Later that day, Zumi walked out of the hospital, feeling a mix of relief and anticipation. Ana, Gia, Kathy, and Jasmine gathered for a meeting with the Dojima Family, exchanging heartfelt goodbyes with him. Before leaving, Ana handed Zumi the car keys, a gesture from Gia, who had arranged for a ride home.
Once home, Zumi felt a surge of curiosity about the new power he had acquired. He considered diving back into the soul space but realized he needed to upgrade his system to level 3 first. How do I level up? He wondered. Just then, a chime from the system echoed in his mind: Ping! "The Host can level up by learning new skills and absorbing Gold Essence. "As he processed this, he learned he needed to master five new skills and gather five units of Gold Essence to reach level 2.
Excited, Zumi dashed to his study, filled with books on countless subjects. He grabbed a book titled Everything You Need to Know About the Performing Arts. The moment he opened it, the system chimed again: Ping! Proficiencies activated—singing, piano, instrument mastery, and acting skills unlocked.
With a grin, Zumi realized he had enough skills for an upgrade; he just needed the Gold Essence. He didn't even have to finish reading the book! He eagerly pulled more titles from the shelf, each one triggering new skills. In just half an hour, he had added swimming, driving, athletics, gourmet cooking, teaching, and even instant memorization to his repertoire.
Suddenly, a thought struck him: Could he learn skills from fantasy worlds, like those in stories, anime, or games? Just as he pondered this, his phone buzzed—Ana was calling!
"Hello, Ana! Is everything okay?" he answered, his heart racing.
"Yes, everything's fine! We've identified who was after us, and my family is gearing up for war. My dad wants to know if Kathy, Jasmine, and I can stay with you for a while."
"Of course! That's no problem at all," Zumi replied, relieved. Ana thanked him, then mentioned her father wanted to speak with him.
Before Zumi could respond, a deep, commanding voice filled the line. It radiated power, sending a shiver down Zumi's spine. "Good afternoon, Zumi. I appreciate your protection of my daughter."
"Good afternoon, sir. I'll take care of her," Zumi said, his heart pounding.
"Thank you. After this is over, I'll invite you to my home to express my gratitude. I'll send my daughter over in ten minutes; please look after her."
As the call ended, Zumi stood momentarily stunned, then sprang into action. He cleaned his apartment in record time, using his newfound skills, and whipped up a feast, determined to make up for the chaos that had unfolded.
Just as he finished, he glanced at the clock—ten minutes had passed, but there was still no sign of Ana and the others. Anxiety crept in until a knock echoed through his door. He opened it to find the girls waiting, but Gia was missing.
"Where's Gia?" he asked, concern etched on his face.
"She's still in the hospital, critically injured but stable," Ana replied.
Zumi's heart sank. "I'm so sorry! This is all my fault. If I hadn't suggested meeting at the supermarket…"
Ana quickly reassured him, "No, Zumi, it's not your fault. We're Yakuza; we're used to these dangers. Gia is strong; she'll pull through."
As Jasmine watched Zumi, a newfound respect blossomed within her, triggering the system to chime: Ping! You have earned respect from Jasmine—attribute points +1. Kathy's respect surged as well, gaining +10 points.
"Are you all hungry? I made something special!" Zumi asked, trying to lighten the mood.
Jasmine raced to the kitchen, drawn by the delicious aroma. "Wow, what did you cook?"
As they gathered around the table, the system chimed again: Ping! You have satisfied the girls' desire to eat—attribute points +20.
"This is amazing! Did you really cook all this?" Jasmine exclaimed.
"Yep, all me!" Zumi laughed, feeling a wave of pride.
Kathy beamed at him. "You must teach me how to cook, master! We'll be living together for a while, right?"
As they enjoyed the meal, Zumi felt a rush of excitement. With each interaction, he was gaining skills and respect. The system chimed again, noting his achievements: Ping! You have gained the ability Eagle Eye—your eyesight now exceeds normal limits, allowing you to see two miles away and in the dark.
Ana's respect also peaked, unlocking the reward Cheetah Speed—the ability to run over 130 km/h, though it would drain his stamina quickly.
Zumi couldn't wait to test out these incredible new skills. As the night wore on, the girls chatted and laughed, forming bonds over food and shared experiences. Jasmine and Ana eventually drifted off to sleep, while Kathy remained alert, eager to learn from Zumi. As he began to teach her cooking, the system beeped once more: Ping! Teaching skills activated.
After two hours of teaching Kathy to cook, both felt a pleasant fatigue settling in. Kathy slipped into Zumi's bedroom, where Ana and Jasmine were sound asleep on his bed. Zumi, exhausted but content, stretched out on the living room couch and closed his eyes.
As the clock ticked toward 4:00 AM, an extraordinary transformation began within Zumi. In the stillness of the night, his bones and muscles stirred, shifting and realigning as if they were sculpting his body to match his newfound abilities. It felt surreal, like he was caught in a trance, his limbs reforming in a whirlwind of sensations. Pain coursed through him, but he held back any cries, determined not to wake the girls. This intense metamorphosis lasted about ten minutes, leaving him shivering and breathless.
When it finally subsided, Zumi returned to the couch, his body craving rest. After a while, he stirred awake and made his way to the bathroom. Staring into the mirror, he was taken aback by his reflection. Had he grown? He used to be about 5'6", but now it seemed he had shot up to nearly 5'9". His muscles had transformed into a chiseled form, boasting an impressive eight-pack.
After admiring his new physique, Zumi decided it was time for a shower. He scrubbed away the remnants of sleep and brushed his teeth, feeling invigorated. With a rumbling stomach, he planned to whip up breakfast for himself and the girls.
But then he remembered—he needed fresh clothes, and the girls were still in his bedroom. Determined to sneak in without waking them, he tiptoed down the hallway. Just as he began his stealthy approach, the system chimed in his mind: Ping! Stealth proficiency activated. Suddenly, it felt as if his footsteps had become whispers against the floor.
Reaching his bedroom door, he froze. The door creaked ominously, and a memory flickered in his mind—an anime character who could mute all sound around him. Inspired, Zumi focused, channeling that thought as he gently turned the doorknob. Just as he contemplated this, the system chimed in again: Ping! Sound proficiency activated. Sound Manipulation skill is activated. Zumi's heart raced with exhilaration. This was confirmation of his earlier suspicions—he could indeed learn abilities from the anime and shows he loved. With a newfound sense of power, he focused on muting the sound of the door, slipping quietly into his bedroom.
Inside, he found Kathy and Ana peacefully asleep on the bed, while Jasmine sat on his one-seater couch, engrossed in his Shaolin martial arts book. Their eyes met, and Zumi quickly pointed to his wardrobe, silently signaling that he was grabbing some clothes. Jasmine smiled and gestured for him to go ahead, her curiosity piqued.
As Zumi collected his clothes, Jasmine couldn't help but notice that he had moved without making a sound. Impressed, she recalled the underworld skill known as Silent Foot, a technique mastered by assassins over years of rigorous training. A flicker of suspicion ignited within her—how did Zumi acquire such a rare skill? Her respect for him deepened, and the system chimed again: Ping! Jasmine's respect for you has grown. Attribute Point +10.
Zumi was taken aback. What had he done to earn Jasmine's admiration? Remembering the attribute points he had gained the previous night, he shrugged it off and headed into the kitchen, eager to start cooking. But first, he decided to allocate his newfound 80 attribute points.
He distributed the points thoughtfully: five to Strength, five to Dexterity, twenty to Charisma, ten to Wisdom, twenty to Intelligence, and twenty to Constitution. The system responded with another cheerful Ping! Attribute Points updated. His stats now read: Strength 23, Dexterity 20, Charisma 40, Wisdom 40, Intelligence 38, and Constitution 40.
Suddenly, the system announced, Notice: Four of the host's attribute points and sub-points have reached a multiple of 10. Pulling a random reward.
Congratulations to the host for achieving a high-tier reward! The host has gained an external skill: Speedster. The explanation followed: The host can now run extremely fast, merging with the existing Cheetah Speed skill. You can move as fast as sound! Note: Using this skill consumes four stamina points per minute. Upgrade the system to Level 3 to eliminate stamina consumption.
Zumi's excitement soared. Just as he was about to dive into cooking, he realized the groceries from the supermarket hadn't made it back. Instead he quickly whipped up ham and fish sandwiches with the ingredients he had on hand, planning to restock later.
As he plated the sandwiches, the girls emerged from his room, greeting him in cheerful unison. "Good morning, Zumi!" Ana called. "Good morning, Master!" Kathy chimed in. "Morning!" Jasmine added, her smile warm. Zumi's heart swelled with happiness at their camaraderie.
While they enjoyed breakfast, Ana's phone suddenly rang. She answered, her tone shifting as she spoke in snippets: "Yes! Understood. No, understood." After hanging up, she turned to the group, her expression serious. "Gia will be arriving tomorrow morning. She needs to rest; her leg is broken, and she's healing from surgery."
Then, with a proud smile, Ana continued, "We've also been informed that under the authority of Dojima Nishiki, Zumi Gold is bestowed the title of Shateigashira (Second Lieutenant) of the Dojima Family."
Cheers erupted from the girls, their smiles brightening the room. Zumi was taken aback, his mind racing. He felt a mix of shock and elation but didn't dare reject this honor for several reasons.
Firstly, accepting meant he would see the ladies more often, and he had grown fond of them. Secondly, it would be an affront to Ana's family pride to refuse. He might not know much about the Yakuza, but he recognized the significance of such a position.
Thirdly, he needed gold to absorb the essence and upgrade his system, and the quickest way to amass wealth was through the mafia. Lastly, this was the perfect opportunity to lay the groundwork for his dream organization.
As Zumi absorbed the weight of this new responsibility, excitement bubbled within him. He was ready to embrace whatever challenges lay ahead, knowing that he had the skills and support of these remarkable women by his side.