Urban System in America

[Ding.]

A flat, emotionless voice chimed in his head, utterly unimpressed.

[ Congratulations, host. Weekly Career System has been activated. Please stop yelling. No one is impressed.]

He blinked. "That's it? No trumpet? No doves? After all that 'develop a personal style' nonsense, you greet me like a bank receipt."

[Excessive theatrics waste processing power.]

Rex scoffed. "Wow. Thanks for killing the vibe. Alright, then. Show me what this is all about."

The system, ignoring his outburst, continued in its usual apathetic tone:

Welcome to the Weekly Career System™

"Because chaos builds character (and we ran out of better ideas)."

Congratulations, Host. You've been officially drafted into the workforce. Don't look so shocked — employment is a universal rite of suffering. Unlike normal mortals, however, you'll be cycling through random jobs every week for profit, punishment, and our amusement.

Please review this guide carefully. Failure to comply will result in penalties, humiliation, or worse… unpaid overtime.

Weekly Career System – Operational Details

[Explanation:]

Congratulations, Host. You've unlocked the chaos that is modern employment. Yes, an actual job. Please hold your applause. Here are the ground rules, presented in the clearest possible way so you don't complain later.

Career Mission – The Core of It All

Every career assignment comes bundled with a Career Mission.

This is the actual objective you must complete, not just clocking in and brewing lattes. Think of it as the "main quest" in your weekly side hustle.

Example: Become the café's most requested barista, or invent a drink people can't stop Instagramming.

Tip for Survival: "Do the bare minimum" is not a strategy here. That's how you get punished with things like sudden clumsiness or an aura that screams 'hire someone else'.

Rewards – The Carrot

Complete your mission successfully and you'll earn rewards. Not lame, generic rewards — career-themed, tailored perks.

Barista Rewards: Enhanced focus, natural coffee aroma (people will sniff you approvingly), stamina buffs, maybe a whole cafe chain(who knows?)

CEO Rewards: Negotiation skills, connections, "infinite patience with idiots" buff, a whole company etc.

Spy Rewards: Stealth boosts, peep on women without getting caught(don't really do it), cool gadgets, a suspicious ability to wear sunglasses indoors.

Excel beyond expectations (five-star performance) and you unlock hidden rewards. Think rare abilities, unique powers, or prizes so overpowered you'll wonder if this is even legal.

Tip for Survival: Aim for five stars. Nobody remembers the barista who "did their job." Everyone remembers the one who invented Unicorn Cold Brew™.

Penalties – The Stick

Failure is not just a sad face emoji, or oh well, try again. It comes with punishments.

Just like rewards, punishments match the career you failed.

Mess up as a barista? Enjoy clumsy hands, social awkwardness,accidental caffeine crashes, or becoming the guy who always burns the milk.

CEO Failures: People stop listening to you. Ever.

Spy Failures: You trip over your own trench coat and get laughed at by children.

Severity matches the scale of failure. Screw up bad enough, and you may wish you had just accepted your inner cubicle worker.

Tip for Survival: Don't half-ass it. Full-ass everything.

Declines – Your Safety Net or Your Get-Out-of-Work Card

Don't like the assignment? You may decline.

Limit: Two declines per month. After that, tough luck—you're stuck with whatever rolls your way. Of course, you can try to decline more than two times, but declining more will result in… surprise punishments.

Warning: Choose wisely. Declining "barista" might feel like dodging a bullet… until you roll "plumber on call." At 3 AM.

Tip for Survival: Always ask yourself, 'Could this be worse?' The answer is yes. Always yes.

Commitment – No Takebacks

Once you accept a career, that's it. No rage-quitting midweek. No "oops, I changed my mind."

Think before you confirm. Once you say yes, the only way out is through completion.

Tip for Survival: If you're going to be miserable, at least do it with style.

Customization – Zero

Don't ask for rerolls, don't beg for different locations, don't try to negotiate.

You don't get to pick your workplace, coworkers, boss, or uniform. You could end up making lattes for college students, filing tax returns in a basement, or teaching goats how to dance.

Your only input: Say "yes" or "no" at the start. That's it. Free will is overrated anyway.

Tip for Survival: Complaining won't help. But please, keep complaining. It entertains us.

Performance Ratings – Because Life Judges You Anyway

* – Barely alive. Embarrassing.

** – You existed. Congratulations?

*** – Acceptable. Like a microwave dinner.

**** – Shockingly competent. Someone's mom would brag about you.

***** – Legendary. Your career should beg you to stay.

Additional Tips for Survival (because system is feeling generous):

Smile like you mean it. Customers, clients, and bosses are terrifying creatures who can smell fear.

Coffee is your new religion. Even if the job isn't food-related, coffee will save you.

Failure isn't an option. Actually, it is, but the punishments suck.

Treat every career as if it might kill you. Because, knowing your luck, it probably will.

Final Note

[Go work, young man. The future isn't going to wait. Treat this chaos like your personal loot box and cash in while you can. Who knows? Play your roles right, and you might accidentally become successful.]

Or at least get a free apron and a bad case of caffeine addiction.

[Additional Note:]

Complaints may be submitted in writing. They will be ignored.

…

Rex sat frozen for a solid three seconds, staring at the floating text like it had just slapped him with a stack of unpaid bills. He just sat there in silence, processing the verbal abuse disguised as a training manual.

"…That's it? That's the grand system function I've been waiting for?!" he exploded.

No, no, apparently I've been chosen by the divine forces of the universe to become a glorified… part-time worker! What's next, huh? Career Mission: survive Karen at the checkout counter without crying?!"

He slumped back with a dramatic groan, rubbing his face. "Unbelievable. The multiverse gives other guys overpowered cheat systems, and I get… a pamphlet. With tips!

He let out a short, humorless laugh and shook his head. "Declines limited to two a month? That's not a safety net, that's a chokehold. You're telling me if I skip out on being a barista, the next spin could land me as a goat dance instructor, and I can't say no because I wasted my veto? That's not a system, that's psychological warfare."

[Complaints acknowledged. Value: zero.]

Rex dragged a hand down his face. "And the punishments. Clumsy hands? Social awkwardness? Buddy, I'm already socially awkward. What are you gonna do, double it? At this rate I'll trip carrying a latte and set a customer's hair on fire."

[That would be a five-star failure.]

He exhaled heavily, leaning forward. "At least the rewards sound decent, but still…I should've known. The system never hands out anything for free. Always strings attached. Always some ridiculous twist."

[Awareness achieved. Acceptance pending.]

Rex narrowed his eyes at the invisible voice. "…You really enjoy this, don't you?"

[Enjoyment irrelevant. Efficiency optimal.]

He let out a low laugh, shaking his head. "Of course. Why would I expect enthusiasm from a glorified brick wall? Fine, skip the drama. Just tell me this isn't as lame as I think it is."

[Don't just focus on punishment and stuff, remember the amazing rewards too.]

Rex sat up straighter, curiosity sparking again despite his sulking. "Rewards, huh… Yeah, I remember that part. Powers, items, knowledge, cash, all the good stuff." His lips twitched into a grin. "Fine, I admit it. That part's sexy."

"Alright then. No more foreplay. Hit me, System. Let's see what job you've got for me first. Just… for the love of everything holy, don't make me a janitor."

[Generating first career…]

(End of Chapter)