The rain had stopped, but the silence felt heavier than any storm.
Even after the screen went black and the message disappeared, he sat frozen in front of the laptop, the soft hum of the cooling fan being the only sound in the room.
Ninety-nine billion dollars in assets and ten million have just entered his bank account.
It was just too much for him to believe.
He does not even dare to imagine it.
His mind swirled with questions.
Who was this father he had never met?
Why now?
Why him?
And what exactly does "Support Protocol" mean?
...
Noah can't sleep the entire night.
He remained in his seat until morning light seeped through the dusty blinds.
What happened last night still haunts his mind.
"System!" he whispers, and the System appears in his view.
The text shines brightly, just like what he saw last night.
After ensuring that all his asset info is still displayed, he dismisses the System from his line of sight simply by whispering to ask, "System off," in his mind.
What happened last night was more than just his imagination; it's all real!
Now, he must go to the ATM to see if he can withdraw the money.
However!
Just as he wanted to drag his stiff body to the bathroom to clean up, a sudden knock on the door startled him.
He stared at the door, hesitating to open it; no one ever visited him in this cramped place.
Yet the knock persisted and grew even louder as if to convey that the person outside was fuming.
Taking a deep sigh, Noah walked toward the door and pushed it open slowly.
An older woman with a messy bun dressed in pajamas stood before him, looking annoyed at his present.
She was his landlord, Grandma Martha.
"Hey, young man," Martha expressed with a hint of annoyance. "I'm relieved you're not fleeing from me. You understand why I'm here, don't you?"
Noah sighed, recalling that his rent was three days overdue.
Not because he didn't want to pay, but because his adoptive mother had been admitted to the hospital, leaving him no choice but to send all his money for her hospital charges.
Also, last night's gathering left his wallet empty!
"Grandma Martha, I promise to make the payment today..."
Noah planned to go to the ATM to check if the money in his bank account was real.
"You mentioned that three days ago, young man. I won't remind you again. Just leave if you can't pay the rent! You have until noon to move your things, or I will throw your belongings outside!" Martha walked away, not waiting for him to reply.
He silently cursed, expressing his frustration.
For a few moments, he stood there as he watched Martha walk away toward the stairs.
'I guess... It's time for an upgrade! With ten million in my bank, why remain in this slump?'
Noah shrugged before going inside and started gathering his things. He was grateful he only had a few clothes and gadgets to pack.
...
When Noah completed his packing, it was almost lunchtime.
He couldn't decide whether to eat lunch with only $10 left in his wallet.
Pulling his worn suitcase and carrying his backpack on his shoulder, he approached the nearby ATM.
He felt anxious about checking his bank balance.
'Can I withdraw the money they've just sent?' This question frequently arises in his mind.
His heart tightened as he stared at the ATM screen before him.
He felt too afraid to look at the screen, and when he did steal a glance at the number displayed there, he was choked beyond words.
"Heck! Was it real? The money was real?"
With his trembling hand, he entered the maximum withdrawal.
After a few minutes, he couldn't stop smiling as he saw $3,000 in his hand.
This amount of money almost equals his monthly paycheck as a blue-collar worker at two different jobs.
But every time, after he received the money, the only amount left was a thousand; the rest he sent to his adoptive mother and sister.
"You're going to be okay, Noah!" he whispered to no one else but himself as he exited the ATM center.
He needed to find a place to stay for the night, whether a nice hotel or a service apartment; he could and didn't mind now.
Money was not an issue for him now—he had money! He has a system in his mind, although he still doesn't understand how it works. He will learn about it gradually.
As Noah approached the bus station to take a taxi, a buzzing sound from his trouser pocket stopped him and made him cautious.
An unknown number appears on the screen.
Curious to find out who is calling, he picks up and says, "Hello..."
"Good day, Mr. Noah Morgan. This is Edgar Brooks speaking. Feel free to call me Edgar..." The deep voice of the middle-aged man echoed from the other end, sounding both polite and harmless.
Noah took a few seconds to remember where he had read that name before.
'Isn't he the name in my System? The Estate Executor.' He thought.
Nevertheless, he asked for confirmation, saying, "I'm sorry, but may I know who you are? I mean what you do. Uhm, you know what I mean."
"For sure, Mr. Morgan. As you may be aware, I am your estate executor, Sir. I received a notification last night that you have activated your inheritance support protocol. This is why I am contacting you now," he explained.
A wave of excitement enveloped him as he wanted to ask about financial issues and this sudden inheritance.
"I see. Hey Edgar, can we meet? I have so many things I need to ask you," Noah said while walking to the bus stop.
"Certainly, Sir. I'm at your convenience. I can fly there if you wish. I understand you are still in Alto City. Am I correct, Sir?"
Noah was surprised by his words. So, he isn't in this city? "Yes, I am. May I ask where you are now?"
"I'm currently in Fort City, the capital... But that's okay, Sir. I can fly there at a moment's notice."
"Excuse me! Could you clarify your specific role in the Sys..." Noah hesitated. He was uncertain if the man was familiar with his System. Caution seemed wise despite Edgar's name being associated with it.
He added, "What I'm trying to ask is, are you close to Mr. Anderson Morgan?"
A soft, friendly chuckle came from the other end, easing Noah's tension. Just a minute ago, he considered this man non-human—a machine, AI, or robot within his System.
"Your father? Of course, I was very close to him almost his entire life; he was my Master." Edgar's voice lingered briefly, increasing tension in Noah once again. He continued, "Sir, from now on, I will assist you in maintaining all your assets as your assistant. Personal assistant. So, I am at your service, Sir."
"Oh, good to hear. I'm looking forward to having your service, Edgar! Please call me when you arrive!" There's confidence in his voice.
Now Noah could acknowledge that this is all real.
He is the real heir of Anderson Morgan!
...
As the taxi pulled away from his slum neighborhood, Noah stared silently out the window. He didn't even flinch when his phone buzzed again.
"Noah, I'm sorry for what happened last night. I didn't mean to hurt you. Can we meet?" From: Julia Hart
A smirk slowly appears on his lips.
'Ugh! What does that bitch want now?! Want to mock me some more, is she?' he thought, but his smile soon vanished when he heard a system's sound pinging in his ears.
Hurriedly, he called his System.
[Revenge Ledger Updated.]
[Target: Julia Hart]
Status: Active
Suggested Option: Public Reversal | Social Standing Collapse | Emotional Withdrawal
Bonus: $10,000 and a Golden Card granting access to the Phoenix Group.
Noah stared at the System that now appeared in his line of sight. For the first time in his life, he has power. And he started to like it!
[Would you like to start your revenge? Y/N]
He chose [Y]
[Please choose the revenge option you want to activate.]
Without hesitation, he chose [Social Standing Collapse]