Chương 14: $10,000 Tip For Makeover

As soon as Drake got home, he checked the tribute system to see what this sudden change was all about.

"There's never been a 'level' here before. Why did this thing suddenly pop up?" Drake muttered to himself. He tapped the level bar repeatedly, which now showed he was at level one. The top of the window status used to be empty, but now it was filled with symbols he didn't recognize.

"Hmm, I can still withdraw my coins without a problem," Drake confirmed after trying to exchange his coins for bills. "The marketplace looks the same, so what's the deal with this 'level up' thing?"

Drake ran his hand through his hair in frustration. There didn't seem to be any imminent danger with this new feature, but he couldn't help feeling uneasy, especially since he had no idea what the goal was.

"What happens when I level up? What triggers this leveling up?" He continued to question the system, but it remained silent.

"Hey, could you at least give me a tutorial?"

Ding!

Drake's heart practically jumped out of his chest, as he hadn't expected the system to suddenly ring like a bell. He quickly read the newly popped-up notification: "Instructional manual."

Drake's curiosity was piqued, and he eagerly tapped on the "Instructional Manual" notification to learn more about this mysterious leveling system. A new window appeared, filled with information, but the text was in a language he couldn't understand.

"Is this Chinese? Thai? Arabic?" he wondered, since he only knew one language. He attempted to use his phone's translation app, but to his frustration, the phone couldn't capture the system as it was only visible to his eyes.

"Seriously? You want to keep yourself a secret?" Drake gave up and could only hope that this new feature wouldn't push him to the edge of a cliff.

…

A few days later, Drake's life began to regain its peace, with the satisfaction of knowing that his tormentors were now suffering in prison. Thanks to the system, his innocence had been proven, and all the charges and backlash he had faced were gone.

The only lingering problem was that DearBeck Co. couldn't completely recover.

"Are you sure you won't consider partnering with them again?" Drake asked. He was sitting in Aunt Beck's chair, looking at her computer, while Aunt Beck lay face down on the couch, looking utterly drained.

"They turned their backs on us in our darkest times. They'll leave us hanging again if a similar situation happens. It's better to find new partners than deal with those traitors," Aunt Beck replied.

"But these companies are the only decent ones in Magrao. What will you do about it?" Drake inquired.

"Of course, I'll have to explore opportunities outside Magrao. I don't want to downgrade just to avoid those traitors. I hate to admit it, but they have the best services among the other companies," Aunt Beck sighed.

"So you have to go out while also managing what's happening inside? Aunt, seriously, let me help. I'll handle the external business."

"Ugh, Drake," Aunt Beck said, "how many times do I have to tell you? Rest. Rest. Rest!"

"But Aunt, I can't relax when my mind keeps wandering back to work. Just let me do this. Managing external business won't require me to work every day. I can tour around like I'm on vacation while handling it," Drake insisted.

Aunt Beck paused to consider what Drake had said. Finally, she added, "Okay, I'll approve that, but you're not allowed to bring Eleanor with you."

"Why not?" Drake protested.

"Because you won't focus on resting or vacationing if she's with you. You'll end up babysitting and working instead," Aunt Beck explained.

"You really know me, Aunt Beck."

"I don't know you as well as I'd like to. That's why I'm always worried about you."

"Thank you, Aunt. You don't have to worry. I'm fine now."

"Okay, I'll arrange your schedule and itinerary, so you better focus on fixing yourself first," Aunt Beck said with a sigh.

"Fix myself? What should I fix?" Drake asked, looking confused.

"Fix everything," Aunt Beck replied, gesturing towards Drake's face.

"Oh, I need a haircut," Drake realized. He looked at his reflection in a glass window and agreed with Aunt Beck.

"Drake, it's not just a haircut. It's your beard, your clothes, your... you need a makeover. You have a lot of money now. Make yourself look like someone earning a million dollars," Aunt Beck advised.

"Hahaha!" Drake laughed awkwardly. "Do I look that bad?"

"Yes, you do. And make sure to eat a lot too."

"Okay, okay, I think I have a lot to do today."

"Yeah, so go ahead," Aunt Beck said with a reassuring smile.

Following Aunt Beck's advice, Drake headed straight to a salon for a makeover. He couldn't recall the last time he had taken such care of himself, as he had been too preoccupied with earning money and dealing with his problems. It was somewhat embarrassing for Drake to see the expressions of the salon staff when they realized how ungroomed he had become.

"Ten thousand for a tip?" the cashier exclaimed, causing the other staff members to glance over.

"Please, keep it down," Drake said politely. "I just want to show my appreciation for everyone's hard work making me look good."

"W-we are pleased to serve you, sir. Please visit us again," the cashier stammered, clearly surprised by the generous tip.

"Sure, thank you," Drake replied with a smile.

With his makeover complete, Drake's self-care for the day wasn't quite finished yet. He still needed to buy new clothes and shoes for himself. He had gone shopping before, but it had always been for Eleanor. This was his first shopping spree just for himself.

Drake entered the department store awkwardly, feeling out of place. It was a store filled with luxury brands, and he was nervous about being asked to leave. A well-dressed and polished saleswoman approached him with a warm smile.

"Good day," the saleswoman said. "How may I assist you today?"

Drake cleared his throat, still getting used to the polite and special treatment. He had unwittingly walked into a high-end department store, and he was slightly overwhelmed.

"I... I need some new clothes and shoes. Something... upscale."

The saleswoman nodded. "Of course, we have an excellent selection of suits. Do you have any specific preferences in mind?"

Drake felt a wave of panic, realizing he knew very little about clothing and fashion. So, he simply said, "Just show me comfortable ones, casual ones, and something for big events."

“Three suits in total, sir?"

"No, three types," Drake corrected, even though it was not exactly what he had in mind. He felt a bit overwhelmed by the pressure to make choices.

"Ah, a set of casual clothes, a set of formal clothes, and a set of comfortable clothes?"

"Yes, yes." Drake nodded, even though it was a bit far from what he wanted. He was starting to feel suffocated by the whole experience.

"Okay, sir. Please wait a moment here."

The sales lady guided him to a waiting area within the department store, but unfortunately, he was not alone in the lobby.

Drake sat quietly at the far end of the couch, hoping the person nearby wouldn't strike up a conversation. However, just as he stole a quick glance at the lady, their eyes met, and he found himself starting the conversation instead.

"Uh... hi."

"Oh, hi, Mr. Famous," the lady said.

"Famous? Me?"

"Yes, you."

Drake didn't get her, so he just replied, "O-oh, thanks?”

The lobby fell into a brief, awkward silence before the lady spoke up again.

"Are you dating anyone?" she asked bluntly, flipping through the pages of the store's brochure.

"Huh?"

"Do you have a girlfriend?"

"N-none. Why?" Drake was taken aback by the sudden question, but he was even more surprised by the lady's next question.

"Wanna date?"

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