Ethan Cross had never made ten cups of coffee in a single day before.
By noon, he'd made twenty.
The café was buzzing—literally. The espresso machine rattled like it was possessed, the milk frother screamed like a banshee, and Ethan's hands were moving faster than his brain could keep up. He'd spilled coffee on his shirt twice, burned his thumb once, and accidentally served a cappuccino to someone who'd asked for tea.
But no one complained.
They were too surprised the café was even open.
Most of the customers were students from the nearby high school, drawn in by the smell of fresh coffee and the novelty of a place that had been dead for months suddenly springing back to life. A few older folks wandered in too, curious and cautious, asking questions like "Is this under new management?" and "Did someone finally buy this dump?"
Ethan smiled through it all, even when his feet ached and his brain begged for a nap.
Because every customer brought him closer to his goal.
Ding!Mission Progress: 7/10 customers served.Reward Pending: 5,000 Wealth Points + Skill Unlock: [Customer Magnet Lv.1]
He glanced at the glowing system screen floating in the corner of his vision. It had become a constant companion—silent, watchful, always ready to flash a new mission or warning.
He didn't trust it.
Not fully.
Not after what he'd found in the back office.
The folder labeled Project Ember was still hidden in his backpack, zipped up tight. He hadn't dared open it again. Not yet. Not until he had more time. More answers.
But the name—Dr. E. Cross—still echoed in his mind.
His dad.
Gone for years. No explanation. No goodbye.
And now, suddenly, Ethan was the owner of a café connected to a system that felt more like a game than reality. A system that had chosen him. A system that might've been built by the man who vanished from his life.
He didn't believe in coincidences.
Not anymore.
The door chimed.
Ethan looked up, expecting another student or maybe a curious neighbor.
Instead, he saw a boy about his age—maybe a year older—step inside like he owned the place.
Tall. Sharp jawline. Designer clothes. Hair styled like he'd just walked off a magazine cover. He wore sunglasses indoors, which was already a red flag, and his shoes looked more expensive than Ethan's entire wardrobe.
The boy scanned the café, then smirked.
"Well, well," he said. "So it's true. The dead café's alive."
Ethan wiped his hands on a towel. "Can I help you?"
The boy took off his sunglasses and tucked them into his shirt pocket. His eyes were cold. Calculating.
"You're Ethan Cross."
Ethan stiffened. "Yeah. And you are?"
"Dante Vale."
The name meant nothing to Ethan. But the way Dante said it—like it should be carved into stone—made him suspicious.
"I run Vale Ventures," Dante continued. "We own half the block. Including the bakery next door. And the bookstore across the street."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Cool. You want a coffee or something?"
Dante smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.
"I want to know how you got this place."
Ethan's fingers curled around the towel. "I bought it."
"With what money?"
Ethan didn't answer.
Dante stepped closer. "This café was supposed to be mine. I had a deal with the previous owner. Then, out of nowhere, it's sold. To you. A nobody."
Ethan's jaw tightened. "Guess I'm not a nobody anymore."
Dante's smile vanished.
For a moment, the air between them felt heavy. Like something invisible was pressing down on the room.
Then Dante's eyes flickered.
And Ethan saw it.
A glowing screen. Just for a second. Floating behind Dante's shoulder.
A system interface.
Just like his.
Ethan's heart skipped.
"You have a system," he said quietly.
Dante's eyes narrowed. "So do you."
Neither of them spoke.
The café was silent, except for the hum of the espresso machine.
Then Dante turned and walked to the counter.
"I'll take a black coffee," he said. "No sugar."
Ethan made it without a word.
When he handed it over, Dante didn't drink it. He just stared at the cup, then at Ethan.
"You're new to this," he said. "I can tell."
Ethan didn't respond.
"You think the system is a gift. A tool. Something to help you get rich."
Still silent.
Dante leaned in.
"It's not."
Ethan's fingers twitched.
"What is it then?"
Dante smiled again. This time, it was colder.
"A test."
He turned and walked out, leaving the coffee untouched.
The door closed behind him.
Ethan stood there, heart pounding.
Ding!Mission Complete: 10/10 customers served.Reward: 5,000 Wealth Points + Skill Unlock: [Customer Magnet Lv.1]
The screen flashed.
Skill Description: Customer Magnet Lv.1 – Increases foot traffic by 10%. Passive charm effect on first-time visitors.
Ethan barely noticed.
His mind was spinning.
Dante had a system. He knew about Ethan's. And he'd called it a test.
What did that mean?
Was there more to this than missions and money?
Was someone watching?
Controlling?
He opened the system menu and scrolled to the bottom.
There was a new tab.
System History – LockedAccess Level: RestrictedUnlock Requirement: Reputation Rank C
Ethan's current rank was F.
He needed more customers. More missions. More wins.
Only then could he dig deeper.
Only then could he find out what the system really was.
He looked at the untouched coffee on the counter.
Then at the door.
Then at the glowing screen.
"Alright," he whispered. "Let's play."