As Alexander drifted into sleep, a blue screen laced with gold borders appeared before his eyes. Believing he was dreaming, he ignored it.
**Downloading... 50%**
The progress bar continued to fill, but Alexander was too exhausted to care about what was happening. He dozed off and fell into a deep slumber, unaware of the changes taking place within him.
The next morning, Alexander woke up to the holographic window still hovering before his eyes. He rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. The screen now displayed a message:
**Installation Complete. Welcome, Alexander Vale, to the Mercury System.**
He sat up, staring at the screen in disbelief. "What is this?" he muttered to himself.
**Mercury System: I am Mercury, a system designed to assist you in your new life. I have been sent by the primordial laws of Chaos and Order. I will provide daily missions, track your progress, and offer rewards.**
Alexander's mind raced. A system? Missions? Rewards? Sent by the primordials? Is this the gift they talked about before sending me here?
While he contemplated, the system continued.
**Mercury System: Beginner's package; 900 kilograms of gold bars, 1000× rebate feature, Halo of Glory, and inventory.**
In shock, Alexander looked at the screen and began to think this was an awful prank by the two primordials. "Yeah right, show me the gold then."
Doom.
A heavy metal box fell to the ground, and the screen displayed a new message:
**900kg of Gold bars withdrawn.**
Alexander blinked in disbelief. It couldn't be that simple, could it? He looked around the room, expecting something to happen. Just as he was about to dismiss the whole thing as a bizarre dream, a large chest appeared in the corner of the room, seemingly out of thin air.
He stood up, his legs shaky, and walked over to the chest. With a mix of curiosity and trepidation, he opened it. Inside, gleaming in the dim light, were neatly stacked gold bars. He reached out and touched one, feeling the cold, solid weight of it.
"This... this is real," he whispered to himself.
**Mercury System: Congratulations, Alexander Vale. Use it wisely.**
His mind whirled with possibilities. With this amount of gold, he could secure his position within the Vale family and the empire of Clovek. He could make moves that would have been impossible before. But he also knew he had to be cautious. This new power, this system, was a double-edged sword.
He closed the chest, his thoughts racing. "What missions do you have for me, Mercury?"
**Mercury System: Missions will be provided. Complete them to gain rewards and advance your status. Your first mission is to check in again tomorrow.**
Alexander took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. This was a lot to take in. He needed to plan his next steps carefully. He couldn't afford to make mistakes, not with this new power at his disposal.
He glanced at the door, knowing that the butler, Harvey, and the maid, Vicky, would soon return to check on him. He had to keep this system a secret, at least for now. The fewer people who knew about it, the better.
As he sat back on the bed, his mind continued to race. He needed to learn more about this world, about his new identity as Alexander Vale, and about the system that had been installed in his body. There was much to do, and little time to waste.
But for now, he allowed himself a moment of rest. He had been given a second chance, and he intended to make the most of it. With the Mercury System at his side, he would rise above his past and seize the opportunities that lay ahead.
**Mercury System: Rest well, Alexander Vale. Your journey is just beginning.**
As Alexander closed his eyes, the blue screen faded, leaving him with a sense of purpose and determination. The path before him was uncertain, but he was ready to face whatever challenges came his way.
Later that morning, Alexander awoke to the sound of birds chirping outside his window. The sunlight filtered through the ornate curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. He felt a strange sense of calm, despite the tumultuous events of the previous day.
He stretched and got out of bed, his mind already focused on the task ahead. He thought of Mercury and the gift from the primordials.
Alexander smiled, feeling a sense of accomplishment. He walked over to the corner of the room where the first chest had appeared and found another one sitting next to it, identical in size and design. He opened it to confirm its contents, and sure enough, it was filled with gold bars.
As he closed the chest, there was a knock at the door. "Enter," he called out, composing himself.
The door opened, and Harvey, the butler, stepped inside, followed by Vicky, who carried a tray with his breakfast. "Good morning, Young Master Alex. How are you feeling today?"
"I'm feeling much better, Harvey. Thank you," Alexander replied, sitting down at the small table in the room.
Vicky placed the tray in front of him and curtsied. "Your breakfast, Master Alex."
"Thank you, Vicky," Alexander said with a smile. He began to eat, his mind already planning his next steps.
After finishing his meal, Alexander decided to explore the estate. He needed to familiarize himself with his new surroundings and learn more about the Vale family's position within Clovek. He dressed quickly and left his room, Harvey following closely behind.
As they walked through the grand halls of the estate, Harvey began to fill him in on the family's affairs. "The Vale family has always been influential in Clovek, young master. Your father, Lord Edward Vale, is a key advisor to the emperor, and your mother, Lady Isabella, oversees many of the charitable efforts within the empire."
Alexander listened intently, absorbing every detail. He needed to understand the dynamics of his new life if he was to navigate it successfully.
When they reached the library, Alexander paused. "I'd like to spend some time here, Harvey. There's much I need to learn."
"Of course, young master. I'll have Vicky bring you some refreshments later," Harvey replied, bowing slightly before leaving Alexander to his studies.
Alexander walked into the vast library, his eyes scanning the shelves filled with books. He needed to educate himself on the history, politics, and economics of Clovek. The more knowledge he had, the better prepared he would be to use the Mercury System to its fullest potential. He needed to know how this world was built and the inhabitants of it