Unexpected call

Mark initially doubted that this was the number he remembered, but he had noticed that his memory was much better than before after increasing his <Mind>. He could rethink back memories much more straightforwardly, which rarely occurred without him focusing on them.

He also wondered how she could have made that call, as he didn't know the phone number himself.

"Truck-kun, did you somehow use my standard phone number? "

"Of course I did. It is connected with you in the end. "

Mark had a phone in the past but had to sell it a few weeks ago, but technically the number was still under his name, but there wasn't any bill he had to buy for it. He took a deep breath as he pressed the green button on the phone to accept the call.

"Hello? "Mask asked as he waited to see if the one who called him was his mother.

The chances were great as he had a good relationship with her, and she seemed to be one of the few people to be sad that he got exiled, even if she didn't do something against it.

"Mark. Is that really you? "he heard a female voice through the speakers.

It was unmistakably his mother's voice, even if he hadn't talked with her for a couple of years. He could hear that there was some worry lifted as she continued talking.

"Why did you decide to call me now? "

Mark tried to keep his voice as neutral as possible, which wasn't that hard. Even if she didn't want him to get exiled, doing nothing to stop it from happening was enough for Mark not to care for her anymore. It wasn't like he didn't consider her like his mother anymore, but their relationship would be as distant as always, which was what the family wanted either way.

The reason for doing so wasn't because of anger but love. If his father or others knew she was trying to help him, she could get exiled herself, although her case wouldn't be as easy. Moreover, she was an experienced scientist, while his father was great at counseling and business, making them the perfect couple for the family.

"I…I heard you were in hospital not that long ago. I... I wanted to…."

But before she could finish her sentence, Mark interrupted her.

"I am ok, but I don't see why a stranger would be interested in something like that. Is there anything else I can help with? I have plans with people from work, so I can't stay on the phone like that for long. "

Mark mentioned those things to end this call as soon as possible and tell her how he was doing without the need to usually discuss it. He was confident that it wouldn't take long for her to learn about his new job if she wanted.

He heard his mother sighing on the other side of the call for a moment, as it seemed she was happy to hear that he was good. Especially since Mark wasn't lying technically lying, as his mother could always read him.

"Then I guess I have to end our call. But please take care of yourself, my li… Mark. "

A slight smile appeared on Mark's face as he noticed his mother almost calling him 'little boy," which she used to do when he was younger. Even if it was something awkward to hear others calling him, especially if that someone was his mother, his mind got filled with many memories of his mother's past when he was younger.

The call ended, and Mark put the phone at the side as he got his <Iron Cauldron> back to his [Inventory] and started going outside. It was still quite early in the day, and he needed to go to Odonta's Main Hospital to take care of his bill there. They hadn't given him a bank account or another way to make a transaction through his bank, so he needed to go there to make the payment.

He could call them to get them what he needed to do that online, but he had another reason to get back there. He also wanted a new vehicle but didn't know if he should get another truck.

Even if it was a borrowed truck this time, which meant he wouldn't use them all the time, it wasn't unusual to happen from what he had heard from other people. So he decided to save until he had enough to get a truck like that for himself, but first, he wanted to discuss with Rube.

He went to the apartment across his, and it seemed like the movers had finished bringing all the things from the truck.

"Hey, neighbor. Came for a coffee? I have to disappoint you, though, as I still haven't unpacked the coffee machine, "Rube said as he saw Mark entering the apartment since the door was still open.

"I just wanted to ask some questions. I have some external businesses to take care of, but we can have that coffee later. "

Even if Rube had crept Mark quite a few times, he didn't dislike that person. Although sometimes, in that short time he knew him, Mark was beware of the personality and Rube's personal preferences.

"Ask away then. Also, congratulations on completing your first assignment. "

"Thanks. I just wondered if, in the future, I could continue using one truck like the one I took yesterday? Or is there a way to buy one of them? "

Rubes looked at him with a confused look.

"Is the wage not enough? It should be enough for you to not need to get any outside contracts, right? "

The response confused Mark too, but then he had a thought.

"Wait… do I get to use one of your trucks for your deliveries either way? "

"But of course. Every signed driver of ours is driving them, as it is an extra safety measure on our part. "

Mark knew that some companies were doing something similar, but it wasn't the case for all of them. Most just hired drivers with trucks to use to lessen their cost, but if Bellot's were as big as he thought, it made sense to make that kind of offer.

But to tell the truth, Mark thought this was the case because of Erinne. When he first got the assignment, she mentioned him losing his truck and that he would just borrow the truck.

"It sounds just like Miss Erinne for not informing you about it. Don't mind her; she is the Ice Empress for a reason. Anything else I can help you with? "

Mark shook his head in response as he had nothing to ask that he couldn't ask later. After all, they had planned to meet later for some coffee, and unless they called him about a delivery, he should be free to do so.

They had both his email and the phone number he had given him the previous time they hired him. In addition, they had both his phone number at his apartment his mobile number, as he didn't have the time and money to spend to make new cards without his mobile number.

Luckily they hadn't used it before, but if they did now, he could answer back, as he found out just a few moments ago.

Mark said his goodbyes for now to Rube as he headed to the train station to go to Odonta's Main Hospital to take care of at least one of his debts. Even if it wasn't unusual for him to owe people some money, as he kept lacking funds now and then, he always preferred to pay them back the sooner as possible.

One time, he didn't eat for three weeks to save enough money to pay one of his owned rent. It was a rough month back then, as he couldn't find a decent delivery job for almost a month.

That was why he wanted to get stronger to prevent accidents like the last one and keep his current job. Of course, others could have considered using their abilities to do something else that could even involve dominating the world, but that wasn't in his nature.

He wasn't a hero, but he wasn't a villain either. He wasn't too bright but wouldn't be considered a moron, at least academically. His luck was average to bad, but he had the will to keep going.

Also, Mark enjoyed driving his truck around, as even if it wasn't a grand adventure or something, and he didn't get to move between countries or anything, traveling was always fun. But now that he had those new abilities, he had a new focus on his life, but driving was still at the center of his heart.

After all, he was Mark, the Truck System holder.