The capital city was alive with noise and light, but for Kael Frost, it felt colder than ever. At nineteen, he had already experienced more loss than most people would in a lifetime. His parents' sudden deaths two years ago had left him orphaned, and the small apartment he rented now was the only place he could call home.
At first, life had seemed bearable. The insurance and compensation money—nearly $80,000—gave him a cushion to survive. He had been young, naïve, and trusting, especially of his uncle, who had stepped in as "guardian." With warm smiles and comforting words, his uncle had persuaded him to sign a contract that transferred all his parents' properties to his care. Kael, just eighteen then and ignorant of legal matters, believed he was doing the right thing.
Only later did he realize he had signed away his inheritance.
The warmth in his uncle's eyes turned to indifference, then disdain. Soon enough, Kael was no longer welcome in the house that once felt like family. Forced to leave, he moved to the capital city, clinging desperately to what remained of the insurance money.
But money doesn't last forever. Rent, food, clothes—bit by bit, his savings dwindled. Kael worked part-time jobs wherever he could find them: delivering newspapers, sweeping at convenience stores, and eventually waiting tables at a small café. The pay was miserable, but at least it kept him afloat.
Until today.
"Kael, you're fired," the café owner said flatly, not even bothering to make eye contact.
Kael blinked. "What? Why?"
"One of our regular customers complained. Said you were rude. I can't risk the business over you. Pack your things."
Kael's lips trembled, but no words came. He wanted to argue, to defend himself—he had only corrected a customer who tried to skip the bill—but he saw no point. He was just a part-timer, disposable, forgettable.
Hours later, he returned to his tiny apartment. The dim light from the flickering bulb barely lit the cramped room. He sat heavily on the old mattress, pulling out his wallet.
$2,000.
That was all he had left. Two thousand dollars to his name. His chest tightened, and his thoughts turned dark. He had worked hard, trusted people, tried to be honest—and yet the world crushed him at every turn.
He buried his face in his hands. "Why… why is it always me?"
The silence pressed on him. The city outside roared with laughter and success, but here, in this small box of a room, Kael felt utterly alone.
Then—
A sudden chime.
[ Ding! ]
A golden screen appeared before his eyes, floating in the air like a vision from a dream.
> [Business Assignment: Cafe "Morning Brew"]
Location: Near University District
Status: Closed 3 years
Initial Capital Provided: $5,000
Documents placed on your desk
Task: Renovate and reopen. Profit required for next upgrade.
His eyes widened. A broken, abandoned cafe? Closed for years? And only $5,000 to fix it? He stumbled back a step, hands trembling. The old wooden desk in the corner seemed impossibly far. Hesitating, he approached, heart racing. The stack of documents sat there, official and intimidating. Kael swallowed hard, astonishment frozen on his face—this was no ordinary challenge; it felt like being thrown into a storm.
Kael froze, staring at the glowing letters. His breathing quickened, disbelief and hope battling inside him.