Mrs. Chen just left and didn't say anything. The elderly woman had taken one look at Lucas's tear-streaked face, his wild eyes, and the obvious signs of his mental breakdown, then simply shaken her head and retreated to her apartment. No words of comfort, no judgment—just the quiet closing of a door that felt like the final punctuation mark on his worthlessness.
"Yeah, I really am worthless..." Lucas muttered to the empty hallway before stepping back into his apartment and closing his own door.
The silence was suffocating. Lucas walked slowly to his couch, his movements mechanical, like a man sleepwalking through his own nightmare. As he approached the furniture, his eyes caught sight of the evidence of his wife's betrayal—a wet stain on the leather cushions where Diana and Chris had been intimate just hours before.
He stared at it for a long moment, and then something inside him snapped again. Not the rage this time, but something darker, more bitter.
"HAHAHA! Can't believe my wife was having sex with a small dick guy! HAHAHA!" Lucas's laughter echoed through the empty apartment, bouncing off walls that had once held family photos, children's drawings, and memories of better times. "Now what do I do!? I have nothing!"
The laughter died as quickly as it had come, leaving him standing alone in his living room at three in the morning, surrounded by the wreckage of his life. His parents were dead. His business was destroyed. His wife and daughter had chosen his brother over him. His bank account held barely enough to cover next month's rent.
Lucas collapsed onto the couch, not caring about the stain beside him. He closed his eyes, hoping that maybe, just maybe, he could disappear into sleep and never wake up.
Ding!
The sound cut through the silence like a knife. Lucas's eyes snapped open, his heart racing. It was a clear, crisp sound—like a notification from a video game, but impossibly real and present in his living room.
"What the hell?"
He looked around frantically, searching for the source of the sound. His phone was on the coffee table, screen dark. The television was off. There was nothing that could have made that noise.
Then he saw it.
Floating in the air directly in front of him was a translucent blue screen, glowing softly in the darkness of his apartment. On it, in clean white text, was a single word: "Ding!"
Lucas blinked hard, rubbed his eyes, and looked again. The screen was still there.
"Am I hallucinating? I really did become crazy!"
As if responding to his words, the text on the screen changed.
Binding With Host is Completed!
Lucas stumbled backward, nearly falling off the couch. His hands shook as he pointed at the floating display.
"What? What do you mean binding?"
The screen flickered, and new text appeared.
Requirements met!The requirements are: Must be handsome, tall, a business prodigy
"What the hell is going on here! Am I seeing stuff right now?" Lucas's voice cracked with disbelief and fear.
No you're not host! What you see is real! I am here to help you!
The text shifted again, and Lucas felt his heart skip a beat as he read the next message.
By the way, you are not worthless anymore if you want to continue!
The words hit him like a physical blow. After everything that had happened tonight—Diana's betrayal, Lianne's cruel words, the crushing realization that he truly had nothing left—here was something, anything, offering him hope.
"Really? Then I continue!" Lucas screamed, his voice hoarse with desperation and sudden, impossible hope.
Binding is successful!
The screen pulsed with a brighter light, and Lucas felt a strange warmth spread through his chest. It wasn't painful, but it was definitely there—like someone had placed a gentle hand over his heart.
Analyzing.
Lucas watched, transfixed, as the text blinked slowly.
Analyzing..
His breathing became shallow. Whatever this was—hallucination, divine intervention, or complete mental breakdown—it was the first thing in months that had made him feel anything other than defeat.
Analyzing...
The pause seemed to stretch forever. Lucas found himself holding his breath, afraid that if he moved or made a sound, this impossible moment would shatter like glass.
Everything is perfect!
The text flashed triumphantly, and Lucas felt tears spring to his eyes. When was the last time anyone or anything had called him perfect?
Host current funds: $150
The screen displayed the number with clinical precision, and Lucas felt his brief moment of hope crash back down to earth.
"What? Are you mocking me right now?" he asked bitterly. One hundred and fifty dollars. That was all he had left after paying this month's rent and utilities. Enough for groceries for maybe two weeks if he was careful.
No I am not.
The response was immediate, almost gentle in its tone. Then new text appeared that made Lucas's heart stop.
First quest! Start a coffee business again!Start up money: $50,000And hire employees!Rewards: $500,000. A mansion and a Rolls Royce Phantom
Lucas stared at the screen, reading the words over and over again. Fifty thousand dollars. Half a million in rewards. A mansion. A Rolls Royce Phantom—the kind of car he'd dreamed about during the height of his success but had never been able to justify purchasing.
"WHAT!? Is this real?" he whispered, afraid to speak too loudly lest he wake up from what had to be a dream.
Start Up money has been transferred!
Ding!
The sound came from his phone this time. Lucas lunged for it, his hands shaking as he unlocked the screen and navigated to his banking app. His heart pounded as he waited for it to load, and when it did, he nearly dropped the device.
"You received $50,000 - ABC Bank!" Lucas read the notification aloud, his voice filled with wonder and disbelief.
He refreshed the app three times, certain it was a glitch. But there it was, clear as day: his account balance had jumped from $150 to $50,150. The transfer was real. The money was real.
"It really is real!"
Lucas jumped up from the couch, suddenly energized in a way he hadn't felt in years. The floating screen remained in front of him, pulsing gently with that soft blue light.
Quest Details: Establish a new coffee business within 30 days. Hire at least 5 employees. Achieve $10,000 in monthly revenue.
Failure Penalty: Loss of system access and return of startup funds.
Success Reward: $500,000, luxury mansion in Manhattan, Rolls Royce Phantom
Additional Note: Host has been granted enhanced business acumen and charisma for quest completion.
Lucas felt a strange tingling sensation spread through his body as he read the last line. It was subtle, but he could feel something changing—his posture straightening, his mind becoming clearer, more focused. The fog of depression and despair that had clouded his thoughts for months seemed to lift like morning mist.
"Enhanced business acumen," he murmured, and found that he could already see possibilities he hadn't considered before. Location scouting, supplier relationships, marketing strategies—ideas began flowing through his mind with a clarity and precision that felt almost supernatural.
But first, he needed to understand what he was dealing with.
"What are you?" he asked the screen. "What is this system?"
I am the Business Magnate System. I exist to help worthy individuals rebuild and expand their commercial empires. You have been selected based on your previous success, your current adversity, and your potential for greatness.
This system operates on a quest-based structure. Complete quests to earn rewards, unlock new abilities, and access greater opportunities. Fail, and consequences will follow.
"Why me? Why now?"
Your wife betrayed you tonight. Your daughter rejected you. Your brother stole your family. But your business mind remains intact. Your determination to succeed burns brighter in adversity. These qualities make you an ideal host.
Additionally, your emotional state has reached a critical threshold. The system activates only for those who have lost everything but retain the will to rebuild.
Lucas felt a chill run down his spine. This thing—whatever it was—had been watching him. It knew about Diana, about Chris, about everything that had happened tonight.
"Are you reading my mind?"
I have access to your memories and emotions, but only those relevant to business success and personal growth. Your private thoughts remain private unless they impact quest completion.
The honesty was somehow reassuring. Lucas found himself accepting the impossible situation with a pragmatism that surprised him. Maybe it was the enhanced business acumen kicking in, or maybe he was just so desperate for a lifeline that he was willing to grab onto anything.
"Okay," he said aloud. "Let's say I believe this is real. Let's say I complete this quest. What happens next?"
Additional quests will unlock based on your success level. The system grows with you. Small victories lead to larger opportunities. Eventually, you could build an empire that spans continents.
But first, you must prove yourself with coffee once again.
Lucas nodded slowly. Coffee. It had been his first love, his first success. Even now, broke and betrayed, he could still remember the perfect temperature for brewing his signature blend, the exact ratio of beans that had made Reed Coffee famous.
"I'll need a location," he said, his mind already racing ahead to logistics. "Equipment, suppliers, permits, staff..."
All obstacles can be overcome with proper planning and execution. Your enhanced abilities will guide you to the correct decisions.
The screen flickered, and new text appeared.
Bonus Objective: Achieve success in a location that directly competes with your brother Chris's business interests.
Bonus Reward: Additional $250,000 and access to Level 2 System Features
Lucas felt a smile spread across his face—the first genuine smile he'd felt in months. Chris worked in finance, and Lucas knew that his brother frequently entertained clients at upscale coffee shops in the Financial District. The idea of opening a competing establishment right in Chris's territory was deliciously appealing.
"Now that sounds like a challenge I can get behind," Lucas said.
He spent the next hour planning. The system screen remained visible, occasionally offering suggestions or displaying relevant information, but mostly it let Lucas's enhanced mind work through the details. By the time the sun began to rise over the city, he had a comprehensive business plan forming in his head.
Location: A prime spot in the Financial District, preferably within walking distance of Chris's office building. Lucas would need to scout locations first thing in the morning.
Equipment: Industrial-grade espresso machines, high-quality grinders, professional brewing equipment. He could get everything he needed for about $25,000 if he shopped smart.
Staff: Five employees to start, as required by the quest. He'd need a mix of experienced baristas and eager newcomers he could train in his methods.
Suppliers: Lucas still had contacts in the coffee import business. His reputation might have been tarnished by the bankruptcy, but his palate and knowledge were still respected in the industry.
Marketing: This would be crucial. He needed to make a splash, to announce to the world—and to his family—that Lucas Reed was back.
The screen pulsed gently, and new text appeared.
Host shows excellent strategic thinking. Probability of quest success has increased to 78%.
"Only 78%?" Lucas asked.
Success is never guaranteed. Unexpected variables always exist. But your planning shows promise.
Lucas stood up, walked to his window, and looked out at the city beginning to wake up. Somewhere out there, Diana was probably sleeping next to Chris, Lianne in the guest room of whatever hotel or apartment they'd gone to. They thought they'd left him broken, worthless, defeated.
They had no idea what they'd unleashed.
"System," Lucas said, "show me the quest details one more time."
The screen obligingly displayed the information:
First Quest: Start a coffee business again!Startup money: $50,000 (transferred)Requirements: Hire at least 5 employees, achieve $10,000 monthly revenueDeadline: 30 daysSuccess Rewards: $500,000, luxury Manhattan mansion, Rolls Royce PhantomBonus Objective: Compete directly with host's brother's business interestsBonus Rewards: Additional $250,000, Level 2 System access
Lucas nodded with satisfaction. In thirty days, he would either be a millionaire with a new mansion and luxury car, or he'd be back where he started. But for the first time in months, he felt alive. He felt purpose coursing through his veins like electricity.
His phone buzzed with a text message. Lucas glanced at it, expecting spam or a bill collector. Instead, he saw a number he didn't recognize.
"Hey, I heard about Reed Coffee's comeback! Is it true? This is Jake Martinez from Coffee Importers United. Would love to discuss business!"
Lucas frowned. He hadn't told anyone about his plans yet. Hell, he'd only decided on them an hour ago. How could Jake possibly know?
The system screen flickered, and text appeared.
System influence extends to creating favorable circumstances for quest completion. Relevant business contacts may reach out proactively.
"You're manipulating other people?" Lucas asked, concerned.
Not manipulation. Enhancement of existing probability streams. Jake Martinez was already considering reaching out to you based on industry rumors. The system simply... encouraged the timing.
Lucas wasn't sure he was entirely comfortable with that explanation, but he couldn't deny the result was helpful. Jake was one of the best coffee importers in the city, and having him reach out first thing in the morning was incredibly convenient.
Another text arrived, this one from Sandra Williams, a commercial real estate agent he'd worked with during his original expansion.
"Lucas! Heard through the grapevine you might be looking for retail space. I have three perfect locations in the Financial District. Call me!"
Then another, from Marcus Rodriguez, the head chef from a restaurant supply company.
"Reed! Man, the industry's been boring without you. Coffee equipment for a new venture? I've got everything you need at cost. Let's talk!"
Lucas stared at his phone as message after message arrived. Word was spreading through the business community with impossible speed, as if the universe itself was conspiring to make his comeback happen.
"This is incredible," he breathed.
The system rewards ambition and punishes those who would stand in your way. Your success benefits everyone connected to your business ecosystem. They sense opportunity and respond accordingly.
Lucas felt a surge of confidence unlike anything he'd experienced since before the pandemic. This wasn't just about rebuilding his life—this was about showing everyone who'd written him off exactly what Lucas Reed was capable of.
He grabbed his jacket and headed for the door. The morning was young, and he had a business to build.
As he stepped out into the New York morning, Lucas Reed—broke, betrayed, but no longer broken—smiled with genuine anticipation for the first time in over a year.
Somewhere in the city, his brother Chris was probably waking up next to Diana, thinking he'd won. His daughter Lianne was probably planning her new life with her more "successful" stepfather figure.
None of them had any idea that the man they'd called worthless was about to become their worst nightmare.
The hunt for redemption was about to begin.
Quest Timer: 29 days, 23 hours, 47 minutes remaining.