The next morning arrived too quickly. I barely slept, not because of nightmares but because my mind refused to stop racing. My store—my first real foothold in this new world—was now officially mine. The contract was signed, the credits were paid, and the system had already upgraded Vale Industries to Level 2. I should have been thrilled. Instead, a restless energy buzzed inside me, like a fire that had finally found dry wood to burn. I grabbed a quick breakfast and headed straight to the West Zone. The earlier I started, the sooner I could open for business. The sooner I opened, the sooner I could grow. And the sooner I grew… the sooner I could build the empire I kept imagining whenever I closed my eyes. When I reached the store, the early sunlight reflected off the glass front. The interior was exactly as I left it—empty, plain, full of potential. I stepped inside and closed the door behind me. The quiet felt heavy, like the space itself was waiting for me to breathe life into it. "Alright," I muttered. "Time to begin."
[Quest: Prepare the Store for Launch]
Objective Breakdown:
• Interior renovation
• Install shelves, counters, and essential fixtures
• Set up inventory
• Hire at least one employee
• Assign store category and business model
Reward: Hidden
Time Limit: None
A hidden reward. I didn't know whether that meant something amazing—or something terrifying—but either way, it pushed me to move faster. I walked around the store, analyzing everything with a more critical eye. The walls were clean but bland, plain white without personality. The floor was decent but slightly scuffed. The lighting was functional but dull. No customer would walk in and feel compelled to buy anything, no matter how good the products were. I needed atmosphere. I needed branding. I needed Vale Industries to feel like a rising star, not a cheap convenience shop. "System," I whispered, "show me renovation options."
[Renovation Panel Unlocked]
Available Modes:
• Basic Renovation Package — 20,000 Credits
• Standard Commercial Renovation — 50,000 Credits
• Premium Retail Renovation — 120,000 Credits
• Custom Renovation — Variable
Note: Renovation effects influence customer perception and sales potential.
I exhaled slowly. Even the cheapest option was a big chunk of money. But the store was small—85 square meters—so at least renovation wouldn't cost as much as a large supermarket or workshop. I clicked into the details.
Basic: Clean walls, modern paint, standard lighting, simple flooring
Standard: Brand-colored walls, LED lighting, polished flooring, signage setup
Premium: Fully custom interior design, advanced lighting ambience, branded theme, high-end displays
Custom: You choose everything; cost varies
My current funds were over a million, but I didn't want to throw money blindly. I needed to balance risk and growth. "System… what do you recommend?"
[Recommendation: Standard Commercial Renovation — optimal cost-to-benefit ratio.]
[Economic Efficiency Score: 87%]
That settled it. "Do it."
[Standard Commercial Renovation initiating… Estimated time: 10 hours.]
[Would you like to accelerate using credits?]
Cost: 5,000 Credits
Yes / No
I hesitated. Ten hours wasn't bad… but waiting meant losing an entire day of progress. "Yes," I said.
[Acceleration Complete.]
[Renovation in progress…]
Suddenly, the room lit up with pale blue energy particles. They swirled around me like dust caught in sunlight, then scattered across the walls, floors, and ceiling. I stepped outside to avoid being blinded. Through the glass, the interior shifted like some invisible artist was repainting every surface, installing lighting, rearranging flooring. People walking past stared with confusion, but I ignored them. After a few minutes, the bright glow faded. I stepped back inside and froze. The white walls were now a calm charcoal-grey with elegant teal accents. Sleek LED panels illuminated the space evenly. The flooring looked polished and clean, and above the counter area, an illuminated sign glowed softly. VALE INDUSTRIES — INNOVATION STARTS HERE My throat tightened. Seeing my company name displayed like that—it made everything real. Too real. "This is… incredible," I whispered.
[Renovation Complete.]
[Next objective: fixtures and furnishing.]
Right. Shelves, counter, display units. I checked the furniture options.
[Store Fixtures Panel]
• Basic Set — 8,000 Credits
• Standard Set — 20,000 Credits
• Premium Set — 60,000 Credits
• Custom Build — Variable
I selected the Standard Set—clean metal shelving, wooden counters, digital price tags, and a modern reception desk. Another wave of blue particles materialized and arranged everything perfectly. Now the store looked professionally built, the kind of place customers would trust. But a store needed more than aesthetics. It needed a purpose. I sat at the counter and opened the Business Panel. "System… what kind of business can I start with my current funds and space?"
[Business Model Options for Level 2 Enterprise]
• Electronics Retail
• General Goods Store
• Tech Repair & Sales
• Hobby & Lifestyle Store
• Health & Beauty Store
• Boutique Clothing
• Mixed Retail (Limited)
Recommended Models based on market analysis:
1. Electronics Retail
2. Tech Repair & Sales
3. Mixed Retail
My eyebrows rose. Electronics. That made sense. Aeria City was full of tech users—wrist devices, holo-pads, personal drones, compact communication gear. And electronics had high margins. But they also required inventory I didn't yet have. "System, give me projected profits for each model."
[Electronics Retail: High initial cost, high profit potential, fast ROI]
[Tech Repair & Sales: Low cost, medium profit, steady revenue]
[Mixed Retail: Medium cost, medium profit, broad customer base]
Electronics retail was risky… but if I pulled it off, Vale Industries would explode in popularity. And popularity meant exponential growth. "System," I said quietly, "what's the safest choice for long-term scale?"
[Recommendation: Electronics Retail for long-term empire growth.]
So that was the path. Risky, expensive, difficult. Exactly the kind of challenge that builds giants. I selected Electronics Retail. The panel updated instantly.
[Store Category Confirmed: Electronics Retail]
New Requirements Added:
• Acquire electronics inventory
• Install security systems
• Hire at least one staff member
New Features Unlocked:
• Wholesale Supplier Access
• Store Security Panel
• Price Optimization Tool
My wrist vibrated again.
[Sub-Quest Generated: Acquire Initial Inventory]
Minimum Requirement: 100 units
Recommended Investment: 100,000–300,000 Credits
Time to buy stock. I opened the wholesale supplier panel, expecting to see actual brands and products listed. Instead, dozens of categories unfolded—phones, wearable tech, drones, home gadgets, headphones, accessories, smart chips. The prices varied wildly. Even the cheapest hologram-enabled wrist device cost around 200 credits wholesale. Premium ones went over 2,000 credits each. I rubbed my forehead. "This is going to be expensive…"
[System Tip: Start with accessories and mid-range devices. High turnover + safe margins.]
Good advice. I loaded my cart with:
• 40 mid-range wrist devices
• 100 premium earphones
• 100 charging docks
• 60 home smart units
• 40 mini drones
Total: 168,400 credits. I swallowed hard and confirmed the purchase.
[Inventory Purchase Complete.]
[Delivery Scheduled: Today — 4 hours remaining.]
Perfect. But I still needed staff. The idea of hiring someone scared me more than any purchase. The moment I hired someone, I wasn't just Aren Vale anymore. I was someone's boss. Their livelihood would depend on me. I opened the Employee Management Panel.
[Employee Options]
• Hire Locally (Manual)
• Hire Through System (Premium Cost)
• System-Recommended Candidates (Affordable)
"System, show recommended candidates."
[Candidate 1: Lira Vens]
Age: 22
Experience: 1 year electronics sales
Personality: Friendly, hardworking
Expected Salary: 2,800 Credits/month
Rating: 87/100
[Candidate 2: Rio Talen]
Age: 25
Experience: Inventory and repair
Personality: Quiet, efficient
Expected Salary: 3,200 Credits/month
Rating: 90/100
[Candidate 3: Mira Elsen]
Age: 19
Experience: None
Personality: Energetic
Expected Salary: 1,800 Credits/month
Rating: 71/100
Rio looked like the best fit, but if I wanted sales, I needed someone who could talk to customers. "System… can I interview them?"
[Interviews Available. Would you like to summon Candidate 1?]
"Yes." A soft glow formed near the counter—and a moment later, a young woman appeared. Short red hair, sharp eyes, confident posture. She blinked. "Oh—uh—are you the one hiring?" Her voice was bright but steady. "Yes," I said. "I'm Aren Vale." She nodded. "Lira. Electronics sales experience, one year. Former shop closed due to relocation." "Why should I hire you?" I asked. "Because I know how customers think," she said. "And I can sell things even when people swear they don't need them." I couldn't help smiling. "Alright. You're hired." Her eyes widened. "Really?" "Really."
[Employee Hired: Lira Vens]
[Employee Efficiency Bonus Applied: +3%]
She bowed slightly. "Thank you, sir. When do I start?" "Tomorrow morning." She nodded and vanished in the same soft light she arrived in. I leaned against the counter, exhaling slowly. Hiring someone felt surreal—like stepping into shoes too big for me. But it also felt… right. Like this was what I was meant to do. Four hours passed quickly. The system signaled the delivery.
[Inventory Arriving. Please stand back.]
Several sleek crates appeared, stacked neatly in the center of the store. I opened each one, feeling like a kid at Christmas. The devices were brand new, wrapped in protective seals. Real products. My products. I spent hours arranging everything on shelves, scanning them into the inventory panel, labeling price tags, calibrating the counter system. By the time I finished, the sun was already setting. The store was complete. Renovated interior. Stocked shelves. Clean counters. Tomorrow, I would open for the first time. I stood at the entrance, staring at the illuminated sign glowing against the night. VALE INDUSTRIES My company. My dream. My empire's foundation. And then the system released a soft chime.
[Quest Complete — Prepare the Store for Launch]
[Hidden Reward Unlocked: Grand Opening Boost]
Effect: +200% customer traffic for the first 3 days
Additional Reward: 100,000 Credits
[Business EXP Increased]
[Vale Industries — Level 2 → 3]
I stared at the screen, stunned. That boost… that was insane. That was the kind of advantage that could change everything. "Thank you," I muttered. I didn't know whether I meant it for fate, luck, or the mysterious system that bound itself to me. But tomorrow… tomorrow Vale Industries would officially open. And the world of Aeria City would witness the rise of something new. Something powerful. Something I would build with my own hands. "This is just the beginning," I whispered into the empty store. And I meant every word.