5 - Adjust your policy

Walking on the busy sidewalk with a backpack sling over his arm, Adam thought about his actions towards Roberts.

He didn't exactly regret speaking his mind but he had acted fully on emotions which was unlike him.

"Arrogance system, huh?" he muttered.

"Leaving Roberts place is for the best but was it worth spending six hundred dollars on?"

If he continued randomly throwing money anytime he had to complete a mission, there would reach a point where the rewards wouldn't cover up the money spent so he'd be sustaining losses.

"And I should try to increase my multiplier for higher rewards." Adam groaned.

Receiving strange looks from people walking past him, Adam let out an awkward chuckle and hurried on his way.

It would not be wise to spend his entire balance just to get a high end apartment. He would rather get one around the $1k - $2k range.

Suddenly Adam felt a pulse on his eyes and the blue holographic screen of the system flashed before him.

[New Mission Available]

[Secure a high-value residence of at least $5000]

[Time limit: 3 hours]

[Reward: $4000]

___

For the second time that day, Alex let out a groan of defeat.

"Speak of the devil and he'll give a related mission."

***

There was only one business in Gray City that rented out high end apartments. It was called the Primo Housing enterprise. Run by the Primordial conglomerate.

It is said that 80% of houses in the city belonged to the conglomerate and they also owned a lot of apartments in other cities.

Standing outside the company building, Adam went through his entire plan to complete the mission in his head while watching multiple people go in and out of the building.

Taking a deep breath, he walked into the spacious lobby room populated with a bunch of people.

"Good afternoon sir, would you like to check the available apartments?"

Suddenly appearing before Adam was a brown haired girl roughly the same age with him dressed in a blue shirt and black skirt that highlighted her shape.

Looking around, he could see multiple women and men of various ages positioned around the entrance of the building.

What was surprising was how organized the group of people were. Once someone entered the lobby, the foremost staff goes to meet the person though certain clients pointed out who they wanted to serve them.

'I guess large businesses are built differently.' Adam thought, turning his attention back to the staff who he had left to stand awkwardly.

"Sorry about that. Needed to confirm something." he apologized. "I'm Adam Wilson. You can call me Adam."

"Don't worry, Sir." she responded "I am Melissa."

Internally, Melissa was cursing out at Adam.

She was originally supposed to attend to a guy who looked rich but her senior had forced her to switch spots leading to her ending up with this man who looked like he hadn't seen a happy life in years.

'My beautiful commission,' Melissa groaned but as a professional she didn't let her thoughts show in her face.

Leading Adam to one of the various couches in the lobby, Melissa brought out a tablet and passed it to Adam "We have low, mid and high value apartments. Which one-"

Suddenly the conversation got interrupted with a loud shout.

"…Melissa, are you serious right now?"

The voice came from a sharply dressed man walking over with a client in tow. His gaze swept over Adam once before settling into mild irritation.

"You left a premium client waiting to attend to… this?"

Melissa stiffened slightly but kept her expression professional. It seemed her senior fumbled the client and passed the blame to her. "I was reassigned, sir."

The man clicked his tongue. "Reassigned doesn't mean you forget priority." he turned to Adam briefly, tone polite but dismissive, "our premium consultants handle high-value clients. You can be redirected to standard service."

Adam didn't respond immediately.

Behind the man, the well-dressed client glanced at Adam, then away, already losing interest.

Melissa felt her stomach sink. If this escalated, she'd lose whatever little chance she had at salvaging her commission.

"I can continue with him," she said quickly. "It won't take long."

The man frowned. "You're wasting time. We have quotas for a reason."

Adam finally looked up from the tablet.

"What's the price range for your high-value apartments?" he asked.

Melissa blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift. "They start from around four thousand dollars monthly and go upwards depending on location and features."

The man let out a short laugh. "Then he's definitely in the wrong section."

The man who appeared to be part of the management had a very loud voice. It was no surprise that almost everyone in the hall had their attention on the matter.

Adam tapped the edge of the tablet lightly, his gaze still calm.

"I'll take a look at those," he said.

Melissa hesitated for half a second, then nodded. "Of course."

The man's expression sharpened slightly. "Sir, just so we don't waste your time, we require verification for clients viewing high-value listings. Income proof or upfront payment capability."

The interpretation was: you don't look like you belong here, so scram.

Adam leaned back slightly into the couch.

"What kind of verification?"

"Typically six months' rent upfront or financial statements," the man replied smoothly.

Melissa's grip tightened slightly around her tablet. Six months upfront meant at least thirty thousand. There was no way—

"One month," Adam said.

The man paused. "That's not our policy."

"Then adjust it."

The words weren't loud, but they landed awkwardly in the space between them.

The man gave a thin smile. "We don't negotiate standards for walk-ins."

Adam met his gaze evenly. "You're not lowering your standards. You're reducing your risk."

That got a reaction from the man.

Melissa glanced between them.

Adam continued, voice steady. "You'll get a higher monthly rate. One month upfront. Immediate payment."

The man studied him more carefully this time. He wasn't exactly dismissing him outright but he also wasn't convinced either.

"And what makes you think that's worth it for us?"

Adam shrugged lightly. "Because empty apartments don't pay you; I would."

The well-dressed client beside the man shifted slightly, now actually listening.

Melissa felt it too.

The atmosphere had… changed.

The man exhaled through his nose. "Even if that were considered, you still haven't shown you can afford a high-value apartment. This would be a waste of time of you can't."

Adam didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he looked down at the tablet Melissa had given him and scrolled casually.

"Show me the available units above five thousand," he said.

Melissa obeyed without hesitation, pulling up the listings.

As she turned the screen toward him, Adam nodded once.

"This one. I'll drop another thousand on it."

It was a high-rise unit at a prime location originally priced $5,200 monthly. Now $6,200.

Melissa's heart skipped.

The man folded his arms. "Then let's not waste further time. Payment first."

Adam reached into his bag.

Melissa instinctively held her breath.

The man watched, his face hard to read even when Adam calmly placed his card on the table.

"Process one month," Adam said.

Melissa stared at the card for a second too long before snapping back to attention. "Yes Sir. Right away."

She picked it up, trying not to show the slight tremor in her fingers, and keyed in the payment on her tablet.

The screen processed.

A second passed. When it seemed like Adam had been bluffing, the screen flashed.

Approved.

Melissa blinked and let out the breath she didn't know she was holding.

"…It's successful."

The man's expression shifted. It wasn't dramatic, but it was enough to show shock.

The client beside him gave Adam another look, this time longer.

Adam simply stood up, adjusting the strap of his backpack.

"When can I move in?" he asked.

Melissa straightened immediately. "We can arrange it today if you'd like."

"That works."

He turned slightly, glancing at the man.

"Next time," Adam said calmly, "don't decide who your clients are before they speak."

The sentence wasn't aggressive but it lingered in the air.

The man didn't respond.

Adam didn't wait for one.

Behind his eyes, the system pulsed.

___

[Mission Complete]

[Reward Granted: $4000 × Multiplier (×37)]

[Total Earned: $148,000]

[Perception Threshold Achieved]

[Balance Updated]

[$303,150]

____

Adam walked toward the exit with Melissa beside him, already explaining the next steps.

This time everybody's eye trailed after him. And no one thought to underestimate him.