It had been a week since Dave set his plan in motion. Each day, he meticulously monitored the progress of his father's shop from a distance, observing as the changes he'd put in place began to take root and flourish. The online presence was gaining traction, with more visitors browsing the new website and engaging with their social media channels. The shop's renovations were almost complete, giving it a fresh, modern look that drew people in. New products, carefully selected to appeal to a broader audience, had already started flying off the shelves. Everything was moving in the right direction, just as Dave had hoped.
Satisfied with how things were progressing, Dave decided it was time to check in with his father and get an update straight from the source. He picked up his phone and dialed his dad's number, anticipation buzzing through him like electricity. The call rang a few times before his father's familiar voice answered.
"Hey, Dave!" John's voice was bright, carrying a note of excitement that Dave hadn't heard in a long time. The usual tiredness and worry were replaced with a vibrancy that made Dave smile.
"Hey, Dad," Dave replied, leaning back in his chair. He could feel the corners of his lips pulling up in a grin despite himself. "Just wanted to see how you're doing. How's everything going with the shop?"
"Oh, we're doing well. Really well, actually." John's enthusiasm was infectious, and Dave couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. "The shop's been booming lately. I don't know what happened, but business is picking up like never before. People are talking about us, Dave! We even have customers coming from neighboring towns. Can you believe that?"
Dave felt a wave of satisfaction washing over him. He'd expected the changes to have an impact, but it was something else entirely to hear it directly from his father. The excitement and joy in his voice were worth more than any reward the system could have given him. "That's amazing, Dad. I knew things would get better."
John chuckled softly. "Yeah, I guess you were right. I don't know how, but it's like a miracle. We have new products, better foot traffic, and there's even talk about us partnering with a few local suppliers for exclusive items. It's almost like we became a new business overnight. I can barely keep up with the inventory these days."
"That's great to hear," Dave said sincerely, feeling genuinely happy for his father. "I'm glad everything's turning around for you."
For a moment, there was silence on the other end of the line. Then, John hesitated, and Dave could sense that something was bothering him, a shadow dimming the brightness in his voice. "But… there's something that's been worrying me."
Dave's smile faded slightly, his senses immediately on high alert. "What do you mean? Is something wrong at the shop?"
"No, no, nothing like that," John assured him quickly. "It's your mother. She's been acting… different."
"Different how?" Dave asked, his tone turning serious as concern for his mother filled him.
"Well, she's been coming home late from work every day," John said softly. "She doesn't say much about what's going on, but she always looks sad and exhausted. I know she's working hard for us, and I know she's doing it because she cares, but… I can't shake the feeling that something's wrong."
Dave's chest tightened at his father's words. His mother had always been one of the strongest people he knew. She was the glue that held their family together, always smiling and encouraging everyone around her, no matter how difficult things got. To hear that she was struggling—that she was sad and overworked—it didn't sit well with him at all.
"Maybe she's just stressed because the shop was having problems before," Dave suggested, trying to sound calm and reassuring, even though a knot of anxiety was forming in his gut. "I'm sure she's relieved to see things getting better now."
"Maybe," John said, though he didn't sound convinced. "I've asked her a few times, but she just brushes it off. I hate seeing her like this, Dave. It's like she's carrying some burden that she won't talk about."
Dave clenched his jaw, his mind racing with possibilities. Why would she be so upset when everything is finally turning around? he thought. Was there something else going on at work? Something she didn't want to talk about? "Don't worry, Dad. I'll look into it. I'm sure it's nothing serious. She's probably just overworking herself. Things are changing for the better now, and I'm sure she'll feel better soon."
"I hope you're right," John murmured softly. "I really do. I hate seeing her like this."
"I am, Dad," Dave said confidently, trying to project calm and assurance. "Just give it some time. Things will get better, I promise."
After a few more reassurances and goodbyes, Dave hung up the phone, his mind still buzzing with concern for his mother. Something didn't add up, and he wasn't about to sit back and wait for things to sort themselves out. He needed to take action, to find out what was really going on. His mother deserved to be happy. She deserved to smile and feel at peace.
Just as he was about to stand up, the system's familiar voice rang in his head. "Congratulations, Host. As a reward for successfully acquiring your first company and assisting your family's business, you've been granted a new item: AI Watch – Prototype Model 10,000 Years Advanced."
"What…?" Dave muttered, glancing around in confusion as a sleek, futuristic watch materialized on his desk. It shimmered with a strange metallic sheen, its interface lighting up as if it had a mind of its own.
The system continued, "This AI watch is equipped with advanced capabilities far beyond anything currently available on Earth. It can assist in monitoring, research, and tracking—all with unparalleled precision."
Dave picked up the watch, his eyes widening as he examined it more closely. The screen immediately displayed a welcome message, followed by an array of options that made his previous smartwatch look like a toy. "Unbelievable," he murmured, testing a few commands.
The watch hummed softly, and a smooth, feminine voice spoke up, catching him off guard. "Hello, Host. I am your personal assistant AI. How may I assist you today?"
Dave's eyes widened even further. He hadn't expected the system to gift him something this powerful, but if it could help him find out what was going on with his mother…
"Okay, let's see what you can do," he said, a determined look settling on his face. "Begin a full analysis and monitoring of my mother's workplace. I want to know everything."
The watch glowed softly, its screen pulsing gently as it processed his request. "Understood, Host. Initiating data retrieval. This may take some time."
Dave nodded, his gaze hardening with resolve. He wouldn't rest until he knew exactly what was making his mother so sad. Whatever it was, he was going to find out. And once he did… he'd make sure it never happened again.