Max lay back on his bed, scrolling through the system's stats screen and taking stock of his progress. With 45 XP from recent quests and 35 system coins saved up, he felt he was finally getting somewhere. His earnings from tutoring, thanks to the system's 5x income multiplier, had made his balance look healthier than it had in years. But there was still a lot to do, and the system had been hinting that more upgrades were available if he managed his resources wisely.
He tapped over to the "Shop" tab, curious to see what items he could pick up. The interface was simple, showing each item with a short description and a price tag. Max skimmed through the list, weighing his options.
The first item that caught his eye was "Financial Literacy," costing 30 coins. It promised to improve his understanding of budgeting, savings, and investment basics. Given the income he was pulling in, learning how to manage it effectively seemed like a smart choice.
Another option was an item called the "Strength Booster," which cost 20 coins. According to the description, it would temporarily increase his physical strength by 15% for one week. He hadn't thought about boosting his physical stats before, but something about the idea of being physically stronger was intriguing. There were others, too: boosts to speed, endurance, and focus, each designed to give him an edge in specific areas. He made a mental note to revisit those if he ever needed them.
With 35 coins available, he had just enough to pick one substantial item. After a moment's hesitation, he selected "Financial Literacy." Immediately, a flood of knowledge filled his mind—terms like "compound interest," "asset management," and "expense tracking" now felt as familiar as any other basic skill. He finally felt ready to take control of his finances.
Satisfied with his purchase, he tapped into his bank account, eager to apply his new knowledge. The 5x income multiplier had already boosted his tutoring fees beyond anything he'd expected, bringing his balance up to $2,500. For the first time, he started a budget, setting aside funds for essentials: rent, bills, and food. He even allocated a small portion for emergencies, planning his finances with a clarity he'd never had before.
As he finished budgeting, a new notification appeared from the system.
New Quest Available: Building Connections Objective: Network with three potential clients or business contacts. Reward: 20 XP
This wasn't what he'd expected, but it made sense. If he wanted his tutoring gig to grow, he'd need a reliable network and more clients. He wasn't naturally social, but the 20 XP would bring him closer to leveling up—and possibly unlocking more system abilities.
Just as he absorbed the new quest, another popped up.
New Quest Available: Expand Service Options Objective: Develop a secondary service (offer an additional subject or skill) to enhance your tutoring business. Reward: 25 XP
Max stared at the quest descriptions, realizing the system was pushing him to think bigger. These weren't just tasks; they were steps toward building a real business, a path to stability and freedom. The dual quests aligned well—meeting new people might open up ideas for his tutoring services.
The next few days, he threw himself into his tutoring sessions, taking extra care to make a lasting impression. After each session, he gently hinted to clients and their parents that he was open to referrals, hoping word of mouth would bring in more business. With his improved financial skills, he even set up a way to accept payments digitally, which impressed a few parents who'd initially hesitated to hire him.
Amy noticed his focus one day at work. "You're like a whole different person lately," she teased. "Seriously, what's your secret?"
Max shrugged, keeping the system under wraps. "Just... really trying to get my life together," he said, half-truthfully. She seemed content with that, but he could tell she was curious.
During a break, he checked his notifications again. His progress was steady but slow; he still needed a few more clients to complete the networking quest. But the experience points were adding up, and he was close to his first level-up.