Jun sat on a concrete planter just outside the old market lane, sipping water and scanning the area. His gear rested beside him in a canvas tote, neatly packed.
> [System Task – Brewing Territory]
Objective: Serve 3 city workers
Progress: 0/3 | Time Remaining: 43h 12m
Across the street, a utility truck idled while two sanitation workers chatted beside it, leaning on brooms. A traffic enforcement officer crossed the intersection with a tired gait. Jun's eyes followed them all.
"So these are the gatekeepers," he thought.
He glanced at his phone. Battery at 23%. Time: 9:37 AM. Rent was due in two days. He had exactly $10 to his name.
He opened his system window and flicked through the objectives again. Everything looked straightforward—on paper. In practice? These weren't casual strangers. They were on the clock.
He stood and crossed to a quieter part of the sidewalk. Set his tote down. Pulled out the gear.
FREE COFFEE – FOR CITY STAFF
He scrawled the new message with a marker and waited.
It took a while.
Eventually, one of the sanitation workers wandered over, curious.
"What's this about?"
Jun offered a cup with both hands. "Just coffee. No sales. No strings. Thought you could use a break."
The man looked him over, then the gear, then the coffee. After a beat, he shrugged and took it.
Sipped. Paused. Nodded.
> [1/3 Served – +1 XP]
"That's pretty good," the man said, wandering back toward his truck. "Better than the vending machine."
Jun smiled. One down.
He served another half hour later—an older city gardener who happened to be sweeping the walkway nearby. She barely spoke, just took the cup and nodded once.
> [2/3 Served – +1 XP]
By noon, the sun had risen high, and Jun's back ached from standing. His stomach growled, reminding him he hadn't eaten since last night.
He checked his balance. Ten bucks wasn't going to stretch far.
Might need to visit Mina, he thought suddenly. Even if just to borrow a microwave.
The third worker still hadn't come. Jun stood under the shade, squinting at the sidewalk's shifting tide of people.
Then he spotted someone in a faded city transport jacket walking toward the nearby stop.
Jun grabbed a cup and stepped forward.
"Coffee? Free for city staff. Just one cup."
The man looked surprised but didn't stop. "Maybe next time."
Jun sighed.
> [System Note – Target Declined]
No penalty. Persistence logged.
Emotional Sync: Stable
> Progress: 2/3
Time was ticking. Rent was waiting. Hunger gnawed.
Still no cup. Still no quit.
The grind continued.