Chereads / SHADOW BUSINESS / Chapter 9 - The training begins, and some truths emerge

Chapter 9 - The training begins, and some truths emerge

On the following day, in the mansion's living room, Lucca and his mother were having breakfast.

"Mom, I've just finished eating. I'm going to my room to get dressed and start my training."

"Alright," his mother replied.

Lucca began his training with a run.

"Ah, ah, aha," he panted. 'How much time has passed?'

(20 minutes), replied the system.

Lucca opened the status window and saw that he had gained 2 points in agility and 1 in stamina. He commented, 'So, after 20 minutes of running, I gained 2 points in agility. Is that fair?'

(It's the first exercise, and you're already complaining?)

'I know, I know.' Next, he started doing sit-ups, push-ups, and pull-ups. After finishing, he checked his status again.

'50 push-ups, 50 sit-ups, and 50 pull-ups, and I gained 2 in strength and 1 in stamina?' He was disappointed and then asked, 'How can I gain vitality?'

(Based on my analysis, you have to suffer damage.)

'Can I achieve that by hitting a tree?'

(You have a 50% chance of success.)

'50% isn't a bad attempt.'

Lucca began punching and kicking a tree. After 20 minutes, his legs hurt, and his hands were bleeding. He sat on the grass.

'All of this for just 1 point of vitality? This is madness!'

Training results:

Health: 52

Vitality: 2

Strength: 3

Agility: 3

Stamina: 3

Mana: 1

Magic: 1

"Good job," he heard his mother's voice. He was surprised to hear her but grateful.

"Thank you, Mom.2

Sophie took Lucca's hand and used a water spell to clean his hands before wrapping them with a bandage.

"Do you need help?"she asked.

"No, I can manage," Lucca replied. He got up and headed toward the mansion.

A day later, it was already nighttime. On the balcony of Lucca's mansion, his mother was dressed in just her underwear and a kind of transparent and thin robe. Someone appeared from behind and grabbed her, saying:

"Don't you think you've been too tough on him?"

"Not at all. That conversation had to happen; it's better that it happens now."

"But he's only 4 years old. Don't you think you're being too tough on him?"

"Do you think I like yelling at Lucca? But getting mad at him has yielded good results; he's even started training."

"Ah, so he's already getting ready for his training. But I still think it's too early.2

"You're putting a 4-year-old in the middle of a dispute for your position, and you think it's normal, but it's too early to show him how the world works?"

"These are different things, Sophie. One thing is exposing the harsh side of the world, where people die every year on the border between different races, and another is involving him in political intrigues.2

"James, one of the reasons you started this "political intrigue" because you wanted your children to grow up faster. Now that your son has grown, do you want him to return to being an innocent child?"

'Afu,' James sighed. 'I don't know; it's hard to see my 4-year-old son go through all of this so early."

"As I told you before, it's better that he knows the truth about this world now than simply discovering it when our family ends up all dead, thanks to those damned orcs." She gritted her teeth when talking about the orcs and looked like she was about to cry.

"Calm down, my love! I'm here!"

"I know, my love! But Lucca is not a normal child!"

"What do you mean by that?"

"He seems to have a maturity beyond any other 4-year-old. Sometimes it feels like I'm talking to someone who's around 20 to 30 years old. If I'm right, he has a secret that he doesn't want to tell us."

"Do you think someone has possessed our son's soul?"

"I don't know, James. We'll only know when he tells us. But don't talk about our suspicions; let's just observe."

"If that's what you wish!"

The next morning, Lucca entered the living room to have his breakfast and saw his father.

"Hello, Dad!" He hugged James.

"How are you, my son?"

"I'm fine, and you, Dad?"

"Also fine. Why did Dad come to visit us?"

"Now I have to answer to you for coming to see my wife?"

He remained silent for a while. After some time, he asked, "Dad, why do you have 100 and look like you're about 40 years old?"

"What do you mean I look like I'm 40?2 James and Sophie were confused by the question.

"What I mean is that you look young when, in reality, you're very old!" Lucca corrected himself. 'Damn, I messed up. Lucca, do you think you're on Earth?' Lucca thought to himself.

"Haha, you're calling me old? You could say I am! Haha, but having more than 100 years is quite normal. Haven't you taught him that?" He asked Lucca's mother.

"He never asked!" Sophie explained.

"Then let your father teach you something. When you advance in ranks, at certain ranks, you gain more years of life. That's why many people want to climb the ranks, so they can live longer. In my case, I just love to fight, haha."

"And what are those ranks?"

"Rank 1, Rank 6, and Rank 8. Many say that at Rank 9, you gain more years, but it's been over 10,000 years, and there's never been a Rank 9. At Rank 10, they say you become immortal," James explained.

"But it's all theory!" Sophie stated.

"Thank you for the explanation!" Lucca thanked them.