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“I wouldn’t believe you!” Sean shook his head, the disbelief evident in his voice.
He’d rather believe that Carlisle had some kind of psychic ability than entertain the idea of him being a time traveler. Metaphysics and mythology were two very different things, after all.
Carlisle had previously added a player who taught him how to navigate The Mystical Journey at the internet cafe. His username was The Sly Knight.
Suddenly, a notification popped up on the game interface. Carlisle clicked on it, revealing a message from The Sly Knight.
The Sly Knight: “It’s been a while since you last came to the internet cafe!”
Carlisle smiled faintly as he typed his reply: “I’ve been in Riverland studying.”
The Sly Knight: “You’re a university student?”
Carlisle: “Yep!”
The Sly Knight: “If you don’t mind me asking, could you lend me a hundred dollars?”
Carlisle paused, raising an eyebrow. That’s odd, he thought, but he replied anyway. “Have you run into some kind of trouble?”
The Sly Knight: “My sister broke her leg… I’ve sold everything I could in the game to help pay for the surgery, but I’m still short on funds. I’ve already borrowed from everyone I know. I’m really at the end of my rope.”
Sean, who had been idly watching, squinted at the screen. His voice came out sharp. “Carlisle, you can’t be serious. If his sister really needs surgery, how could he still be online?”
Carlisle glanced at Sean, his expression thoughtful. He wasn’t so sure about this. It does seem suspicious, but he had a feeling it wasn’t a scam. He continued typing. “How much more do you need?”
The Sly Knight: “Five hundred dollars…”
Sean’s eyes widened as he overheard the conversation. “Carl, you can’t be thinking of giving him that much money, right? Five hundred dollars is a month’s salary for most people!”
Sean was clearly starting to panic. He reached out, his hand hovering over the computer’s power button, but Carlisle swatted it away, his tone calm but firm. “Better to be safe than sorry. If something happens to his sister, and I didn’t help because of five hundred dollars, I’d never forgive myself.”
Sean couldn’t contain his frustration. “Do you even know this guy? There are so many people who need help! You can’t just play the philanthropist to everyone who asks for money. You’re not a walking ATM!”
Carlisle shook his head, his mind made up. “You don’t get it, Sean. I’ve been where he is. If there’s a chance I can help, even if it’s just a small part of the solution, I’m going to do it.”
Sean opened his mouth to argue, but the look in Carlisle’s eyes stopped him. With a deep sigh, he finally muttered, “Do whatever you want.”
Carlisle took a deep breath and picked up his phone. He dialed the number of the internet cafe’s owner, Ivan Sanders.
“Mr. Sanders, it’s Carlisle,” he said, his voice steady.
Ivan, who had been quietly smoking on the other end, nearly dropped his cigarette. “Carlisle? What’s up? Everything okay?”
Carlisle hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to frame his request. What if this backfires? But there was no turning back now. “Mr. Sanders, could you lend me five hundred dollars? I’ll transfer it to you tomorrow once the bank opens.”
Ivan was taken aback. “Five hundred? That’s quite a bit. Why not just get a loan from the bank?”
“The bank’s closed,” Carlisle replied. “I really need this help right now.”
Ivan let out a sigh of relief. The Heavenly Sword he’d sold had made him a lot of money, so he wasn’t as concerned about the amount. “Alright, no problem. I’ll transfer it to you when you send me your details.”
Carlisle felt a wave of gratitude. “Thank you so much, Mr. Sanders. I’ll make sure to pay you back as soon as possible.”
After ending the call, Carlisle quickly messaged The Sly Knight. “Where are you? I’ll bring the money.”
The Sly Knight: “I’m on the first floor, booth number eight.”
Carlisle turned to Ivan. “I’ve already spoken to The Sly Knight. His sister’s condition is pretty serious.”
Ivan nodded, clearly moved by Carlisle’s willingness to help. “Carlisle, you’re a good person. In that case, I’ll add an additional five hundred dollars from my side. It’s the least I can do.”
Carlisle’s eyes widened in surprise. “Thank you, Mr. Sanders. That’s incredibly generous.”
Ivan smiled faintly. “No need to thank me. You’re doing the right thing.”
Carlisle hung up and headed for the door. As he made his way to the cafe, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t just about money—it was about more than that. He had a gut feeling that this situation was somehow connected to the bigger picture, something far deeper than he could understand right now.
