The Awakening of the Divine Power System

13

The woman seemed to have a mysterious connection to the family, which fueled James' curiosity.

James, a curious young man, had just seen the figure of the girl in the red robe passing in front of him. He wondered, "Who is she and what is her connection to the Peeter family?"

"System, can you identify where she went?" James asked the system, hoping to find an answer. It only took him a few seconds to get an answer.

[System Information: She ran towards the park that was behind the party building.] The park was the most likely place for someone to run and hide when at a party.

James, who knew the place, hurried to follow her. He was curious about what the system had said about the rare disease that the red-robed woman had. He also wondered, would he get more points if he managed to help her?

Meanwhile, Arnold, the only person who knew Mia's whereabouts, looked furious. "Where did she go?" he asked, frustratedly looking for Mia who had now disappeared from his sight.

James followed the directions given by the system and followed the winding path to the park. After a while, he finally found the red-robed woman. She looked confused, seemingly not knowing where to go.

Hiding behind a bush, Mia looked terrified. James, who found her, spoke in a soft voice, "Miss, why are you hiding here?" He asked without hesitation, trying to understand her situation.

Mia looked startled, and tried to cover her face with the cloth covering that had been messed up by the running around earlier. "Who are you!" she asked back, her voice full of suspicion.

James answered calmly, "I'm James, a guest at this engagement ceremony because of Sofia's invitation." He tried to convince Mia that he was no threat.

Mia, who was busy looking for a way out, responded firmly, "Leave!" She didn't want anything to do with James.

James, who saw Mia looking agitated, raised his hand in an attempted calming gesture. "Relax, I won't hurt you," he said softly.

Suddenly, the system alerted James that Mia's condition was getting worse. She looked very weak and appeared to be in pain. James knew he had to get her help immediately.

"Are you sick?" asked James, even though he knew it was a silly question. His system had detected Mia's condition from the start, and he knew she was in bad shape.

Mia, not wanting to share her troubles, replied firmly, "It's none of your business!" Her voice was stern, indicating that she didn't want any help from James.

"Look, I know this sounds weird," James began to speak, looking at Mia with an expectant gaze. He was trying to persuade Mia to trust him. "But, I can help you to get rid of that skin disease of yours."

Mia smiled wryly at that. "You don't know, my father is a renowned doctor in this city. He did everything he could, but nothing worked. Stop comforting me!" She said with regret and disappointment.

James didn't think that Mia had really kicked him out. He was sure that Mia's attitude was just a result of her frustration. Hence, she didn't believe what James said.

While the two of them were engaged in a heated debate, Arnold's loud voice rang out, "Mia!" His voice was quite booming, making the atmosphere even more tense.

"Dad?" Mia trembled slightly as she realized that her father, Arnold had found her. Fear and shock were mixed on her face.

"Dad?" James now found the answer about the red-robed woman's relationship with Arnold Peeter. He realized that Mia was Arnold's daughter.

"Mia, please, go back to the car," Arnold pleaded, begging his daughter to listen to him. "Don't ruin your brother's engagement party." Her face looked worried and a little angry.

James deduced this. So, Mia was Max's sister, and all this time it seemed she had been hidden. All these puzzles were now beginning to be solved.

Mia, with a face full of disappointment, refused her father's request. She smiled bitterly, a smile that showed how much she felt hurt, and chose to leave.

"Mia, you heard me, right?" Arnold Peeter's voice sounded loud and clear, "Before you ruin this party, you better listen to me!

"Dad, I just want to see who my brother's bride-to-be is." Mia tried to offer an explanation, but her voice seemed weak and expectant.

"That's not necessary, Mia!" Arnold firmly rejected her. "Your presence could cause trouble!" His face looked tense, and his voice grew louder.

Arnold's treatment of Mia was painful. How could a father be so cruel to his own daughter?

Mia's watery eyes showed how hurt she felt. "Then you should just throw me away, Dad!" she said in a hoarse voice.

"Mia!" Arnold called her name in a voice full of anger.

Arnold then called out to some guards who were nearby. Soon, they arrived and Arnold ordered them to take Mia to the car.

Mia was dragged away by force. Although she struggled and begged, she was ignored. The commotion soon attracted the attention of some curious party guests who began to gather around to witness what was happening.

"Dad, let me go!" cried Mia in a voice full of desperation. Fear and panic were evident in her eyes.

Wasting no time, James ran towards the guards who were about to take Mia. He held them back, trying to prevent them from taking Mia.

James then turned to Arnold and said, "Mr. Peeter, how about you just leave your daughter alone?" He tried to propose another solution, hoping to help Mia.

Arnold glared at James. He pointed at the man, but no words came out of his mouth. Shock and anger mixed in his expression.

"You still remember me, right?" James tried to unlock Arnold's memories of him. "I was the janitor who was fired by you for no apparent reason."

"What are you doing here?" Arnold, who had finally figured out that James was just a Janitor, was furious at the young man's pretentious attitude. His face turned red, and his voice grew louder.

"I was invited by Sofia." James rolled his eyes, having no other answer. He tried to explain his presence there.

"Then stay out of our business!" Arnold cut James off firmly, showing that he didn't need any help from James.

James was only trying to help. Unfortunately, he couldn't mention the power system he had. That was a secret he had to keep.

"How about I tell you, I can heal Mia?" James made an offer. He hoped that Arnold would give him a chance to help Mia.

"Huh, what kind of nonsense is this!" Arnold looked down on James. He looked incredulous and felt as if James was playing games with him.

But James was still trying, "If you fail, there's no harm in it being my turn to try." He tried to convince Arnold that he could help.

"How much do you want?" Arnold suspected that James was blackmailing him. He couldn't believe that James just wanted to help without asking for anything in return.

James shook his head, "I don't want your money." He emphasized that he was not asking for anything in return.

"Then you plan to blackmail me?" Arnold accused James for no reason. He was increasingly distrustful of James' good intentions.

"I didn't think of that." James shrugged, feeling that what Arnold said was a bit much.

Meanwhile, Max, who had noticed the commotion, followed there. How surprised he was to see James arguing with his father.

"Dad, what's going on?" Max asked with a face full of worry.

Arnold replied in a heavy voice, "Your little sister is up to mischief again." He told Max about what had just happened.

Mia shook her head. She looked sad when Arnold said that she was acting up. "Dad, it's been three years since I was locked up and never saw the outside world. This time, when my brother gets engaged, won't I be able to witness it?" she said in a soft and hopeful voice.

James felt his heart beating irregularly. He could sense the deep sadness in Mia's voice.

"System, can I heal Mia Peeter?" James whispered, asking the system while the others were caught off guard.

[System: 100%, you can.]

This was good news.

"Miss Peeter!" James called out to Mia, "I can heal you. Are you willing to come with me?"

Mia furrowed her brows. Although her face was covered, James could tell that she was hesitant.

"If you want, I'll take you to my place. We'll start your treatment." James reassured her again.

"Mia, don't listen to what James says! He's just a janitor, how could he possibly have the ability to treat you!" Sofia suddenly entered the conversation and insulted James.

They were now a spectacle to many people. Besides Arnold, Max was also embarrassed by this situation.

"Sofia's right, Mia." Max added. "That James just wants to trick you. It's best not to believe what he says."

Mia glanced at James, alternating with her father and brother in quick succession. She looked confused, not knowing who to trust.

James reassured Mia that he could cure her. "Miss Peeter, the decision is yours. If you want your skin disease cured, come with me," he said firmly and confidently.

"What do you want?" asked Mia. She was sure that nothing in this world came for free. Surely, James expected a fair exchange.

James just didn't know yet. "I haven't come up with an idea yet. Maybe, we can talk about it later." He answered honestly, not wanting to promise anything he wasn't sure of himself.

Arnold couldn't bear to watch their conversation. "Take Mia to the car!" Arnold ordered his men again. His face looked tense and angry.

"No!" Mia struggled, asking them to let her go. Rather than going back home and being locked up again without knowing when it would all end, she would rather take the risk of accepting James' offer.

"Are you sure you can cure my skin disease?" Mia asked. She looked doubtful, but also hopeful.

Although the power of the system was not to be doubted, James did not want to rush to say yes. "I'll try." He said carefully.

"Alright!" The decision left everyone there dumbfounded by Mia's choice. "I'll come with you."

"Mia, you're crazy!" Max tried to pull his sister along, but Mia chose to stand behind James.

Max pointed at James. "He's just a con artist. I'm sure his plan is to blackmail our family!" he said with a face full of anger and disappointment.

"Max, I don't need your opinion!" Mia, who was tired of being treated like a dirty dog, firmly rejected her brother's advice. She looked bold and unafraid.

"Fine!" Max, who had no more power to persuade Mia, finally gave in. "If you're tricked by him, don't ever come back to this family again!" He said in a tone full of disappointment.

"Dad, let me go!" Mia, who had made up her mind, would no longer back down. She shouted in a voice full of desperation.

Arnold looked at Mia angrily. His pride was at stake right now. He felt like he was losing control of his daughter.

"I will follow this man. I will bear all the consequences." Mia reassured her father with a firm voice.

James simply waited. He was sure Mia could go with him since she had already accepted James.

"Okay." Arnold gave up with Mia's attitude. "But, remember, Mia, don't bring this family if something bad happens to you!" He said in a firm and hard tone.

"I promise," Mia said. The bodyguards who had been holding her earlier released her after getting the code from Arnold. Mia looked relieved and ready to start a new step with James.

"James!" Sofia angrily reprimanded her former lover. "What are you up to this time?" She asked in an accusatory tone.

"Nothing," James said flatly. "I just want to help Miss Peeter recover from her skin disease." He said in a calm tone, trying to explain his good intentions.

Mia, who looked anxious, was hiding behind James now. She looked doubtful, but also hopeful.

"Alright, Mia, please follow the young man." Arnold, who didn't want to cause a bigger commotion, was forced to let Mia be with James. He looked resigned and disappointed.

Mia was silent behind James at the moment. She seemed to be waiting for what would happen next.

James turned around and said to her, "I promise to help you." He said with confidence.

"Alright." Mia nodded, entrusting her fate to James. She seemed confident and ready to take the risk.

James then called Julian, "Get the car ready, I'm going back to the apartment now."

"Alright, Sir!" Julian said from the other end.

James unhesitatingly took Mia's hand, leading her away from everyone who was still wondering about what James was going to do to Mia.