[System: The Host may state his suggestions directly. The System will determine how to upgrade the Combat Strength Enhancement Training Room based on the 'rationality' of said suggestions.]

  "Wait, what? 'Rationality'? Wasn't the deal that you'd just do whatever I said?" Kael was momentarily stunned.

  This wasn't what they had agreed upon. System, you’ve changed. You really have.

  You’re no longer that simple, kind, and innocent System that only lived to serve its Host.

  [System: Host, please regain your senses. Do not forget the purpose of opening this shop.]

  Kael had a sudden realization. "Oh, right. To hoard wealth."

  [System: Please mind your phrasing. It is to become the 'Greatest Shopkeeper!']

  "Whatever you say," Kael replied, completely indifferent to the semantics. After a moment of thought, he continued, "System, you can basically peek into my thoughts directly, right?"

  It was phrased as a guess, but his tone was absolute.

  [System: I am not, I have not, Host should not spread rumors.]

  "Drop the act. All my suggestions are right here in my head—just take a look yourself." Kael wasn't about to play along with the System’s "denial-in-triplicate" routine.

  The more he leveled up his Shopkeeper rank, the more "human" the System seemed to become. Actually, he didn't mind; no one enjoyed talking to a cold, unfeeling machine.

  Silence filled the room for a moment as the System processed his thoughts.

  [System: Host... you really are quite black-hearted.]

  Kael: "???"

  You’re the one to talk? The items in the shop and those daylight-robbery prices were all set by the System, not him. Besides, by saying that, the System had basically admitted it could read his mind.

  Kael realized the System was still the same eccentric entity it had always been. "Humanizing" it didn't seem to solve the issue of its questionable IQ.

  "Say what you want. Have you decided how the training room will upgrade?" Kael didn't want to get bogged down in petty arguments. The upgrade path was what mattered.

  [System: Host's suggestions accepted. Upgrade path for the Combat Strength Enhancement Training Room confirmed.]

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  [System: Third Mode: 'New World,' officially launched!]

  [System: 'New World' Leveling System loaded. Skill System loaded. Equipment System loaded. Potion System loaded. First Map: 'Goblin Mountains,' loaded.]

  A barrage of notifications left Kael slightly overwhelmed, but as he heard the final parts, he was practically ecstatic.

  The first map... is it the RPG-style upgrade I imagined?

  Unable to sit still, Kael ditched any plans of sleeping. Still in his slippers, he rushed down to the first floor.

  "Boss? You're still awake?" Shier, sitting in one of the booths, let out a yawn as she caught sight of Kael coming down the stairs.

  "Can't sleep. I’m going to test something out. Go to bed if you're tired," Kael nodded and picked a random booth.

  "Okay. Goodnight, Boss," Shier said before heading upstairs. She knew she had to mind the shop tomorrow and couldn't afford to stay up late.

  "Yeah, goodnight."

  Kael placed his hands on the base of the crystal ball.

  "Select... New World Mode!"

  Upon confirmation, the crystal ball emitted a blinding white light. When it faded, Kael found his consciousness standing in a small, stark-white room.

  "Interesting."

  Kael looked around. Even though he knew only his consciousness was here, the sensory feedback was indistinguishable from the real world. This was far more immersive than the previous "Solo Arena" or "Multiplayer Room" modes.

  "My power is completely sealed. This really is a massive upgrade," Kael remarked, clenching his fists. He could feel his high-level cultivation had vanished; right now, he felt no different from an ordinary person.

  [System: Player class cannot be detected. Would you like to proceed with a manual selection?]

  The rules of the New World were different. Entering this mode was like stepping into an entirely separate reality where everyone started from scratch. Of course, this "restart" only applied inside the Arena. It was exactly like creating a new character in a game.

  Normally, the New World would automatically detect a player's real-world class and set it accordingly—for instance, a Guardian Knight like Blood Wolf wouldn't suddenly become a Mage.

  However, Kael was an anomaly. Because of the System, his official class was "Shopkeeper," something even the Arena couldn't properly categorize.

  "You built this thing, yet you can't detect me?" Kael rubbed his forehead, looking at the crystal ball with a mix of amusement and frustration. "Class selection: Archmage."

  [Character creation complete. Enter the New World?]

  "Yes!"

  In a flash, Kael appeared in a small town. To be more accurate, it was a village nestled at the foot of a mountain range. It featured a few cobblestone streets lined with wooden houses and a scattering of brick buildings. A perimeter of defensive spikes (abatis) surrounded the village, with dozens of acres of vegetable patches and livestock grazing nearby.

  Kael looked up at the cloudless sky, then down at his gear.

  He was wearing a drab gray robe—clearly a budget item—and held a wooden staff that looked like it had been carved from a piece of rotting timber.

  "The New World... truly is realistic," Kael sighed.

  This was the "Novice Set" provided by the System. Unlike the previous modes, this was what Kael had specifically envisioned: MMORPG Mode.

  You create a character, level up, farm monsters for gear and potions, and learn new skills. This was the "Leveling, Potion, Equipment, and Skill Systems" the System had mentioned. The crystal ball would transmit basic operational info to new players to ensure they could get started, but beyond the basics, it wouldn't reveal a single secret.

  Kael opened his skill menu, looking at the skill tree with interest. This was an old habit from his previous life—plan the build, map out the path, and optimize the skills before the grind begins.