Chapter 56: Chance to Farm Levels. (Updated)

A day had passed since the party. Liam had officially moved into the dorm, while Clara was still staying at the hotel. Today was his and Megan’s first day of classes, and the hallways were already busy with students checking their schedules and calling out to friends before heading outside. Liam was getting ready himself when a familiar green panel appeared in front of him, briefly blocking his view of the room.

[Side Mission Complete: Range Rover Doesn’t Suit You. Give It to Your Dad.]

[Reward: Lamborghini Aventador SV 1:64 Diecast Replica.]

[Explanation: A Black Lamborghini Suits You More.]

[AMPLIFYING THE REWARDS BY 10,000X...]

[NEW REWARD: Fully Loaded Black Lamborghini Aventador SV. (Can Be Driven Using Telekinesis.)]

[Explanation: This Vehicle Doesn’t Need a Driver. Fully Automatic Driving Is Available as Long as the Host Has Enough Telekinetic Energy.]

Seeing the reward, Liam smiled and dismissed the system. He finished packing his old backpack, pulled the zipper shut, and tossed it over one shoulder before stepping out of his room and locking the door behind him.

Megan’s room was already locked. Starting today, she would be attending dance practice with Yeji, so she had left before him. Liam gave her door a brief glance, then slipped his keys into his pocket and headed down the hallway.

"Yo, Liam! Did you know our Introduction to Microeconomics professor is super hot?"

Liam glanced at Dylan, who was heading to class with his guitar slung over his shoulder, and shook his head in disappointment. It was their first day, and this was already the information the guy had chosen to collect.

Dylan, however, took the head shake to mean Liam hadn’t heard about her yet. He immediately picked up his pace to walk beside him, looking far too excited to explain.

"Rumor has it she’s a single mom looking for a daddy for her baby..."

"Is that so... That’s... How do you know that?"

Liam asked, turning to look at him properly. Dylan was practically beaming, looking quite pleased that his little piece of information had finally gotten a reaction out of Liam. He adjusted the guitar strap on his shoulder and leaned closer, lowering his voice.

"I just know... Don’t tell anyone, but she’s my aunt."

Dylan gave him such an exaggerated wink that Liam could only nod in surprise. This boy was actually using his own aunt as gossip material. Liam looked at the grin on his face for another second, wondering just how shameless he could get.

"So... you’re passing this information on to me... for what?"

"Could you lend me, like... two hundred bucks? I promise I’ll pay you back in about a month..."

Liam looked at him for a moment, then thought back to the party. Dylan had invited all three of them, and Liam hadn’t paid a single dollar for anything. The girls had enjoyed the drinks and snacks for hours, all covered by this guy, so lending him two hundred bucks wasn’t much to ask.

Liam smiled a little and reached for his wallet. Dylan could have just asked instead of trying to sell him information about his own aunt.

’Damn... I don’t have any cash on me.’

"My bad... I don’t have cash."

"No worries. You got Venmo? I can send you a request."

Dylan was already reaching for his phone, looking completely unfazed. Liam glanced down at his wallet, then back at the boy, who clearly wasn’t going to let the lack of paper money ruin his chances.

"Don’t have Venmo. I’ve only got my bank’s app... Tell you what, let’s stop by an ATM after class. I’ll get you the cash then."

"Duuude... I sold you out my own aunt, and you’re gonna leave me hanging this long? I have to pay Jim before the first lecture starts. That guy will fuck me up if I don’t pay him for the drugs... He’s with the Danuvan..."

Dylan looked desperate now, his grin completely gone as he checked the time on his phone. Liam, meanwhile, was shocked by the name. He knew who Jim was. Jim had bullied him too, though not during his freshman year.

It had started after his parents died in his last life, when Liam took a part-time job to support himself. That bastard used to take all his money, leaving him staring at an empty wallet after hours of work. Liam’s steps slowed as he looked at Dylan, the familiar name bringing back a face he hadn’t thought about in a long time.

"Let’s go pay him back, then..."

Liam smiled. It was about time he stepped up, took matters into his own hands, and started farming levels. This thug would be his first victim. He adjusted the strap of his backpack and turned toward Dylan, looking far too relaxed for someone who had just heard about a gang member waiting to collect drug money.

"Y... you’ll come with me? To pay him back?"

"Yeah... Let’s go now. Lead the way."

Liam nodded confidently, while Dylan searched his face as if he needed to make sure he had heard correctly. Liam had enough power to deal with thugs like Jim and crush the Danuvan when the time came.

This was the way to power, and there was no shortcut. He had spent enough of his last life handing over money with his head down; the thought of seeing Jim again almost made him laugh.

"Okay... gangster. Lead the way? Follow me. But if you get your ass kicked, I’m running."

"Sure... Also, what was with that information about your aunt?"

"I heard you’re a playboy who throws money around and sleeps with girls."

"Who’s spreading that nonsense?"

"Well... You’ve got money, pretty girls around you, and an average face that somehow lights up sometimes. I figured the money had something to do with it, so..."

"Fair... I’m a bit like that."

Liam nodded, realizing that the people around him were far more observant than he had initially thought. The two crossed the wide campus lawn, Dylan occasionally checking his phone as he led the way toward a public restroom near the edge of campus. Liam walked beside him with his hands relaxed, watching where they were going.

An open parking lot sat beside the restroom, with a basketball court enclosed by a tall chain-link fence nearby. Four men were playing two-on-two, their shoes squeaking against the court between the steady thuds of the ball.

Beyond the fence, four heavy cruiser motorcycles stood parked in a row, their low seats, wide handlebars, and chrome exhaust pipes making them stand out among the cars.

’Danuvan... Screwdriver, come out and hide in my sleeve.’

A thin, emerald-colored screwdriver materialized above Liam’s palm, its pointed tip catching the light as it made a playful little turn around his fingers. Liam kept walking while it slipped beneath his sleeve and settled against his forearm.

The wand-like tool then shrank to the size of a grain of rice, leaving only a faint, cool touch against his skin before he could barely feel it at all.

"Hey, Jim... I brought my friend. This is Liam. He’s gonna help me cover what I owe you."

The game stopped just as the ball dropped through the hoop, scoring the winning basket for the other team. A bald man almost as tall as Liam turned toward Dylan with an angry look on his face.

He had glanced away when Dylan called his name, giving the player he was guarding enough room to take the final shot. The ball bounced across the court behind him, but he ignored it, wiping the sweat from his forehead as he stared at Dylan.