...

Zastan glanced at the calendar hanging on the wall of his office. The dates were filled with markings and notes about his plans in Luminae, but something else weighed heavily on his mind—his family. He hadn't been home in a while, and though the idea of returning briefly crossed his mind, he quickly dismissed it. The business in Luminae was far from over, and more importantly, going back home could potentially endanger his family. His enemies were far too many, and they wouldn't hesitate to use them as leverage.

He thought briefly about using a disguise, something he could easily purchase from the System Mall. It would allow him to blend in, maybe even visit home without being recognized. But he knew better than to rely solely on that. The disguise might fool the average person, but there was no guarantee that he wouldn't still be investigated by the powerful enemy forces he was now up against. He couldn't take the risk.

Sighing, he picked up his phone and typed a message to his family. After transferring a moderate sum of money—enough to keep them comfortable but not raise suspicion—he sent a text.

"Mom, Dad, I hope you're both doing well. The business I started in Luminae is finally taking off, and I'm making good money. I've sent some funds your way, and this will only grow larger as things progress. Feel free to retire—you don't need to worry about anything financially anymore."

He sat back and closed his eyes, knowing that this message would bring both relief and questions. He hoped they'd trust him enough not to ask too many.

...

An hour later, his phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID—his mother. Zastan smiled wryly, already knowing what was coming. He picked up the call and braced himself.

"Zastan Miles! What in the world are you doing?!" His mother's voice exploded through the phone, loud enough that he winced. "Are you doing something illegal?! There's no way you could make this much money so fast unless you're involved in something dangerous!"

Zastan sighed, holding the phone slightly away from his ear. He had expected compliments or maybe a few concerned questions, but this was full-blown panic.

"Mom, calm down," he said gently. "Take a deep breath, okay? Let's talk this through."

There was a moment of silence on the other end, followed by the sound of his mother exhaling, her breaths slowing. "Alright... I'm listening."

Zastan chose his words carefully, knowing he had to make this explanation as believable as possible without revealing the existence of the system. "I didn't do anything illegal, I promise. It's just that the business I've started here in Luminae is a lot bigger than I initially thought. I'm working with investors, managing multiple ventures at once. It's taken a lot of work and sleepless nights, but it's all legal."

His mother remained silent, clearly not fully convinced yet. Zastan continued, "I've been smart with my money. I bought shares in businesses, invested in real estate, and partnered with some very successful people. They saw potential in what I was doing, so they helped me expand."

His mom's voice was softer now but still edged with concern. "Zastan, I trust you, but this is a lot of money. It's hard to believe you made it so fast."

"I know, it feels sudden," he admitted. "But the world works differently here in Luminae. There's more opportunity. I also got really lucky with a few deals. And, Mom, I'm being careful. I wouldn't risk anything that could get me into trouble."

There was another pause, longer this time. "You're really okay?" she asked, her voice full of the love and worry only a mother could have.

Stolen novel; please report.

"I'm okay," Zastan said, his tone softer. "I'm working hard, but I'm fine. And I just want to make sure you and Dad are comfortable. That's why I'm sending the money. I've got things under control, I promise."

His mother sighed, the tension in her voice easing slightly. "Alright, I believe you. Just... be careful, okay? And if anything goes wrong, you let us know."

"I will, Mom," Zastan said, a smile creeping back onto his face. "I've got everything handled here. Trust me."

"Okay," she said, her voice finally sounding a little more at ease. "Just don't push yourself too hard. We love you, you know that?"

"I know," Zastan replied. "I love you too."

Just as he was about to hang up, his mother's voice stopped him. "Wait a minute, Zastan. Where did that $500,000 come from?" Her tone was more serious now, the kind of tone that let him know she wasn't going to let this go easily. "Even if it's a business, there's no way you made that kind of money in such a short amount of time. You've only been in Luminae for a few months."

Zastan's heart raced for a moment, but he quickly gathered his thoughts. He knew this question would come sooner or later. His mother wasn't someone to be easily convinced when it came to matters like these. She was cautious, protective, and above all, had a sharp sense for things that didn't add up.

"Mom," Zastan started, keeping his voice calm and measured, "I get it. I know $500,000 sounds like a lot—and it is. But I'm running a legitimate business here. It's not just any business, though. I've got a product that's taken off in a way I never expected."

His mother remained silent, but he could sense her skepticism.

"I've started a milk tea franchise called Eternal Enchantment," Zastan continued, his voice now filled with a sense of pride. "It's not just your typical small shop. We've expanded fast because the flavors I've introduced are unique, and people are willing to pay a lot for them. Right now, the brand's growing rapidly. We're setting up retail spaces all over Luminae."

"A milk tea business?" His mother's voice wavered between surprise and confusion. "How does that... How does a milk tea business make this much money?"

Zastan chuckled softly. "Mom, it's not just about the milk tea. It's the branding, the exclusivity, the partnerships I've made. People love it. It's become a trend, and the business is already pulling in some serious profit. I know it sounds crazy, but this is how businesses work here in Luminae. When something hits, it hits big."

There was a pause on the other end of the line, but Zastan could tell his mother was still processing everything.

"If you don't believe me," Zastan added, "you can search it up yourself. Just look up Eternal Enchantment on the internet. You'll probably see information about it, and there might already be news about me as the founder. I've been careful to stay out of the spotlight as much as possible, but I couldn't avoid the attention entirely."

Another silence, this time longer. Then, his mother sighed. "I'll look it up," she said slowly, still sounding uncertain but less accusatory. "I just... I didn't expect you to be doing something like this. You never even mentioned starting a business before."

"I know, Mom," Zastan said, his tone softening. "It all happened so fast. But trust me, this is real. I wouldn't lie to you."

"Okay," his mother finally replied, her voice quieter now. "I'll look it up. Just... be careful, Zastan. I still worry."

"I know you do," Zastan said, smiling. "But I've got this under control. I'll send more updates soon, okay?"

"Alright," she said, though her voice still carried a hint of doubt. "Take care of yourself."

"I will," Zastan promised.

After hanging up, Zastan sighed and set his phone down, but he wasn't quite done yet. His thoughts drifted to his little sister, who still held a grudge against him for leaving without saying goodbye. He knew she was the type to hang onto things, and if he didn't make up for it soon, he'd never hear the end of it.

Smiling to himself, Zastan opened up the System Mall and began browsing for items. He had already asked her what she wanted in their last chat—some luxury items, a specific gaming console, and a few rare collectibles that she had been talking about for more than month ever since he arrived at Luminae. He added each item to the cart and made sure everything was top-tier, sparing no expense. After all, it was a small price to pay for peace with his little sister.

"She's going to love these," Zastan thought, chuckling as he imagined her reaction.

Just as he finished placing the order, his phone buzzed again. It was a text from his mom.

"Okay, I looked it up! Eternal Enchantment is really something... A milk tea business?! I guess you weren't kidding. Your dad can't stop laughing either, we had no idea you were doing all this. But good for you! Just don't forget to take care of yourself out there."

Zastan smiled, relieved to see that his mother's doubts were finally beginning to fade. The text was lighthearted, and it made him feel that he'd crossed a major hurdle in convincing her.

"Of course, Mom. Love you both." He texted back, feeling the tension of the past hour slowly dispersing away.

...