Gelian sat up in bed, still half-convinced he was dreaming. The holographic screen floated in front of him, glowing softly in the dim light. Words flickered across it, the AI's message displaying a series of prompts and objectives.
Welcome, Gelian Riel. You are now the Host of the Phantom Internet Cafe System.
He blinked, the words repeating themselves in his mind as he reached out hesitantly, touching the floating screen. It responded to his touch, shifting and expanding to display the system's main menu. He scrolled through the options, scanning lines of information that promised him the tools to rebuild his failing cafe.
Mission #1: Build an underground gaming space connected to other worlds.
The screen elaborated, showing him a blueprint for a high-tech, underground extension directly below his cafe. Gelian's eyes widened as he took in the architectural renderings, all of which looked far beyond anything he could have imagined. The system explained that it would allow him to connect to a "multiverse clientele"—strange words, but they filled him with a thrill of possibility.
Just as his heart started to race with excitement, a notification blinked on the screen.
Funds Required: 1,000,000 credits.
He slumped. "How am I supposed to get that much?" he muttered. But the system answered his question almost immediately, with a calm and mechanized tone that was both reassuring and slightly ominous.
Timeframe: One week. Progress is required for your continued partnership.
Gelian stared at the screen in disbelief. One million credits… one week. It felt impossible. His business barely survived on the little income it had, and this was a sum that he'd struggled to imagine, let alone actually possess.
But the stakes were clear. This system, whatever it was, held the keys to making his cafe into something extraordinary. And if he let this chance slip, he'd be back to watching his dreams decay into nothing.
Biting his lip, Gelian weighed his options. He could sell off his other cafe branches. They were his life's work, spread across the city, and each one held memories of better days. And yet, deep down, he knew they were barely breaking even themselves. Without the kind of boost the system promised, they'd eventually drag him under anyway.
Taking a deep breath, he began making calls. Over the next few days, he negotiated, signed away ownership, and even took out a hefty 250,000 loan to secure the rest of the needed funds. His life's work, years of struggle, was reduced to a bank balance that now sat at a level he had never thought he'd see.
On the fifth day, he finally tapped the system's floating screen with shaky fingers, transferring the full amount.
Mission Complete: 1,000,000 credits secured. Initiating construction on the Phantom Realm Underground Cafe.
The response was instant. His screen lit up, displaying a new series of messages and schematics for the construction team that would be arriving shortly. Gelian watched with a mixture of pride and anxiety, knowing he had risked everything. But this was a new beginning, a path he hadn't seen coming, and he was determined to walk it to the end.
Next Mission: Attract 5 Unique Customers within the Next Month.
He read the new objective, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. This time, he'd make sure his gamble paid off.