Morning hit me like a soft, golden wave as sunlight spilled across my apartment floor. For a moment, I stayed still on the couch, staring at the ceiling, letting the memories of yesterday settle. My first client. My first income. My first mission cleared. In my old life, even surviving the week had felt like a victory. Here, though… every passing hour pushed me forward. It was exhilarating. And terrifying. I stood up, rubbed my face, and walked to the kitchen, brewing a synthetic-coffee mix that smelled sharp and bitter. I sipped it slowly while reviewing my WorkNet profile. More views. More clicks. A few people had bookmarked my page. It was a start. But I needed more. I needed traction. "System," I said softly, "what's the next best step for growth?"
[Analyzing…]
I waited, staring out the window at the floating delivery drones buzzing past the buildings like metallic insects.
[Recommendation: Build a signature product that can be sold repeatedly. Recurring revenue is essential for stable growth.]
"A product… not just freelance work."
[Correct.]
"What kind?"
[Based on market gaps: Suggestion 1 — AI-Based Daily Life Assistant. Suggestion 2 — Smart Appointment Manager for small businesses. Suggestion 3 — Delivery Service Optimization App.]
I took another sip, thinking carefully. The daily life assistant was tempting—if I pulled it off well, millions could use it. But it also required more data, more AI experience, and more development power than I had right now. The delivery optimization app was interesting, too, considering how much this city relied on drone logistics. But again… too big for a beginner. The appointment manager for small businesses, though—simple, practical, scalable. And most importantly, easy to sell in bundles or subscriptions. "Option two," I said. "Small business appointment app."
[Confirmed.]
"What features should it have?"
[Core features recommended:
— Appointment scheduling
— Automated customer reminders
— Staff assignment
— Service catalog
— Monthly subscription system]
I could imagine it already: a clean, simple app used by salons, clinics, cafés, repair shops, cleaning services, tutors—anyone who needed organized schedules. Cheap for them to buy, but profitable for me if hundreds or thousands subscribed. It was perfect. I sat down at my desk, cracked my fingers, and opened the development panel. Lines of code, interface sketches, and modular components flowed before me. The System nudged me every now and then—tighten this function, restructure that segment, optimize that loop. "How long to finish the MVP?" I asked quietly.
[With Host's current skill level: Approximately 6 hours.]
A deep breath left my chest. "Let's get to work then." I dove in. Hours blurred. The sun rose higher, crossed the sky, and began dipping again. My coffee went cold. My fingers ached. But the app took shape. A clean interface with smooth navigation. A flexible scheduling system. A plug-and-play reminder module. Staff assignment with color-coded tags. Automatic monthly subscription renewals. By the time I finished the prototype, my entire body buzzed with exhaustion and satisfaction. I uploaded the build to my system workspace. "System, review."
[Scanning…]
[Performance: 91% optimized]
[Interface: User-friendly]
[Marketability: High]
[Recommendation: Add simple analytics dashboard for business owners.]
"Analytics… like weekly appointment count and peak time charts?"
[Correct.]
"Done." Another hour passed as I implemented quick data charts and usage summaries. When I finally leaned back, rubbing my temples, the System displayed the final evaluation.
[Prototype complete. Product Name Suggestion: Aren Scheduler.]
"That sounds professional."
[Approved.]
"Aren Scheduler it is." My first real product. The cornerstone of Aren Technologies. And with a product came packaging, marketing, pricing… everything needed to make it real. I quickly searched Solara's subscription norms. Most small business apps charged between 30 to 80 credits per month. I wasn't big enough to charge more yet. "Let's start at 30 Credits a month. Aggressive pricing to attract early customers."
[Pricing set.]
After packaging the app into a clean downloadable file and creating a promotional page on WorkNet, I posted it publicly under Aren Technologies. I expected silence—maybe a few views if I was lucky. Instead, within minutes, my notifications exploded.
— "New message: Interested in your scheduler app."
— "New message: Can it send reminders in multiple languages?"
— "New message: Do you offer free trials?"
My heart thumped in excitement. I hurried to answer each message. "Yes." "Yes." "Yes, one-week free trial." As I responded, someone new contacted me directly.
Client: "Are you the developer behind Aren Scheduler?"
Me: "Yes."
Client: "I run a small spa. Our current system is too expensive. Can I test yours?"
Me: "I'll give you a tailored version for your business. Free trial for one week."
Client: "Deal. If it works well, I'll subscribe."
My first potential recurring customer. I created a tailored build in thirty minutes and sent it over. Almost immediately, the client replied:
Client: "The interface is simple. Staff likes it. We'll try it for a week."
A small victory—but a crucial one. I could feel momentum forming. I stood up, stretched my arms, and walked onto the balcony. The sky outside was dark now, glittering with neon lights and floating advertisements. I leaned on the railing, watching the city pulse with energy. "I really came back to life," I murmured. "And this time… I actually have a chance." My thoughts drifted to the old life—cold nights, empty stomach, loneliness, constant struggle. Then to this life—inheritance, a home, a car, a system, and now a business. It almost felt unfair. But I wasn't going to waste it. I turned back inside, ready to continue refining Aren Scheduler, when a new panel flashed before my eyes.
[New Mission Available]
Another mission. Perfect timing.
[Mission: First 10 Subscribers
Objective: Acquire 10 paying subscribers for Aren Scheduler.
Reward: 50,000 Credits
Penalty: None
Time Limit: 30 days]
I inhaled sharply. "Ten subscribers in thirty days?"
[Probability of success: 96%.]
"That high?"
[Product demand is significant. The pricing is competitive. Success is likely.]
I smiled. "Then let's make it happen." The panel faded as quickly as it appeared. I sat back down at my desk, rechecking my promotional page, refining the product description, adjusting screenshots, improving the tagline:
"Aren Scheduler — Simplicity That Works for You."
It felt surreal, doing all this. Building a brand, creating a product, launching it. It felt like stepping into the shoes of someone I had always wished to become. My stomach growled suddenly, reminding me that I hadn't eaten since morning. I laughed to myself and heated a quick meal. As I sat at the small table eating, I reviewed my next steps. Improve the app. Market it. Reach out to small businesses. Keep freelancing for additional income. Slowly, piece by piece, build Aren Technologies into something powerful. But there was something else too—an underlying curiosity gnawing at me. "System," I said quietly, "why me? Why bring me back? Why give me these chances?"
[Undisclosed.]
"Can you tell me anything?"
[Host is selected based on compatibility.]
"Compatibility with what?"
[Entrepreneurial Potential.]
I sighed. "Well… thanks anyway."
[Host will understand in time.]
The message lingered in the air for a moment before fading. I wasn't sure whether to feel excited or uneasy. There was more to this system. More to my selection. More to the purpose behind everything. But that was a question for another day. For now, I had a mission. I finished my food, washed the plate, and returned to the desk. My eyes drifted to the city lights outside as I whispered, "Ten subscribers… fifty thousand credits… and the beginning of my rise."
[Acknowledged.]
The night felt alive with promise. And I felt ready to chase it.