Godly Beggar

The days passed with a steady rhythm, each moment building toward Jiang Han's impending transformation. The Begging System loomed in the back of his mind, its missions shaping his growth step by step. But even as the end of his prerequisite missions approached, Jiang Han knew the system's challenges weren't just about ticking boxes—they were about fundamentally changing how he approached the world.

He had learned to negotiate, persuade, and influence without losing sight of his morals. But the final mission before unlocking Level 2 would test everything he'd gained so far.

A New Challenge Emerges

The school day started like any other, with students bustling through the halls and conversations blending into a lively hum. But for Jiang Han, things took a sudden turn during physics class.

The teacher, Mr Tan, entered the room with a grim expression, carrying a stack of papers. "Class, we have a problem," he announced, silencing the chatter.

He held up a flyer, its bold lettering announcing an upcoming science fair. "This competition is an opportunity for our school to shine, but our participation is at risk. We don't have enough qualified participants. If we don't submit at least one project, we'll be disqualified entirely."

The room buzzed with whispers, students exchanging uneasy glances.

"This is where you come in," Mr Tan said, his gaze sweeping the class. "I need volunteers to step up and represent our school. Who's willing to take on this responsibility?"

The silence that followed was deafening.

Jiang Han frowned, his mind racing. The science fair was an excellent opportunity, but it was clear that no one wanted to take the plunge.

The System's Intervention

Just as Jiang Han was about to raise his hand, the Begging System chimed in his mind.

[System Notification: Final Prerequisite Mission Triggered.]

Mission: Convince at least two classmates to join you in submitting a project for the science fair.]

Penalty for Failure: -50 System Points.]

Reward: Presentation Skill (Intermediate Level).]

Jiang Han sighed inwardly. Of course, the system would turn this into a mission.

"Alright," he thought. "Let's see how good I've become."

During lunch, Jiang Han sought out Derek Lim, who was lounging by the basketball court. Derek wasn't the obvious choice for a science fair partner, but Jiang Han knew his creative thinking could be a valuable asset.

"Derek," Jiang Han called, approaching with a smile.

"What's up?" Derek replied, tossing a basketball into the hoop.

"I need your help," Jiang Han said. "The science fair needs participants, and I think we could put together something great."

Derek raised an eyebrow. "Science fair? Not exactly my scene, Han."

"Come on," Jiang Han said, leaning on the fence. "You've got a unique way of looking at things. That kind of creativity is exactly what we need."

Derek hesitated, dribbling the ball absently. "What's in it for me?"

"The glory of saving our school's reputation?" Jiang Han suggested with a grin.

Derek snorted. "You're terrible at selling this."

"Alright," Jiang Han said, shifting tactics. "How about this: if we win, I'll treat you to pizza for a week. Deal?"

Derek laughed. "Now you're talking. Fine, I'm in."

Next, Jiang Han approached Sheng Hui Qi, who was reviewing notes in the library.

"Hui Qi," Jiang Han said, sitting across from her. "I've got a proposition for you."

Hui Qi looked up, her expression sceptical. "This sounds suspicious."

"The science fair," Jiang Han said, cutting straight to the point. "Our school needs a team, and you're one of the best science students here. Will you join me and Derek?"

Hui Qi frowned. "I'm already juggling a lot, Jiang Han. Why should I add this to my plate?"

"Because you love science," Jiang Han said simply. "And this is a chance to show off what you're capable of."

Hui Qi hesitated, her gaze thoughtful. "What kind of project are you thinking of?"

Jiang Han leaned forward, his tone earnest. "A renewable energy system—something practical but innovative. With your expertise, we could make it something truly special."

After a long pause, Hui Qi nodded. "Alright. But I'm not doing this alone—you'd better pull your weight."

"Deal," Jiang Han said with a grin.

[Mission Complete! Reward Unlocked: Presentation Skill (Intermediate Level).]

That afternoon, the newly formed team gathered in the library to brainstorm their project. Ideas flew back and forth, some promising and others downright ridiculous.

"How about a solar-powered food processor?" Derek suggested, grinning.

Hui Qi rolled her eyes. "We're trying to win, not make a kitchen gadget."

"What about an AI-assisted energy grid?" Jiang Han offered.

"Ambitious," Hui Qi said, nodding. "But doable if we split the workload effectively."

As the discussion continued, it became clear that their biggest challenge wasn't the project itself—it was their clashing personalities.

"Derek, focus," Hui Qi snapped as Derek doodled in the margins of his notebook.

"I am focusing," Derek shot back. "I'm brainstorming."

"Guys," Jiang Han interjected, raising his hands. "Let's keep it together. We've got a lot of work to do, and we need to stay on the same page."

Their initial prototype was a disaster. The solar panels were misaligned, and the AI system kept crashing.

"This is hopeless," Derek muttered, throwing his hands up.

"No, it's not," Jiang Han said firmly. "We just need to figure out what went wrong and fix it."

Hours of trial and error followed, with the team revising their design and testing new approaches. Each failure brought frustration, but it also brought lessons—what not to do, what to improve, and what to focus on next.

By the time they left the lab that evening, their second prototype was showing promise.

"See?" Jiang Han said, clapping Derek on the shoulder. "We're getting there."

Hui Qi smiled faintly. "You're surprisingly optimistic."

"Failure's just feedback," Jiang Han said with a shrug. "We'll get it right eventually."

That night, as Jiang Han sat by his window, the system chimed again.

[System Notification: Host Progressing Towards Level 2 Activation.]

Prerequisite Missions Completed: 5/5.]

Reflection: The art of begging is not just about asking—it's about inspiring trust, building relationships, and leading others toward a shared goal.]

Jiang Han smiled, a sense of accomplishment settling over him. The path to Level 2 had been challenging, but it had also been transformative.

"One step closer," he thought, his resolve stronger than ever.

With the science fair approaching and the system levelling on the horizon, Jiang Han knew the coming days would be some of the most pivotal in his journey.

The team's progress on their science fair project was steady, but the pressure was mounting. Days turned into nights spent in the school's lab, with Jiang Han, Hui Qi, and Derek pushing themselves to their limits. The upcoming deadline left no room for complacency, and every minute counted.

"Pass me the soldering iron," Hui Qi said, her eyes focused on the circuit board in front of her.

Jiang Han handed it over, watching as she worked with precision. Derek, seated nearby, was busy tweaking the prototype's structural frame, his hands surprisingly steady for someone who usually joked his way through life.

"This is starting to look like something," Derek said, glancing up. "Not bad for a team that nearly fell apart two days ago."

Hui Qi smirked but didn't look up. "Don't jinx it."

Jiang Han chuckled, but his thoughts were elsewhere. The system had been silent since his last mission, which was both a relief and a cause for concern. He couldn't help but wonder what the next challenge would be—or how much harder it would push him.

By the end of the week, the team was ready to test their prototype: a renewable energy system designed to integrate solar and wind power into a compact, efficient unit. The goal was ambitious, but the team's hard work had paid off—or so they hoped.

"Alright," Jiang Han said, taking a deep breath. "Let's see if it works."

He flipped the switch, and the prototype hummed to life. For a moment, everything seemed perfect. The lights on the control panel glowed steadily, and the small wind turbine began to spin.

But then, with a sharp crackle, the system sputtered and went dark.

"What happened?" Derek exclaimed, leaning in to inspect the device.

"Something's overloading the circuit," Hui Qi said, her brow furrowing as she examined the wiring.

Jiang Han sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Back to the drawing board."

Despite the setback, none of them suggested giving up. They rolled up their sleeves and got back to work, diagnosing the issue and brainstorming solutions.

As they worked, Jiang Han couldn't help but reflect on how far they had come as a team. Hui Qi's sharp mind and meticulous attention to detail had been invaluable, while Derek's creativity and problem-solving skills had added a fresh perspective to their approach.

But Jiang Han had also learned something important about himself.

"Leadership isn't about knowing everything," he thought. "It's about bringing out the best in others and finding strength in collaboration."

The system's earlier lessons on persuasion, negotiation, and influence had prepared him for moments like this. Convincing his teammates to join the project hadn't just been about fulfilling a mission—it had been about building trust and inspiring them to work toward a common goal.

The next day, Jiang Han arrived at the lab early, eager to get a head start on the prototype. But as he stared at the half-assembled device, doubts began to creep in.

"What if we can't fix it in time?" he thought. "What if all this effort is for nothing?"

He shook his head, forcing the negative thoughts aside. "No. We've come too far to give up now."

Just then, Hui Qi and Derek walked in, both carrying coffee cups and looking equally determined.

"Ready to give this another shot?" Hui Qi asked, setting her bag down.

"Always," Jiang Han replied with a grin.

By mid-afternoon, the team had reassembled the prototype with a revised circuit design. This time, they double-checked every connection, ensuring there were no weak points.

"Alright," Derek said, stepping back. "Moment of truth."

Jiang Han flipped the switch, holding his breath as the prototype powered up. The lights on the control panel glowed steadily, and the wind turbine spun smoothly.

"It's working," Hui Qi said, her voice tinged with relief.

But just as they were about to celebrate, a warning light flashed on the control panel.

"Energy output is too low," Jiang Han said, frowning. "It's not generating enough power to meet the efficiency threshold."

Derek groaned. "You've got to be kidding me."

Hui Qi sighed, pulling out her notebook. "It's probably an issue with the energy conversion algorithm. We'll need to optimise it."

Despite the setback, Jiang Han felt a flicker of hope. The prototype wasn't perfect, but it was a step in the right direction.

That evening, as Jiang Han walked home, the system chimed softly in his mind.

[Reflection: Growth is not a straight line. Progress often comes from revisiting, revising, and reimagining.]

The words resonated deeply with Jiang Han. Each failure had brought them closer to success, and every setback had taught them something valuable.

"Thanks, system," he thought with a wry smile. "You're not so bad when you're not throwing impossible missions at me."

The next day, the team reconvened in the lab, ready to tackle the energy conversion issue. Hours turned into a blur of calculations, adjustments, and re-testing, with each iteration bringing them closer to their goal.

"Try it now," Hui Qi said, her eyes glued to the control panel as Jiang Han powered up the prototype.

This time, the warning light didn't flash. The energy output stabilised, meeting the required threshold.

"We did it," Derek said, his voice a mix of disbelief and joy.

Jiang Han exhaled deeply, a sense of accomplishment washing over him. "We're ready for the science fair."

As the team packed up for the day, Hui Qi turned to Jiang Han. "You've been surprisingly calm through all of this," she said. "Even when things went wrong."

Jiang Han smiled faintly. "I've learned that failure isn't the enemy. It's just part of the process."

Derek clapped him on the back. "You've got a weird way of making setbacks sound inspirational, but I'll take it."

Jiang Han laughed, feeling a sense of camaraderie with his teammates that he hadn't experienced before.

With the science fair just days away, the team focused on perfecting their presentation. Jiang Han's system-enhanced Presentation Skills proved invaluable, helping them craft a clear, compelling narrative for their project.

As they rehearsed, Jiang Han felt a surge of pride—not just in the prototype, but in the journey they had taken to create it.

"This isn't just about winning," he thought. "It's about proving to ourselves what we're capable of."

Later that night, as Jiang Han lay in bed, the system chimed again.

[System Notification: Host Progressing Towards Level 2 Activation.]

Reflection: True growth comes not from avoiding failure but from embracing it as a stepping stone to success.]

Jiang Han closed his eyes, a smile playing on his lips. The science fair was just the beginning, and he was ready for whatever came next.