The man in the suit stared at Marcus like he was a kid who wandered somewhere he didn't belong. His expression wasn't angry—just confused and mildly amused, like he truly couldn't imagine a world where someone dressed like Marcus could challenge him.
"Let me get this straight," the man said, lowering his phone. "You're acquiring this laundromat?"
Marcus swallowed. "Yes."
The man blinked twice as if verifying Marcus was real. "Kid, you don't even look like you can afford a wash cycle. Go home."
Marcus didn't budge.
A faint glow—only visible to him—hovered behind the man. A system prompt.
[Negotiation Challenge Detected.]
[Opponent Confidence: HIGH.]
[Opponent Underestimation: EXTREME.]
[Recommended Response: Assertive Presence.]
Marcus didn't know what an "Assertive Presence" was supposed to feel like, but he accepted anyway.
[CEO Presence Lv.0 (Prototype) — ACTIVE.]
A subtle pressure rolled through his chest, not painful but solid. His posture straightened on its own. His heartbeat steadied. His breathing slowed.
The man's eyes flickered. Something about Marcus had shifted. Not a visible change, but a faint intensity—like Marcus wasn't just speaking; he was announcing.
"I said," Marcus repeated, "I'm acquiring this business."
The man's smirk faded a little. Only a little.
"And with what money?" he asked. "Because the owner's desperate, but not 'donate it to charity' desperate."
Marcus opened his mouth—then closed it.
He had no money. None. Not enough to bluff. Not enough to rent a booth at a flea market, much less buy a laundromat.
But the system pulsed again.
[Mission Reminder: Acquire a failing business within 48 hours.]
[Reward: $25,000 Capital.]
[Note: Mission reward may be used retroactively after contract signing.]
Marcus blinked. Retroactively?
"…Wait," he murmured. "Are you saying—"
[Affirmative.]
[If you secure a purchase contract, the System will fund the acquisition.]
"Holy—" Marcus muttered.
That changed everything.
He looked back up at the man. "Money won't be a problem."
The man raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "You're bluffing." He turned. "Whatever. The owner knows I'm serious. I have meetings. Don't get in my way, kid."
He walked toward the entrance.
Marcus moved first.
He stepped in front of the door, blocking him.
"Move," the man said, irritation replacing amusement.
"No."
The system glowed again.
[Negotiation Tip: Demonstrating resolve increases leverage by 15%.]
The man clenched his jaw. "Listen, kid. I have investors waiting for this place. I'm not losing it to some random broke twenty-something who wandered out of a motivational video."
Marcus inhaled deeply.
"You're not losing it," Marcus said. "Because you never had it."
And with that, he opened the door and walked inside.
The man's stunned silence behind him was worth more than a paycheck.
---
### Inside the Laundromat
The scent hit him first—detergent, old coins, metal, and something vaguely burnt. Half the machines were unplugged, some dented, some so old they belonged in a museum.
A few customers were inside, mostly older locals who looked like they'd been using this place forever.
Behind the counter stood a man in his late fifties with graying hair, a tired beard, and eyes that carried the kind of exhaustion you earned from years of trying to keep a small business alive.
He looked up slowly as Marcus approached. "We're open, but the dryers on the left side are broken, and the change machine got jammed again. Sorry 'bout that."
Marcus cleared his throat. "I'm not here to wash clothes."
"Oh?" the owner asked. "You need directions? Bathroom's out back."
"No," Marcus said firmly. "I'm here to buy your business."
The owner froze.
Then he burst out laughing. A full, hearty laugh that echoed across the empty machines.
"You? Son, I don't know who put you up to it, but I ain't in the mood." He waved a hand. "Go on. Get."
The business appraisal window appeared instantly.
[Lone Star Laundry Co.]
Current Owner: **Ramon Diaz**
Debt: High
Stress Level: 87%
Sale Interest: Strong
Desperation: Moderate
Key Weak Point: Rising rent + failing machines
Hidden Asset: Unused rear storage lot
Market Potential: HIGH if modernized
Marcus steadied himself.
"Mr. Diaz, I'm serious. I want to buy this laundromat."
Ramon raised an eyebrow. "With what money? You look like you came here on foot. You don't even have a briefcase."
Marcus's ears burned. He wished the system gave him a free suit.
But instead, it gave him something else.
[Skill Unlocked: Negotiation Lv.1.]
[Passive Bonus: +10% credibility on first impression.]
Marcus felt a strange calm wash over him again.
"Mr. Diaz," he said, "didn't someone else try to buy this place?"
Ramon straightened. "Yeah. A slick guy. Fancy watch. Had a business card and everything."
"Did he make an offer?"
Ramon hesitated. "…He said he'd think about it."
Marcus smiled slightly. "So he wasn't serious. I am."
Ramon frowned. "Kid… even if I wanted to sell, the bank won't approve anything unless you show funds."
Marcus took a breath. "I can have funds available immediately after contract signing."
Ramon blinked. "That's… not how banks work."
Marcus exhaled heavily. "I know it sounds insane. But please. Just give me ten minutes. Let me look around. Let me talk to you. I promise you'll know I'm serious."
The system pulsed brightly.
[Owner Interest +5%]
[Owner Curiosity +10%]
[Persuasion Check Passed.]
Ramon rubbed his face. "Fine. Ten minutes. But just ten."
---
### Understanding the Laundromat
Marcus walked the aisles like a CEO scanning an asset. The system highlighted everything wrong with the place.
[Machine 12: Repair cost $143.]
[Machine 7: Replace — too old.]
[Dryers 1–5: Missing parts, estimated fix $89 each.]
[Front counter: outdated, needs modern POS system.]
Everything looked terrible.
But then Marcus scanned the back.
A rusted door. A dusty hallway. And a locked door with a "PRIVATE" sign.
"What's back here?" Marcus asked.
Ramon followed him. "Storage. Mostly junk. Old equipment I never bothered to get rid of."
Marcus approached the door.
The system lit up.
[Hidden Asset Identified.]
[Unused rear storage lot: 0.14 acres.]
[Zoning: Commercial.]
[Value if cleaned + repurposed: $72,000–$110,000.]
Marcus froze.
This tiny laundromat… had a hidden land asset worth more than the entire business.
He turned slowly toward Ramon.
"Do you know how much that back lot could be worth if you cleaned it and reopened it for use?"
Ramon frowned. "It's useless. It's full of old junk and weeds."
Marcus shook his head. "It's not useless. It's land. Commercial land. Behind a business. That's prime space."
Ramon looked startled. "You… you think someone would want that?"
"Absolutely."
The system glowed again.
[Owner Hope +15%]
[Owner Stress -8%]
Marcus stepped closer.
"Mr. Diaz… I know you're exhausted. I know you've been trying to keep this place alive alone. But you don't have to."
He swallowed.
"Let me take it off your hands. Let me modernize it. Let me breathe life back into it."
Ramon stared at him—really stared this time.
"You talk like someone who's done this before."
Marcus forced a small smile. "First time for everything."
Ramon sighed deeply, shoulders slumping like a man who had carried too much weight for too long.
"…What are you offering?" he asked quietly.
Marcus's heart pounded.
[Appraisal Mode Suggestion: Offer price range $35,000–$55,000.]
Marcus inhaled.
This was it.
"Fifty thousand," Marcus said.
Ramon's eyes widened. "I—what? That's… that's more than I thought I'd get."
"It's fair."
"You… you really have that kind of money?"
Marcus hesitated.
The system answered for him.
[Mission Reward Pre-Approval: ACTIVE.]
"Yes," Marcus said. "I do."
Ramon nodded slowly, then extended a trembling hand.
"…Then we have a deal."
Marcus shook it.
Warm. Firm. Final.
The system exploded with light.
[Mission Complete.]
[Reward Granted.]
[$25,000 Starting Capital Added.]
[Skill: Negotiation Lv.1 — Confirmed.]
[Feature Unlock: Appraisal Mode (Permanent).]
Marcus felt his phone vibrate nonstop. His bank app lit up.
**Balance: $25,042.17.**
He almost collapsed.
It worked.
It actually worked.
Ramon smiled for the first time. "You know, kid… maybe you really can save this place."
Marcus exhaled shakily.
"No," he said. "I'm going to rebuild it."
The door swung open.
The man in the suit stormed inside, furious.
"What the hell did you just do?!"
Marcus turned slowly, calm as a storm in reverse.
He stepped forward, CEO Presence still active.
"I closed the deal," Marcus said.
"You were too late."
The man glared daggers at him.
"This isn't over."
Marcus walked past him, no fear in his steps.
"It hasn't even begun."
The system chimed one last time.
[New Mission Unlocked — "Prepare for Competition."]
Marcus smiled.
For the first time in his life… he wasn't broke. He wasn't powerless.
He was rising.