[Passive ability: Instantly acquire general knowledge and languages upon entering a new world.]
[Analyzing Current World…]
[Assessment Complete. This is a Tier-0.7276 Civilization. Threat Level: Negligible.]
"..."
"Am I imagining things, or did I gamble so much that I've started dreaming?" Leon muttered, reaching out to touch the screen. His hand passed right through it.
"...I'll just sleep. Looks like I'm just dreaming after all."
---
The sound of clattering dishes and faint murmurs woke Leon from his restless sleep. Blinking against the morning light streaming through the window, he groaned and sat up, the thin blanket crumpling around him. His body felt sore from spending the night on the couch, and for a moment, he wondered if the whole "system" thing had just been a bizarre dream.
But when he rubbed his eyes, a faint, translucent screen flickered in the corner of his vision.
[Integration Pending.]
"..."
Voices from the kitchen caught his attention. He turned to see Emily bustling around in a flurry, her hair tied up, wearing an oversized hoodie, and clearly in full-on multitasking mode. Her younger brother, Jake, was seated at the small dining table, wearing a slightly wrinkled school uniform. He was munching on a piece of toast while Emily packed a tiffin box with practiced efficiency.
"Jake, eat faster or you'll miss the bus!" Emily called, not even glancing up as she closed the lid of the tiffin and placed it neatly into Jake's bag.
"I'm eating, I'm eating!" Jake protested through a mouthful of toast.
Leon couldn't help but chuckle at the domestic scene. It felt oddly normal. He swung his legs off the couch, standing and stretching with a loud yawn.
"Morning," he said, his voice still hoarse from sleep.
Emily glanced over her shoulder, startled, before offering a warm smile. "Oh, good morning! I hope the couch wasn't too terrible."
Leon shrugged. "Not the worst. Though I might need a chiropractor."
Jake eyed him suspiciously, mid-bite. "You're still here?"
"Jake!" Emily scolded, shooting him a warning look.
Leon laughed, waving it off. "It's fine. The kid's just being honest." He glanced at the clock on the wall. "Looks like you've got a busy morning. I should probably head out anyway."
Emily paused, looking up from where she was tying Jake's shoelaces. "Are you sure? You can stay for breakfast if you want."
"Nah," Leon replied with a grin. "You've got enough on your plate without me hanging around. Besides, I've got… stuff to do."
Jake smirked. "Stuff?"
Leon rolled his eyes. "Yes, kid. Grown-up stuff. Very boring, very adult."
Emily stood and wiped her hands on a dish towel. "At least let me give you my number. In case… you know, you ever need anything."
Leon raised an eyebrow. "Are you giving me your number for me or so you can call if there's another situation?"
She smirked, handing him a slip of paper. "Both."
He took it, scribbling his own number on another piece of paper and handing it to her. "Fair trade."
Emily smiled, her expression softening. "Thanks again, Leon. Really."
He nodded, stuffing the paper into his pocket. "No problem. Take care, okay?"
As the door clicked shut behind him, Leon took a deep breath and started down the stairs. The morning air outside was crisp and fresh, but the persistent glow of the system's interface nagged at him like an itch he couldn't scratch.
[System Integration Pending. Activate now? Y/N.]
He glared at the notification as he walked. "Can't a guy get some peace? Fine. Let's see what this thing actually does."
With a resigned sigh, he mentally selected "Y." The world seemed to shift slightly as the system sprang to life. A new interface appeared, displaying a menu of options.
[Welcome, User. Integration Complete.]
[Accessing System Features…]
Leon stopped, the weight of what he was seeing sinking in. "Alright, if this system is real, prove it. I'm not hallucinating, am I?"
The interface hovered before him, unwavering, no sign of fading.
------------------
[New Mission: An Explosive Warning]
Location: Mall Complex, Downtown
Details: Bombs planted within the complex. Detonation imminent.
Objective: Inform or evacuate potential casualties. Outcome irrelevant to completion.
Time Remaining: [03:00:00]
------------------
Leon stared at the timer, disbelief mixing with growing unease. "What kind of sick joke is this?" he muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets and trying to shake off the feeling creeping up his spine.
The timer kept ticking down. He tried to ignore it, dismissing it.
He wandered through the city, aimlessly trying to clear his head, but every time he glanced at the timer, it was still there.
As the countdown reached 15 minutes, Leon's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, frowning at the screen.
Emily.
He answered. "Yeah?"
"Hey, Leon! You free?" Emily's voice was light and carefree. "I'm at the new mall complex downtown. Just opened. Thought you might want to come check it out."
He froze. The timer blinked before him: [00:14:45].
"Emily, where exactly are you?" His voice was tense, urgency creeping in.
"I'm in the mall," she said, her voice light, almost playful. "Just heading into the shops. It's huge. You should come!"
Leon fell silent for a moment, his mind racing.
"Can you get out of the mall? Actually, I—" He cut himself off, shaking his head. "I'm just outside, in the parking lot. Please, just get there."
"Okay, okay," Emily replied, a little confused but going along with it. "I'm heading out now."