“A brain tumor!” Finn exclaimed, the words catching in his throat. “Yes,” Clio responded, her voice perfectly calm. “A full-body scan indicates a developing tumor that has been interfering with your normal brain chemistry. My deduction is that this is the primary cause of your demotivated state for the last eight months. Your body is also suffering from various minor ailments resulting from poor diet and lack of exercise, but those are secondary. This is not a reason for major concern. While the technology on your planet cannot provide treatment without significant inconvenience, on a universal scale, it is a mild issue. In some advanced galactic civilizations, it isn’t even classified as a medical condition, as it can be resolved by their normal food and drink. In fact, simply elevating your Somatic level would also cure you.” A wave of relief washed over Finn, but it was immediately followed by a tidal wave of panic. Clio might not be alarmed, but he certainly was. “Open the starter pack!” he commanded, a new and desperate urgency fueling his voice. Starter pack opening… Starter pack opened. You have received: Initial Building Permit (5000 sq ft, 2 stories) Crossroads Hotel Design Interface 2 AI 1-Month Lease Certificate Universal Language Converter Self-Defense Butter Knife 500 Crossroads Points A list of items materialized in his mind. Though anxiety still coiled in his gut, a sharp thrill, something he hadn't felt in a long time, cut through the fog. He focused on the items to examine their details. Initial Building Permit: Allows the Host to design the Crossroads Hotel's initial building and layout without spending Crossroads Points. Design and décor options are limited. The final blueprint must contain: 1 boundary wall, 1 lobby, 1 eatery, 1 lounge, 3 guest rooms, and an outdoor seating area. The building is limited to a ground level and one additional floor. Crossroads Hotel Design Interface: Once the Hotel is established, all expansion, renovation, and redecoration must be done manually by the Host. This interface allows the Host to carry out those functions at the cost of Crossroads Points. The Crossroads Hotel has many functions which can be used seamlessly by the Host when wearing the Host Attire within the Hotel's premises. Using these functions otherwise must be done manually through the System. Please note, the Host Attire includes a design feature, allowing its appearance to be altered to match the Hotel's theme. It is also invulnerable, meaning it cannot take damage, though this protection does not extend to the Host. To protect the Host's identity, the attire contains the 'Clark Kent effect': guests who have seen the Host in the attire will not recognize him outside the Hotel. The attire cannot leave the Hotel property. 2 AI 1-Month Lease Certificate: Running an establishment requires skilled staff. This certificate allows the user to lease two highly competent AI that will follow the Host's commands. The Host must make other arrangements for when the certificate expires. Universal Language Converter: A small device that analyzes and translates languages in real-time. It can be applied to the Host as a tattoo behind the ear. The Host will hear all languages as English, and others will hear the Host in their native tongue. Self-Defense Butter Knife: The universe is a dangerous place. This knife can be used to instantly kill any being at the Praxis realm or below. It carries a secondary function of intimidation; observers will assume the Host is so powerful he can kill with a simple butter knife. It carries a tertiary function; beings above the Nacsent realm will appreciate the Host's choice in cutlery and perceive it as a simple butter knife. It cannot leave the Hotel. Upgradable. Increase authority for upgrade instructions. The Host opened a starter pack, not a nanny pack. Please use the points in the Crossroads Store to solve all miscellaneous issues. Quest Update: Quest Complete! The Host is rewarded with: nothing! Remarks: You don’t get rewards for doing something as basic as breathing. New Quest: Develop the Crossroads Hotel. Finn raised an eyebrow at the system's sassy attitude but decided to ignore it. As he reviewed the details, his attention snagged on a term he’d glossed over. “What are Somatic levels?” he asked, though he had a vague idea from countless novels. “In the vast universe, many kinds of lifeforms exist, each with different capabilities. Some are naturally strong enough to traverse the stars, while others are so weak they can die from a gust of wind. The process of enhancing oneself to become stronger and interact with a higher level of existence is known as Somatic.” “The first few Somatic levels are Mortal, Somatic Integration, Aether Training, and Praxis Formation. To learn more, please increase your authority.” “How can I increase my Somatic level?” Finn asked. “I am unable to answer. My knowledge is specific to the Crossroads Hotel. A basic understanding of Somatic is relevant for dealing with guests, but I have no information on how to alter a being's power level. I can only suggest the Host complete quests and collect Crossroads Points, which can be used to redeem various items.” A familiar loop, Finn thought. Quests, points, rewards. After mentally reviewing the items one last time, he steeled himself to begin. The terror of his diagnosis was still there, a cold weight in his chest, but now it was joined by a vibrant, unfamiliar excitement. “How do I withdraw an item?” “Simply by thinking of it. All items given to you by the Hotel are stored within it and can be withdrawn or stored at will.” With a thought, a monocle appeared in his hand. He held it up to the light. It looked perfectly ordinary—a thin gold rim with a small loop on the side, a delicate gold chain dangling from it. After a moment's inspection, he fitted it over his left eye. ‘Database empty’ The words floated in his vision, clear yet transparent, somehow not obstructing his sight at all. It was less like reading and more like having the information deposited directly into his brain. Finn gave a slight nod. He took off the monocle and walked toward his PC. As if sensing his intent, the monocle swung from his fingers and landed neatly on top of the computer tower. The end of its chain morphed into a USB plug, inserting itself into an empty port. A pop-up appeared on his screen: ‘Updating database.’ It was remarkably convenient. His only worry was what his internet bill would look like after this. His unlimited data plan was about to be put to the ultimate test. With another thought, a sheet of A4 paper materialized in his hand, the word ‘PERMIT’ emblazoned across it in bold letters. A moment later, a light erupted from the paper, blindingly bright. When his vision cleared, he found himself floating in an endless sea of clouds. Directly beneath him was a pristine plot of land, the future site of his Hotel. He thought of the design interface, and it appeared around him. Like a panel from a video game, a menu materialized in his field of view with icons for Construction, Landscaping, Fauna, Flora, Furniture, and Décor. More options trailed below, greyed out and inaccessible for now. The tiny spark of excitement he’d felt earlier now roared into a bonfire, consuming his fear. Now, how should he style his Hotel? What kinds of incredible scenes would he create for guests from across the universe? And most importantly, would there be pancakes?

Chapter 3: A Trivial Cosmic Sickness