Jacob took a deep breath as he stared at his reflection, his eyes focused and burning with intensity.
"Alright, calm down, Jacob. Calm down."
He twisted open the faucet, letting the cool water collect in his cupped hands before splashing it onto his face. The refreshing sensation spread through him, helping him relax, even if just a little.
"Remember," he muttered to himself, "you've already fooled people into believing you're a mafia boss. This is nothing. It's just women."
But even as he said that, doubt gnawed at him. Could he really complete this mission peacefully? Especially with the way Milah was behaving. He'd heard she was an extremely kind girl, vastly different from Mira during their high school years. But now, it seemed she wasn't just kind—she was overly enthusiastic, almost too much for him to handle.
"System," he said aloud.
In an instant, a familiar panel materialized before him.
---
[Mission: The Introduction]
Description:
You have been invited by Mira to have dinner with her and her sister, Milah, to repay her for abandoning her at the party without a word.
Condition:
Leave Milah with a good impression in your first official meeting.
Status: Incomplete (47%/100%)
Reward:
+100 EXP
+15 LAP
+15 AP
+4 SP
+2 STR
+2 DEX
+2 INT
+2 END
+20 CHA
Penalty:
-100 EXP
-15 LAP
-15 AP
-4 SP
-2 STR
-2 DEX
-2 INT
-2 END
-20 CHA
---
Jacob sighed as he studied the screen. There was no way he wouldn't accept this mission. Unlike the one involving Sam, it seemed this time he was able to review the mission details before deciding whether to accept it. But why was it so different from the previous missions?
And then there was the reward. It was enticing, filled with numerous boosts to his stats, which he desperately needed. However, the penalties were equally harsh. Failure wouldn't just take away experience points and progress—it would set him back considerably in all aspects. This system really knew how to dangle a carrot while threatening with a stick.
And now, that progress bar beside the Incomplete status kept nagging at Jacob. Was it Milah's impression of him that contributed to the percentage? Or was it the overall metric of the mission's completion? Either way, he couldn't afford to fail this one.
After steadying his nerves, Jacob took another deep breath and slapped his cheeks lightly. "Alright," he muttered. "Let's do this."
As he exited the restroom, he froze, realizing a bystander was staring at him strangely. His face burned with embarrassment as he hurried away, silently cursing himself.
Back in the dining area, the aroma of food hit him instantly. Their table was now laden with dishes, the smell tantalizing as it wafted into his nostrils. A small smile formed on his face as he approached and took a seat across from Milah and Mira.
"I apologize for keeping you waiting," Jacob said, offering them a polite smile. A quick glance told him they hadn't touched the food yet. It seemed they'd been waiting for him.
"My cute little sister here insisted we wait," Milah said with a laugh, poking Mira's cheek playfully. Mira didn't respond, her face reddening slightly as she blushed.
"Yeah, she's truly cute," Jacob replied with a confident nod, looking at the sisters.
"Oh?"
Milah raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. This Jacob didn't seem nervous anymore. There was an air of confidence radiating from him now, and Milah found herself slightly impressed.
Mira, however, had a very different reaction. Though her face betrayed nothing, her heart was pounding furiously in her chest. Happiness bloomed within her at Jacob's words. There was no denying how much she appreciated his compliment. If it had been anyone else, she would've felt awkward or even annoyed. But right now, she looked and felt like a girl head over heels in love.
"Why aren't you saying anything, Mira?" Milah teased, poking her cheek again.
"Let's…" Mira's soft voice broke through. "Let's just eat. The food's getting cold."
"Right," Milah chuckled before turning her gaze to Jacob, her teasing demeanor replaced by a friendlier one. "Shall we eat now?"
"Of course," Jacob replied with a nod.
As if waiting for his approval, Mira immediately dove into the barbecue skewers. To Jacob's amazement, she devoured them at lightning speed, leaving the sticks stripped clean in mere seconds. His eyes widened as he watched. What was happening?
Milah seemed to notice his shock. "Oh, did you know? One of Mira's cutest habits is that when she's overthinking, embarrassed, or really happy, she eats like this—fast and without a care in the world."
"That's... interesting," Jacob replied, his eyebrows raising as he glanced at Mira. She either didn't hear them or was choosing to ignore their conversation entirely.
"Now, let's start eating as well, shall we?" Milah said, smiling.
"Alright," Jacob said.
He turned his attention to the table. Rice, barbecue skewers, and a variety of dishes filled the spread. Jacob wasn't fully Asian, but he had a deep love for rice. Maybe it was because his grandfather used to cook it for him during his childhood, or maybe it was just because rice paired so well with almost anything. Either way, he happily dug in, ready to enjoy the meal.
The first thing that entered Jacob's mouth was the tantalizing barbecue meat, its delicious juices spreading throughout his mouth the moment he took a bite. The taste was sweet yet perfectly balanced, harmonizing with the charred flavor he savored as he chewed. Now came the exciting part. Jacob scooped some rice with his spoon, placed a piece of barbecue on it, and took a bite. The combination of the savory meat and the soft rice filled him with a profound sense of contentment. At that moment, Jacob felt like life was truly wonderful.
Milah noticed his obvious delight and asked, "So, do you love rice?"
"Yeah, so much," Jacob replied with a grin. "A meal doesn't really feel complete to me if there's no rice."
"Wow, that's interesting." Milah nodded in agreement, observing him closely.
Meanwhile, Mira, who had slowed her eating pace ever so slightly, took a mental note of Jacob's favorite food: rice. Afterward, she resumed devouring skewer after skewer, showing no signs of stopping.
Twenty minutes later, Jacob let out a quiet burp, patting his stomach through his T-shirt with a satisfied expression. It had been a while since he felt this full. Being broke meant he could only afford cheap fast food like pizza most of the time. He was just glad he had accepted this dinner invitation.
Reflecting on the meal, Jacob muttered, "System," and a familiar panel materialized before him.
---
[Mission: The Introduction]
Description:
You have been invited by Mira to have dinner with her and her sister, Milah, to repay her for abandoning her at the party without a word.
Condition:
Leave Milah with a good impression in your first official meeting.
Status: Incomplete (71%/100%)
Reward:
+100 EXP
+15 LAP
+15 AP
+4 SP
+2 STR
+2 DEX
+2 INT
+2 END
+20 CHA
Penalty:
-100 EXP
-15 LAP
-15 AP
-4 SP
-2 STR
-2 DEX
-2 INT
-2 END
-20 CHA
---
Only 71 percent? Jacob thought, sighing in disappointment. The dinner was nearing its end, and he wasn't even close to 100 percent. He needed to think of something quickly.
As he pondered, the percentage began to tick upward again. 72… 73… 74…
Jacob furrowed his brows in confusion, stealing a glance at Milah, who was still eating. Why is it rising? Is she getting impressed? But it doesn't feel like it.
Another five minutes passed, and the progress bar hit the 90 percent mark, leaving just 10 percent to go.
By then, both Mira and Milah had finished their meals. To Jacob's surprise, it was Mira who broke the silence. "Are you satisfied?"
Jacob thought he detected some concern in her voice but shrugged it off. Overthinking wouldn't help. "Yeah, thank you for having me."
"You're welcome," Milah replied with a cheeky laugh.
"Oh my, look at the time!" Milah exclaimed, glancing at her wristwatch. Jacob noticed it was a Lerox watch—though shinier and more vibrant than his. Could it be authentic? Before he could ask, Milah turned to him. "I'm afraid I have to go now. My shift's about to start."
Without waiting for a reply, Milah grabbed her handbag and left the table. Jacob watched her retreating silhouette for a moment before turning to Mira.
"So, she has a night shift?"
"Yeah, she works at night as a security guard," Mira answered softly.
"Security?" Jacob blinked in surprise.
Mira nodded. "You may not know it, but she has a black belt in taekwondo. Not only that, but she's also a 10th dan."
"10th dan?" Jacob looked puzzled. "What does that mean?"
Mira glanced at him, surprised, but answered anyway. "After reaching a black belt, you've actually only achieved 1st dan. It takes years of training to reach 4th dan and decades for 10th dan. But my older sister's a prodigy, so she managed to reach it in just six years."
"Impressive," Jacob said, nodding.
Just then, a familiar notification sound echoed in his mind.
---
[Ding!]
[Mission Completed!]
[Mission: The Introduction]
Description:
You have been invited by Mira to have dinner with her and her sister, Milah, to repay her for abandoning her at the party without a word.
Condition:
Leave Milah with a good impression in your first official meeting.
Status: Complete
Reward:
+100 EXP
+15 LAP
+15 AP
+4 SP
+2 STR
+2 DEX
+2 INT
+2 END
+20 CHA
Penalty:
-100 EXP
-15 LAP
-15 AP
-4 SP
-2 STR
-2 DEX
-2 INT
-2 END
-20 CHA
---
[The following rewards have been sent.]