C2 Skill Enhancement, Experience Gain!
Rollins pretended to ignore her note and called out in his mind, "System."
He remembered that in those novels, the systems could communicate with them and function like an interface from a video game.
However, there was no response from the system at all.
It seemed to be a closed system that did not like communicating with its host.
Thus, Rollins had no choice but to experiment the other functions of the system.
With that, he pulled a math textbook from the drawer below his table.
When the surrounding students saw this, they stared at him, stupified. A genius really was different from a normal student. To think that he was actually reading a math book in an English class.
[Ding! Analyzing High School Junior Junior Martinrtinth Textbook... Junior Junior Martinrtinth Ability: +1, Current Progress 1/10, Current Level: Beginner-level.]
Rollins took out textbooks from other subjects one after another. Every time he flipped through the books, there would be a system notification.
In a short session, his abilities in various subjects had been upgraded to master-level just like his English ability.
With this in mind, he was now confident that as long as he was given one night, he would be able to learn every subject taught in the entire first year of high school.
The corner of Rollins's mouth curled up slightly — he was filled to the brimmed with excitement for the potential of his new abilities. With this system, his life would definitely not be ordinary.
All this time, Persia's eyes were still looking in his direction, and she was not listening to the lecture at all.
However, Rollins still ignored her, making her feel frustrated.
At one point, she even looked in the mirror and began to doubt her own charm.
In the afternoon, after school was over, Rollins packed all the textbooks into his school bag and carried the bulging bag with him as he prepared to go home.
One positive thing of a private high school was the fact that you do not need to study further at night.
The moment he finished packing his backpack, he realized that Persia was staring at him, seeming with intentions of following him. Standing straight up with her head lowered slightly, her teeth bit into her lower lips as her hands were nervously stirring at the corner of her clothes.
Rollins was 1.75 meters while Persia was 1.62 meters. From his particular angle, Persia's snow-white neck could be seen, along with that faint trace of a teenage girl's charm.
Rollins's heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained cold. "Persia, what's the matter? If you have nothing to say, I'll be taking my leave."
Persia raised her head and looked at Rollins with her big, watery eyes. "Rollins, I remember that we happened to take the same path home. Could we walk home together? I also happen to have some questions that I want to ask you."
Rollins let out a sigh. He had asked Persia about this very topic a few days ago, but all he got was a supercilious look.
But now, it was Persia's turn to beg him.
Oh, how the tables have turned...
However, he did not reject Persia and only nodded faintly.
Persia clapped her hands excitedly as she picked up her backpack and walked alongside Rollins.
At the entrance of Hursel High School, Miss Zhang was standing by the gate, waiting for her daughter, Persia, to walk home with her every day.
Seeing Persia's figure in the distance, Miss Zhang immediately waved her hand.
However, when she saw a male student beside Persia, her expression sunk immediately.
The one thing she could not accept the most was Persia falling in love with someone. After all, she was worried that it would end up affecting her studies.
However, when the two figures got closer, Miss Zhang's face twitched slightly after recognizing the boy to be Rollins.
It was clear that she had not yet recovered herself from the event taken place in class previously.
"Mom, I will be walking home with Rollins. I happen to have a few questions to ask him anyway."
Persia let out a giggle while Rollins stood to the side and smiled without saying a word.
"So, that's how it is. If you're together with Rollins, then I'll be much more relieved. Just remember to come home early."
"Don't worry, Mom!"
Looking at the two disappearing figures, Miss Zhang suddenly realized something: "Couldn't she still ask him her questions if the three of us walked home together?"
She then shook her head with a bitter smile. This girl had been complaining at home yesterday about Rollins, but look at her now... It seemed that she could no longer hold her daughter back.
Along the way, Persia kept prying Schroeder hong to her the secret of how he suddenly became so smart.
However, Rollins constantly tried to change the topic and never answered her directly.
Not only did this not anger Persia, but it also made Rollins seem even more mysterious in her mind.
"Rollins... Can I just call you Ah Hong? If I keep calling you by your full name, it'll seem as if we are distant although we are table partners."
"Of course, then I'll also call you Persia in the future."
"Persia... A flower blossoming in the snow... Your name really matches your temperament."
Hearing such explicit words, Persia's face suddenly flushed scarlet red from embarrassment. She then said, "Hmph! How can I have any sort of temperament?"
[Ding! Love Is In the Air... Flirting Skills: +1, Current Progress: 1/10, Current Level: Beginner-level.]
Damn, this skill can also be enhanced?
This system really is amazing!
Although Persia wanted to stay with Rollins for a while longer, the two of them had already arrived at her house. Thus, there was no reason nor excuse for her to continue pestering Rollins.
The moment of bidding farewell to Rollins caused Persia to feel rather disappointed. When she thought of meeting Rollins again the next day, however, a smile reappeared on her face.
"..."
On a Food Street in the East District of Minastol County, there was a small, inconspicuous snack bar called [Midnight Snack].
The door of the snack bar was not very big or grand, and the decorations seemed to have aged along with the bar.
Although it was already dinner time, there weren't many customers in the restaurant.
Rollins walked up to Midnight Snack and shouted in his mind: "I possess the power of the system now. From today onwards, no one can yell at me anymore!"
"Stinking brat! What are you standing there for? Hurry up and get over here to help! "
A high-pitched voice suddenly resounded past Rollins's ears.
Losing his previous vigor, Rollins walked into the store with his head lowered and said with an aloof tone, "Mom, there are so few customers today. Why would you need my help?"
That's right, Rollins was the "Little Boss" of the Midnight Snack bar.
This small restaurant was passed down from Rollins's grandfather and is currently being managed by his parents.
However, the two of them clearly did not have many talents in business, as their business of this snack bar only got worse with each passing day.
In order to let Rollins enter the prestigious high school, Hursel High School, the couple even gritted their teeth and spent most of their life savings on his education.
Rollins silently swore to himself, "I didn't have the ability in the past, but now that I have this system in my hands, I must help my family turn their situation around!"
"No matter how few customers there are, you have to keep learning how to manage the store little by little. In the future, this shop will be handed over to you. So, don't be so useless like your father!"
A middle-aged woman wearing a scarf came out from the kitchen. While carrying a plate of beef noodles to a guest, she chattered on to Rollins.
This woman's figure was slightly chubby, but her face was still well-maintained. Her skin was fair and flawless, unlike the appearance of a mother who had a sixteen-year-old boy.
The middle-aged woman was Rollins's mother — Aurora.
At this moment, a grumbling sound came from the kitchen: "What do mean useless?!"
"If you were to try your best, I would have had the time to lose weight a long time ago!" Aurora retorted without a trace of politeness.
Rollins shook his head in irritation of this daily occurrence. No matter how long or how much they argue with one another, they will never stop doing so.
With that, he dropped his schoolbag and slipped into the kitchen.
In the kitchen, a sturdy middle-aged man wearing a chef's hat was currently immersed in the process of making a dough.
From his facial features, Rollins's appearance could be vaguely seen.
This middle-aged man was naturally Rollins's father, Eugene — the neighbors had even nicknamed him, "Mr. Schroeder Xiao," a fitting name for the owner of "Midnight Snack."
Eugene did not even turn around as he threw a piece of raw beef to Rollins. He then instructed, "Practice your proficiency with the knife using it."
Over these years, his parents had gradually developed Rollins's culinary skills and knowledge for business, thinking that he was not someone suited for studying.
Rollins curled his lips and thought for a moment, but still could not muster up the courage to tell them what had happened today. After all, they would certainly not believe in his words.
Therefore, he had to wait until the exam results were out when he would directly use his school report to tell his parents about the changes in him. Only then would they even consider believing in him.
Washing of the hands, washing of the meat, unsheathing of the knife, all in a single breath.
However, the moment Rollins began slicing the beef, the system's voice rang out again: [Ding! Detecting the ways of 'Shokugeki'... Cooking Ability: +1, Current Progress: 1/10, Current Level: Beginner-level.]
Hm?
Just as Rollins's eyes lit up in excitement, his knife working slowly became more quick and precise.
[Ding! Cooking ability: +1... +1... +1...]
[Ding! Current Progress: 11/100, Cooking Ability Increased to Proficient-level.]
That feeling re-surfaced yet again — the feeling of knowledge surging through his mind.
After spending some time figuring things out, Rollins roughly understood the system's division between the levels.
If the Experience Points range between 1 and 10, the host would be placed in the beginner-level.
On the other hand, if the Experience Points range from 11 to some specific number, then you'll break through the proficient-level.
However, he still did not know what comes after the proficient-level or when the next level up happens.
After obtaining the proficient-level for his cooking ability, Rollins noticed that slicing the beef had become much easier.
*Tuk, tuk, tuk, tuk...*
The crisp sound of meat being sliced and the knife hitting the wooden board resounded through the kitchen in a consistent yet swift manner. Even Eugene, who had his head lowered and was making noodles, could not help but be taken aback.
When did this brat learn to cut so fast?
Eugene turned his head and could not help but gape in surprise.