Urban Roots: The Farming System

Kieran was officially living the dream. Well, okay, maybe not the dream dream where he'd be lounging on a beach somewhere with a piña colada in hand, but he was living his urban farming dream. His rooftop farm was thriving, his clients were happy, and his bank account was no longer a source of constant anxiety.

So, what's a budding entrepreneur to do when he has a little money in the bank and a bunch of system points to burn?

That's right. It was time to expand.

Kieran had been thinking about it for days, and now he was ready to take the plunge. His rooftop was great, don't get him wrong. It was small, cozy, and completely covered in tomatoes, lettuce, and spinach, but there was one tiny problem: it was a rooftop. And rooftops, as convenient as they were, didn't exactly provide unlimited space.

If he wanted to grow his business, he needed more space. And not just any space. He needed a proper warehouse—or better yet, a small plot of land. Something bigger. Something that could accommodate his ever-expanding farming empire.

With a deep breath, Kieran sat down at his desk. His system panel was open, and he was staring at his balance.

Current Balance: £3,200

System Points: 1,800

Not bad, not bad at all. He'd been making steady sales, and his system points were stacking up like the excess tomatoes he kept having to give away to the neighbors. But now it was time to spend those points wisely.

He scrolled through the system's available upgrades, and his eyes landed on the "Property Rental" option. He'd unlocked it in the previous week after hitting a milestone in farm expansion. The only problem was that the prices for renting property were a little… high.

Available Properties:

Urban Warehouse (Small):

Rent: £1,500 per monthSize: 500 square feetBenefits: Room for vertical planters, climate control, and an additional drone landing pad.System Points: 500

Community Garden Plot:

Rent: £750 per monthSize: 200 square feetBenefits: Great for starting with small crops, easy access to local markets.System Points: 250

Rooftop Greenhouse (Large):

Rent: £2,500 per monthSize: 1,000 square feetBenefits: Perfect for hydroponics, vertical farming, and growing high-demand crops.System Points: 1,000

Kieran rubbed his chin thoughtfully. The small warehouse was tempting, but it was expensive. The community garden plot, though, was much more affordable. But he wasn't exactly looking to grow just a couple of pots of basil and a few tomatoes. He needed space. A place where he could grow massive quantities of produce.

And that meant… the rooftop greenhouse. It would give him plenty of space, and with 1,000 square feet, he could expand his crop selection even further.

After a few moments of mentally adding up all the pros and cons, Kieran made his decision.

"I'm doing it," he muttered to himself as he clicked "Rent Now" on the rooftop greenhouse. The system deducted the rent from his account, and just like that, Kieran was officially the proud renter of a large rooftop greenhouse.

New Property: Rooftop Greenhouse (Large)

Size: 1,000 square feet

Rent: £2,500 per month

Rewards: 1,000 System Points 

The rent was steep, but he knew it would pay off. With this new space, he could grow more crops, increase his production, and maybe—just maybe—become the go-to supplier for every restaurant and grocery store in the city.

In the blink of an eye, Kieran's phone buzzed. It was a confirmation from the system.

"Congratulations, Kieran. Your new greenhouse has been unlocked and is ready for use. Please head to the location to begin the setup process."

Kieran felt a thrill run through him. This was it. The real deal.

He grabbed his jacket and headed out the door. The new greenhouse was located just a few blocks away, so he didn't have to worry about a long commute. After a short walk, he arrived at the building.

The entrance was unimpressive—a small door with a sign that read, "Rooftop Greenhouse Rental." Kieran buzzed himself in and took the elevator up to the top floor. When the doors opened, he was greeted with a sight that made him grin ear to ear.

It was a massive rooftop, completely empty except for a few old chairs and an empty shed. But the space was perfect. He could already see the rows and rows of vertical planters, hydroponic systems, and maybe even a few exotic crops that would set him apart from the competition.

"I've made it," Kieran whispered to himself, adjusting his jacket like a proud CEO. "This is it. Time to take my farm to the next level."

As he stood there, contemplating his grand plans for the place, the system chimed in again:

"Would you like to begin customizing your new greenhouse?"

Kieran nearly jumped out of his skin. He was so used to the system being useful, but he still hadn't quite gotten used to its almost telepathic ability to read his thoughts.

"Uh, yeah," he said, shaking himself out of his stupor. "I guess I should get started with the setup, huh?"

The system panel popped up in front of him, and Kieran quickly navigated through the options to select the upgrades he wanted. Vertical planters were a must, as were some hydroponic systems to diversify his crop types.

After a few moments, the greenhouse was transformed. It now featured rows of vertical planters on either side, with a few hydroponic stations set up for crops like arugula, basil, and cucumbers. He even had a small climate control system that would help regulate the temperature, allowing him to grow crops all year round.

"Beautiful," Kieran said, standing back and admiring his work. "Now, time to plant."

The next few hours were spent setting up his crops. He chose to start with a few high-demand items that would sell quickly—lettuce, tomatoes, and spinach—before adding in some more exotic options like arugula and cucumbers. The system made everything easier: it was like having a personal farming assistant who did all the heavy lifting, for a cost of course.

By the time the sun began to set, Kieran was exhausted but happy. His new greenhouse was officially up and running, and it was glorious.