9 Owning A Cafe

Alan left the cafe, depressed. He'd collected his check. He'd only worked for a week, so it was pretty insignificant. Even with his tips, he only had a couple of thousand dollars to his name. As he walked he complained to the system.

"Hey, system, how come it feels like you're working against me?"

"Host, it's just your imagination." The system replied.

"Is it really?" He asked suspiciously.

"Work hard, Host. Now that you got yourself fired, make the most of the situation and start a cafe."

Alan's eyes widened in indignation. "What do you mean I got myself fired? YOU got me fired! You and your stupid rules!"

"Host, if you were more attractive the woman wouldn't have been so angry and everything would have been fine. Thus, once again, this all comes down to Host's lack of charisma."

Alan was so angry he couldn't even speak and his face turned red.

The system suddenly said. "Detecting abnormality in Host's mental state. Host is in a dangerous state. Beginning recovery protocol. Initiating consolation." The system paused for a minute before saying. "There, there Host. It is the system's fault."

Alan was surprised by the sudden change. "System what are you saying?"

The system replied. "It's all the system's fault, Host. You are not responsible for your misfortune."

Alan felt his anger draining and he started to feel a little better. He never expected the system to actually console him.

But then the System spoke again. "Yes, Host, it is the system's fault for lacking the capability to make you more attractive. The system has failed you Host."

"This %&@*#*@," Alan began cursing the system.

The rest of the day passed quickly. When Alan came home his parents were there and found out he no longer had a job. However, since he didn't want to tell them he was fired he told them that he had quit.

In hindsight, it would have been better to say he had the day off. Turns out his parents didn't care if he was fired or quit, they more cared that he no longer had a source of income.

Alan sighed as he sat in his room, pondering what to do next.

"I could always do what the system wants and start a cafe," He thought. He didn't have much money, but he could always sign a lease to rent a storefront in the city. Then he could use the couple of thousand dollars he had to get a cheap coffee maker and the other equipment and furniture he'd need for the cafe. It would be tight, but he could manage.

So long as he could get his start, he was confident the ultimate cup of joe would be able to keep him in business.

As he thought of this, however, the system suddenly spoke. "Host, it seems you are considering renting a cafe."

"That's right, system." Alan said. "You get what you wanted. I will be starting a cafe."

The system was quiet for a moment, but then said. "Host, please check the mission again."

Alan did.

"I see it," He said, getting annoyed. "It tells me I need to start a cafe and then I'll get the title of cafe owner as a reward. Speaking of which I never asked what that reward actually meant."

"Host will have to earn the reward to find out. More importantly Host, you're paraphrasing the mission."

"What do you mean?" He asked irritably.

The system replied, "Read the mission title word for word Host."

Alan went back to it and did. "Owning a cafe. What's your point system?"

"Host, you kept saying starting a cafe. The mission is owning a cafe."

Horrified understanding began to dawn on Alan. "System, you can't mean...that I have to buy a storefront for the cafe."

"Of course not, Host." The system replied.

Alan started to breath a sigh of relief, but then the system continued. "Host doesn't have to buy a storefront. It could be a house, an office building, or any number of types of properties. The system would never limit Host in such a way."

Alan could only give the system's response a thumbs up. "Wow, system, you're great you know that. I mean truly just great."

"You're welcome Host." The system said mechanically.

Just like that, Alan went from having enough money to potentially start his cafe to having nowhere near enough money to do so.

He wondered if he could get a job at a cafe somewhere, but he could easily see the rules being a problem. Not to mention he only got the job this time because of Alexander Willington.

If he went to another place he would have to list his previous cafe as a reference to have a shot, but there was an obvious problem with that. Was John likely to give him a good reference if they called him up?

Alan sighed helplessly, wondering what he was going to do next.