"Huuu…"
Luke left the hospital with a dazed expression on his face, but unlike before when he was filled with so much uncertainty and sorrow, a faint smile could be seen on his face.
He was walking excitedly, unable to hide his joy.
Multiple sighs of relief echoed from his parted, curled up lips. He had just finished settling the bills for his father's treatments, and he also got new medication and paid for additional facilities to improve his condition—all of the things he was unable to do in the past.
'Even though they won't make his situation better, those treatments will slow down the necrosis.'
That was what the medical experts told him, and he believed them.
His father's illness wasn't an ordinary one, and he had done all the research he could on the topic. At the moment, he had ensured his 'Uncle Richie' wouldn't have any terrible episode or relapse for a while.
'And I still have a little over 50,000 left in my account…' Luke beamed in silence. 'What should I do from this point on?'
While on the road, before realizing it, Luke began to project into the future.
He started considering many things.
'Should I quit my job? I could invest the rest of this money into something. Or maybe start my own business… ah, but I don't have any experience in that department.' He kept racking his brain, trying to figure out the best way to live his life beyond Hunters & Dragons.
Now that he had earned actual money from the game, he was no longer motivated to work as a construction worker. The rates were simply too low and not worth his time. Even though he was superhuman at this point and could do the work without tiring, he couldn't help but to wonder if there were any other jobs worth his time.
In the past, he couldn't do so since he didn't have enough capital to consider more expensive options. But… things were different now.
He had money, and he had a way to make even more money.
'Then… should I be a gamer?'
The thought suddenly popped into Luke's mind, but he took it very seriously.
'With my experience as Draco, and my continuous immersion into Hunters & Dragons, I think I've gotten a pretty good hang of VR Gaming.' He already knew his gaming experience and the standard kind couldn't be compared, especially since Hunters & Dragons was far more realistic.
It actually felt more like another world than mere gaming.
But—
'It contains a lot of gaming mechanics, and with a background in that, I should be able to incorporate my experiences into actual gaming,' Luke thought with optimism. 'Plus, with my high stats, I think I'll be able to do well in the E Sports Industry and quickly get acclimated to the competitive games there.'
After thinking about it for quite a while, Luke realized that this was actually a reasonable choice. The thought remained on his mind until he reached his house and collapsed on his very hard bed, groaning mildly as his body felt its tough surface.
He had more than enough money to get a new bed, or even move to a better location.
Plus, he had the potential to earn more.
But… Luke didn't have that thought for even a second.
Why?
Well, it was for the same reason that he only used his newfound wealth to pay for his father's hospital bills and sort out the essentials.
"System Shop…" A whisper left his lips, and it revealed a golden window.
"Display Saved Items."
Only one item occupied that slot, and it was in the form of a pill. Its surface was round and smooth, with a rainbow-like glow all over it. It looked like medicine, but the luster around it gave off an ethereal feel.
[Item Name: Supreme Grade Recovery Pill]
~Item Effect: One Pill has the ability to cure any and all ailments that the user has. As long as you are not dead, this will restore you to full health.~
This was a miraculous drug.
'With it, even Uncle Richie can be cured…' Luke looked at the window in front of him, hope flashing in his eyes. However, the previous smile on his face had completely vanished, replaced by another anxious expression.
Why?
This item was amazing, with nigh perfect effects. The only issue with it was the one that bothered Luke the most.
'The Price…' He squinted his eyes to look at what was written at the bottom of the item.
[Price: 100,000 SP]
'... It's too expensive!'
Using the current rate, 100,000 SP was about a hundred million.
A hundred million dollars!
'Rather than buying this, I would have better luck saving up for the surgery that he desperately needs. But…' Luke sighed and shook his head. '... There's only a 10 to 20 percent success rate. The Surgery is simply too risky, and now that his condition has started to worsen, the success rate will continue to drop.'
There was a big chance that the chances of success would be less than 5 percent by the time Luke had gathered the money. It was too big a risk to trust conventional medicine in a situation this dire.
If he didn't have any other option, perhaps Luke would have jumped at that small percentage and hoped for the best.
But… he had the System now.
He had access to incredible power—abilities that people could only ever dream of. If he didn't use them, then wouldn't that mean he was intentionally entertaining unwarranted risks?
'The Supreme Grade Recovery Pill has a guaranteed effect and no side effects. I have to go for it!' His thoughts echoed in determination. 'Even if it is 100,000 System Points… I should be able to gather that amount somehow.'
From what he could see on the forum, there were Players that had over a million S Points. They weren't many, but they existed.
If they can do it, I can too!
'Just hang in there, Uncle Richie! I'll save you somehow… no matter how long it takes!'
With that thought established in his mind, Luke summarized his goals into two:
Entering the gaming industry to make a lot of money, and gathering 100,000 SP.
Since he could no longer carelessly spend his SP, he needed a way to make a lot of money to take care of his father and also improve his quality of life. Construction work wouldn't cut it anymore, and he couldn't simply exchange SP for cash.
He needed to gather 100,000 SP, which meant every point counted.
'Even if I wanted to try the surgery, wouldn't it be too suspicious if I just happened to have millions in my account to pay the hospital. A young man who lives in the slums, with no proper job…. They'd think I was a drug dealer or something.'
In the end, he needed to get into E Sports, and also gather 100,000 SP.
'That's it… that's what I have to do right now.'
Despite having the System, his worries were far from over. Luke had even completely forgotten about the Nine Headed Dragon Alliance, but they would definitely be a problem that could appear at any moment.
Still, he was overwhelmed by just how many things he had to do.
'Enough about that.' He sighed, shaking his head as he jumped to his feet. All of his worries quickly dissipated, and a determined expression formed on his tired face.
'It's time to return to Hunters & Dragons!'