Transmigrated With A Thrifty System

7 – Kristen died?

With lightning speed, he grabs Kristen's hand pulling hard causing her to stumble back toward him. She screams aloud trying desperately to break free, kicking wildly at his legs.

"Kristen, please listen to me. It won't hurt us." His voice sounds calm despite being caught off guard having never expected anyone else to find themselves trapped like this.

Her face turns red hot, glaring daggers through narrowed eyelids. Her hands continue their struggle even though she knows better now that they could die if nothing is done.

Inching forward carefully, he reaches for her phone.

"What are you–" She tries again to pull away, shaking violently under his touch.

He holds firm, saying softly, "It'll take less than thirty seconds…"

Typing rapidly on the screen, he logs into his account, quickly finding what looks promising enough: 'Gift cards.' With trembling fingertips, he taps several options including an A****n Gift Card.

Within moments, hundreds upon thousands of gift codes appear ready for purchase.

"Kristen... listen to me… I'm going to buy some gifts using these numbers right here..."

Kristen's eyes bulge at the $20000 number flashing brightly on the screen.

"Why are you purchasing gift cards?! You should send that to my account instead?!"

'If only I could do that and you disappear as the guardian would, but that wouldn't be as resourceful as it would be with a gift card.' He thinks with a sigh.

Ignoring everything except those words, Aiden replies calmly, "now is not the time."

Clicking on the purchase button, he waits patiently as the transaction goes live. After waiting ten minutes, checking once every few seconds, he finally sees confirmation messages pop up across multiple screens.

[Congratulations on your successful merit point acquisition today. Your points total is currently 500.]

Whoosh!

Aiden let out a sigh of relief knowing exactly why the monster disappeared.

Kristen looks around nervously wondering whether anything might happen next. Then looking back over her shoulder toward Aiden, she asks quietly, "what was that?"

Shaking his head slightly, he responds simply, "…nothing we need to worry about anymore."

"Soon… I should just pretend everything is alright even after witnessing how easily our lives were threatened? What kind of person does that make me look like!?" Kristen screams at the top of her lungs.

Trying unsuccessfully to hold onto patience, Aiden snaps, "Could you just shut up already!? We're safe now; don't go making mountains out of molehills because something tried to scare us half to death!"

[Be rest assured, host. No one aside you will remember what happens after you ward off danger successfully.]

Raising a brow at the information he receives, he lets loose yet another exasperated breath.

Hearing a thud behind him, he simultaneously spins around and sees Kristen lying motionless against the wall near the door. The light above flickered briefly then went dark.

[Memory wipeout complete.]

Aiden's lips curve into a smile. That wasn't too bad considering he could use this to his advantage–he could work or try to work well with the people he might be with if another appearance occurs, yet they wouldn't recall ever seeing him act strangely. This way, nobody has reason to suspect foul play unless someone gets curious later down the road.

He walks toward Kristine, gently lifting her chin upward to check for signs of life. He nods approvingly when he finds her breathing steadily.

Turning slowly, he glances outside the window to see nightfall approaching fast. It seems much longer since daylight faded completely. His stomach growls loudly reminding him hunger pangs have returned.

Carrying her limp form carefully to his car seat, he places both hands under hers firmly gripping tightly together between their bodies.

She stirs lightly within his arms, opening sleepy blue eyes and staring blankly forward. Her hair falls loosely past her shoulders covering most of the side of her face visible through the strands. She smiles faintly, saying softly, "home sweet home…"

–––––––––––

The next day,

Aiden yawns deeply, stretching his muscles stiffened during sleep. Rolling away from the bed, he stretches again trying desperately hard to wake himself fully awake.

Looking at the clock, he realizes he is nearly late getting ready for a business meeting scheduled early in the morning.

With a groan, he rolls down the bed, quickly dresses, and hurries downstairs to grab some breakfast.

The maids greet him cheerfully upon entering the kitchen area asking questions regarding his stay in his room after the mail he had received.

'Mail? I received no mail.' Aiden responds with his thoughts. His brows furrowed in confusion.

"…you mean those items addressed directly to Mr. Lancaster?' The butler chips in politely.

The maid nervously nods her head as a cold sweat breaks across her forehead.

Staring intently at the woman, Aiden notices they might have been speaking about the visit from Raymond.

'Did their memory also get wiped clean yesterday evening?' He inquires of Lyris.

[That is correct, host]

The mystery surrounding the attorney suddenly makes sense: why she didn't know anything before being hired nor did anyone else seem familiar enough with Raymond except for the few times he visited previously while his parents were alive.

Glancing back at the table filled with food laid out neatly, he asks curiously, "What's in the packaged box?"

Nodding eagerly, the maid replies excitedly, 'It arrived earlier today along with your other packages sent ahead of schedule."

He picks up a bunch of cherries that look like red jewels arranged perfectly inside a clear glass container.

Walking out of the kitchen, a maid carrying two large boxes follows closely behind. One package contains several bottles of wine; one holds a variety of cheeses wrapped individually in wax paper. Another small parcel includes various types of bread including baguettes, croissants, and even a loaf shaped similar to rye toast.

The door automatically opens once he steps onto the porch leading straight off the front entrance hall. Stepping over the threshold, he sees a black sports car waiting patiently beside the curb near the sidewalk.

Pulling out his keys, he unlocks the doors and then climbs easily into the driver's seat. The maid hurriedly closes the rear passenger compartment hatchback lid, locking everything securely shut. After checking around the vehicle twice, she returns to give a slight bow to Aiden.

After starting the engine, he pulls smoothly around the corner heading towards downtown Daverpit.

[Task available now! – Spend $100 per hour during a twelve hours time frame, using the following method(s):

1.) Visit thrift stores

2.) Buy used clothing

3.) Purchase second-hand furniture.]

Aiden shakes his head in denial, his hands clutch tightly against the steering wheel. It wasn't possible…he couldn't possibly afford to spend on cheap junk.

"Why the hell do I need to do this stuff?! What am I supposed to buy for $100 without looking cheap?!"

Laughingly shaking her head, Lyris answers calmly, [You must purchase something of its worth within reason based solely upon what you think its value should be according to how much someone could pay if sold elsewhere.]

Shaking his head again, he grumbles under his breath, "I don't want to waste my damn day doing stupid shit, I'm nearly late for my appointment!"

[You have 12 hours before the allocated time, host]

Lyris deadpans with a smirk.

With a heavy heart, Aiden asks, 'I have no choice but to comply, right?'