Systems Made me Lord of the City

Oopsie. The Pasts Don't Stay Gone

Chapter 09

The café doors hadn’t even closed behind Evelyn when a tall man stepped forward.

He was well-dressed. Navy suit, polished shoes, expensive watch. He put an arm around Evelyn’s waist and pulled her close.

“Is this the beggar you once wasted your time on?” he said. His voice was calm and full of himself. “Pathetic.”

Evelyn still looked embarrassed from earlier, but she straightened up and held onto him. “Adrian, this is Joshua, My fiancé. Unlike you, he belongs here.”

She said it loud enough for the whole café to hear.

A few people laughed. The crowd was ready for more drama.

Joshua smirked and kept his hand on her. “Do yourself a favor, Black. Leave before you embarrass yourself more.”

Adrian set his coffee cup down and stood up. He looked at Joshua with a bored face.

“Embarrass myself?” he said. “You’re the one holding onto a woman who needs to bring up her past just to feel important.”

The café went quiet.

Evelyn’s face turned pale. Her nails dug into Joshua’s arm.

Marcus’s expression hardened. “Do you have any idea who I am?”

Adrian answered simply. “No. Which means you’re not worth knowing.”

Silence filled the room.

Joshua gestured with one hand. Two large bodyguards in black suits stepped forward from near the door.

“Teach him some respect,” he said.

People shifted back. Chairs scraped. Glasses clinked.

Adrian stayed still. His heart beat faster, but he didn’t look away from Marcus.

Then the system spoke in his head.

[New Task Generated: Defeat opponents stronger than you.]

[Reward: Power Surge (Temporary)]

[Risk: Death.]

His pulse kicked harder but he still hurt from the ambush the night before. One bad hit and he might not get back up.

But he wasn’t going to back down.

The first guard came at him fast and his fist swung toward his head. Adrian ducked, but the blow still grazed his jaw. Pain shot through his face. He stumbled and caught himself on a table. Blood filled his mouth.

The system spoke again.

[Timer: 2:00]

Adrian wiped the blood from his lip. Two minutes.

The first guard came again. Adrian ducked low, drove his shoulder into the man’s gut, and they both crashed into a table. Plates and cups smashed across the floor.

People gasped. Someone started recording on their phone.

Before Adrian could catch his breath, the second guard grabbed him by the throat and lifted him off the ground. Thick fingers dug into his neck. His vision started to darken.

Then the system hit hard.

[Power Surge Activated. Strength +2, Speed +2 for 90 seconds.]

Suddenly, his muscles felt stronger and everything around him was more focused. Almost like his entire vision had gotten better.

Adrian drove his knee into the guard’s ribs once, then again. The grip loosened. He twisted free, grabbed the man’s arm, and threw him over his shoulder. The guard hit the floor hard.

The first guard tried to get up. Adrian turned and kicked him solidly in the chest. The man flew back into a glass display case. Glass shattered and scattered across the floor.

The café went completely still.

Adrian stood in the middle of the mess, breathing hard, one hand pressed to his side where blood had soaked through his shirt. He looked up at Joshua.

Joshua’s smirk was gone.

Adrian’s voice stayed calm. “Next time, bring more people.”

Joshua’s face twisted with anger. Evelyn held onto his arm tighter. She looked scared now. The way Adrian looked at them was different from the man she used to know.

The system spoke again.

[Task Complete: Victory Against the Odds.]

[Reward Granted — Reflex Enhancement Lv.1.]

Joshua tried to say something but stopped.

Adrian walked back to the counter, picked up his cup, and took a slow sip like nothing had happened. The coffee was bitter and grounded him.

He looked at Evelyn one last time. “I don’t remember the man I used to be. But you’ll remember the one I’ve become.”

Evelyn didn’t move.

Adrian set the empty cup down, picked up his briefcase, and walked toward the door.

As he passed Joshua, he brushed his shoulders slightly xvd stopped for half a second.

“One day,” he said quietly, “I’ll remember everything. And when I do, I’ll come for you.”

Then he walked out.

The doors closed behind him and he knew he'd just left a room full of people who wouldn’t forget his name anytime soon.

Outside, the morning light hit the street. The air felt cooler.

The system spoke once more.

[New Objective: Establish Dominance]

[Phase 2 Progression Unlocked.]

Adrian adjusted his collar and kept walking.

Somewhere deep in his mind, a short memory flashed through his head so fast he almost could swear it never happened.

He blinked, but then it was already gone.