As Hunter ripped off the tarp, he confirmed it immediately: this was a "black car," stolen and illegal.
It was a Porsche 911.
In the United States, these things were relatively common. As a global manufacturing powerhouse with the dominance of the US Dollar, America was a paradise for car buyers.
A base model Porsche 911 cost around $100,000. Even a top-spec model rarely exceeded $200,000.
Thanks to the mature credit market and lease options, most upper-middle-class families could technically afford one.
However, due to their impracticality, most 911s were bought by the wealthy—often as birthday gifts for kids or lovers.
Hunter quickly inspected the car. No plates. The odometer showed it was practically brand new. The only damage was a busted door lock, indicating a forced entry.
He didn't care where it came from.
Hunter was wearing gloves when he arrived and hadn't taken them off. He wasn't about to leave fingerprints on a felony.
He grabbed his tools and got to work.
Stripping a supercar solo in a few hours was no small feat.
Fortunately, over the last few days at the garage, Hunter had ground his Mechanics skill to Level 2, pushing the brink of Level 3. Combined with his enhanced physical stats (Strength Lv 10), he worked with machine-like efficiency.
Two hours later, the car was a skeleton.
The seats, wheels, engine components, and body panels were neatly stacked.
"Done. Time to pack up."
Looking at the skeletal frame of the supercar, Hunter felt a twinge of regret.
He knew its fate. The parts would be sold off piecemeal into the massive US used parts market.
Selling a "black car" whole was risky. To clean the title required serious connections. But selling it as parts? Easy.
Sure, the profit margin was lower.
Intact, this 911 could fetch $120,000 legally. Even on the black market, a connected fence could move it for $60,000 - $70,000.
As a pile of parts? Maybe $40,000 if they were lucky. Hunter guessed Parker would probably clear $30,000.
But that wasn't Hunter's problem.
What mattered was the notification in his head.
The Porsche 911 was a complex machine. Dismantling it wasn't just labor; it was a masterclass in engineering.
Every bolt removed, every system disconnected granted him a steady stream of EXP.
By the time the last bolt hit the floor, the notification chimed.
[Ding! Mechanics Skill Level Up!]
[Current Level: Lv 3 (7/2000)]
Hunter eagerly summoned his status window.
[Host: Hunter (Hunter Sun)]
[Lifespan: 18 / 72]
[Attributes]
Intelligence: 11 $\rightarrow$ 12 (World Average: 10)
Strength: 10 (World Average: 10)
Agility: 10 (World Average: 10)
Constitution: 10 (World Average: 10)
Endurance: 10 (World Average: 10)
[Free Attribute Points: 0]
[Skill List]
Driving Lv 3 (242/2000): Not bad. You are officially a veteran driver.
Lockpicking Lv 1 (73/200): Try opening it without a key.
Cooking Lv 2 (15/500): Why not try making something more complex and delicious?
Reading Lv 1 (47/200): Want to be smarter? Read a book.
Mechanics Lv 3 (7/2000): Maybe you should try fixing something more complex, like an airplane.
Swimming Lv 1 (0/200): Keep going. You're faster than a seahorse.
Running Lv 1 (24/200): Don't stop. Run for a healthy body.
Marksmanship Lv 0 (95/100): American Iaijutsu. Keeps you safe.
Gambling Lv 0 (0/100): Poker is fun. It's even more fun when you know how to win.
Painting Lv 0 (3/100): You are ten Picassos away from being da Vinci.
Over the past four days, Hunter had leveled up four skills, earning a total of 6 Free Attribute Points.
He had spent 5 of them to bring his Strength, Agility, Constitution, and Endurance all up to 10—the average for a healthy adult male in this world. He was no longer physically weak.
He had also unlocked two new skills: Gambling (found a deck of cards) and Painting (doodled in a book).
Unfortunately, Gambling required opponents to gain EXP, and he had neither the money nor the time. Painting took too long for too little reward. So, both remained at Lv 0.
With the new point from leveling Mechanics to Lv 3, Hunter didn't hesitate.
+1 Intelligence.
(Intelligence: 11 $\rightarrow$ 12)
He had already felt the benefits of his earlier investment in Intelligence. His memory, reading comprehension, and logical thinking had all improved noticeably.
If his body hadn't been so frail initially, he would have dumped everything into Intelligence from the start.
But now that his physical stats were stabilized at the average, he could focus on his mind.
With the System, he knew he would unlock countless skills in the future.
A balanced, comprehensive build was the best path forward.