It was a beautiful morning in new york, filled with the sound of birds singing. Just then, an alarm blared, waking up Steve, the main character. He stretched out with a huge yawn.
Steve had been jobless for about two years now. In a squeaky voice, he asked himself, "How the hell did things end up like this?" Looking back two years ago, he remembered vividly: "It had always been my dream to coach and manage a football club, to take them to the international league and bring home the trophy. But, unfortunately, my career came crashing down. The last team I coached didn't make it to the international league, and, unknown to me, the football board managers were using me as a scapegoat to collect money from the club, fans, and sponsors. But after just one lost game, they fired me."
Back in the present, Steve's flashback made him feel miserable and angry at his former club. He turned on the TV and flipped to a sports channel, only to see the football club he had once coached. To his surprise, they were about to play in the international league final. Watching the match for a while, anger welled up inside him, and he switched off the TV. "Aren't I supposed to be the one there? Why is Seo, that bastard, coaching?" he muttered. Seo had been one of the assistant coaches, more interested in money than the club's growth, while Steve had given his all for the team's success.
Every time Steve saw the club on TV or heard news about it, disappointment returned. Just then, KNOCK! KNOCK!—he heard a sound at the door. Confused, as he had been locked up in his room for the past two years with no visitors, he looked through the peephole and saw a delivery guy holding a parcel.
Steve opened the door. "Whose parcel is this? I didn't order anything."
"It's for room number 302," the delivery guy replied.
Surprised and curious, Steve took the parcel, signed for it, and brought it back to his room. He examined the package, looking for the sender's address, but found nothing. Opening it, he discovered a phone and a single letter inside.
He took out the phone and unfolded the letter, deciding to read it first. The letter read: "Do you wish to make your dreams come true? Do you want to create or own a club, win the international cup, or go further to the World Cup? If any of these are your dreams, open the phone. But beware—you must be willing to take risks, as you won't know what awaits you."
Steve was puzzled. He wondered if it was wise to open the phone, but the letter felt personal, as if the sender knew his dream and was offering him a chance to achieve it—and to take revenge on his old club.
Without further hesitation, Steve powered on the phone. The screen lit up, displaying the words ["WELCOME TO THE MANAGER SYSTEM."] "Woah," Steve muttered in surprise.
Then the phone spoke: ["Welcome to the Manager System. Binding with the host."]
"What the hell—the phone just spoke!" Steve exclaimed, both astonished and bewildered.
Suddenly, a sharp pain coursed through his head, as if someone were pulling at his brain. After a moment, the pain subsided, and he noticed a large screen hovering before him, displaying options to "Open" or "Delete." With no other choice, he tapped "Open" and asked the system, "Who are you, and what's your purpose?" It all felt like a fantasy he'd read about in manhwa and novels featuring systems.
The Manager System responded: [I am a system that has traveled across different times and dimensions to help my host achieve their dreams before moving on to other worlds.]
"So, you've helped others achieve their dreams and traveled to different worlds?" Steve asked. "But what can you actually do to help me?"
[As a Manager System, I help my host buy and manage any type of sports activity. You will be given a set amount of funds and specific missions to complete within a given timeframe.]
Just as Steve was processing this, a message appeared on the phone screen:
New Mission Update: Buy a Football Club.
Description: Go to the Football Association and purchase a non-profitable club to start generating revenue. Complete this mission to earn experience points.
Money Deposited: $20,000,000
Time Limit: 40 days
Failure to complete the mission will result in a penalty requiring double repayment of the deposited amount.
Seeing the funds, Steve was speechless. He had never held even a million dollars in his life, and now he had been given $20 million.
---
After some time passed, he picked up his own phone and texted his old friend, Eric.
Steve: "Hey, Eric. I'm thinking of buying a football club that's struggling financially."
Eric: "What?! Are you some kind of agent now?"
Eric was shocked; Steve hadn't messaged him in the last two years, and now he was asking about buying a club.
Steve: "Just do what I asked. I'll meet you at the cafe in three days time."
Putting his phone back in his pocket, Steve began thinking about the meeting with his friend, someone he hadn't seen in the past two years.