Catch a Falling Star

The obviously-could-have-been-coved-in-an-email meeting was droning on into its second hour as they had yet to finish "checking in" with each department. The sun was hitting Herbert Basil at just the right angle to where if he nodded off to nap his head would no longer provide the welcome shade to his soon to retire mentor Mr. Dean. The monotone slideshow presenter must have dismissed everyone for another coffee break as the crowd of government contractors left in at a speed that was their most efficient action all day. The occasionally curmudgeon Chuck Dean gave him an awkward wave before ducking under the massive table to probably rest his bad back. He had pinched a nerve at the company picnic carrying an ice chest of bacon to the cooksite. He then played both the guilt and seniority card to have Herb feed him bacon like a pharoah would eat grapes. Reclined in the shade and fanned by underlings. Herb was going over a mental inventory of the vending machines when a bright flash and shattering of glass over whelmed his senses.

He woke from his stupor to find himself sitting at a much smaller table with two of his least favorite things in front of him. A stack of paperwork and a loading screen. As he invested the tower of pressed cellulose he noticed two additional items. Namely two large rubber stamps labeled Accept and Deny. It appeared he had a binary choice to make. A small voice caught his attention. He looked around the stacks of documents to find what he could only describe as a Corporate Gnome. Pointy hat and neck tie included. The small figure nodded to him and spoke. "As I was saying while you were acclimating from your recent violent death, you only need to stamp a single form. In summary would you like to Accept that the document you wrote titled Isekai Life Insurance Policy is your preferred form of Afterlife. We noticed that the signing in blood was likely unintentionally done by means of paper cut. If I am to make it to the annual Divine Drinking Competition between by Uncle's Bob Augustus I will need you to hurry. I went ahead and approved your preferences for matching with a world with Game-like Systems for Leveling and Respawn as well as your boon of a Unique Personal System tailored to your precious life. If you stamp within the next few minutes I'll include the Unique Professions and Titles:System Stress Tester abd Head of Balancing Relations respectively. Basically you have a direct line to the Overmind of the Local System and will not be penalized for becoming too powerful as long as you use such status solely for the betterment of the World and the Users overall. You're changes are subject to Divine Retcon though so don't go trying to make a mind controlled harem or something, your Local System highly values consent in most things..." The gnome adjusted his chain mail necktie and gestured to the Stamps.

Fern composed himself and contained the flood of questions he was about to spew and just read the lone paper on his side of the table. It was in fact the Isekai Life Insurance Policy be wrote as a joke for his LITRPG reading group in college. It was covered in red editing markings with a revised version floating ghostly in place of the loading screen that was there earlier.

Do you want to be Reborn into the World of Grynd? You will appear in an isolated area next to a Respawn Bind Point as in your current Adult Human form with the option of Race Altering and Adoption further on. Your assigned Unique Magic System will be revealed on arrival. If this Offer is Declined you will enter the normal Afterlife for your previous world, [Redacted to avoid influence on decision] Additional time sensitive offer has been added in addendum by your processing agent Ramon.

Herb grabbed the Accept stamp from its emerald colored ink pad and waved goodbye to his impatient yet generous gnome agent. "Thanks Ramon best of luck to whichever uncle you are rooting for..." he reached out with his free right hand to offer a shake. The gnome before him grinned and grabbed his fingers with a strong yet restrained grip.

Ramon beamed and exclaimed "I always bet on a draw and run secret side bets on the position of their snickered bodies when they hit the floor. This year's top odds are on Ass Up Spread Eagle and Unintentional Unconscious Spooning. I'll check in on you once you get settled to spend my winnings while on vacation. If you manage to build anything tourism worthy expect at least one high roller who enjoys comfy chairs with a splatter shield and shade while he indulges in schadenfreude."

Taking that in mind Herb stamped his way into Another World...