One o'clock in the morning. Or more specifically, 1:23 a.m. It was the time Michael reached his home at Tomas Morato. Just like Catherine said, he doesn't have to pay for anything as it was all covered for him.
Knocking on the steel gate, he called, "Mama! I'm here, open the gate!"
Seconds later, his mother stepped out of the door aggressively and swung the gate open. "Do you know what time it is?"
"Sorry, Mama," Michael replied, stepping inside quickly. "I was helping someone with their studies, and it took longer than expected."
His mother's frown softened slightly. "Helping someone? At this hour? Who would need tutoring at midnight?"
"It's a long story," Michael said, eager to avoid further questions. "I got paid for it, though. Look." He showed her the notification on his phone, the extra amount highlighted.
She squinted at the screen, then looked up at him, her expression shifting from concern to curiosity. "Five thousand pesos? That's quite a lot for a few hours of work."
"I overheard you talking to our neighbors that our electricity bill is overdue and you received a disconnection notice? Well, don't worry, I'll pay for it."
Michael's mother looked at him, her eyes softening. "You'll pay the bill? Michael, you don't have to—just put it in your school tuition."
"But I want to, Mama," Michael interrupted gently. "The bill is just over three thousand, so I'll have two thousand extra where I can put on tuition."
"Thank you…Michael…But this doesn't mean that I'm letting you off the hook for coming home so late," his mother replied.
"I understand, Mama," Michael nodded, feeling the weight of her concern. "It won't happen again. I'll make sure to manage my time better."
His mother sighed, the lines of worry on her face softening. "Just be careful, okay? And call next time if you're going to be late. Now go get some sleep, you have classes tomorrow. Oh…did you eat?"
"I already did, mama. I'm going straight to bed now," Michael reassured her, feeling a hint of exhaustion creeping in.
His mother nodded, still looking a bit worried but relieved. "Alright then. Good night."
"Good night, Mama," Michael replied, heading to his room.
Once in his room, he quickly changed into his pajamas and collapsed onto his bed, the soft mattress feeling like a haven after the long, eventful day. He reflected on the unexpected tutoring session with Catherine, the satisfaction of being able to ease his mother's financial worries, and the technological system.
This made him feel excited as he believed he could do a lot now. Now that he had thought about it, the exhaustion that was creeping on him was dissipating, replaced by an energy of wanting to finish his mission.
[Mission # 1: Preparation for the PSME competition: You must pass the assessment test given to you by your professor in thermodynamics without using the system's abilities]
[Reward: 5,000 System Points and 1x Neuroenhancer Drug]
He hadn't finished reading the book the system suggested to him, so he decided to finish it now before sleeping. In this hour, reading learning materials is useless as the brain is not functioning at their 100 percent capacity, however it's a different case for him. He is absorbing the information like earlier. The power of the system is truly convenient.
In just two hours, he managed to finish the entire book. Yet—the mission is still there. Does that mean he has to read more learning materials? In that case, he'll hit the library later.
But he wondered about the system points. According to the manual, it's the currency of the system. So he navigated to the shop tab and browsed.
Holo-Interactive Operating System (2040)
Description: An operating system with a fully holographic interface, allowing for immersive 3D interaction and augmented reality integration. Customizable for both personal and professional use.
Requirements: Level six Mastery of Computer Science, Level five in Mathematics Mastery.
Price: 250,000 System Points
Autonomous Electric Car (2035)
Description: A fully electric vehicle equipped with advanced autonomous driving capabilities, capable of over 1,000 kilometers on a single charge.
Requirements: Must be level four in Physics Mastery.
Price: 85,000 System Points
Personal AI Assistant (2045)
Description: A highly advanced AI assistant, personalized to the user's preferences, capable of managing daily tasks, providing learning support, and offering real-time analytics.
Requirements: Level three in Computer Science Mastery, Level two in Mathematics Mastery.
Price: 100,000 System Points
Nano-Medicines for Enhanced Healing (2050)
Description: Breakthrough in medicine using nanotechnology for targeted drug delivery and accelerated healing, effective in treating a wide range of diseases.
Price: 110,000 System Points
Requirements: Level three in Computer Science Mastery, Level five in Biology Mastery, Level five in Chemistry Mastery.
Quantum Computer Personal Edition (2055)
Description: A compact quantum computer designed for personal use, offering unparalleled computational power for research, gaming, and virtual reality.
Price: 80,000 System Points.
Requirements: Level five in Computer Science Mastery, Level Five in Mathematics,
High-Efficiency Solar Panels (2030)
Description: Revolutionary solar panels with over 60% efficiency, capable of generating significant energy even in low-light conditions.
Requirements: Level three in Physics Mastery, Level four in Meteorology, Level three in Environmental Science, and Level two in Computer Science.
Price: 75,000 System Points
And the list goes on forever! It was endless, with some dates going two to three centuries ahead of his time. The moment he saw what's in the shop tab, he realized the importance of the Mastery Levels and the System Points. So that's their use huh?
"I'm going to be rich…" Michael murmured. The thought of introducing groundbreaking technologies to his world was exhilarating. He could potentially revolutionize industries, change lives, and indeed, become wealthy in the process.
He imagined himself inventing those technologies, getting recognized around the world, and then starting a business around those technologies…the life that he thought was a distant dream is starting to become a reality. Just the thought of that is making him hard to sleep.
"I need to sleep, I need to sleep!" Michael said to himself repeatedly. It's almost four o'clock in the morning and his first class will start at 7:30 a.m.
Michael tossed and turned, struggling to calm his racing thoughts. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Michael managed to drift off to sleep.