...

Natalia blinked, snapping out of her reverie, and nodded quickly. "Y-Yes, of course," she said, falling into step beside Zastan as Darius led them into the grand entrance of the mansion.

As they toured the sprawling estate, Natalia could hardly keep her eyes off the luxurious details. Everything around her felt like a dream. The marble floors gleamed under the soft lighting, the grand chandeliers hung like sparkling jewels from the ceilings, and the walls were adorned with fine art that must have cost a fortune. Every room they entered seemed to outdo the last, lavish living spaces with plush furniture, private studies lined with bookshelves, and even a grand ballroom that seemed far too large for casual gatherings.

Natalia's eyes were wide as she took it all in, her mind racing to keep up with the sheer scale of Zastan's wealth. "This place is... incredible," she murmured, more to herself than to anyone else.

Zastan, walking beside her, smiled but said nothing, letting her soak in the grandeur of the mansion.

As they moved through the halls, Natalia couldn't help but notice something else. There were staff everywhere. At first, she had assumed they were housekeepers, but these people were different. They were dressed in black suits, moving in and out of the rooms with quiet efficiency, almost like shadows. They didn't seem to notice her, but she certainly noticed them. There were so many of them, patrolling the mansion, keeping a careful watch.

Why does Zastan need this much security? she wondered. Natalia's curiosity about Zastan's true identity deepened. She had known he was wealthy, but this level of security seemed excessive, as if he was guarding something or someone rather extremely important.

Despite her curiosity, she couldn't ask anything openly. Darius, who was guiding them through the mansion, had a way of subtly steering them away from certain areas. Natalia noticed that while they toured most of the mansion, there were rooms they didn't enter, areas that were off-limits to her. She assumed those hidden places contained whatever Zastan didn't want her to see that certainly she had no business knowing about.

By the time they finished the tour, Natalia's head was spinning. "There's more security here than I've ever seen in one place," she thought to herself, still marveling at Zastan's need for such intense protection.

...

Night had fallen, and Natalia and Zastan sat across from each other at a large dining table in one of the mansion's many rooms. The table was lavishly set, overflowing with food that seemed fit for a banquet. The delicately roasted meats, trays of fresh fruits and vegetables, silver platters piled high with steaming dishes. The soft clinking of silverware and the faint sounds of classical music playing in the background filled the room.

Natalia had never seen a meal like this before, and she ate quietly, trying to maintain her composure in the midst of such luxury. Zastan, on the other hand, was relaxed, casually picking at his food as if this kind of feast was an everyday occurrence for him.

After finishing her meal, Natalia glanced down at her watch, realizing how late it had gotten. "I should probably go," she said, her voice polite but hesitant. "It's already dark, and I don't want to bother you while you rest."

Zastan waved his hand dismissively, his tone reassuring. "It's no bother. You can just stay here for the night."

Natalia's cheeks flushed slightly at his words, and for a brief moment, her mind raced. Stay here? Isn't that a bit... early? She couldn't help but think about the implications, wondering if Zastan meant something more than just sleeping.

But before she could let her thoughts spiral further, Zastan noticed her reaction and smiled knowingly. "There are plenty of rooms here, Natalia. Upstairs, there's a whole wing of guest rooms. You can freely choose whichever one you like. You might be staying here multiple times during your working hours, especially on late nights like this."

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Natalia blinked, her cheeks still warm with embarrassment, but she quickly nodded, relieved that Zastan hadn't meant anything inappropriate. "O-Of course," she said, clearing her throat. "That makes sense. I understand."

Zastan leaned back in his chair, pleased with her response. "I can't guarantee that your working hours will always end early. Sometimes, you'll need to stay here to help with things late into the night. But don't worry, you'll always have a place to rest."

Natalia smiled, feeling more at ease. "Thank you. I appreciate that."

Zastan returned the smile, his tone gentle but firm. "And if you ever have any problems. Whether with the work, the schedule, or anything else. Just let me know. We'll figure it out together."

Natalia nodded again, her mind already adjusting to this new life. "I will. Thank you, Zastan."

...

As Zastan watched Natalia head upstairs to find a room, he settled into the quiet of the night and pulled up his system stats. The familiar holographic screen appeared before his eyes, the numbers and details reflecting his progress thus far.

Name: Zastan Miles

Level: 2 (94,394,058 / 100,000,000)

Age: 18

Balance: $489,305

Stats:

Strength: 13

Agility: 9

Intelligence: 7 (5 is the average for humans)

Points: 47,823

Miner Points: 20,000

Seeing the stats, Zastan smiled to himself and muttered, "Finally."

He was only a few million points away from leveling up to Level 3. Tomorrow, he would reach that milestone and, if his assumptions were correct, possibly unlock a new function in the system. Each level-up had granted him new abilities, and the anticipation of what awaited him next made his pulse quicken.

With a satisfied grin, Zastan swiped away the stat screen and opened the "Miners" section of his system. He first checked on his iron miner.

[Production: 740g/sec]

This steady production of iron allowed him to produce 30,000 metal rods per day. However, the costs associated with getting this production up to where he needed it—100,000 rods a day—were staggering. It would require $37,000,000 to reach that level of efficiency.

"That's going to take forever," Zastan muttered to himself, calculating the time and resources he'd need to accumulate that amount of money. He didn't have that kind of time to wait.

After a moment of contemplation, he decided it was time to use the Miner Points he had saved up. It was the most efficient way to speed up production without draining his finances further.

Zastan navigated to the upgrade section and used a large portion of his Miner Points to boost the iron miner's output.

[Production: 2.22kg/sec]

The screen updated, showing the enhanced stats of his iron mine:

Iron Mine (Level 1 - 0/10,000):

Production: 200%

Speed: 0%

Conversion: -0%

The upgrade drastically improved his iron production rate. Now, instead of producing a mere 740 grams per second, the mine was churning out 2.22 kilograms every second. This upgrade would significantly cut down the time needed to meet his daily rod production goals. The Miner Points had been well spent in his opinion.

"That's more like it," Zastan muttered with a smirk, satisfied with the jump in efficiency. He knew the investment would pay off in the long run, especially with the increasing demand for materials.

He leaned back in his chair, allowing the sense of accomplishment to settle over him. For now, everything seemed to be falling into place. His new mansion was secured, his operations were scaling up, and tomorrow he'd level up in the system, unlocking even more potential.

Zastan glanced at the darkened windows, the night outside quiet and still. A calm had settled over the mansion, broken only by the faint hum of the automated security systems and the occasional footsteps of his MK3 Biochemicals patrolling the property. Everything was under control.

After spending some time tinkering with the system, Zastan double-checked all the essentials. His production rates were stable, the resources were being properly allocated, and there were no glaring issues that needed immediate attention. He had pushed his iron miner to the next level, giving him a solid foundation for future growth, and his finances were secure enough for now. The miners were doing their job and that he could leave things running smoothly for the time being.

He opened the system dashboard one last time, scrolling through the various tabs to ensure there were no outstanding tasks. Each section flickered with glowing statistics, all of them looking as they should. His points, his balance, his production... everything was where it needed to be. Satisfied, Zastan finally closed the interface with a sharp flick of his fingers, watching as the holographic screen vanished before his eyes.

The room around him felt different now. Zastan exhaled deeply, letting go of the tension he hadn't realized he'd been carrying throughout the day.

The mansion's soft, ambient lighting cast a warm glow around him, creating an atmosphere that was both peaceful and luxurious. He glanced around the grand office, admiring the beauty of his new home like the polished wooden floors, the towering bookshelves, the fine artwork that adorned the walls. It was hard to believe that this place was now his, a fortress of security and luxury. Everything he had built up until now felt like it was finally taking shape.

Zastan stood up from his chair, stretching his arms as he walked toward the window. He looked out at the vast expanse of the estate, the beautifully maintained gardens illuminated by the soft glow of the outdoor lights.

...