My mood had been pleasant before meeting Xavier, but now, a storm of conflict churned within me. The Landon family didn't make empty threats. Perched at the very pinnacle of power, they always got what they wanted. That undeniable truth was the source of my trouble.
The conflict, however, came from the path ahead. The situation presented me with a brutal choice: strive for the power and riches to finally stand against my family, or dedicate myself to a single, miraculous goal.
According to its description, the "Miracle Doctor" skill granted vast, comprehensive medical knowledge from every corner of the world. It claimed to cure any sickness completely, without side effects, with only the treatment time varying. It was the answer to my deepest hope—but its cost in Aura Points was astronomically high.
I sat by my mother's bedside, her hand cold and frail in mine. Her skin was tragically pale, her expression dulled by medication and sickness.
A familiar wave of emotion tightened my throat. I never appreciated her enough when I was younger.
"Hey Mom, I finally did it. I got a real job, a good one. Paying for your bills will be easier now."
My voice cracked. I hadn't said more than a sentence, yet tears already threatened to spill. I knew I'd be bawling by the time I left. The reason was the fragile hope now burning in my chest. I was closer than ever to curing her.
I imagined her shock when she woke up to see me as the wealthy, established man she always trained me to be. I would spoil her with every jewel and dress she'd ever desired.
"I wish you were here to see me," I whispered. "I finally left that toxic girl I told you about."
I chuckled self-deprecatingly, then launched into a long, one-sided conversation, unsure if she could hear me but needing to say it all anyway.
As I left the hospital, a new resolve hardened within me. I needed to move fast, faster than the Landons' retaliation. They were no longer my family.
I pulled up the system interface, and my breath hitched. The points from Lucia and her executives at the meeting were staggering.
Aura Points: 546
"That's insane," I muttered. All that for just sitting there and being stoic? If it was that easy, the path to power—or to a miracle—was suddenly wide open.
The system shop unfolded before my mind's eye, a dizzying array of possibilities. I realized the key wasn't random choice; it was strategy. I had to build on my current position. As a new sales manager, performing a guitar solo in the office would get me fired. I needed skills that complemented my role.
My gaze zeroed in on the performance skills—the primary engines for generating more AP.
[ Performance Skills (Aura Farm Engines)]
Public display of these skills generates large amounts of Aura Points.
Swinging (Negotiation/Persuasion) - 290 AP
Description: A skill for high-stakes deals and convincing arguments. Perfect for sales.
Public Speaking (Stage Presence) - 400 AP
Description: Commands any room. The description noted it directly boosts the AP yield of all other public performances. A force multiplier.
Poker Face (High-Stakes Gambling Intuition) - 750 AP
Description: To read a client's tells and never show my own. Incredibly useful, but expensive.
Linguist (Fluency in 3 Languages) - 500 AP
Description: Essential for international business and expanding my reach.
11. Uno Reverse—200 AP—Generates a flawless, devastating comeback to any insult.
12. Aura Light—300 AP—Subtly shifts the focus and attention of an entire room to the Host.
13. Emotional Sonar—150 AP—Passively senses the current dominant emotion of anyone you look at. ]
There were so many skills that if I had kept scrolling, I'd probably have taken the whole day.
I needed to invest; these skills would help me excel at my job, generating more AP to buy even more skills. It was a snowball strategy towards ultimate power.
Then I scanned the physical upgrades. These weren't for performance but for presence—a different kind of currency.
[ Physical Upgrades
Enhancements that take effect after a full cycle of sleep.
Penis enlargement - 670 AP
Description: Add an inch to your weapon.
Height Increase - 1000 AP
Description: Match your confidence with your height and literally look down on your enemies.
Facial Symmetry - 220 AP
Description: Boosts attractiveness by fifty percent. A subtle but powerful tool for first impressions.
Voice of Velvet - 300 AP
Description: A deep, resonant, captivating voice. Anyone in sales knows the power of a good voice.
Scent of Allure - 500 AP
Subtle, appealing pheromones. With this skill, you'll put the most expensive colognes to shame.]
The choice was clear. I couldn't afford the flashy, expensive ones yet. I needed a foundation. Focusing my mind, I made my first purchase: Facial Symmetry for 220 AP. A tingle spread across my face, and the system informed me the change would finalize after I slept. It was a start.
The goal was simple: use my new job as a platform. I would grind AP, grow powerful, and secure my position. Only then, from a position of strength, could I safely decide: use my power to shield myself from the Landons, or spend it all to buy the "Miracle Doctor" and save my mother, risking everything.
The sour mood from my encounter with Xavier evaporated, replaced by focused anticipation. I was so engrossed in the system panel that I wasn't watching where I was walking. I turned a corner in the hospital lobby and slammed straight into someone.
And, you wouldn't guess who it was.