The message pulsed in Ethan's vision like a heartbeat:
> Secure two repeat clients within 72 hours.
He shut his eyes, trying to calm the swirl of panic in his chest. Fixing machines was one thing. Convincing people to trust him again and again—that was business. That was risk.
But there was no escaping it. The system wouldn't let him stop.
---
The next morning, Ethan returned to Russo's café. The place buzzed louder than usual, filled with customers chatting about the "miracle oven." Russo spotted him instantly and waved him over.
"Kid! There you are." The big man clapped him on the back hard enough to rattle his teeth. "Business has been booming since your little stunt. People love the story. They think I hired some genius engineer."
Ethan forced a smile. "Glad to hear it's helping."
Russo leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Listen, if you can do more of that magic, I'll put you on retainer. Fix anything that breaks, upgrade what you can. Monthly fee, plus bonuses. What do you say?"
The system chimed softly.
> [Repeat Client Secured: Russo's Café.]
Progress: 1/2.
Ethan exhaled in relief. One down. One to go.
"Deal," he said, extending his hand. Russo shook it firmly.
But as Ethan turned to leave, his eyes flicked to the corner table.
The man in the gray suit was there again. Same coffee. Same neutral expression. Watching.
Ethan's pulse quickened. He walked faster.
---
By midday, Ethan's phone buzzed with a call from an unfamiliar number.
"Uh, hi—this is Morales from the laundromat down on Seventh. Russo gave me your number. He says you're the guy who fixed his oven. My dryers keep breaking down. Can you take a look?"
Ethan's throat tightened. A new client was good, but the quest demanded repeat clients. He couldn't just do one-off jobs anymore.
Still, he agreed.
The laundromat was a cavernous, noisy space filled with rumbling machines and the scent of detergent. Mrs. Morales, a sharp-eyed woman with streaks of gray in her hair, guided him to the back.
"These things are older than I am," she grumbled, smacking a dryer that squealed in protest. "Repair guys charge a fortune, and nothing sticks. Russo swore by you."
Ethan crouched, lens activating. Faulty wiring glowed red, lint buildup pulsed yellow. He worked quickly, installing a subtle efficiency tweak, careful not to make it too obvious.
When the machine whirred back to life, Mrs. Morales's jaw dropped.
"Well, I'll be damned. That's smoother than it's run in years."
She looked him up and down. "How about I hire you for regular maintenance? You keep these beasts alive, I'll pay you steady."
The system chimed.
> [Repeat Client Secured: Morales Laundromat.]
Progress: 2/2. Quest Complete.]
Reward: 60 System Points Earned.
Total Points: 115.
Ethan's knees nearly buckled. Two repeat clients. Quest done. Points banked.
But there was no time to celebrate.
--
That evening, as Ethan left the laundromat, a familiar figure leaned casually against a lamppost across the street. The gray suit.
Ethan froze. The man didn't approach, didn't wave—just watched.
The crowd flowed around him, but he was a fixed point, patient and sharp.
Ethan ducked into an alley, heart hammering, and sprinted home, every instinct screaming that his secret wasn't safe anymore.
Back in his apartment, he locked the door and pressed his back against it, panting.
The system's voice broke the silence:
> [Notice: External interest detected. Prepare contingency strategies.]
"Great," Ethan muttered, sinking to the floor. "Just what I needed."
Later that night, a knock came at his door. Ethan tensed before opening it.
Lily stood there, sketchbook in hand. "Hey. You okay? You rushed past me earlier and didn't even say hi."
Ethan tried to smile. "Long day."
She studied him, concern creasing her brow. "You've been… different lately. Busy. Distracted. And I swear I've seen someone hanging around the building, like they're waiting for you."
Ethan's blood ran cold. "What do you mean?"
"A man in a gray suit. He was by the lobby yesterday, and I think I saw him across the street tonight. Do you know him?"
Ethan shook his head too quickly. "No. Probably just… coincidence."
But the look in her eyes said she didn't believe him.
She hesitated, then touched his arm lightly. "Whatever's going on, you don't have to carry it alone."
The warmth of her touch lingered long after she left.
---
Exhausted, Ethan collapsed onto his bed. The system flickered again.
> [Next Daily Quest Generated]
Objective: Develop and patent an invention under your name.
Reward: 80 System Points + Reputation Advancement.]
Time Limit: 5 days.
Ethan's eyes widened. Patent? That meant paperwork, legal exposure, government databases. It wasn't just fixing machines anymore.
The system was forcing him into the world—forcing him to plant his flag.
And somewhere out there, the man in the gray suit was still watching, waiting.