James's shoulders slumped as he walked out of the OniCorp Central Spire, Contract application forms clutched in his hand.
It was the first interview he'd been called to after countless applications for a corporate Contract, and it had been a complete disaster.
The moment one of the other candidates, a stunningly beautiful woman, giggled and called the HR manager 'Uncle John,' James knew an Uncontracted like him didn't stand a chance.
His hair fell into his eyes as he stared down at the documents, now nothing more than worthless scraps of paper. He felt a cold drop land on his hand.
It was starting to rain.
That was the last straw. Overwhelmed by the suffocating pressure of life as an Uncontracted and endless disappointment, he collapsed to his knees and screamed with everything he had.
In the corporate city of Aethelburg, people around him scrambled for cover from the rain, acting as if they hadn't heard his cry of agony. Nobody cared about another failed applicant.
It was as if he were invisible.
When a rushing Executive kicked a dirty puddle onto him, it was as if the universe had made its decision: he was just another loser destined to die in the gutters.
When James's screaming faded, only the sound of the rain and his own exhausted breaths remained.
And in that moment, the impossible happened.
He closed his eyes, and an interface, like something out of a video game, appeared in his mind.
[Maximum Despair Level Reached.]
[Consolation Protocol Activated…]
[The Almighty System Has Been Initialized.]
"Hello, Host! I am the Almighty System, here to help you achieve all your life's goals."
James's brain short-circuited. Was this a joke? Some absurd dream brought on by stress? Doubtfully, he voiced the first thought that came to his mind.
"Almighty? Then… then get me a Contract! Get me out of this miserable life!"
The cheerful and overly confident voice in his head replied instantly.
"Excellent goals, Host! The cosmic justice mechanism has processed your request and is now presenting you with the first, most crucial step on your path to wealth!"
James held his breath. Were millions about to be wired into his bank account? Was he going to become an Executive at a major corporation?
[New Quest Created: Economic Awakening!]
[Task: Bend down and pick up the shiny metal object located 30 centimeters to your left.]
[Reward: 1 Credit]
James froze for a moment. He slowly turned his head to the left. There, in a puddle of rainwater by a sewer grate, he saw a single coin.
"This is it?" he whispered into the void. "This is your 'almighty' help? A coin someone dropped on the ground?"
"Precisely!" the system chirped, as if it had just revealed the greatest secret of the universe. "Remember, Host, even the greatest corporate empires start from nothing! By picking up this coin, you are taking control of your financial destiny! As a bonus, I'm also granting you your first skill!"
[New Skill Acquired: Temporarily Shoo Pigeons (Level 1)]
[Description: For 5 seconds, pigeons within a 2-meter radius will be annoyed by you and fly away.]
[Cooldown: 10 Minutes.]
Drenched to the bone, James stared at the single coin in the puddle and the system that was explaining the universal benefits of scaring away pigeons. This wasn't help; it was a flagrant insult.
Is this thing messing with me?
James was ready to stand up and walk away. His pride wouldn't let him grovel for a single coin. But then he remembered the emptiness of his pockets, the hunger in his stomach, and the final eviction notice from OniCorp Housing. Even 1 Credit was better than nothing.
He gritted his teeth. "Damn it."
Just as he knelt in desperation, reaching his finger toward the shiny piece of metal at the edge of the grate, the door to the Spire behind him opened.
First came the scent of expensive perfume, then the sound of cheerful laughter.
James froze instinctively. It was her. The woman who got the Contract—the one who called the manager 'Uncle John'—was walking out with her friends, looking flawless in a sharp, tailored suit.
James's pathetic state—crouched in the rain, in a puddle, reaching for a single coin—immediately caught the group's attention.
The beautiful woman recognized James, and a condescending, amused smile spread across her lips. She nudged her friend.
"Hey, look," she said, her voice laced with laughter. "Isn't that the poor Uncontracted from the interview? He's so broke he's scrounging for coins in the gutters!"
His friends erupted in cruel laughter. Every chuckle was like a knife twisting in James's soul.
And in that moment, the annoyingly cheerful voice in his head chimed in to make things even worse.
"Host, a potential opportunity has been detected!"
[Secret Quest Triggered: Pride or Pennies?]
[Opportunity: The Target ('The Woman in the Tailored Suit') enjoys showing off her Executive-class status by humiliating others. A small mud stain is about to splash onto her expensive heel.]
[Suggestion: Approach the Target and offer to polish her shoes with the sleeve of your soaking-wet jacket in exchange for 100 Credits.]
[Probability of Success (with System Assistance): 99%]
James remained frozen, his muddy fingers still centimeters away from the one-credit coin.
100 Credits… That was enough to pay his rent to OniCorp Housing.
But at what cost?