MTLNOVEL Chapter 5: First System Mission
[Host Info Screen.]
[Name]: James Zolomon
[Age]: 21
[Stats]
>[Strength]: 9
>[Agility]: 8
>[Intelligence]: 8
>[Charisma]: 6
[Financial Status]
>[Account Balance: $687.67⇒$644.67 ($1,074.67)]
>[Networth: -$20,568.89⇒-$20,138.89]
[System Resources]
>[Stat Point(s)]: 0
>[Lottery Ticket(s)]: 0
>[System Point(s)]: 0
[Mission(s): None]
[System Store]
.....
"My negative networth has gone down by over $400 and there are two different balances being displayed here," James said, as he viewed his info screen.
Naturally, his eyes went towards his Financial Status section, immediately his info screen popped up.
For the first time in years, James saw his debt actually go down instead of up. It wasn't much, but seeing that number shrink instead of growing gave him a feeling he hadn't felt in a long time. Hope.
He would be lying if he said that he has gotten used to this new reality of his, and he's very sure that it will take quite a while to get used to it.
But for now, he has to start thinking about how to do the needful: using the system to make money.
But first, he needed to familiarize himself with the system. Before it went silent—or into hibernation, as James preferred to call it—it had already given him an overview of its abilities.
Even without the system's explanation, his info screen already pretty much explains almost everything.
His stats are straightforward. Strength determines his physical power, endurance, and vitality. Agility affects his speed, dexterity, and reflexes. Intelligence covers his mental abilities, while Charisma influences both his appearance and how he presents himself to others.
James was surprised—and, to be honest, a little offended—that his lowest stat was Charisma. It stung even more after the system explained that the average human's stat cap was only 10
But this was before he was told that Charisma wasn't just only about his physical appearance.
James decided to stop thinking about superficial things as he turned his attention to something more important.
"Mmmm... There are two different balances being displayed here. Before the second balance appeared, the system said that the amount displayed there is amount that is rebate-eligible. Which means the second balance in bracket is probably..." He said, and paused as he brought out his phone to confirm something.
He checked the second deposit alert that he got after receiving rebate on the amount he paid the driver, and he nodded in understanding.
"The account balance in bracket ismmy actual account balance. Cool. From now on, I don't need to check my bank app whenever I want to check my account balance." He smiled.
"But the negative networth still hurts. Though, that will change very soon. Now, onto the next. The [System Resources] section. Considering what the voice said about the lottery tickets, stat points and system points, I should forget about that section for now.
The system said that the lottery tickets are very rare and can be gotten through mission rewards. As for the system points, with my current negative networth and measly account balance, how will I be able to spend $1M to swap for one system points?
That far out of reach for the current me. To make things worst, the stat points cost ten times the amount of the system points, as I need 10 system points for 1 stat point. If that's not insane, then what is? The annoying thing is that I will need those stat points if I want to increase my strength." James said, and sighed.
"Though I'm curious as to what the system store has to offer. But I can't access it due to it locked state. To unlock it, the system said that I need to have at least 10k System Points. Tsk. Why is everything so damn expensive?" James asked, shaking his head in exasperation at his saddening financial situation.
"Well, I'm pretty sure that I will get a mission soon and I will get some system points as rewards," James said to himself, and smiling in self consolation.
Though James said all that, he was still happy. Even if the system didn't come with any other options and abilities, the 10x rebate was more than enough for him. And this is even with its restrictions.
Yes, the 10x rebate has restrictions. The first of them is that the rebate won't apply to any money received from rebate. Therefore the reason for the [Financial Status] section in his info screen.
The second is that rebate only applies to money earned. It doesn't apply to gifts, hand outs and things of that sort. He has to earn the money either through work, business or investment.
James was aware that even with the system, he still has to work hard as it isn't going to turn him into Elon Musk overnight.
But even with the restrictions, James won't be human if he doesn't try to look for a loophole.
"Now, what to do now? I have over $1k in cash, with a little over $600 being rebate-eligible. I have to start planning on how to make more... rebate-eligible money," James said, fiddling with his phone, as he fell into deep thought.
One might say that the best ahd fastest option he has is gambling. But James didn't consider because for starters, he doesn't gamble, two, though it's the fastest way, it's also the riskiest.
It's not guarantee that he will win if he plays. Yes, be won't exactly be losing if he doesn't win but he will lose the remaining rebate-eligible money he has left.
The next moment, the sound of a system notification rang in his head, breaking his line of thoughts.
[Ding!]
[New Mission: Get Out of Debt]
[Description: Have a networth of at least $10,000. Reward: 30 System Points.]
James smiled wryly after he read the system notification. What were the chances that he would get a mission related to exactly what he was thinking about?
"Well, it's official now. My debt has to go and I need to get that 30 System Points reward."
Even before the mission, James thoughts were on how to clear his debt. And now that he's going to get a reward of 30 System Points, he was beyond motivated.
The 30 System Points were no means small. In monetary value, it's $30M. And they can also be converted into stat points, which will give him 3 stat points. Yes, not a lot but it's a great number for a start.
Though James felt that it was slightly disheartening that there's no way he will be able to convert the 30 System Points to money, if he gets his hands on it.
"Time to start daydreaming agd get to work. The mission won't complete itself and the bag won't make itself. Time to make money."