A Call From The Hospital

For instance, if the woman is deeply in love with you, the multiplier will be as high as x10, meaning you receive ten times the amount you spend on her as cashback rewards.

As your relationship progresses, the system dynamically adjusts the multiplier based on fluctuations in the woman's feelings. Whether her feelings deepen or wane, the multiplier will increase or decrease accordingly to reflect the current state of your relationship. ]

"So, you are saying that my financial prosperity is directly linked to the strength of my romantic relationship?" Elias asked, his tone serious. He considered the holographic blue interface before him more seriously, considering it could read his thoughts effortlessly.

[ Yes, [ Host.] ]

"Okay, why are you activating now if this is the case? Couldn't you have emerged when my family's finances were shambling, and my parents were still alive?!" Elias spat, his emotions stirring as he stared intensely at the holographic blue interface.

[ [ Host ] had yet to successfully open a bank account and was not broke or lacking any financial support at that time, so the conditions for the system to be activated couldn't be fulfilled. ]

Elias gritted his teeth at the system's response. 'Cool down,' he thought, soothing his rilled emotions down.

Even though the system would have been helpful if he had awakened before his father relapsed into taking illegal gang-related jobs because of their family's poor financial situation, he understood that there was no need to let his anger against the supernatural-like holographic blue interface before him since it didn't seem too sentient and appeared to be only capable of answering questions which are related to the system.

Just as Elias was about to open his mouth and ask another question, his phone began to ring intensely. He quickly unlocked it and picked it up.

"Hello," Elias said.

"Hello, is this Mr Elias?"

"Yes," Ellias responded.

"Okay. Mr. Elias, I am calling to inform you that your junior brother has woken up but is still in critical condition. Please stop by the Living Saint Hospital before the day ends so we can discuss your payment plans and other private issues."

"Okay. I'll be there as soon as I can," Elias responded, feeling a heavy lump in his throat as he tightened his grasp on his smartphone.

"Okay, Mr Elias, we'll be anticipating your arrival."

The call was disconnected.

Elias trembled with various conflicting emotions. Despite worrying about his brother's current situation, he had no idea where to get the money needed for his bills. The only thing he could place his hope on right now was the system before him; however, despite realizing that it was more supernatural than he had imagined, he still couldn't help but doubt whether it would work.

"Do I have any woman who currently has feelings for me?" Elias asked, his tone serious.

Although he couldn't make a woman's heart trip at first sight, he had a lovely personality and was outgoing, which he cultivated tediously to easily communicate and connect with others to survive. Among his female friends, he was confident that there must be someone interested in or had feelings for him.

[ There are currently no women who possess feelings for the [ Host]. If there were, they would have already been listed within the system. ]

Upon hearing the system's response, Elias instantly became embarrassed, but he swiftly regained his composure and pondered on closing the system. Almost instantly, the system vanished from his sight.

He commanded the system to reappear, and the system screen appeared before his eyes.

After grasping it, Elias closed it again before swiftly walking out of the alley. He didn't have the budget to take a cab, so he ran towards the direction of his apartment so he could refresh his body with a bathe and begin to figure out how he would confirm the system's authenticity before heading to the hospital.

…....…

After spending two and a half hours tidying his home, ensuring everything was arranged correctly, and taking his bath, Elias wore neat, simple blue jeans, a black collar shirt, and black shoes to fit, ready to continue his day. However, just as he was about to reach for the door, the sound of a knuckle fiercely rasping against the door resonated across his home.

KNOCK!! KNOCK!!

"I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE, BOY! THE NEIGHBOURS INFORMED ME THAT YOU'RE FINALLY AROUND, SO YOU BETTER OPEN THIS DOOR BEFORE I BREAK IT DOWN MYSELF!" a familiar voice screamed from the other side of the door.

Elias stiffed in his position, realizing it was the landlord's voice. He immediately wanted to find a place to hide until he had gone; however, the landlord's subsequent words made him halt his steps.

"I'M WARNING YOU, BOY! IF YOU DON'T OPEN THIS DOOR IMMEDIATELY, YOU'LL REGRET IT!" yelled the landlord, his voice tinged with impatience and anger.

Elias cleared his throat and yelled, "I'm coming!" before walking towards the door.

He unlocked it and looked at the chubby man with a moustache in his mid-fifties, dressed in black shorts, sandals, and a grey T-shirt.

"How are you doing, Mr Peter?" Elias immediately greeted, hoping to lighten up the tense atmosphere.

"Don't greet me, boy. I heard about everything that transpired last night; how a group of thugs had broken into the apartment building and killed both your father and mother, including seriously injuring your bother just because your father couldn't stop himself from going back to his old criminal jobs, causing the police to question the whole building in the middle of the night and depriving your neighbours of their well-deserved rest."

"You know what? I'm not here to talk about the consequences of his actions because you've witnessed them firsthand. Since your family decided to not follow the rules that I've set, deciding to be a danger to the other tenants, and also because your rent for this month is overdue, I'm kicking you out of this building. If you dare return again, I'll ensure that I beat up your ass and sue you in court," Mr Peter responded angrily.