Tyler woke up slowly.
His eyes blinked open as the morning sun peeked through the curtains. His body felt heavy, but his mind was clear.
Last night had been… interesting.
He sat up, ran a hand through his messy hair, and muttered, "Still alive, huh."
He swung his legs over the couch and stood. Everything was quiet in the mansion.
Still in his sleepwear — just a plain T-shirt and shorts — he stretched and yawned.
Then, in a deadpan voice, he said, "System."
A blue transparent screen popped up in front of him like magic.
> [System Shop - Unlocked]
[Current Reputation Points: 10,000]
He opened the shop and started scrolling.
First page, full of overpowered skills and items.
> [Flame God's Fist] - 3,500,000 RP
[Void Blade Technique] - 2,900,000 RP
[Short-Distance Teleportation (50m)] - 1,200,000 RP
[One-Time Time Freeze (3 seconds)] - 5,000,000 RP
[Passive Skill: Steel Skin] - 1,800,000 RP
Tyler's eyes narrowed.
"All this… too expensive," he muttered.
He kept scrolling.
Next page.
> [Spirit Beast Taming Manual] - 1,500,000 RP
[Bloodline Awakening: Lightning Affinity] - 6,000,000 RP
[Hidden Weapon Mastery] - 900,000 RP
[X-Ray Vision… Permanent] - 2,000,000 RP
[Perverted Old Master's Legacy Underwear] - 100 RP
"...What the hell?" Tyler stared at the last item.
The icon was a glowing pair of silky boxer briefs with a shiny aura and two thumbs-up emojis next to it.
He clicked the description.
> Item: Perverted Old Master's Legacy Underwear
Effect: +3 Charm when flirting, +1 Speed while running away from angry girls. Comes with auto-cleaning and scented fabric.
Warning: May cause nosebleeds from female characters.
Tyler blinked.
Then he closed the window slowly, face blank.
"System… what the hell are you selling me?" he muttered.
Just then— BANG!
The door burst open.
Tyler's eyes snapped toward it. His muscles tensed.
"Who—"
"It's me!!"
Mike.
The security team's leader rushed inside, panting. He looked like he ran a marathon with his tie half loose, hair messy, and phone in hand.
"Boss!! Are you okay?!"
Tyler raised an eyebrow. "I'm standing and shirtless. What do you think?"
Mike nearly tripped over himself running in.
"I just got back from leave. I saw the news! People are saying you were attacked last night by a crazy cult leader or something! It's all over the internet!" He shoved his phone in Tyler's face.
Tyler casually took the phone and looked at the screen.
Headlines popped up.
> "Mysterious Attack at Billionaire Tyler's Mansion!"
"Who Is the Dragon King of New Mexico?"
"Masked Cult Man Declares War on the Rich!"
There were blurry photos of black cars and flashing lights.
Mike looked like he was about to cry.
Tyler handed back the phone. "It's fine. He got arrested."
"You're fine?! You almost died!"
"Eh. Almost."
Mike looked like he wanted to scream.
Then he said, "Sophie's been trying to call you all night. She was freaking out. Look."
He showed Tyler the missed calls and messages.
Over a dozen. All from Sophie.
Tyler went silent.
He looked down for a moment.
"She… really got that worried?" he asked.
Mike nodded. "She thought you were dead. She kept asking if I had any news from the guards."
Tyler leaned back on the couch.
His hand was resting near his heart.
He wasn't smiling.
"I see…"
Mike blinked. "Wait. Boss. You good?"
"I'm thinking."
"About?"
"Sophie."
Mike froze.
"Sophie… my sister?"
"Yeah."
"…Why?"
Tyler stared at the ceiling.
"Back then, I didn't want to get involved with her. You and I come from different places. I thought… better not to cross that line."
Mike slowly sat on the chair across from him.
"And now?"
Tyler looked him dead in the eyes.
"Now I think I was a fool."
Mike's jaw dropped.
"You like her?!"
"Maybe."
"Maybe?! That's a 'yes' if I've ever heard one!"
Tyler shook his head. "She's one of the few people who ever cared about me without wanting something in return."
There was a pause.
Then Mike said, "...Damn, that's kinda deep."
"I almost died last night," Tyler said, standing up and walking toward the window. "When stuff like that happens, you start thinking about who you'd regret not seeing again."
There was a silence.
Then Tyler turned around and said, "I want to visit her."
Mike almost fell out of his chair.
"You?! Visit someone without a business motive?!"
"Yes."
Mike clutched his chest like he was having a heart attack. "I'm not used to this version of you, Boss."
Tyler chuckled.
"Get used to it. Also, tell the other guards to return. The festival's over."
"Already done. Everyone's reporting in."
"Good. Also…"
"Yeah?"
"You and Sophie. You're all that's left of your family, right?"
Mike nodded, a little confused. "Yeah. Why?"
"My mansion has enough rooms. And the security's better. I want you two to move in."
Mike stared like Tyler had grown a second head.
"...You serious?"
"Yeah."
"Boss… that's…"
"You've worked for me for years. Protected me. Saved my ass more than once. Your sister's important to you. So she's important to me."
Mike didn't know what to say.
So he just said, "You… really are changing."
Tyler shrugged.
"Maybe."
Then he walked off to make himself another beer.