Shin was incredibly excited.
As an ordinary college student, his feelings right now were beyond words. This joy surpassed winning the lottery, waking up to find his dad was a billionaire, or hitting the jackpot with a random scratch-off ticket.
He had a system.
As a standard twenty-first-century youth raised under the red flag, Shin wasn't exactly a shut-in, but he had read his fair share of web novels.
The "System" genre, although almost worn out, was undoubtedly the most common and popular type of online literature in the last five years.
People are lazy these days; rather than reading about someone struggling to cultivate after being rejected in marriage, many prefer the simple, brutal, and effortless satisfaction of a system-based story.
So, when the voice of a system appeared in Shin's mind, he was extremely thrilled.
However, after a brief moment of excitement, he cautiously checked to make sure he wasn't part of some elaborate prank show, and he even went to the hospital to confirm there was nothing wrong with his brain.
The system seemed very gentle. Only after Shin had finished checking all possibilities and returned home did it softly speak again.
"Mr. Shin, are you ready to sign the employment contract with us and become an official reviewer for Mysterious Items Co., Ltd.?"
"A contract... do I have to sign it?"
"What kind of contract is it? Is there a notary? Is there a third party involved for oversight?"
There was no reply.
At this point, Shin was hesitant. Although excited, he maintained a healthy level of caution.
Idiots who sign contracts without reading them are rare these days, let alone signing an unknown, unverified, and unsecured contract with something that exists outside the law and societal rules, without even knowing its purpose.
After a moment of calm reflection, Shin decided... it was better to be cautious.
After all, he had no compelling reason to desperately need a system.
His life was ordinary but happy. His parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles treated him well. While not super wealthy, they owned several properties in the city. There was no cliche struggle for inheritance, his grades were decent, and he would graduate next year, deciding between further studies or starting work. His future might not be perfect, but it was secure. So, why did he need a system?
Realizing this, Shin immediately straightened his attitude and firmly rejected the temptation.
"Forget it. You... should look for someone else."
He didn't want to accept something of unknown origin, especially something that would live in his head and that he had no control over. It was like someone from the sky telling you that if you jump from the 20th floor, you can fly. Even if it were true, would you dare to jump?
"You've misunderstood something. We are not asking for your opinion; we are notifying you," the electronic voice remained soft, yet it carried the pleasantness of a capitalist exploiting the working class.
"The moment you were selected, our agreement began execution. The employment contract I mentioned is just a formality."
"Your only choice is to sign our official employment contract and join us, enjoying the benefits of a full-time employee, or to continue working for the company as a temporary worker."
Shin's eyelids twitched. He had expected this. How could something that could speak directly in his mind allow him to refuse?
"I accept."
Shin closed his eyes and sighed. Although he didn't know the contract's contents, it seemed he had no choice.
"Thank you for your cooperation. However, the contract signing will have to wait until you complete our interview task."
The slightly cold electronic voice once again turned into a gentle female voice. Shin clenched his fists slightly. Regardless, he was very worried about his uncertain future.
Compared to the sense of "chosen destiny" and excitement, he prioritized his personal safety.
"Next, we will proceed together to your interview location, which will also be your future workplace."
A deep red vortex formed in front of Shin. The darkness within was profound.
"Please step through the portal. We are heading to Parallel Universe 0013," the gentle female voice said.
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