Receiving The First Quest

*****

"Who?!" Logan Black jolted in shock at the sudden voice that seemed to resonate both within and around him. His gaze darted frantically, but apart from a few individuals casting him peculiar glances before shaking their heads in pity, there was no one unusual in sight, who appeared to have said the words he had just heard.

'Did I imagine that?' He wondered blankly, about to brush off the bizarre occurrence when suddenly, a playful giggle echoed through his mind, the sound distinctly feminine and teasing as if someone were deliberately toying with him.

Goosebumps prickled frantically across Logan's skin as he hastily surveyed his surroundings again. "Who are you? Where are you? Show yourself already!" he demanded, his voice laced with both bewilderment and annoyance.

He suspected that someone was deliberately messing with him due to recent events.

Again, however, he saw no one, except for the few individuals still lingering, whispering amongst themselves; "Do you think getting dumped by his girlfriend has made him lose his mind?"

Logan heard them but was too unsettled at this moment to care.

He was completely baffled by the strange voice seemingly emanating within and around him at the same time.

"Is someone intentionally messing with me, or am I the only one hearing this voice?" he muttered to himself, his brows knitting in confusion.

"If no one else heard the voice, does that mean being dumped by my girlfriend for a rich playboy is driving me crazy?"

The moment that thought crossed his mind, a trace of fear flickered in Logan's eyes, and he decided to leave before people truly believed he had gone insane.

Yet, he had only taken a step forward when a cacophony of laughter rang through his mind, filling him with alarm and fright.

[Hahahah! That was hilarious! Hahaha! I]

[This system did not expect to be assigned to such a cute and amusing host!]

Logan's eyes widened in alarm and apprehension, his entire body tensing.

Slowly, he scanned his surroundings once again to confirm his suspicion, and finally…

"I—I think I've really lost my mind," he whispered in dread, realizing that no one else was hearing the voice.

Logan was momentarily lost, but before he could process it further, the voice continued in its lighthearted, playful tone.

[Host should search no more. Only you can hear this system's voice, no matter how loud I speak.]

Logan, "_"

'Yeah, I've completely lost my mind,' he thought in a daze.

"I should probably get checked out before my situation spirals out of control," he muttered, shocking the system in his into silence.

The system didn't know whether to laugh or cry but eventually sighed.

[There's no need for the host to visit a hospital because, based on my in-depth and comprehensive analysis of your world, no entity or device here could detect my presence in your body—at least, not yet.]

Logan, "_"

'Wait… could everything that had happened be a hallucination caused by exhaustion and lack of rest in recent weeks?' He suddenly considered, and the instant the idea formed, a spark of relief brightened his eyes.

"That must have it! There's no way for me I'd lose my mind just because I got dumped," he decided, and with that, pinched his arm without hesitation.

He expected to wake up if it was all in his imagination. Instead, sharp pain shot through him, making him wince.

'I—I wasn't imagining it?' His jaw dropped, and only then did the system sigh helplessly and respond.

[That's right, host. You are neither hallucinating nor losing your mind.]

'This…' Logan stood in a stupor before swallowing hard.

Of course, he was familiar with the concept of systems—he had read about them in novels countless times, even daydreaming about having one of his own. But to think they were real…

'You—you are truly real? If so, how did I trigger you?' he asked in shock before a sudden realization dawned on him.

'Was it because I was pitiful just now, getting dumped by my girlfriend?' He immediately guessed, answering his question and making the system speechless.

[The host has indeed read a lot of novels,] it responded sarcastically after a moment, leaving Logan puzzled.

'What's that supposed to mean?'

[Life isn't like fiction, where destiny-altering events could happen simply because of misfortune or bullying,] the system explained, dampening Logan's enthusiasm slightly.

'Then tell me—what exactly are you, and how did I end up with you?'

[Good question,] the system responded, its tone suddenly filled with pride.

[I am the one and only Supreme Quest System, bestowed upon you by a god.]

Logan, "_"

Logan again, "_"

"You were bestowed upon me by a god?" He repeated, dazed. "Which god? When did I meet a god? And why would a god just hand over a system to me for no reason?"

[Ignorant,] The system scoffed with disdain before elaborating.

[A few minutes ago, the host encountered a god and helped him. In return, I was given to you as a reward to change your life.]

"This!" Logan was astonished and his jaw dropped, unable to respond for a moment.

"Could you… perhaps be talking about that damned old man who cursed me to be cheated on by my girlfriend earlier?" he asked, and the system huffed.

[You mustn't blaspheme a god! And no, the god didn't curse you. He merely prepared you for something that would have happened regardless, so you wouldn't humiliate yourself just as you ended up doing.]

'This…' Logan frowned, recalling the old beggar and conveniently ignoring the system's latter remark.

He had just exited the store after purchasing the gift for his now ex-girlfriend when he spotted an elderly beggar being harassed and robbed, & being the good Samaritan he is, he stepped in without hesitation to fend off the attacker after noticing that no one would assist. Then, he had used half of his remaining cash to compensate the old man for his stolen belongings.

As the memory resurfaced, Logan's dark eyes gleamed with newfound understanding and amazement.

'So, that old codger who cursed me was actually a god!' he thought blankly, and without hesitation, he spun on his heel and sprinted toward the school's entrance, excitement radiating from him.

"Ha! He finally couldn't hold back again!" a lady chuckled upon seeing Logan run off after standing still for so long.

"I bet he's going to a corner to start sobbing now, hahaha!" others jeered, though a few displayed sympathy.

….

Oblivious to the murmurs around him, and not that he would have cared, Logan kept running until he reached the spot where he had encountered the beggar—god—but he was no longer there.

The moment Logan realized this, a wave of disappointment crashed over him.

'Ugh! I missed my golden ticket to immortality!' he thought bitterly, catching his breath.

It took a moment for him to calm down and finally focus his attention back on the system in his mind.

'So, what's your purpose? How do you operate?' he asked, and the system remained silent for a moment before responding.

[As my name suggests, I'm a Supreme Quest System that will transform the host's existence and make you great. As for how I work, I will offer various quests to the host, with great rewards upon each mission's completion.]

"This…" Logan's eyes sparkled, his pulse quickening.

'When… when do I get my first quest?' he asked eagerly, when—

[Now,] the system announced, and before Logan could react, a chime echoed in his mind.

[A D-rank mission has been assigned to the host: Save the life of a man about to be assassinated.]

Logan, "_"

His jaw dropped in astonishment and disbelief—he then cleared his ears, convinced he had just misheard.

'Did you just hear you say I should save someone… from an assassination? Assassination?!' he asked internally, as though he had heard an unfunny joke, but when the system remained silent, he realized it was serious.

'Look at me!' He yelled desperately in his mind. 'With how weak I am, do I seem like someone who could fight, let alone face an assassin?' he asked, visibly terrified.

Logan had never imagined his first mission to be so daunting. He had expected his system to be like the ones in novels, where the first task would be something simple like wooing a girl or helping an elderly lady cross the street, yet…

[Host is quite amusing,] the system, hearing Logan's subconscious thought giggled at his before continuing enticingly after a moment.

[The reward for completing this mission is: One million dollars in your account and entry-level cultivation.]

Logan, "_"

Logan again, "_"

'Did… did you just say—one million dollars?'

[Ye…]

"I'M IN!" Logan bellowed, startling those around him.

Then he took off in a sprint, only to halt abruptly barely after taking a few steps.

'Wait… where am I supposed to carry out this mission?' he asked urgently, prompting the system to snap out of its stunned state.

[I thought you already knew about the mission,] it giggled before providing Logan with the details he needed.

'Okay!' Logan responded excitedly and was about to head in the direction where the mission would take place when…

[One more thing,] the system added gravely.

[Failure to complete this quest will result in a ten-million-dollar debt and make you a wanted figure in the country.]

"Huh?"

Logan froze, horror suddenly washing over him.

"T-Ten million in debt and a fugitive status?!" he gasped in terror.