The drive back felt different this time. The city looked the same—hover cars sliding through lanes, neon displays flickering with early morning ads, drones buzzing above like metallic insects—but something in me had shifted. Registering Vale Industries wasn't just paperwork. It felt like I'd planted a flag in this world, a declaration that Aren Vale—an orphan from two lives—was done drifting. Now came the quest the system threw at me: find a location. A base. A place that would become the heart of everything I planned to build. My hands tightened on the steering wheel. It sounded simple, but business locations in a city like Aeria weren't cheap. They weren't easy to secure either. I pulled over in a quieter district and sat there, taking a long breath. "Alright, System," I muttered. "Let's see what you've got for me. Show me the quest details."
[Quest: Secure Your First Business Location]
Objective: Purchase or rent a physical commercial property suitable for business operations
Requirements:
• Minimum size: 60 sqm
• Legal ownership or rental contract
• Must pass the System's feasibility scan
Reward: +50,000 Credits
Bonus Reward: Business EXP
Penalty for Failure: None
Recommended: Start in a developing district for high growth potential
At least it wasn't forcing me to buy in a premium zone. That would've been impossible. I opened the city's public marketplace on my wrist device and browsed through available commercial listings. Prices slapped me in the face. Even small shops in half-decent areas were listed at 200,000 credits and above. "Damn… so much for cheap." I scrolled until my thumb grew tired, but nothing fit the budget I felt comfortable risking. Sure, I had a million credits, but one wrong move could cripple me before I even started. The system chimed again.
[System Tip: Consider Aeria's West Development Zone. Growth projection: High. Competition: Low. Rental costs: Affordable.]
I blinked. West Development Zone… I'd heard of it. The government was pumping money into that area, trying to turn old industrial land into a mixed-use commercial district. It wasn't glamorous yet—far from it—but the potential was real. "Alright," I said, starting the car again. "Let's check it out." The drive took twenty minutes. As I entered the West Zone, the scenery changed. Gone were the polished towers and floating billboards. Instead, half-renovated buildings lined the streets. Some were newly painted, others cracked from age. Construction bots worked on sidewalks while trucks carried materials back and forth. It wasn't pretty. But it wasn't hopeless either. It felt… raw. Untapped. Alive in a different way. I parked near a renovated block and stepped out. A leasing office sat at the corner, its small glass door promising affordable spaces for "new entrepreneurs," according to the poster outside. That was me now, wasn't it? A new entrepreneur. I walked inside. A young man behind the desk looked up, adjusting his glasses. "Welcome. Looking for commercial property?" "Yeah," I replied. "Something small. Affordable. But in a good location if possible." "You came to the right place," he said with a grin. "West Zone is booming. Early investment will pay off." He pulled up a holographic map. "What kind of business are you planning?" I froze again. Technically… I didn't know yet. I had ideas—trading, electronics, maybe a small tech retail outlet—but nothing solid. "A general-purpose commercial space," I said carefully. "Flexible usage." "Got it." He highlighted several red dots on the map. "These locations are available. Most are 40,000 to 120,000 credits per year if rented, or around 300,000 to 600,000 to buy." Buying was tempting, but too risky for the start. Leasing would give me flexibility. "Can I see a few of them?" "Of course." He grabbed a tablet. "Let's start with this one. It's close to the main road." We walked toward a building that looked recently refurbished. The shop space was around 70 sqm—clean, bright, decent layout. But something felt… too quiet. No foot traffic. No nearby shops. I shook my head. "Not this one." The next few were too cramped, too dark, or too hidden. And then, as we reached the fourth location, something clicked. A corner unit. Large glass windows. About 85 sqm. Clean interior. Good visibility from the street. Construction nearby, meaning future growth. And most importantly… people walking around. Not a lot, but enough. Enough for potential. "This one," I whispered. The leasing agent smiled like he'd expected it. "Good choice. Rent is 60,000 per year. Negotiable by about 10%. Want to run a scan?" I nodded.
[Scanning Location...]
[Feasibility Score: 82/100 — Highly Suitable]
[Projected Traffic Growth: 240% in one year]
[Risk Level: Low]
[Recommended: Accept]
My heart thumped. That was better than I expected. "I'll take it," I said, without hesitating. The agent nodded. "Great. Let's finalize the paperwork." I signed the digital agreement. The system deducted the amount instantly.
[Purchase Complete: 54,000 Credits (Negotiated)]
[Quest Completed — Secure Your First Business Location]
Reward Received: +50,000 Credits
Bonus Reward: Business EXP
[Business Panel Level Up!]
[Vale Industries — Level 2]
New Features Unlocked:
• Employee Management
• Inventory Panel
• Marketing Options
A strange rush went through me. Like adrenaline mixed with achievement. Like I'd just crossed another invisible line I never thought I'd reach. I stepped into the empty shop one more time, now officially mine for a year. Dust particles floated in the sunlight slipping through the glass. It smelled like fresh paint and possibilities. I placed my hand on the counter and exhaled slowly. "This is it," I murmured. "My first real step." No family. No guidance. No inheritance except tragedy. No mentor except a mysterious system. But for the first time… I felt like everything ahead was mine to build. My failures would be mine. My victories would be mine. My empire—if I ever built one—would start here, in this dusty, half-renovated corner unit in a forgotten district. And I would make the world remember the name Vale Industries. "Let's get to work," I whispered. Then the system chimed one last time.
[New Quest Available: Prepare the Store for Launch]
Objective: Renovate, furnish, and operationalize your first business location.
Reward: ???
Difficulty: Variable
A slow grin spread across my face. The real grind was about to begin. And I was ready.