*SLAM*
This inferior son of a bitch, what does he even think he's doing talking trash to me? He is beneath me.. a lowly scum at best and yet he has the audacity to talk like he's my equal. I'm the new CEO of this shitty tech company. I'd rather be enjoying my time playing video games all day. The hell would i know about running a damn company.
If my father hadn't died, id have never stepped here.
"But if we don't acquire any more funds for the new machineries our company wont be able to meet the upcoming demand. Our investors will pull out"
Like hell I'd know about what that all means, they all probably think i can't run a company, well i won't blame them.
"Then just get the machinery?" I snap. "why are you bugging me with this at a time where i haven't even had my morning coffee?"
The manager hesitates, holding the stack of reports to his chest like a flimsy shield Infront of me. I kind of like it, seeing fear Infront of others eyes, especially if its because of me.
"S-Sir James, it's not that simple… we.. we need approval for the budget allocation. The board—"
I click my tongue and lean back in the chair my chair, even though it still smells like my father. Everything in this damned office does.
The leather squeaks under me as I look at the man. "Then take it from whatever budget you need. Marketing, development—I don't care. Just stop whining in front of me and get out."
He swallows hard. Weak. Pathetic. I can practically see the sweat rolling down his temples.
"Yes, Sir. I'll… I'll see what I can do." He bows his head slightly before backing out of the office.
The door shuts.
Silence.
Finally.
I let out a long breath and loosen the tie on my neck.
I hate this place. Every tick of the clock on the wall reminds me I'm trapped in responsibilities I never asked for.
Tsk
Talk about being the only child.
-Phone buzzes-
"Your father's remaining accounts have been transferred. Final verification needed."
At least something good came out of his death. Not like i wasn't doing well before all this. I was gifted a nice resort for my 20th birthday 4 months ago. Life was good there. All i did was play video games or go out to hook up with some of the most beautiful women and now I'm stuck dealing with these nut cases.
Before I can think of anything else, there's a knock at the door.
Great! another one let loose to ruin my day.
"Sir? May I come in?"
The voice is gentle, almost too polite for this place. I straighten slightly.
"…Yeah. Whatever. Come in."
The door opens quietly. A young woman steps inside, someone I haven't seen before. Not in HR, not in finance, not in any of the pointless meetings I've been dragged to. She carries a small tray with a cup and a faint smile on her face.
"Your morning coffee, sir."
"Fine, leave it there." I motion lazily at the desk.
As she sets the tray down, I catch a scent from the coffee which doesn't have that bitter smell like the one that comes from the office machine.
"Who sent you?"
She pauses. Not afraid. Not nervous. As if she had all the confidence in this world, its something i hate in people.
"My supervisor," she answered with a smile. "We're ensuring the executives are well taken care of. It's a… stressful time for the company."
Stressful? For them, maybe. I could just roll out to my resort while they can all go jobless for all i know. I have enough to live my whole life in peace.
"Fine, you may leave," I mutter, waving her off.
She bows her head respectfully and turns to leave.
The door clicks shut.
I couldn't wait any further and grabbed the cup started sipping on the coffee which tasted a bit sweet.
Just after a few sips a sudden wave of dizziness crashed over me as if my body was shutting down. My vision started getting blurry with my hands going numb.
The cup fell from my fingers and dropped on the ground as my chest continued to burn.
Did someone actually poisoned me? was it the girl who just entered? i should have been more cautious..
My knees hit the floor. I see the desk rise above me, the ceiling twisting like a black hole pulling everything inward.
A buzzing sound kept humming and then all of a sudden i heard a sharp, digital ping echo in my skull.
A glowing rectangle.
No.
It's a window
Like something out of a damn RPG.
[SYSTEM DIAGNOSTIC – CURRENT LIFE PERFORMANCE]
Name: James Edward
Race: Human
Age: 20
Level: 1
Overall Evaluation:Mediocre Born-Elite
Stats (Normalized Average):
Strength: 3/100
Endurance: 1/100
Agility: 4/100
Dexterity: 8/100
Intelligence: 3/100
Willpower: 2/100
Awareness: 3/100
Charisma: 5/100
Luck: 15/100
Morality:Spoiled
Summary:Individual wasted inherited advantages. Potential largely wasted. Imminent death detected.
I stare at it with confusion.
"Wh… what the hell… is this…?"
Another ping.
A second window opens after the first.
[SYSTEM NOTICE – LIFE TERMINATION CONFIRMED]
Cause of Death: Poison ingestion
Threat Level: Severe (will result in death)
Responsibility: Personal negligence (Should have been cautious)
Continuation Protocols are Available:
Cease Existence
Accept natural death (Consciousness will dissolve permanently.)
Reincarnation in Alternate World
Transfer consciousness to a hostile realm.
Difficulty: Extreme.
Role: Unique Hero Class (Only One remaining).
Stats will be recalibrated.
A faint heartbeat pounds in my ears and even that is fading.
The window brightens.
[CHOOSE ONE OPTION]
Time remaining: 10… 9… 8…
My vision is almost gone now. All i can see is just blurs of color and the glowing system text.
I reach out with a trembling hand. My fingers barely lift off the ground.
My mind settles on the only option that doesn't piss me off.
The only one that will make me leave this stupid place. Of course i will choose death.
[Option 2 Selected: Reincarnation Initiated]
evaluating new world parameters… recalibrating soul… Preparing transfer…
"What.. the .. fu-"
A violent pull yanks my consciousness forward.
Everything around me tear away in a burst of blinding light.