The TitanCorp tower wasn't just a building; it was a statement. A colossal spear of glass and steel, it pierced the morning sky, reflecting the clouds with an arrogant, polished sheen. Standing at its base, Leo felt like a microbe about to be absorbed by a leviathan. For a moment, the sheer scale of the place threatened to overwhelm him, but the weight of the official ID lanyard in his pocket was a grounding force. This was real. He belonged here. For now.
As he pushed through the revolving doors, the lobby hit him with a wave of cool, filtered air and the low, purposeful hum of ambition. Men and women in impeccably tailored suits moved with a swift, predatory grace. The air smelled of expensive cologne and freshly brewed coffee. It was a world away from his stuffy apartment.
Right on cue, his phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out discreetly. The System's clean interface was already on the screen.
[New Quest Issued: Tutorial - Survive Your First Day] [Description: The first day separates the contenders from the cautionary tales. Navigate the corporate labyrinth, complete your initial tasks, and prove you are not a liability.]
[Objective 1: Clock in before 8:00 a.m.] [Time Remaining: 00:14:32] [Reward for Success: ???] [Penalty for Failure: Immediate termination of SSS-Ranked Internship.]
Leo's eyes widened at the penalty. The System wasn't messing around. Fourteen minutes. More than enough time, he thought, making a beeline for the reception desk. A woman with a headset and a surgically precise smile looked up.
"Welcome to TitanCorp. How can I help you?"
"Leo Zhang," he said, presenting his offer letter. "First day, intern. I'm here to pick up my temporary access card."
Her fingers danced across a keyboard. Her smile faltered for a fraction of a second, but Leo caught it. "Ah, Mr. Zhang. It seems your onboarding paperwork hasn't been fully processed by central HR. You'll need to go to Building B to have it manually approved before we can issue a pass." She pointed vaguely past the security gates. "It's just across the main plaza."
Leo glanced at the clock on the wall. 7:48 a.m. Building B was a ten-minute walk, and that was before dealing with another layer of bureaucracy. It was a setup. A deliberate, systemic hurdle to trip up newcomers. A normal person would panic, rush over there, and be late on their very first day.
But Leo wasn't normal anymore. He had the System. And the System had presented this as an objective in a game.
He forced a calm, polite smile. "Thank you for the information. I'll head right over."
He stepped away from the desk, his mind kicking into overdrive. The official path was a losing strategy. Therefore, he had to find an unofficial one. He began to observe, his eyes scanning the lobby not as a nervous intern, but as a player analyzing the game board. He saw the security guards, a bit too relaxed after the morning rush. He saw the express elevators, reserved for executives. He saw the flow of employees—some swiping their cards without breaking stride, others fumbling in their bags.
The System chimed in his mind, its text overlaying his vision. [Analysis Mode Activated. Environmental variables are being processed.] It highlighted a group of catering staff wheeling a large cart toward a service entrance, and then a harried-looking man in a rumpled suit trying to juggle a briefcase, a phone, and a spilling coffee cup. The man was heading for the main turnstiles.
An opportunity.
Leo strode towards the man, his pace urgent but controlled. He intercepted him just before the gates.
"Mr. Davison?" Leo asked, feigning recognition.
The man looked up, confused. "Do I know you?"
"Leo, from the Q4 logistics forecast team," Leo said, pulling the jargon out of thin air. "Sir, I am so sorry to bother you, but security hasn't activated my new pass yet, and I have to get these urgent projection figures to the 34th floor before the 8 a.m. briefing. Could I possibly slip in behind you? It's a total emergency."
Mr. Davison was too flustered by his coffee and his phone call to argue. He saw a young, eager face in a cheap suit and made an executive decision. "Fine, fine, just be quick about it."
He swiped his card, the gate beeped open, and Leo slid through right behind him, melting into the crowd with a quick "Thank you, sir!"
He was in.
He located a public employee terminal, a sleek kiosk near the elevator bank. Using the login details from his offer letter, he accessed the internal portal. With a few clicks, he navigated to the timecard page.
7:58 a.m.
He clicked "Clock In."
A moment later, his phone buzzed again.
[Objective Complete: Clocked in before 8:00 a.m.] [Your cunning and adaptability have been noted. The direct approach is often a trap for the inflexible.]
[Tutorial Quest Reward Unlocked!] [Item Acquired: Super Shirt] [Type: Corporate Gear (Common)] [Effect: Grants passive skill 'Wrinkle Immunity'. Minor resistance to common workplace stains (e.g., coffee, ink).]
Leo looked down at his shirt. It was the same cheap cotton blend he'd ironed meticulously that morning, but it already had a few creases from the bus ride. As he watched, the wrinkles seemed to... soften. The fabric settled, pulling taut until it looked as crisp and sharp as the moment it had come off the ironing board.
A slow smile spread across Leo's face. The game was on.