Argen started his first job by cleaning out his table. He took away the used dining utensils and washed them clean inside the kitchen.
The old couple sighed. They did not expect this to happen. The thought was just too ridiculous!
Hear this, 'Rich customer couldn't pay for the food because the shop didn't have change for his money, therefore the customer had to work'
The old lady placed her sight at their grandson "Jonathan. Your room will be lend by him. You will sleep with us for the meantime."
Jonathan, the fat little kid, nodded.
After Argen did his chores, he was led upstairs to his room. Argen remembered he haven't introduced himself yet. After he did, the old man spoke.
"Well, I have spare clothes to lend you, Argen. I'm just gonna go get it for you to change" The old man offered when he saw Argen's clothes was dusty, which was quite an uncomfortable match with Argen's looks.
Argen thanked him before he slowly went into the room.
The bed was made of wood and there wasn't even a cushion present to make it comfortable. Despite that, Argen knew this was better than the sleeping at the sidewalks, so he did not complain.
He sat down and waited for the old man to come with the spare clothes before he decided to cultivate.
1st Level of the Perpetual Supreme Cultivation Set:
Body Tempering
Body-control Low rank (2 EXP per 10 minute when cultivating)
Argen went inside his mental world and flipped the manual of the cultivation set.
In upgrading body control to the early stage, one must complete certain tasks.
The easiest one required Argen to learn how to control at least his own hair at will.
"This...is the easiest one?"
Argen thought that body control meant flexibility, therefore he did not expect this. He flipped onto the next page and saw the final requirement in achieving the Body Control early stage.
[Fully comprehend one of the universe's 5 natural elements.]
When controlling the body, there are factors needed to be met in order to fully maximize the execution.
Take swimming in the ocean as an example. If you go against the current, it is inevitable that your movements are constrained because of the force. However, with the help of knowledge due to comprehension, if you move along the waves, it would result to a more nimble movements than the former.
This knowledge, although is a boost, has its own downsides. You cannot control where the current must go to maximize your speed and efficiency.
For example, your swimming direction is towards the north, however the current's path is towards the south, therefore opposing you.
The comprehended knowledge will naturally turn useless during such times.
However, Argen knew better than anyone that this is just the beginning.
Learn before taking action.
Like how before you could drive a car, you must naturally first learn how it works.
Therefore, in the future, Argen's comprehension of the elements will enable him to control them at will.
Argen nodded and exited his mental world.
When accomplishing these tasks, Argen undergoes a passive cultivation, where by practicing and training with progress, he receives an additional 1 EXP from the current 2.
Meaning, he receives 3 EXP per 10 minute when training with progress.
Argen, disregarding the shackles binding the Earthly Martials, absorbed the spirit essence in the surroundings and condensed it all onto his hair.
According to common knowledge, Earthly Martials, when absorbing the spiritual essence in the surroundings, one could naturally not control at will where it condenses.
But because Argen was a special case, the first ever half-host/system added with the mysterious Perpetual Supreme grade cultivation set, he had managed to do so despite the lack of reasoning why.
Maybe because the former's can and cant's has yet to be discovered and the latter's lack of knowledge regarding it, that Argen was able to bypass what was known to be as impossible.
Argen connected the gathered essences to each strand of hair from his head onto his nerves.
After that, he gathered a 15 minute worth of spiritual essence to cover up every inch of the strands.
Looking from the naked eye, Argen has not look any different except that his hair has let out a healthier shine and luster.
'I can do this!' Argen thought and tried to lift up all strands of his hair.
However, he couldn't budge a single one.
After another try, he finally understood why. Therefore he resorted into another route and tried lifting up the hair, one strand at a time.
He was too hasty in his former approach and forcibly tried to shortcut towards the final level when his strength was supposedly just a beginner's.
5 strands immediately went straight up and the number was increasing continuously.
When a third of his hair stood up, Argen felt exhausted. All of his energy was depleted in that try.
Argen's eyes gleamed in expectation
"No worries. It's just my third try!"
His expression was determined and at the same time thought about the Dark Mutant King.
What would happen if they had attacked him? Would he be here now? He would be would be dead without a shadow of doubt.
Therefore, Argen surprisingly hardened his resolve to get stronger.
He didn't want to die again.
A scrap of his lazy self fell off and his eyes went ablaze in determination.
"The SA...They should've already made investigations about Informant's and my sudden disappearance. If they come here and discover my peculiarity, there's a large possibility they will bring me back by force and conduct some experiments to me. My happy life and freedom would be over by then. I have to get stronger to resist them!"
He clenched his hands and resumed training.
-----
When morning arrived, Argen opened his eyes to see he had long ago achieved Earthly Martial 3.
"It's a little sad though that I don't get to receive rewards this time" Argen said disappointedly
Because of the 1 passive point added in intelligence, Argen's 2 EXP per 10 minute has become 3. Added when training, he receives 4 EXP at the maximum.
He opened up his stats panel and did not hesitate to invest all his system points on strength.
His strength, along with the speed, has now achieved a prowess comparable to Earthly Martial 4.5 despite being in Earthly Martial 3!
"Speed and strength is essential at the moment" Argen said when he thought of his current condition.
A knock was heard on the door. "Argen, have you woken up? Breakfast is ready" Says the old man from the other side.
"Yes!" Argen replied before he went into the small wooden bathroom to wash himself clean. He donned in the new clothes and went out of the room.
While walking towards the dining area, Argen sighed.
He was feeling no different from a freeloader.
Going back from the contents of the old couple's debate, Argen surely heard that this shop hasn't had customers for at least a year now.
Argen sat at the table together with the trio. Although Argen was embarrassed to take a bite, he was eventually persuaded by the family to do so.
The taste of the food was down by a half compared to last night's. It was expected since what Argen ordered yesterday was their best product and today's food was only just a normal breakfast.
After eating, Argen voluntarily took the role of washing the dishes, cleaning the store, and guarding the counter.
Of course, because of some certain realizations by Argen, he wore a scarf that covered half of his face.
The old couple and Jonathan did not mind his disguise. They were instead was awed by his enthusiasm in working. Although on his first try, he was somewhat clumsy, it was obvious he had gotten the hang of it.
If Argen's past parents were to see him now, they would surely think the world has gone insane. Dying from shock would be a no exaggeration.
This kid used to prefer death rather than touching the broom.
This...!
The world indeed has gone mad!
----
Nighttime came and still not a single customer showed up. Eventually, the store's sign was flipped and the door was locked.
Although the result was already expected and the trio had already gotten used to it, it wasn't the same case for Argen.
He felt dead inside.
Today the very first time he did a job!
Today was the first time he held a broom!
Today was the first time in history he washed the dishes and cleaned a room!
He was even hoping for just even a dog would come and ask some crumbs. At least through this, his efforts would somewhat be repaid.
'It's not my place to worry about their business, but what if I improve or change it a little? Add some of my home-world's recipes or ideas? I mean, I am not within the SA's control anymore so there won't be any limitations to whatever I want to do.' He thought when he remembered the subpar food and decorations.
'Also, I think I should stay here for the meantime I still haven't got a place to settle down yet. I could probably improve my living conditions by helping their business sky-rocket'
He also had a mind to spend his gold spirit stone and buy a comfortable house of his own. However the process to find one was troublesome and starting a business alone to support himself was even more.
There also wasn't a need to mention that there are some insane individuals that are currently searching for him from the auction. He couldn't afford to expose himself too much in the outside world. Obviously Argen wasn't dumb and managed to deduce some people's expressions on the day he was auctioned after he recalled it from memory. Also this area, that was really close to the wall, was unlikely to be searched by that Rena woman---for the meantime. The most dangerous places are usually overlooked by the pursuer.
He checked his mission panel and decided to just sleep for now. He still has about 15 hours before the forced acceptance of the mission. Plus, he did not get to visit dreamworld last night.
---
Another day passed by and the store still has the same situation without customers.
"Everyone! Time for dinner!" Said the old woman as she placed their meal onto the dining table.
Argen sat on his seat after the whole family and ate slowly. Argen's mind tinkered a lot of ways to solve this family's business problem.
While Argen was thinking, the old woman's words grabbed everyone's attention.
"A while ago, when I was out buying some vegetables, I met Franko's underling on the way to ours. He once again threatened us that if we don't sell our land, Franko will monopolize the market and refuse our presence. He also hinted that they will do all that they can to prevent Jonathan from entering a sect in his whole life" She said which made the other two's face darken.
"Franko is?" Argen couldn't help but ask.
"He is the bastard that has been pestering us for the past month. It seems like he wants to offer this part of the kingdom as a gift in building relations to a specific elder in Azure Serpent Sect! However, we could not bring ourselves to sell this property seeing we had promised all our deceased parents to protect it till the very end! Despite doubling the price of the land, we remain unswayed, making him annoyed and resorting to threats" The old man clenched his teeth.
"Therefore Argen, to not implicate you into our matters, I think you should leave at least by tomorrow. Don't worry about the 'debt'. Treat it as a gift from us. It was nice knowing you." She said with a smile. Inside, she also knew it wasn't Argen's intention to 'freeload'
Argen let out a poker expression.
Nuh-uh. There's is definitely no way I'm gonna leave.
I have a plan in mind for that