"A plan is what I need," Arin mumbled, looking at his system's bright blue window. With his empty Coke can right next to him, he reclined back on the bench having taken in the weak light of the streetlamp not far away.
The evening was refreshing, and there were some faint noises from the unrest that was subsiding in the city. Out of the blue, his house had been destroyed turned into debris and he was still standing without any place to move to.
With only $4950 left, survival for even a month felt uncertain. But the system's quest had given him something more pressing to worry about:
Quest: Open a Store
Reward: Shop 1 (Level 1)
Penalty: System Deletion
Time Limit: 5 Days
"Five days," he sighed. "And I need a store… great."
He began thinking rationally. Buying a store was impossible; even a tiny one would exceed his budget. That left only one option — rent. He pulled out his phone and began scrolling through listings for rental shops in the area.
Most were either too expensive or located in dead areas where no one ever went. "If I rent in an alleyway," he thought, "my store will be doomed before it even starts."
After an hour of searching, one listing caught his attention — a small shop, surprisingly affordable, and located near a market district. Curious, he tapped on the ad and quickly dialed the number.
The call was answered almost instantly.
"Hello? I'm calling about the shop listed near East Market," Arin said.
There was a pause, then a surprised voice responded, "Ah! You're interested?" The man's tone carried both disbelief and delight. "Sir, if you'd like, we can meet to discuss it over dinner. Our office is about to close for the day."
Arin didn't think much about it. His stomach was already growling, and it was getting dark. "Sure," he replied.
The restaurant wasn't fancy, but it was clean and quiet — good enough for a business talk. Arin spotted the man waving at him near the back, a neatly dressed agent with slicked-back hair and a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"You must be Mr. Arin," the man said.
"Yes," Arin replied, taking a seat.
"Let's eat first," the agent suggested, signaling the waiter. As plates arrived and small talk faded, Arin finally asked, "So… why is the shop priced so low? It's near the market, but the rent is ridiculously cheap."
The agent's smile twitched. "Well, there's a small rumor about that property," he said casually. "Nothing serious, of course. Just… people say it's haunted."
Arin blinked. "Haunted?"
"Yes. The previous owner… well, he was involved with some unsavory people. A gang, I believe. They say he used the shop for shady work, and one day, he was found dead inside. Since then, locals claim they hear noises at night — footsteps, banging, things like that."
Arin's appetite disappeared. "You're kidding."
"I assure you, sir, it's just superstition," the agent said quickly, waving his hand. "The place is structurally fine, perfectly safe. But because of the rumor, no one wants to take it."
Arin hesitated. The idea of working in a haunted shop made his skin crawl. But the quest's deadline echoed in his mind. If I don't open a store, I lose the system.
"So," he said finally, "how much are we talking about?"
The agent's smile widened. "For you, sir, a special price — just $20,000 to purchase it outright."
Arin nearly choked on his drink. "$20,000!? I don't even have half that!"
The agent leaned forward conspiratorially. "Then we can make a deal. You can pay monthly rent until you reach that amount. Once you've paid $20,000 total, the shop becomes yours. Think of it as rent-to-own."
Arin frowned, thinking hard. "What's the upfront payment?"
"Just $4000," the agent said smoothly. "Then $3000 rent starting next month."
That would leave Arin with less than $1000 — barely enough to survive a week. He clenched his jaw.
Sensing his hesitation, the agent pressed harder. "Mr. Arin, I like you. You seem determined. I'll tell you what $3000 for the first payment and $2500 from next month. That's the best I can do."
Arin looked down at his trembling hands. It was a massive risk, but he couldn't back down now. If the system was real, if it could truly change his life, this was his only chance.
"…Deal," he said finally.
The agent's grin widened instantly. "Excellent!" He pulled out a folder almost too quickly. "Just sign here, and the shop is yours."
Arin hesitated briefly but signed anyway. The agent didn't waste a second — the moment the papers were signed and the payment transferred, he stood up with a satisfied smile.
"I'll take care of the dinner bill, Mr. Arin," he said. "Congratulations on your new property."
Arin thanked him and left the restaurant, his stomach heavy and his mind spinning. Behind him, the agent smirked to himself, whispering, "Finally got rid of that cursed place."
That night, Arin booked a cheap room at a nearby hostel. As he lay on the bed, staring at the cracked ceiling, he called out softly, "System."
The familiar blue window appeared again.
Name: Arin
Money: $1950
Store Rating: 0
Shop 1 (Level 0)
Product 1: Locked
Product 2: Locked
Product 3: Locked
Shop 2: Locked
Abilities:
Idle (Level 5) – The ancient art of doing absolutely nothing!
Value Eyes (Level 1) – Can see the true value of all things.
Quest: Open a Store
Reward: Shop 1 (Level 1)
Penalty: System Deletion
Time Limit: 5 Days
Staring silently at the screen was what Arin did. He found himself in the possession of a store that might be haunted, was out of money and had no one by his side.
Still, in his heart, he sensed the smallest of lights - a very little flicker of resolve.
"We are past the point of going back," he said under his breath. "I am now ready to test this system for real."