Urban System in America-Chapter 95 - 94: Bloody Taxes

So, he just randomly chose one from the new ones he had bought previously.

He wanted to go shopping, but he was absolutely broke right now. His bank balance could probably make a grown man cry. And since he could get the money tomorrow, he had to postpone it. Anyway, it was about time he indulged a little and gave himself a reward for working so hard. Otherwise, what’s the use of working so hard?

Exhausted, his body finally gave up. He felt a deep weariness in his bones and an overwhelming wave of sleepiness washing over him. So, he crashed onto the bed, pulled the blanket halfway over himself, and closed his eyes. It wasn’t long before the world faded and he drifted into a peaceful slumber.

Soon, he was in the valley of dreams.

Agh! He woke up feeling super refreshed and energized. It was the kind of sleep that made you feel reborn. He didn’t know how long he had slept, but he could swear this was one of the most satisfying nights of sleep he had ever experienced.

Suddenly, without warning, a system interface popped up before his eyes.

Ding!

[Daily sign-in is available!]

[Claim now]

Seeing this, his sleepiness vanished in an instant. He immediately sat up, blinking, and was about to claim it, But then he noticed something odd—sunlight was pouring into the room through the curtains. He paused, blinking at the golden light filtering through.

Confused, he turned his head to the side and looked out the window. The sun was shining brightly in the sky. Birds chirped in the distance, and the neighborhood looked alive with the buzz of daytime activity.

"Huh?" he muttered aloud, tilting his head in confusion. "Isn’t it midnight? Why is the sun already up?" he asked himself groggily, still dazed from waking up.

He reached for his phone on the nightstand and checked the time.

11:28 AM. Wednesday.

Seeing the time, he instinctively pulled the phone closer to his face and squinted his blurry eyes to double-check, But it was still the same—11:28 AM.

And just like that, the fog in his mind cleared instantly. His grogginess evaporated as realization dawned on him. He bolted upright, kicking off the blanket, and rushed to the window.

Outside, it was a calm and beautiful day. A cool breeze rustled the trees, the sky was a brilliant shade of blue, and the sunshine warmed the earth with a golden hue.

Then it hit him like a truck—he had probably slept from the previous evening all the way through the night and well into the next day.

He was speechless.

"It seems like I was more tired from the past few days than I realized," he muttered helplessly.

But looking at the system interface hovering in front of him, patiently displaying the sign-in notification.

Raising an eyebrow, he clicked on "Claim," and a reward immediately appeared in front of him.

[Congratulations! You have received: Ultra Protection Sunscreen.]

[Description: Just use a pea-sized amount and forget what sun damage even is.]

Looking at the reward, he didn’t feel much surprise. He had already expected something like this after receiving last time’s sign-in bonus. With a slight shrug, he opened the system mall out of curiosity.

Today’s item on sale was a 24-Hour Water Bottle, priced at just ten dollars. Honestly, that was quite cheap, considering you wouldn’t have to worry about dehydration for an entire day after drinking it.

Especially compared to the ridiculous luxury water bottles in real life—some of which could cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars—this was a steal.

So, he bought it and threw in system warehouse.

Still, he was a bit surprised that he could sign in even the next day—not just at midnight like he usually did. . That was new. Maybe the system was more flexible than he thought. It seemed like he’d have to experiment with the system more.

Closing the system interface, he stretched his arms lazily. A comfortable moan escaped his mouth before he could stop it.

"Ahem." He cleared his throat and coughed to cover it up. Embarrassed, he got out of bed and headed to the bathroom to freshen up.

After splashing cold water on his face and brushing his teeth, he felt a hundred times more alive. His stomach growled loudly in protest, reminding him that he hadn’t eaten since yesterday afternoon. No dinner, no breakfast. No wonder he felt like he could devour an entire cow.

After that, he went straight down to the kitchen—On the way, he pondered what to make but couldn’t decide. So, he stopped thinking and went with a classic American breakfast.

Downstairs, the house was unusually quiet. No one was in the living room. He didn’t think much of it. and went straight to the kitchen and got busy.

Soon, the air was filled with the tantalizing aroma of sizzling bacon, crisping to a perfect golden brown in the cast-iron skillet. Its smoky richness mingled with the warmth of freshly toasted whole-grain bread, ready to cradle layers of vibrant veggies—crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, creamy avocado slices—all stacked into a wholesome sandwich.

Beside it, a duo of eggs—edges lightly crisped, yolks shimmering like molten gold—rested on the plate, offering both comfort and sustenance. A tall glass of freshly squeezed orange juice stood proudly next to the spread, its tangy sweetness the perfect counterbalance to the savory delights.

Sunlight filtered through the windows, illuminating the quiet hum of the morning—an invitation to indulge in the simple pleasures of a well-crafted breakfast.

Looking proudly at his work of art, he couldn’t help but give himself a nod of appreciation. "Now this is what we call a breakfast."

He sat down and began eating, savoring every bite with slow, deliberate enjoyment.

The crispness of the bacon crackled between his teeth, the smoky saltiness melting into the rich layers of avocado and tomato in his sandwich. He paused between bites, relishing the warmth of the fried eggs—perfectly runny yolks creating silky rivers over his toast.

A sip of orange juice washed it all down, its bright citrus tang waking up his senses. He let out a satisfied sigh, leaning back in his chair, basking in the quiet joy of a well-prepared breakfast—a peaceful moment of indulgence before the day’s chaos began.

Just then, the sharp chime of his phone shattered the peaceful atmosphere. The screen lit up with a notification. He instinctively reached for the device and unlocked it.

His eyes scanned the screen, the crisp white text glowing brightly:

[Notification]

You’ve received $10,199,878.000 in your account.

Acct No: 1934-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX

Txn ID: TXZ#87256ZM...

Your balance has been updated. Thank you for banking with us.

The numbers jumped off the screen like a thunderclap. A jolt of electricity shot through his body. His fingers tightened around the phone. His heartbeat quickened, and his lips curled into a slow, incredulous grin—growing wider with each passing second as the reality sank in.

His pulse pounded in his ears, a steady rhythm that matched the rush of disbelief and euphoria swirling in his chest. His breathing grew shallow, and the room seemed to fade as the only thing he could focus on were those zeroes. That comma. That number.

Ten. Million. Dollars.

He now had ten million dollars—and all earned by him. novelbuddy.cσ๓

His mind whirled at the possibilities. The life upgrades. The freedom. The future.

But the moment didn’t last long.

Because suddenly, he felt a deep ache in his heart, brain, and soul. And his grin faltered.

Because he remembered.

Taxes.

Bloody Taxes.

(End of Chapter)