Noah stepped out of the Uber about five minutes away from his mansion. The sun had just started to rise, casting a warm, golden glow over the quiet streets.
He stretched his arms and yawned, still feeling the fatigue from the long night.
His footsteps were steady as he walked toward the mansion, carefully keeping to the shadows like before, slipping back into the neighbourhood as effortlessly as he had left. The guards stationed at the entrance were none the wiser.
After about 15 minutes, Noah reached his mansion. The imposing structure stood tall against the morning sky, surrounded by lush greenery and complete silence.
He glanced at the system update screen, floating in front of his eyes.
[Estimated Time: 4 Hours 20 Minutes]
“Huh. 4:20?” A wry smile crept onto his face. “The system seems to have a sense of humour, albeit quite bad.”
Noah yawned again, his body craving sleep, he hadn’t slept much earlier.
Deciding he could rest while the system continued its upgrade, Noah headed inside. The mansion was still as quiet and empty as it had been the night before.
The air inside was cool, and Noah immediately made his way to his room, craving the comfort of his bed.
Before lying down, he decided to take a quick shower. The water was hot and soothing, washing away the grime of the night.
The steam filled the room, and for a few moments, Noah simply stood under the water, letting it ease his tired muscles.
Afterwards, he dried himself off, changed into clean clothes, placed his old ones in the inventory, and trimmed his nails, making sure everything was in order before slipping back into bed.
The plush mattress enveloped him, and Noah felt his body relax in a way it hadn’t for a long time. For the first time in weeks, he allowed himself to drift into a deep, peaceful sleep.
Four hours later, Noah woke up feeling refreshed, more energized than he had felt in years. He stretched out in bed, blinking as his eyes adjusted to the light streaming in through the windows.
His mind felt sharp, and clear, as if the weight of everything he had been carrying had lifted while he slept. He didn’t even feel the need to yawn as he got up.
He glanced at the system screen again.
[Estimated Time: 23 Minutes
Noah smiled to himself, a faintly amused expression crossing his face. “The upgrade is going to be legendary,” he muttered under his breath. A memory of a certain basketball player popped into his mind.
He brushed his teeth and headed downstairs to the kitchen. The large, open space was still empty; the mansion had been fully furnished but stocked with no actual food.
There were plates and utensils neatly arranged, but nothing edible. Noah sighed, realizing he was hungry after the long night and morning nap.
Grabbing his phone, he scrolled through his contacts and quickly called An’s Gourmet, the Michelin-starred restaurant he owned. The phone rang once before someone picked up.
“Hello, An’s Gourmet, how can I help you?” the voice on the other end said with professional politeness.
Noah’s voice was calm but carried an unmistakable authority. “Hi, I want food delivered to my house, preferably in the next 10 minutes.”
There was a brief pause on the other end, and then the employee replied, “I’m sorry, sir, but we are an esteemed restaurant with a Michelin star. We don’t do last-second deliveries. Our orders require careful preparation and—”
Noah chuckled, his tone now carrying a touch of amusement. “What if I told you I’m your boss?”
The employee’s tone changed instantly, filled with a mix of shock and urgency. “Boss? Boss Noah? I apologize, I didn’t recognize your voice at first! I’ll inform the kitchen right away. We’ll delay the other orders and prepare your meal immediately.”
Noah’s smile deepened. “No need for anything specific. Just bring me food—and make it quick.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll make sure it’s done fast,” the employee responded, his voice almost trembling.
Noah hung up the phone and leaned back, satisfied. About nine minutes later, his phone rang again. It was the delivery driver.
“Sir, I’m outside the gate, but the security isn’t letting me in. They say delivery drivers aren’t allowed inside.”
Noah sighed. “Give him the phone,” he said, annoyance creeping into his tone.
There was a brief rustling sound, and then the guard answered. “Hello?”
“This is Noah Thompson. My subordinate is bringing me food. Is there a problem with that?”
The guard on the other end immediately stiffened. “No, of course not, Mr. Thompson! I apologize for the inconvenience. It’s just a standard security procedure, but I’ll let him through right away.”
The guard quickly handed the phone back to the delivery driver, who was then allowed to pass through. Within moments, the driver pulled up to the mansion’s entrance, carrying the food Noah had ordered.
As the delivery driver entered, one of the newer security guards at the gate frowned, looking slightly puzzled. “But sir, I thought delivery drivers weren’t allowed inside, no matter what.”
The head of security, Anderson, gave the younger guard a knowing look and shook his head. “You’re still a newbie,” he said with a smirk. “You can’t always follow the rules to the letter. Besides…” He lowered his voice, glancing toward the mansion path. “There are people the rules don’t apply to. Some people… the rules obey them.”
The younger guard blinked in confusion but said nothing more, watching as the delivery driver entered the grand gates of the mansion with his delivery.
The world inside those gates was a different one, a place where Noah Thompson’s influence was unquestioned.
Inside the mansion, Noah set the food on the table and sat down. The dishes were still hot, the aroma filling the air. He picked up a fork, feeling satisfied with how things had played out this morning.
Everything was running smoothly—almost too smoothly. He took a bite, savouring the flavour, as his mind wandered back to the system upgrade.
“Just a little longer,” he thought to himself, glancing at the timer on the floating screen.
[Estimated Time: 15 Minutes]
The upgrade would soon be complete, and with it, new opportunities would open up. Noah leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowed in thought.
He had a feeling this upgrade wasn’t just going to change the system—it was going to change him too.
“Let’s see what this brings,” he mused, a faint smile playing on his lips as he waited for the next phase to begin.