The Heart System

Chapter 887: Chapter 887

I hadn’t even realized how many enemies I’d made after getting this system. Most of the time, I was just trying to survive whatever insane situation had landed in my lap, but apparently I’d been collecting problems along the way.

”I’ll think of something.” I nodded. ”For now... let’s just act normal.”

”Okay.” Nala nodded. ”But do let us know if you’re a sociopath or anything, please.”

”Jesus,” I muttered.

Jasmine covered a small laugh with her hand.

”They’re probably investigating me because of Guy,” I added.

”They’d investigate me instead of you.” Nala pointed at herself. ”I’m the one who looked to the public like I kicked his butt and took over the CEO position.”

”I don’t know.” I waved both hands dismissively. ”We’ll see. Let’s just have a calm breakfast.”

”Mmh...”

Yeah. Calm?

Not a chance.

══════════════════

MAIN QUEST AVAILABLE

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Find the person who is

investigating you.

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Reward(s): +1 LVL UP

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⟁ ⟁ ⟁

I didn’t realize I’d gotten lost in thought, staring at the coffee pouring from the machine. It eventually stopped, leaving me staring at my own reflection in the mug. A gentle tap on my shoulder from a man standing behind me in the coffee line pulled me out of my thoughts.

I quietly apologized, grabbed my mug, and stepped onto the small balcony. After taking a sip, I pulled out my phone and called Tuck. He picked up after two rings.

”Thank you, sir. Come again,” he said, and I heard a cash register opening in the background. ”Yo, Evan. What’s up?”

”Hey,” I said. ”You still talk to the Double Boyz?”

”Hell yeah. They’re solid.” He replied, and I heard the register close. ”Why? You need something stolen?”

”I have a friend who lives in Terraon Apartments.” I said. ”Her camera was stolen years ago. I’m wondering if... they know anything about it.”

”Terron. Got it. I’ll ask around and see if they know anything.”

”Terraon,” I corrected him. ”And thanks. I’ll owe you one.”

”No problem, E. You got my sister back, so this is the least I could do.”

”How are things with your new girlfriend?”

He let out a deep exhale. ”Man. She wants to wait until marriage.”

”Ouch.”

”Yeah. So don’t get me started, or I’ll just keep talking.”

”Got it.”

”See ya, man.”

”Take care.”

I hung up and took another sip of my coffee. At least Tuck still talked to the Double Boyz. Those two brothers had been notorious thieves back in the day. Hell, I’d even had them steal a watch for me once, the same watch that had been stolen from me at a concert.

Moral of the story? It was debatable.

”Hey!” Melvin opened the door with a cup of tea in his hand. ”Morning, Evan.”

”Hi.” I nodded. ”You sound happy.”

”I am!” he chirped. ”Isabella gave me ice!”

”That was...” I shook my head. There was no need to ruin his mood. ”That was a first step, yeah. Congrats.”

”Thanks.” He smiled. ”I’m planning to go straight to Stingy Ladies. Wanna come?”

”Nah, I...”

”Sorry, I’ll rephrase it.” He cleared his throat. ”Please come. Please come. Please come. Please, please, please! I beg you, dude. Like, literally!”

”Fine, fine.” I exhaled with a small smile. ”But you’re buying the beers.”

”YES! Thank you, man.” He grinned. ”You’re, like, the best.”

”That I am.”

He happily patted me on the shoulder before giving me a finger gun as he walked away. I forced a smile and watched him leave the balcony, still pointing the finger gun at me until he disappeared through the door.

I turned back toward the city and took another sip of my coffee. Snow covered the streets and rooftops, making everything below look strangely peaceful.

Another trip to Stingy Ladies, huh?

Eh, I didn’t have anything else to do. I had to wait for Tuck to call me back, and I also needed to figure out who my mysterious investigator was.

”Horay.” I deadpanned. ”Ho-fucking-ray.”

⟁ ⟁ ⟁

We knew Carrie would arrive at the company in two hours. What we didn’t know was how it would happen. Apparently, that information had somehow been leaked, because the area outside the building was already packed with reporters trying to get a glimpse of Carrie. If they were lucky, maybe they could even ask her a few questions about the project she was backing.

Me? I was out of there. Never there.

I managed to get back into my car before shit hit the fan, and now I was waiting for Melvin to come outside. Poor guy was probably lost somewhere in that crowd, trying his best to make his way over here.

My phone buzzed in my hand, so I pulled it out and answered.

”Melvin?”

”Hey, man,” he said, his voice sounding tired. ”I’m... the boss wants me here for another hour. Today’s canceled. Can we do it tomorrow?”

”Sure,” I said. ”It’s my day off.”

”Not mine. See you after work? Uh, tomorrow, I mean. Tomorrow at work. Not at work, after work.”

”Y-yep. Take care.”

”You too.”

I hung up and started the engine. Guess I was going to head home, eat dinner, and relax for a bit. I’d been feeling so damn tired these past few days. It was like everything was coming at me at once, and I was constantly being backed into a corner.

Because of that, I hadn’t been able to hit the Dungeon as much as I wanted to. Leveling up had become harder, after all. Every bit of EXP helped, and I really couldn’t afford to waste any of it.

My phone buzzed again just as I was putting the car in reverse. This time, I answered without bothering to check who was calling.

”Hey,” Kayla began. ”Um, Evan. What’s up?”

”Nothing much,” I replied, slowly backing out of the parking spot. ”What’s up with you?”

”I’m...” She cleared her throat. ”Well... I have a bit of a problem.”

”What kind?”

There was a short pause on the other end.