「Welcome to Schedule 1, Bruce Oliver」
The subtle white text with green holographic hues pulsed, Bruce's eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Then, they returned to their dopey, low-brow origin as he squinted suspiciously, wondering if something really was laced with his kush.
'I grew the shit myself. There's no way that there was something in it,' he reaffirmed, rubbing his chin as he did.
'Dumbasses like Cole, a friend from high school, was into this sci-fi bs, telling me that people with systems are incredibly entertaining to watch and read about.
'With the logic that nerd's been feeding me, this is a system meant to help me?'
「Correct, Bruce」
He chuckled and scratched the back of his neck. "Mkay. How do I use you? Damn, that felt wrong."
「It sounded wrong as well」
"Huh?" Bruce raised an eyebrow.
「To access your stats, simply call out your Status. To access other functions, such as your map, dealer and worker management, alongside your product manager section, simply call them out respectively」
"Guess we'll go with my stats first. Status."
「Congratulations! For activating the Schedule 1 system, the host has received 3 skills!」
「—SCHEDULE 1 INTERFACE—」
–IDENTIFICATION–
◇ Name: Bruce Oliver
◇ Age: 24
◇ Level: Street Rat I
◇ XP: 123 / 300
–ATTRIBUTES–
◇ Strength: 31
◇ Dexterity: 34
◇ Endurance: 28
◇ Intelligence: 19
–SKILLS–
◇ Passive Skills
- Miraculous Repair
- Kush Effect
◇ Active Skills
- Power Fist (lvl.1)
–INVENTORY–
0 / 10 slots
Bruce nodded as he rubbed his chin. 'Pretty strong, pretty fast, pretty much built like an athlete. But what's with my intelligence being so low?!
'I'm certain I'm smart!'
「Hiding Kush in your sleeves doesn't make you smart, dumbass」
Bruce gritted his teeth as the sarcasm behind the system's voice had weight.
「Lucky for you, though, your intelligence, along with your other attributes, can be increased over time」
Bruce fell onto his bed and groaned. "Go away, I'm going to bed."
「We still need to take a look at your skills」
He quickly sat up straight, hoping there was something that could actually balance out his so-called stupidity.
「Miraculous Repair: Any damage caused by the host on the townspeople, environment, or law enforcement will be repaired by the system within 15-24 hours, or when the host sleeps」
Bruce's lips curled upwards while his eyes were laced with mischief. "If I had this back in high school, I would've pushed more product and become a kingpin by now."
「Kush Effect: Townsfolk will actively forget or forgive you for trying to scam, fight or steal from them, assuring you can always sell some more」
Bruce's smile quickly turned into a frown. "That's basically the same skill..."
「No, it isn't, dummy」
"Please don't call me that."
「Alright, next skill!」
"Don't just brush past it either!"
「Power Fist (lvl.1): Charge a powerful punch that can knock out opponents in one move」
"Hehe hehe," Bruce rubbed his hands like a scheming merchant and cackled like an old witch.
"I'm a god with this build! I'll be falcon punching suckers out of the stratosphere!"
「Wow! He knows what a stratosphere is!」
Bruce grunted. "If we're done here, I'd like to go to bed."
「Yes, it is high time you rested. You have a big day tomorrow」
Bruce removed his clothes, leaving his boxers on, and quickly fell asleep.
Around 7 in the morning, he opened his eyes and stretched, welcoming the new day with open arms.
There was no floating holographic screen before him, nor was there a mechanical voice ringing in his ears.
After showering and having some breakfast, Bruce walked out of his motel room, making his way towards the Hardware Store.
'Maybe it really was a dream.'
「Good morning, host! Are you ready to make some money?」
Bruce stopped dead in his tracks, crouched, covered his face with his hands and screamed into his palms, spooking a passerby as she began walking faster.
'Why are you real...?' Bruce's voice cracked as he genuinely felt like crying.
「Aw, don't cry, Bruce. Talk to Nelson. He'll explain everything」
Somewhat inclined to follow the sentient system, Bruce walked to the payphone next to the skatepark and answered the ringing phone.
「Hey, neph! How do you like the little gift I left at Donna's?」
Bruce took in a deep sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose, shutting his eyes.
"Is this some sort of prank?"
「Not at all, buddy. That system is a family heirloom meant to assist the hosts of our family.
「It was going to be passed down to my kid, but you don't have any cousins on my side. So, I gave it to you instead.
「Depending on your desired profession, the system will create a personalised levelling system to ensure you live a good life」
"Yeah, I just texted Cole and he told me that systems sometimes fuck main characters over.
"Apparently, a cheat skill is better?"
「The fuck is that?」
"Beats me," Bruce shrugged.
「In any case, the system will bend to your needs and desires. Until I get to my trial, that little fella will help you out.
「Stay safe out there, nephew. 」
Bruce nodded slowly. "See you soon, unc."
He hung up the phone and placed his hands in his pockets.
「Now that we're together forever, or at least until you get a child, we should get down to business!
「I've added a contact to your device. Albert Hoover will sell you seeds at a specialised price.
「Thanks to Nelson, you'll pay your tab once you have enough money. Get 3 seeds from him」
Bruce pulled out his phone and immediately contacted Albert Hoover, another one of Nelson's contacts, and requested a dead drop.
Thanks to Nelson's good word, Bruce was able to get 3 OG Kush seeds from one of Albert's stashes in the back of the supermarket.
The system then instructed him to get some equipment with the money Nelson left for him.
Bruce arrived at the Hardware Store and spoke to Dan, a friendly old man who owned the store.
He then bought a standard grow tent that came with a pot, some low-quality soil, trimmers, a packaging station, some baggies, and a watering can.
"Hey, there. You're new in town right? It's nice to see a fresh face around here," Dan smiled, his cheeks swelling up from his pure joy.
"What type of work are you in?"
「You're in agriculture」
"I'm a drug dealer," Bruce retorted.
「You...!」
Dan laughed and wiped his tears. "Hell yeah, brother. Here, have some speed grow on the house. Them 'marijuana' plants will love it."
Dan handed Bruce the bottle. "Thanks, Dan!" Bruce beamed and waved as he walked away.
「Did you know that would happen?」
'Not really. I'm just crazy enough to try something like that.'
「Oh my God, you're too stupid to realise how risky that was...」
Bruce noticed how his purchases could be stored in his inventory, freeing his hands.
Thanks to his passive skills, the townsfolk didn't notice the items disappearing into thin air, reappearing in his system screen.
After buying some food, the youngster returned to the motel and set up his system.
Minutes later, his weed was growing, displaying 34% subtly thanks to the system's interface.
After a couple of hours, the weed was fully grown, all thanks to the speed grow Dan gifted Bruce.
He trimmed the plant, packaged the 8 OG kush and walked outside.
Music blasted through the skatepark, the afternoon filled with potential customers and wary cops patrolling.
「You can find potential customers on your map. Their names and pictures will be displayed, along with their location」
'Creepy...'
Bruce popped open his holographic map and saw a few potential customers, his eyes widening when he saw Donna as one.
'I'll have to pay her a visit later on.'
Bruce then walked through town, handing out free samples to a few customers.
Each hit was a fresh intake, a breath of fresh air no one had tasted in a while.
Bruce grew good shit, and he was proud of it. The fact that he already had 3 customers added to his contacts in only the first hour was proof of that.
He returned home, tended to the growing plant and handed out more free samples to those he could find.
「Once you've reached friendly status with your customers, one of them will recommend either a dealer or a distributor, depending on who you sell to.
「For instance, Benji Coleman is friends with Ludwing, Chloe and Peggy. Get to a friendly status with one of them and you'll have someone to help you move your stuff」
Bruce nodded, packing the last bit of weed he had before planting the last seed he had.
He then opened his product manager app, where he listed his OG Kush for sale.
The fair price was listed at $30 dollars, but he bumped the price up to $48 instead.
「Why?」
"Customers tend to reject counteroffers that seem unfair. If I list the Kush 1.6 times higher than the regular price, I make a profit.
"And, if I get someone dumb enough to accept my ridiculous counteroffer, that's more money in my bank."
「Mh... That's incredible. As expected of Nelson's nephew」
Bruce smiled softly. "That's gonna grow old fast..."
Then, his phone buzzed with a request from a customer he hadn't offered a free sample to.
It was time for his first deal in Hyland Point.