World Domination Begins With Getting a System in a Modern World-Chapter 103: Leslie’s Strange Question

James pulled the Gemera carefully into the garage, the soft sound of the engine echoing briefly before it quieted into silence.

He sat there for a few seconds, fingers still resting on the wheel, allowing his mind to finally go blank for the first time in hours.

Today had been heavier than he expected. The meeting with Gregor, the planning session with Alina, the constant mental calculations — it had all drained him far more than he realized.

Though he didn’t exactly do much but for someone like him who barely leaves the house, it felt like a lot of work.

Finally, he grabbed the key fob, stepped out of the car, and walked toward the house.

Pushing open the front door, James was greeted by the sound of a TV show playing in the background. The cozy scent of the house — a mix of coffee, fresh linen, and faint traces of vanilla — was oddly comforting.

Inside, he saw Patty and Leslie seated together in the living area, comfortably sprawled on the large L-shaped couch. They looked up when they heard him enter.

Patty smiled warmly at him. "Hey, sweetheart. Are you hungry?"

James gave a tired nod, too exhausted to say much.

"I’ll quickly get your lunch ready. Just sit and relax," Patty said, already standing up and heading toward the kitchen.

James grunted softly in appreciation and collapsed onto one of the vacant couches. His body almost melted into the cushions. He sighed deeply, trying to sink deeper into the couch and even become one with it.

He wasn’t just physically tired — he was mentally and emotionally drained. Between planning the fall of an empire and prepping to manipulate an entire market, he had used up most of his energy reserves.

"I really need to improve my social battery. This is too damn frustrating," he mumbled into the couch.

James has always had the problem of getting drained whenever he interacts with people who he isn’t familiar with.

As he lay there trying to relax, he caught Leslie staring at him — not casually, but very obviously, with a weird frown on her face and a look full of curiosity.

"What?" James asked, lifting a brow.

He wonder what she was up to this time around.

Leslie didn’t answer right away. She studied him for a second longer before blurting out,

"Natasha told me you said you’re going to take her out for dinner someday."

James blinked once, processing the random shift in conversation, then gave a slow nod.

"Yeah."

Leslie’s frown deepened. She leaned forward slightly, crossing her arms.

"Why?"

James was genuinely surprised by the question. He had expected teasing or maybe a snarky comment, but not that. He shrugged lazily.

"Taking your advice, I guess," he said simply.

"About getting a girlfriend."

Hearing that, Leslie’s frown morphed into a deep scowl. She sat back, crossing her arms even tighter across her chest.

"So if I hadn’t said anything, you wouldn’t have done it?" she asked, her voice sharper and filled with something unknown.

James turned his head and looked at her, confused. He opened his mouth to answer but quickly realized he didn’t have one. He honestly hadn’t thought about it that deeply.

Instead of answering, he simply turned his head away and buried it into the couch, feigning indifference.

He had no idea why Leslie was asking him such questions. It was unlike her. He knew her character and the fact that she doesn’t mince words, always saying what’s on her mind.

If it was any other time, he would had tried to find out he problem but right now, all he just want to do is to eat and sleep. Maybe he will ask her after he wakes up but not now.

Leslie stared at him for a few seconds longer, watching him pretend to be asleep, and then closed her eyes briefly, muttering something to herself, as she turned her attention back to the TV.

A few minutes later, Patty’s voice floated from the kitchen.

"James! Lunch is ready!"

James bolted upright the second he heard that. His stomach reminded him just how long it had been since he ate. He stood up, stretching slightly, and made his way to the dining table.

The sight that greeted him made him smile — a steaming plate filled with grilled chicken, roasted vegetables, and fluffy mashed potatoes.

He slid into his chair and dug in immediately, savoring every bite. Patty sat down across from him with a soft smile.

Halfway through his meal, James looked up at her.

"Thank you, Patty," he said genuinely, his voice warm.

Patty just smiled wider. "Always."

After polishing off his plate, James collected his dishes and carried them to the sink. He rolled up his sleeves and quickly washed them, not wanting to leave any extra work for Patty.

Once done, he walked over to her, planted a quick, grateful peck on her cheek, before heading upstairs to his room.

As he walked up the stairs, he could feel the exhaustion pulling at him harder now that his stomach was full and his body relaxed.

When he entered his room, he wasted no time. He stripped off his clothes and headed straight for the bathroom.

The hot shower was exactly what he needed. The water beat against his skin, washing away not just the sweat and grime of the day, but the lingering tension too.

He stood there for longer than necessary, letting his mind drift blankly under the steady stream.

Once done, he stepped out, dried himself off, and pulled on a pair of comfortable sweats and a simple T-shirt.

Walking back into his room, he tossed his dirty clothes into the hamper and threw himself onto the bed, sinking into the soft mattress.

Lying there, James stared up at the ceiling, feeling a strange mix of satisfaction and exhaustion.

He had done everything he needed to for now. freeweɓnovel.cøm

The evidence against the McCullens was handed off. Alina was prepping her digital bombs. Ralph was hunting for the right coins for the pump and dump. The pieces were in motion.

Now, it was just a matter of time.

He smiled faintly to himself, and yawned, stretching out like a cat, as he closed his eyes.

And he was asleep within minutes, as the weight of the day finally pulled him under.