Rivalry: Infinite Buff

Chapter 46 Save Dad

Looking at all of the gold coins in his backpack, Ivan was moved to tears. He seldom cried but the gold coins were so important to him. They would enable his father to have access to treatments and medication. His impression of Rivalry also changed, he had the privilege of meeting really caring and nice people.

“Thank you again, all so much! I must be off.” Ivan bowed once again to express his gratitude. He closed his eyes and saw the images of Leo, Claire, Left-handedLove, and FallenAngel in his mind, they were his closest friends. Ivan vowed that their enemies would be his enemies, he would chase them down and slay them if he needed to.

Ivan exited the game and called his mother, “Mom, I have raised enough money for Dad!”

“Re… re… really?” His mother’s voice trembled on the other end of the line.

“Yes, yes! I will be coming to see you soon,” Ivan said, filled with emotion.

“I’m here waiting for you.” His mother’s delighted and wobbly voice made Ivan anxious to be with her.

After putting down the phone, Ivan packed up some things and got ready to leave

“Would you like me to drive you there?” Leo questioned Ivan, he logged off the game as soon as he saw Ivan exit.

“No, I know you have to be tired, get some rest. I will be spending a few days in San Jose.” Ivan replied.

“Alright, keep me informed.” Leo insisted.

“Okay.”

Luckily, Ivan was able to get a Lyft Carpool ride soon after he stepped outside. Once he got settled in the car Ivan posted the gold coins in the Good-deal Exchange. Just like he had done before, he split the large amount into smaller groups and they sold quickly. Ivan’s guess was that the auctioning of the first Guild Token came as a blow to the major groups because they didn’t have enough gold coins to continue bidding. Therefore, they felt the need to hoard a lot of the gold coins and be prepared for the next opportunity. He also figured the next Guild Token would be auctioned off at an even higher price.

Ivan’s cellphone kept sending him notifications and voice texts one after another. Each one was to inform him of a successful transfer of thousands of dollars.

The driver was astonished and looked over at Ivan both with curiosity and caution. He began to wonder if Ivan was a criminal because, by the way he was dressed, he definitely didn’t look rich.

Noticing that the driver kept glancing at him, Ivan knew he had to silence his phone or else there was no guarantee he would make it to San Jose safely. He had to read the texts on his phone so he just kept his head down. The last text Ivan received read: “$461,004 was deposited in your debit card ending in 8860 at 22:27 on June 3.”

A huge smile appeared on Ivan’s face and the driver had to ask, “Hey man, what business are you in? How do you make so much money?”

“I earned it from gaming,” Ivan said with a laugh.

“Is it Rivalry?” The driver asked in astonishment.

“You know Rivalry?” It was Ivan who was surprised. He never thought that the driver who looked to be over forty years old would know about Rivalry.  

“I sometimes play it. Heehee, sometimes.” The driver felt awkward under Ivan’s stare but he wanted to know more, “Is it easy to earn money playing?”

“It depends. It was a stroke of luck that I got a Guild Token and earned some money.” Ivan found the driver bore no ill will and started to chat with him.

“Oh, the Guild Token. I will have to get one,” The driver said thoughtfully but also with a great deal of confidence.

Ivan was stunned by his comment. He couldn’t believe that the driver thought getting a Guild Token was as easy as just going to the store and buying one. However, Ivan didn’t want to crush his ego so he smiled and nodded.

Everybody has a dream after all. I am just a loser who was expelled from school, but still have made a fortune from a game in a short time, haven’t I? Miracles happen from time to time. Maybe this driver will also get a Guild Token someday. Who knows?

The driver learned from their small talk that Ivan was going to San Jose to save his father who was in the hospital and waived the charge with generosity. Ivan expressed many thanks to him.

There are so many good people in this world.

Ivan eventually arrived at the hospital, before exiting the car he and the driver exchanged phone numbers. He walked to his father’s ward, his mother was sitting by his father’s beside and looked like she had more gray hair than when Ivan had last seen her. He wiped the tears from his face then opened the door.

Putting his arms around her shoulders, he whispered, “It’s okay now, Mom.”

The love he had for his parents had no monetary value, and as long as his whole family was well and together, Ivan was the happiest man in the world.

“Dad can have his operation tomorrow!”

“Okay,” his mother agreed, her eyes filled with hot tears.

The next day, Ivan paid $400,000 to the cashier at the desk, which included the operation fee and over $100,000 for care after. Seeing Ivan pay all the fees as one payment, the staff in the hospital immediately arranged for treatment by the nation’s top specialists. The success rate of the operation increased from 30% to 70%, Ivan knew it was worthwhile to spend the money.

Two days later, the specialists arrived and prepared Ivan’s father for the operation. As the nurses took him into the operating room, Ivan and his mother both gave Martin a kiss. They stood in the hall and watched the head of their family go through the doors to an unknown future.

Ivan whispered, “Dad, you need to make it through. If not…”

“He will, definitely.”

Ivan and his mother walked back to the waiting room to meet with his cousin, Cindy.

“Thank you for being here with Mom, Cindy,” Ivan said and hugged his cousin.

Cindy was the second daughter of Martin’s younger sister Sarah. She was a kind-hearted and honest girl. Among the relatives, Cindy’s mother was closest to Ivan’s father and Cindy was closest to Ivan.

“Not at all, Ivan. He is my uncle and he is ill. I should help to look after him,” Cindy replied, smiling. Her simple words filled Ivan with warmth and he was more thankful as she continued to say, “My mom is on her way. She feels bad about not being here sooner but transportation from rural areas isn’t the most convenient.”

“Don’t say that, Cindy,” Ivan’s mother took her hand and said.

“Aunt Sarah is good to us, unlike Uncle Phil. Oh well, don’t mention him. If I become rich in the future, I’m bound to repay Aunt Sarah,” Ivan said in a firm tone of voice.

A few hours later Aunt Sarah arrived to wait patiently with the rest of the family.

As they were sitting in the waiting room talking, Ivan’s cellphone rang, he didn’t recognize the number so he declined it. Talking to a stranger was not important when he was worried about his father. However, a few seconds later the phone rang again, impatiently Ivan answered, “I am not going to buy whatever you are selling. I have no money. Thank you!”

Assuming it was a salesperson Ivan was about to hang up when he heard a sweet voice on the other end say, “Excuse me, is this Bishop? My name is FallenAngel.”