World Domination Begins With Getting a System in a Modern World Chapter 10: Going To See Ralph

The weight of what Leslie had told him earlier still pressed down on his shoulders, an invisible burden that he couldn't shake off.

They were going to lose the house.

That thought alone was enough to send his brain into overdrive, scrambling for solutions.

He needed to complete the mission as soon as possible, but more than that, he needed rebate-eligible money.

Without it, the cash he had on hand would beco useless the mont the rebate was applied on it.

It wasn't just about earning money. It was about making sure that every dollar he spent worked in his favor.

The 10x rebate was his biggest advantage, but at the sa ti, it was also his biggest limitation. If he mismanaged his spending, he would run out of money before even realizing it.

He had to be smart.

His first instinct was to look for more repair jobs, but after today's failure, he realized that thod wouldn't get him enough money fast enough. He needed sothing bigger, sothing more substantial.

"Is there really no way for to make so quick substantial money without taking an equivalent amount of risk?" he muttered under his breath, tapping his fingers against the wooden surface of the kitchen countertop.

Jas initially didn't want to rush things, but with Patty on the verge of losing her job and the mortgage paynts piling up, he didn't have the luxury of ti.

Gambling, stocks, and crypto were the only real options that ca to mind. They are thods that promised fast money but carried just as much risk.

He had sworn off those things after his last failed attempt, but now, it seed like he might not have a choice.

He exhaled sharply, pushing the thoughts aside for now. Maybe if he let his mind rest, a better idea would co to him.

But for now, food.

He quickly went to the fridge and whipped up sothing to eat from the leftover of last night's food.

As Jas heated up the food, he was reminded him of simpler tis, when all he had to worry about was getting through school and helping out at ho.

He set his plate on the table and had barely taken his first bite when Leslie's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Jim, guess who called when you ca back yesterday?" she asked, a teasing smile playing on her lips.

Jas sighed, already knowing that she wasn't going to give him a straight answer.

"Who?" he asked, not bothering to look up from his plate.

"Why don't you take a guess?"

Jas glanced up at her, already seeing where this was going. Leslie loved playing gas like this, but he wasn't in the mood.

"You know I'm terrible at your guessing gas, so just tell ," he said, flashing her a smile that was anything but amused, and said,

"Stop teasing unless you want to beat you into a pulp."

Leslie's teasing smile faltered for a second before she coughed, pretending to compose herself.

"Alright, alright, I'll stop," she said, waving a hand. "It was Natasha. She called saying she needed help with the new PC her brother got her."

Jas groaned audibly, putting his fork down and sighing.

"Natasha? What does she want this ti? Why can't she just leave alone?"

Leslie giggled, resting her chin on her palm.

"She likes you, dummy. That much is obvious. She's just trying to find an excuse to spend ti with you. Why not give her a chance? She's nice and sweet," she said with a teasing smirk.

Jas shot her a look, one that wiped the smirk right off her face.

"No."

"You're so cold," Leslie huffed, crossing her arms. "Natasha's been crushing on you for years. You could at least acknowledge her feelings instead of acting like she's a nuisance."

Jas shook his head, blocking out the conversation entirely. Natasha was the least of his concerns right now.

Back to his money issue, he thought about applying for a temporary job, but that would take too long. Selling sothing valuable? He barely owned anything worth real money. Loans were out of the question. He needed sothing that paid fast.

But then, a thought struck him.

Natasha's brother. Ralph.

How could he had forgotten?

Ralph was well-versed in gambling, crypto, and all the risky ways of making money. He wasn't exactly a pro, but he knew enough. More than Jas did, at least.

Jas had once been foolish enough to take advice from Ralph, which had led to him losing over $3,000 trying to invest in coins. And this was right before he got into college.

But to be fair, Ralph had warned him about the risks. He had even suggested so safer investnts, but Jas, being impatient at the ti, had ignored the advice and gone all in on sothing stupid.

And, well, he had paid the price.

Even so, Ralph knew the ga. If there was a way to make quick, legal money, he might have an idea.

Jas quickly finished his food, washing his plate before grabbing his phone.

He had to see Ralph.

"Hey, I'm heading out. I'll be back later," he told Leslie as he made his way to the door.

Leslie blinked in surprise.

"Wait, where are you going?"

Jas didn't answer as he stepped outside.

Leslie watched him leave, tapping her fingers against her cheek as she narrowed her eyes in suspicion.

"He's going to see Ralph," she muttered to herself.

She sighed, shaking her head with a small smile.

"I really pity Natasha," she said with a chuckle. "She's been suffering from this unrequited love for a long ti. But I don't bla her. That blockhead just doesn't feel anything for her."

She leaned back on the chair, staring at the ceiling.

"Jas really is a ladies' man, huh?" she mused, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

But her smile faded slightly as she thought about what was really going on.

Jas was pushing himself too hard.

She could see it in the way his shoulders tensed when he thought no one was looking, the way he sighed just a little too often, the way he barely reacted to teasing anymore.

He was stressed.

And while Leslie had faith that he would figure sothing out, as he always did. She still couldn't help but worry.

Jas didn't realize it, but she saw everything. And she hated that there was nothing she could do to help.

As the front door clicked shut behind him, leaving the house in silence, Leslie let out a quiet sigh.

She hoped he wouldn't do sothing reckless.

She hoped that, for once, he would let soone else share the burden.

But knowing Jas... That wasn't going to happen.

She wanted to help him. To take away even a fraction of the burden he carried. But what could she do? Nothing. And that was the worst part of all