The phone buzzed again, and Darren quickly glanced at the screen — another notification from the system.
[Bank Balance Update: £3,875,200]
He exhaled deeply. The balance was growing steadily, and every time he checked, the numbers seemed to climb a little higher — proof that his strategy was paying off.
That morning, Darren met with the real estate agent to negotiate the price on the three-bedroom house with the pool.
The asking price was high, but Darren was determined to keep things within budget.
"Given the market and some minor repairs needed, I think there's room to negotiate," the agent said, scanning his notes.
Darren smiled, activating the system's Negotiation Assistant quietly in his mind.
[Negotiation Assistant Active — Confidence +15%, Persuasion +10%]
"I'm prepared to offer £420,000," Darren said steadily. "With the repairs we'll need, it's a fair price."
The agent hesitated, then nodded.
"I'll present your offer. Don't get your hopes up, but it's reasonable."
Over the next days, Darren found himself constantly checking his bank balance — not out of greed, but from the hope that each system bonus, each rebate, was bringing his family closer to a new beginning.
[Bank Balance Update: £4,100,750]
[Expenditure Multiplier Activated: 300x]
[Bonus Credit: +£900,000]
Finally, the agent called.
"Your offer's been accepted. Congratulations, Darren."
A wave of relief washed over him.
Now came the planning.
Darren, his mother, and sister spent evenings drawing out ideas for renovations — a bigger kitchen, a sunlit living room, and of course, landscaping around the pool.
He also consulted the system for estimates.
[System Recommendation: Allocate £50,000 for initial renovations, focusing on security upgrades and energy efficiency.]
Despite the success, Darren knew to keep his guard up. Business was never far from his mind, and the rival faction wouldn't sit idle.
Before bed, Darren checked his bank balance one last time:
[Bank Balance: £4,250,000]
He smiled, thinking about the new home slowly becoming a reality — a safe haven for his family.