Ian lay on the bed, dumbfounded and speechless.
His phone was still held in his hands, the call had already been ongoing for more than an hour.
Leon already told Ian all about the apartment's prices and how he should avoid getting scammed.
And the easiest way was just to ask the neighbours.
According to Leon, the apartment Ian was living in shouldn't have cost more than 2000-2500 bucks, maybe less.
And Leon wasn't wrong.
"Well, the contract is already signed for the month," Ian said in despair.
"Indeed. You are already done for." Leon nodded, "But don't be depressed. Take it as a lesson and move on. Don't make the same mistake."
"I won't."
After a few more light-hearted talks, Ian coughed and remembered about the mysterious ring.
"You promised to tell me about my grandfather, Dad," Ian said.
"Indeed. It's a long story as well." Leon chuckled.
"I got time too." Ian grinned, looking hopeful to hear about his grandfather.
"Your grandpa, well in simple words, was born an orphan in the slums of Peach City."
"HUH?" Ian definitely didn't expect that.
He had heard that his grandfather was the one who built Maxwell Industries himself.
But… that great man… was from slums?
"Yeah…" Leon chuckled, feeling nostalgic, "He used to survive on stealing and many more underhanded things, just to earn his bread and clothes."
"How's that possible?"
"Anything's possible, son." Leon wanted to pat Ian, but alas they were too far.
"You just need dedication, hard work and a little bit of luck," he added.
"Okay. How did he become one of the richest then?"
"Do you really not know yet?" Leon asked with a knowing smile, causing Ian's eyes to widen.
"You mean- this- you knew?!" Ian stuttered in shock.
"Obviously. I was the one that gave the ring to you. I know all its powers."
"Then can you give me some tips, please? I am in so much negative-"
"No." Leon interrupted, "I won't help you with that. But I realized one thing."
"What?"
"That we don't need the DNA test. You are my real son. Because I asked the same questions as you when my father told me about the ring."
"That's because these are questions any sane person will ask, Dad."
"Then how did you ask them?"
Ian grumbled, "You didn't finish Grandpa's story."
"Haha, that's because it's too unrealistic. It's true, no doubt, but it's so hard to believe."
"You believe it. I can too."
"Well, in short, your grandfather found this ring when he was dumpster diving in the trash. He thought he could sell it for a decent price, but he ended up awakening it with his will before he even got to sell it." Leon began.
"He then gathered the points, slowly and painfully, working tirelessly with the only goal to grow."
"He had the determination, the guts to work harder than anyone else… and a magical lucky charm. That's how he became the owner of Maxwell Industries, son."
Ian felt like his father had skipped all the epic quests and difficulties that his grandfather had gone through, but Ian could see sleepiness in his father's eyes by now.
Leon was a very hard-working man who liked to sleep before 12 am and wake up before 6am.
But looking at the time, it was already 1 o'clock and Leon didn't even complain once.
"I will work hard too." Ian smiled proudly.
"I know." Leon chuckled.
"Goodnight Dad… and Mom, I know you are there."
"Goodnight, son," Leon said and there was another low sound behind him before Leon hung up the call.
But before Ian could keep down the phone and dive deeper into his thoughts, 2 new notifications popped up.
// Dear Customer, Acct XX574 is credited with 2000$ from LEON MAXWELL. UPI: XXXXXXXXXXXXX–Union Northern Bank. //
// Use it to make up for your dumb decisions. Don't expect anything more. //
And then like a broken dam, a string of floating notifications popped up.
[ Regained will to grow: +1000 GP ]
[ Gained help from parents: +5000 GP ]
[ Discovered scam: +1000 GP ]
[ Fixed reputation in the eyes of parents: +200 GP ]
[ Total GP: -9810 + 7000 + 200 = -2610 ]
Ian blinked in wonder.
It hadn't even been a minute since he cut the call, but he already gained so much?!
A whopping 7000 GP and 2000$ in his account!
However, he was still unable to determine the criteria on which the GP was awarded. He clearly received the help of 2000 dollars, but he gained 5000 GP.
While he was robbed of over 15000 dollars in articles, of course, as a fresh piece not their current value.
But he was charged with 8000 GP in penalty.
Why?
No matter how hard he thought, Ian was unable to find out the reason for it, so he simply delayed finding the answer.
He ran out of his room and aggressively knocked Alice's door until she opened it.
"Alice!" Ian shouted when Alice opened the door, "You won't fucking believe it!"
"What?" Alice glanced at Ian who was standing in casual shorts and Tshirt.
And here she was worrying about being too underdressed when she was already wearing a white branded nightgown.
"We were scammed! That Gerald bastard, mother fucker!" Ian cursed.
"...?"
Alice still looked confused but alert, so Ian told her what his father had told him.
"..." Alice's eyes went cold, "Give me your phone."
"Why?" Ian asked, but Alice just kept staring into Ian's eyes coldly. After a few seconds of death glare, Ian had to hand over his phone.
Alice took the phone and directly went into the call logs, finding Gerald's number within the recents.
She called him.
"The number you have called is out of service coverage area. Please try again later."
Alice cut the call and tried again.
"The number you have called is out of service coverage area. Please try again later."
"That fucker blocked you." Alice laughed dryly. It was the first time he saw her genuinely pissed.
'Ah shit, this is why I don't like to mess with women.' Ian gulped.
Maybe he forgot how he had slapped her on the cheek just a day before.
"I will try from my number."
Alice fished out her phone and dialed Gerald's number using her phone.
And as expected, a middle-aged man's voice came after a couple of rings.
"Hello?"