind.
The professor arrived, brisk and sharp-eyed. Her gaze swept the room, landing on Cass almost immediately. She adjusted her glasses, pausing.
"Mr Vale, isn't it? I saw your notes yesterday. Impressive."
A ripple of murmurs moved through the hall. A professor rarely singled out anyone, let alone on the second day.
Cass inclined his head slightly.
"Thank you, Professor." His voice was low, controlled, and carried easily.
Trent leaned back in his chair with a scoff.
"What, brown-nosing already?" His voice carried, too loud.
The professor turned her head, unimpressed. "Mr Beaumont, perhaps if you spent less time arriving late, you would be noticed for your work rather than your absence."
Laughter broke out across the hall. Trent's face burned. He glared at Cass, fury and humiliation boiling together.
Cass only tapped his pen against his notebook, eyes on the board, expression calm. Inside, his thoughts were razor sharp.
'Good. Let the cracks show. He'll trip over his own ego, and I'll be there to grind him into the dirt when it matters.'
[Minor Social Victory Achieved → Reward: +£1,000. Popularity +2 in University Circle]
Cass's lips curved faintly. The system was generous today. It was feeding his momentum like a tide, carrying him further every step.
After the lecture, the hall didn't empty as fast as usual. More students lingered. A few gathered near Cass's desk, leaning in with curiosity thinly veiled as casual chatter.
A girl with dark curls smiled shyly. "Cassian, do you play any sports? We've got a football society and—"
Another interrupted, a boy in a leather jacket.
"Forget that. What do you do? Nobody just drives an Aston Martin to class. You working for someone?"
Cass closed his notebook slowly and met their eyes one by one. His smile was polite, his voice controlled.
"I invest. I read. I learn. And I prepare."
The boy frowned. "Prepare for what?"
Cass stood, adjusting his jacket with smooth precision.
"For everything."
He walked past them without waiting for a response. The murmurs followed him out of the hall like shadows.
[Social Influence Expanded → Reward: +£500. Charisma +1 temporary]
Cass's thoughts hummed with satisfaction.
'The more I give them mystery, the more they'll chase me. That's how you build a legend. A taste, never the whole meal.'
That evening, the system pulsed alive as Cass entered the Vale residence.
[Property Alert: Terrace House (Salford) — Renovation Complete]
[Upgrade Applied: Full Modern Interior. Estimated Value: +£60,000]
Cass stopped in the hallway, lips curving.
'So it begins.'
He had bought that terrace house through the system only days ago, a rundown wreck with rotting wood and peeling paint. Now it was something else entirely.
"Cass?" Elaine's voice came from the kitchen. "You've been out all day. Sit down, I'll get you something to eat."
"Not yet, Mum," Cass called back. "I want to show you something first. Both of you."
Thomas appeared from the living room, brow furrowed. "What's this about?"
Cass twirled the keys in his fingers. "Come with me."
They drove in silence, the Aston Martin cutting through the streets until they reached Salford.
The house stood at the end of a narrow row, but it looked nothing like the wreck it had been. The windows gleamed, the walls freshly painted, the small garden trimmed and neat. It looked like it belonged to another neighbourhood entirely.
Elaine gasped softly, hands covering her mouth. "Cass… is this…?"
Thomas stared, stunned. "This isn't the place you were talking about the other night. That dump?"
"The same place," Cass said calmly, leading them forward. He unlocked the door and pushed it open. Warm light spilt out.
The interior gleamed with modern fittings, polished wood floors, and spotless appliances. It was as if years of decay had been erased overnight.
Elaine stepped inside on trembling legs, tears filling her eyes. "This is a home. Cass, this is—this is beautiful."
Thomas whistled low, shaking his head. "Bloody hell, son. How?"
Cass smiled faintly. "Business." He guided them further inside, watching as their awe grew. "It's already worth more than I paid. But this isn't about money. This is about showing you what's possible now."
Elaine wiped her eyes quickly, but her smile was radiant. "You've done all this… for us?"
"For us," Cass confirmed. His voice carried the weight of promise. "You'll never be shunned again. You'll never have to bow your head to anyone. Not while I'm here."
The system pulsed softly.
[Quest Milestone Achieved: Family Comfort → Reward: +£10,000. Skill Unlocked: Home Design Lv.1]
Cass's eyes gleamed as the notification faded.
'Good. More tools. More weapons. The system wants me to build a kingdom, and I'll do it. Starting here, with them.'
Elaine hugged him tightly, tears dampening his jacket. Thomas clapped a heavy hand on his son's shoulder, silent but proud. For the first time in years, the weight pressing on the Vale family seemed lighter.
Cass looked around the polished interior, the proof of change standing all around them. His voice was quiet, but every word was steel.
"This is just the beginning."