...

As the first ray of light in the morning filtered through the curtains, Zastan finally got out of bed. He quickly gathered his packed belongings, including the gold under his bed which is now packed in a trash bag.

Just as he was about to prepare at the living room, his parents appeared near his room's entrance, they both looked surprise to see him up so early in the morning.

"Zastan, what are you doing up at this hour?" his mother asked

"Good morning Mom, Dad." He greeted them with a smile. "I was just getting ready to leave. But I could use some breakfast first."

His parents exchanged puzzled glances but quickly walked with him towards the kitchen. His mother had already prepared a simple meal of eggs, toast, and coffee. As they sat down at the table, Zastan took a deep breath, ready to reveal his plans.

"Mom, Dad, There's something I need to tell you." he began. "I've found a temporary job in Luminae. It's a side job that pays well enough to cover my tuition and living expenses for college."

"Luminae?" His father repeated, he looked at him in surprise. "That's quite far from here."

"I know it sounds sudden" Zastan continued. "but it's a great opportunity for quick cash. It's a side job that pays well enough to cover my tuition and living expenses for college. And apparently they do this every year for students to earn money during the summer break."

His mother looked worried, "Are you sure about this? Luminae is a big city. It's not like our small town.."

"I'm sure, Mom, I've thought it through already." he assured her. "I'll be safe. I'm a grown-up now, and I know how to take care of myself."

The father and mother knew that for some reason, their son, even at a young age, rather quickly which led them to give Zastan permission.

Looking at Zastan, they both remembered that, when he was a kid, he'd rather read books, articles, and latest news on the TV, rather than spending his time with the kids on the neighbor.

His father nodded slowly, though concern still lingered in his eyes. "We trust you, son. Just make sure to stay in touch and let us know if you need anything."

"I will," Zastan promised. "And I'll surely call or text every day ."

His mother reached out and squeezed his hand. "Before you go, make sure to tell your older sister. She's in her room. And... don't say goodbye to your little sister. You know how her character especially when it comes to you. She'll be sad and never let go of you."

Zastan nodded, understanding their concern. He finished his breakfast quickly and then headed upstairs to his older sister's room.

...

Seeing the pink sign with a rather cute logo beside it. He knocked softly on the door.

"Come in," her voice called from inside.

He pushed the door open and found her sitting at her desk, brushing her long, dark hair. She turned to face him, her eyes lighting up with a warm smile.

"Zastan! What brings you here so early?"

"I need to talk to you," he said, stepping into the room. "I'm leaving for Luminae today. I found a job there that will help me save for college."

Her smile faded, replaced by a look of concern. "Luminae? That's so far away. Are you sure about this?"

"Yes, I'm sure," he replied, trying to sound confident. "It's a great opportunity, and it's the best way for me to save money and gain some experience."

She stood up and walked over to him, her expression softening. "Just promise me you'll take care of yourself. And keep in touch every day, okay? Calls or texts. I want to know you're safe."

"I promise," Zastan said, giving her a reassuring hug. "I'll stay in touch every day."

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

She hugged him tightly, then stepped back. "I'm going to miss you. But I know you're doing what's best for your future."

"I'll miss you too," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "But I'll visit whenever I can."

After a few more moments of saying their goodbyes, Zastan made his way downstairs. His parents were waiting for him at the door, their expressions a mix of pride and worry.

"Remember what we said," his mother reminded him. "Stay in touch and be safe."

"I will," Zastan promised once more. "I'll be back before you know it."

With one last hug from his parents, he stepped out of the house, his heart heavy but determined. He knew this was the best way to utilize the system's resources without drawing suspicion. And the excitement of starting a new life in Luminae gave him the courage to move forward.

"Goodbye mom!" he shouted then waved at him before proceeding to the nearest bus stop. He glanced back at his home one last time.

It was a bittersweet moment, but he knew that great opportunities awaited him in Luminae. And only by leaving this place can he start implementing his plans.

"This is it," he thought to himself as he boarded the bus which will pass next to a train station. "A new beginning."

After almost an hour travelling, Zastan arrived at the high-speed train station. The bustling station was filled with the sounds of inaudible announcements., the hum of conversations, and the occasional rush of passengers hurring to their platforms. "Haha... Even in this life, the sounds is also inaudble."

Zastan, carrying his packed belongings and the trash bag with his gold discreetly tucked inside, he made his way to the ticketing kiosk with a few people in line.

After his turn, he approached the sleek, touch-screen ticketing kiosk and quickly navigated through the options. With a few taps, he selected his destination: Luminae. Remembering his spare cash, he decided to splurge a bit and bought a business-class ticket. The ticket was then printed out with a soft whirring sound.

With the ticket in hand, he moved towards the boarding area, after the staff checked his ticket, he went inside.

It is a spacious and comfortable lounge reserved for business-class passengers. He found a seat and settled in, glancing around at the other travelers. The atmosphere here was more relaxed compared to the main waiting area, with plush chairs and complimentary refreshments such as juice, sodas, and snacks.

After a few minutes, an announcement came over the intercom, informing passengers that the train would be arriving shortly, though a few minutes behind schedule, Compared to the outside, the speaker here is noticeable much clearer compared to that from outside.

Zastan leaned back, his mind wandering to the plans he had for Luminae. Just as he was lost in thought, the train pulled into the station with a sooth, gliding station.

As the boarding call was made, he joined the line of passengers from the business class then headed towards the platform. His previous life experience kicked in, and he skillfully navigated through the crowd, quickly finding his way to his assigned seat based on his ticket in the business-class compartment.

The interior of the compartment was luxurious, with wide seats, a good amount of legroom, the atmosphere was also rather sophisticated which made him feel good.

Before he took his seat, Zastan noticed a young woman sitting across the aisle, she was wearing stylish shades that couldn't quite conceal her striking beauty. Her features were delicate, her skin flawless, and even with the shades, her aura of elegance was undeniable.

She glanced up at him and their eyes met.

Without any hint of timidness he responded with a polite smile. "Good morning," he said, vice voice friendly but respectful.

The young woman returned the smile, and her lips curved gracefully. "Good morning," she replied, her voice was soft and melodious.

Zastan placed his bag in the overhead compartment and took his seat. As he settled in, he couldn't help but feel a bit curious about his elegant fellow passenger. The train then began to move smoothly and gradually sped up.

After a few moments of silence, the woman spoke again. "Heading to Luminae?" she asked, her tone conversational.

"Yes," Zastan replied, turning slightly to face her. "It's my first time. I'm actually moving there for a job."

She raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Really? What kind of job?"

The woman nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Luminae is a wonderful city. I'm sure you'll love it there."

"What about you?" Zastan asked, genuinely curious. "Are you from Luminae?"

She shook her head slightly. "No, just visiting. But I've been there many times because a bestfriend of mine from college lives there."

Zastan smiled, feeling a sense of excitement mixed with nervousness. "I'm looking forward to it. Any recommendations on places to see or things to do?"

The woman tilted her head, considering his question. "There are plenty of places, but I'd recommend starting with the Luminae Central Park. It's a beautiful place, perfect for a relaxing walk or even a jog. And if you're into the nightlife, the downtown area has some of the best bars and clubs."

"Thanks, I'll definitely check those out," Zastan said, appreciating her suggestions. "By the way, I'm Zastan Miles."

"Nice to meet you, Zastan Miles. I'm Elara Hutchinson," she said, extending her hand.

He shook her hand, feeling a connection in the brief moment. "Nice to meet you too, Elara Hutchinson."

Elara found Zastan to be rather interesting. The aura he exuded and his confident demeanor didn't match someone of his age, which intrigued her slightly and prevented her from giving him the could shoulder. There was something she felt about him, something kind of mysterious which made him want to know him more.

As they continued their journey, Zastan closed his eyes slightly and checked the system and saw that the gold's value had now reached over $150,000. His excitement surged, and he had to contain his grin, else he'll look weird for the girl right beside him.

'The possibilities of such an amount of money is rather exhilarating. Now I cant wait to put my plans into action in Luminae.'

...