"Crazy…"
"Damn, it's crazy."
That was the only word Peter could use to describe the things that just happened today.
He was now sitting alone in his office. An office that he would soon need to leave. On top of his desk were several signed documents. They were transfer papers and appointment letters.
The Chairman told him that he would start his work at the supermarket in one week. Starting tomorrow, he doesn't need to go to the company anymore.
"The chairman is set to get me out of his eyes, doesn't he?" He leaned back in his chair and covered his face with both hands.
Aside from the papers, the chairman also told him that the company would provide him with an apartment in the countryside, near the supermarket.
But that was the only good thing about it.
Because once he moved, he would no longer be under XYZ Technology.
Which meant the high-level tech division benefits would be gone for him. He won't have bonuses, paid leaves, and also a brand new phone every year on top of that!
"This is all those fuckers fault!" Peter cursed the marketing director. The man even had the audacity to congratulate him loudly once they left the chairman's office. Because of it, the whole floor already knew about his transfer.
"I will get back to that fucker soon…"
He was completely ruined by now.
[It's fine, Host.]
Right! And on top of that was this voice talking to him in his head!
"Pst, go answer me. Who really are you?" Peter stared at the holographic screen in front of him that was displaying the words that the robotic voice was saying in his head.
[Just as I said, Host. I am your system.]
"A system?" His brows furrowed. "What does that even mean?"
[I am a tool assigned to assist you in your new career!]
"So you're telling me you're here to help me manage that supermarket?" Peter made a face.
[Correct, Host.]
A strange silence filled the room.
"Huh?"
[Anyway, Host. Would you like to begin the binding process so we may proceed officially?]
"Binding process?" Peter's eyes widened.
"I won't die because of this… right?"
[Of course not, Host. I am completely safe and harmless… and innocent.]
Peter narrowed his eyes because of that answer.
"That's exactly what someone dangerous would say, you know..."
[…]
'Hays,' Peter just sighed and shook his head. 'I guess this is not bad at all.' And he's also curious about it.
After all, his day was already ruined. What more could go wrong?
"Fine," Peter muttered. "I guess I'll accept it."
[Wise choice, Host!]
[But before we start, I have one question.]
"What?"
[What do you intend to do with the new business you have been assigned?]
The moment the system asked that, Peter's blood began to boil. His fingers tightened against the armrest of his chair. He was getting annoyed again.
"That business?" he said slowly as an idea formed in his head. His eyes darkened.
"I will make it fail! Bwahahaha!"
"If they want to throw me there, then fine. I'll drag it down with me." A playful and evil smile appeared on his face. He was a petty guy, so he gotta live with it!
[Answer detected.]
[Host's intent has been identified.]
[System core purpose is being revised…]
"Huh?" Peter frowned. "What revised?"
[Binding has started.]
"What do you mean by started?"
[Binding in process… 12%]
"Hey. Wait."
[Binding in process… 47%]
[Binding in process… 89%]
"Oi!"
[Binding in process… 100%]
[Binding complete.]
[Congratulations, Host! Failure System has been activated.]
Just then, the holographic screen changed and displayed his information.
- - -
Name: Peter Hale
Age: 27
Profit Gained: 0
Loss Gained: 0
Wealth: 0
Business Managed: 1
- - -
Peter stared at it and frowned.
"Why is my wealth gained, 0? I'm not homeless, you know…"
[The wealth gained refers to the overall money profit obtained through the system, Host.]
"So my current number is zero because I haven't done anything yet."
[Correct, Host.]
[Additionally, due to your earlier declared intent, the system core purpose has been revised.]
Peter narrowed his eyes.
"Revised how?"
[Original function: Assist Host in growing the assigned business.]
[New function: Assist Host in fulfilling declared objective.]
"And my declared objective…" Peter's eyes slowly widened at that. "Does that mean I really need to make the market fail?"
[Correct.]
Peter felt a strange thrill run through him.
"Oh shit..."
[That's why from this moment onward, your wealth gain will be calculated based on the supermarket's performance.]
[For every 1 dollar the supermarket loses, you will gain 5 dollars.]
Peter's mouth slowly opened.
"Woah! Really?" His eyes brightened at that.
[However, for every 1 dollar the supermarket earns, you will receive 0.1 dollars.]
"That low?" His face grimaced. "Are you serious?"
[Unfortunately, yes.]
Peter's heartbeat dropped at that. That means he really needs this market to fail!
"Where will the money come from? Will it be from the market too?]
[No, Host. All the rewards are provided by the system.
"Damn… so it's just like I'm money laundering but not actually doing any money laundering." He concluded in his head.
"So how will this work?"
[Each month, the system will allocate you a Development Fund that you may use within the business. You may upgrade facilities, launch promotions, invest in systems, or use it to do stupid things.]
Peter quickly understood what it meant. He may use those development funds to help him achieve what he wants to do!
"This is beautiful." Peter thought. If he loses money, then he earns more, right?
So what if I pay people to rob…
[However, there are restrictions.]
Peter's smile froze at that. He was just starting to think of wicked ways to intentionally lose money!
[You may not intentionally commit illegal sabotage.]
"…"
[You cannot pay people to rob the supermarket.]
"…"
"I wasn't going to." Peter coughed awkwardly at that.
[You cannot falsely advertise it as unsafe to shop in the supermarket.]
"I wasn't thinking about that one too."
[You cannot deliberately destroy assets or burn the building down.]
"Hey, I'm not that bad!" He glared at the screen.
"Then how am I supposed to make it fail?"
[All decline must occur naturally through business decisions, Host.]
"I guess I just need to be dumb then." Peter smiled.
[I guess you can do that.]