Completing the Missions

[Congratulations! You have completed Mission # 2: Healthy Mind and Body - Taking care of your body is essential for improving mental performance. Commit to a regular exercise routine and follow a healthy diet.]

[Reward: 2,000 System Points.]

Michael read the notification as he wiped off the sweat that lingered on his forehead. Over the course of the next week, Michael had been following the exercise regimen and the dietary programs the system had suggested to him, and it was nice like something was changing within him. Eating healthy foods made him feel more energetic and focused. The exercise sessions, though initially challenging, had become something he looked forward to each day. Not only did he feel physically stronger, but his mind also felt clearer and more alert. 

After his exercise, Michael quickly washed himself off, got dressed, and locked himself in the bedroom. He sat on his desk, where a stack of books with contents in finance and stock trading were neatly arranged. Michael had realized that one potential solution to his funding dilemma for the solar panel project could lie in the world of finance and stock trading. He saw movies like The Wolf of the Wall Street and The Big Short where the main characters earned a huge fortune from stocks.

Armed with the knowledge of investments and stock trading that he easily understood, he dived into the trading app. With a capital of 2,000 pesos. He began 

by trading small, taking cautious steps in the stock market. Michael focused on applying the principles he had learned, analyzing market trends and company performances. Each day, he dedicated a specific amount of time to studying the market, identifying potential stocks, and making calculated decisions.

His efforts soon started to pay off. Michael's ability to spot patterns in the market improved with each passing day. He realized that his analytical skills, honed through his studies in computer science and mathematics, were giving him an edge. He began to make more confident trades, slowly but surely growing his initial capital.

Between his stock trading sessions, Michael continued tutoring Catherine. These sessions had become a routine part of his day, and he found himself enjoying the process of teaching and helping Catherine grasp complex mathematical concepts. Her progress was evident, and Michael felt a sense of accomplishment in being part of her academic journey.

Two weeks had passed, and Michael's brokerage account reflected the fruits of his labor. His balance had grown from the initial 2,000 pesos to an impressive 100,000 pesos. 

Due to that, he kept receiving emails from the app that his trading activities were showing remarkable progress. These emails also included invitations to exclusive webinars and advanced trading resources, acknowledging his potential as an emerging trader. 

However, Michael ignored them. He wanted to remain lowkey in the trading game for a while, especially when the assessment test for the PSME competition is drawing near, which is going to be held tomorrow, November 24, 2023. 

***

November 24, 2023. 

Three o'clock in the afternoon. Michael opened his Messenger app and sent a message to Catherine, informing her that he'll take the assessment exam and he'll arrive at six o'clock in the evening instead of their usual time.

Catherine quickly responded with an encouraging message, wishing him good luck and assuring him that she would use the extra time to review the problems he had assigned her. 

Michael reviewed his notes one last time. The PSME (Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers) competition was a big deal for engineering students like him, and he wanted to make sure he was fully prepared. The test would cover a range of topics in mechanical engineering, requiring both theoretical knowledge and practical application skills.

As he sat at his desk, he waited patiently for his professor to arrive. Five minutes later, Mr. Delgado arrived.

"Good afternoon, sir," Michael greeted.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Reyes. Are you ready for the assessment?" Delgado asked. 

"I am sir," Reyes replied confidently. 

"Very well, this test will take two hours. So have you informed the restaurant you've been working at about this?"

Michael shook his head. "There's no need as I have already quit my job and found another."

"Hmm, new work," Delgado mused. "Well, the same rules apply when we are having a major exam. Only ball pens and scientific calculators are allowed. Bags must be placed at the front with your cell phone inside it."

Michael obliged the rules, putting his backpack in front, and returned to his seat with a calculator and ballpen. Delgado handed him the test paper and Michael began.

The first thing he noticed was that the question looked harder than the major exams, but having read a lot of thermodynamics books, this was easy for him. His pen moved fluidly as he solved each problem, and Delgado watched him from his desk.

Forty-five minutes later, Michael sat his pen down. "I'm done."

Delgado looked up at his cellphone, his eyes widened slightly. "You are done?" 

"Yes sir," Michael rose to his feet and handed him his answer sheet. 

Delgado's eyes narrowed as he examined Michael's answers. The solutions were different from what he expected, yet they made sense and were mathematically sound. Delgado, an experienced professor, had seen many solutions to these problems, but Michael's approach was unique and advanced.

"You've used methods here that are... unconventional, yet they're correct," Delgado remarked, looking up at Michael.

Michael simply nodded, "I've been studying a lot, sir. I try to look at problems from different perspectives."

Delgado continued to scrutinize the answer sheet. "I see you've applied some advanced concepts that we haven't covered in class yet. Or will be covered in advanced years? Where did you learn these methods?"

"I've been reading a lot of advanced textbooks and applying what I learn to different problems," Michael explained.

Delgado nodded thoughtfully. "Impressive. It's clear you've gone beyond the standard curriculum."

The professor took a moment more to review the paper, then looked back up at Michael. "Well, Mr. Reyes, it seems you've aced this test. I'm eager to see how you'll perform in the actual competition."

"Thank you, sir. I appreciate the opportunity," Michael replied, feeling a sense of achievement.

As Michael gathered his things to leave, Delgado added, "Keep up this level of work, and you'll go far, not just in the competition, but in your engineering career. Anyways, the competition will be held on December 12th, 2023. You'll meet your team next week."

"I look forward to it," Michael said and left the classroom.

***

As Michael headed to the main exit of the school, the system notification popped up. 

[Congratulations! You have completed mission Mission # 1: Preparation for the PSME competition: You must pass the assessment test given to you by your professor in thermodynamics without using the system's abilities]

[Reward: 5,000 System Points and 1x Neuroenhancer Drug] 

[Current System Points: 32,050.] 

Michael opened his inventory, checked the Neuroenhancer Drug, and wondered what he could do with it.