Railroaded, cock-blocked and bent over. That’s what the system liked to do to me.

  And here I was, enjoying the fact I had just gotten some nice booty…

  “Yes, confirm.”

  [Greg Reed’s level has risen to level 10]

  [Danger Rating has stayed the same]

  [Still 0]

  I could taste pennies. My face contorting into a half smile—and internal Rage!

  “What do you mean ‘still 0’? You having a laugh or something?”

  But the system remained quiet.

  Chickenshit.

  [For reaching level 5 you have unlocked a skill]

  [“9 to 5”: You can now set opening and closing times]

  [You can set price increases and decreases within your designated times]

  “A bit more control… but I still can’t stop people from entering.”

  I was lucky that adventurers hadn’t come in during the dead of night.

  [For reaching level 10 the skill “Familiar” has been updated]

  The system notice was drilling my ears, while everyone within the room had organised themselves into a line, of sorts.

  “The men and women of Dirkhim will be here within a week.” The skinny man announced before bowing, then striding through the portal.

  “Until then Sir Greg.” The orc added, but stopping halfway through the door with a face of shock and confusion. “I thought I had more money, where did it…”

  And he was gone.

  Now Lomber was next, simply giving me a smile while kicking the thug through the gate.

  “Pleasure doing business.”

  I was rewarded with the sound of scraping boots from the kitchen, as the feather-dusting thug entered my main area. A small foldable ladder wedged in his armpit.

  The man didn’t even say anything, he just went into the first corner and began tackling the webs.

  I stepped away from him. Trying to avoid cobwebs and stale bug carcasses being flung into my breathing room, before swiping my menu back into focus.

  [Familiar: -]

  There was no update on the details of the skill, but there was for the cost.

  My mouth turned dry as I tried to swallow that… price-tag.

  50,000 Gold Coins.

  I closed the skill menu and just stood there for a minute. Taking in the ambience of a man assaulting corner after corner, while Peek was rolling over the holes in my floorboards. Making little clicking sounds whenever his wheels got caught in the splintered mess.

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  My eyes glanced at the small box I had placed on the countertop of my office. Then up at my currency display.

  “480 gold and some change.”

  Less than 1% of what was required for that skill.

  I let out a long sigh, dragging my feet across the pristine smelling, but damaged floor. Plopping down onto my barstool in the kitchen and began my sulking ritual.

  Blowing raspberries while groaning to myself how “unfair life was.”

  The letter from the bank was wedged under the bowl for my keys.

  At the end of the day, we all have our mortgage to pay.

  Peek had swivelled and sucked his way into the kitchen, moving into his new little house beneath the counter.

  Hearing the soft clinks of him dropping the coins. Like a cat doing its business in its tray.

  According to this letter, I had a few days before settling the payment. And even though I now had a way to convert my coins to real money, my phone was now a part of Peek.

  The Internet wasn’t set up in this house and the nearest banking branch was about 4 hours out. So I had to solve the problem of managing this place for 8 hours…. Minimum. Until I could make it back.

  480 gold.

  I swiped through the employment section of my Storefront.

  It had received an increase in prices across the board. Thanks to the system. Consistently reminding me with punches into the delicates.

  Basic employees like Goblins.

  As if!

  We’re now priced about 10 gold, marking a doubling of cost. And they weren’t even that great to begin with.

  The main “feature” it was advertised as was… they were good at causing problems—why?!

  I scrolled down the seemingly small list of monsters and beings. Filtering from those I could afford and the ones straight up dog-shit.

  Until I found a seemingly interesting, while also strange prospect.

  “What’s a Shade?”

  [Shade]

  [Stuck in a void between life and death—and unfinished business]

  [Feature: Will do anything in order to complete the task that tethers it to the physical realm]

  [Cost: 200 Gold Coins]

  I did the equivalent of alt-tabbing the storefront to refresh my memory on how much money I’d need to pay, for my first house instalment.

  [10 Gold = 1 Repayment]

  At least that didn't go up with the rest...

  I confirmed the conversion cost and was rewarded with the gentle plop, of a stack of money.

  Crisp bills, tied up neatly and with a slight suspicion of being laundered.

  Holy shit, am I going to create an inflation issue in THIS world?

  “Focus, Greg.” Smacking my checks between my palms.

  I alt-tabbed back to the Storefront and selected the Shade.

  [Please select the terms of employment before commencing the purchase] Yuck that last part tasted gross.

  A field popped up in-front of my vision and I was left with a blank canvas.

  “Now what? I just fill out whatever?” I snorted.

  *Ding*

  [Fill in the terms to your exact requirements, then proceed with the purchase]

  Oh… no.

  I’ve never done employee forms. I just usually skip to the bottom and press that I’ve read & accept it. How am I supposed to write one out just like that?

  [Would you like a basic template?]

  “Yes?” I responded slowly, my eyes squinting at what a “system’s template” would look like.

  Probably some fine print on how to stick it to me, no thanks.

  “Actually no, never mind.”

  Then started drafting the most barebones employment terms & conditions I could think of. After all, there’s nothing wrong with keeping things basic—right?

  [The employee is allowed 2 x 30 minute breaks and a 10 minute smoko]

  Good start.