The morning of the grand opening felt heavier than any morning I'd experienced in both my lives. The sun hadn't even risen fully, but I was already standing in front of the store, staring at the glowing sign as if it held the answers to every fear twisting inside my chest. Vale Industries. My store. My first business. My first gamble. Today wasn't just another day. It was the first real test—of my decisions, my instincts, and everything the system had given me. I unlocked the door and stepped inside. The air smelled faintly of new paint and untouched electronics. The shelves were perfectly aligned, the counter wiped clean, the lighting bright but comforting. Everything was ready… except me. My stomach felt like it was folded into a knot. "Get it together, Aren," I muttered. "You survived two lifetimes. You can survive customers." The system chimed softly, almost as if responding to my nerves.
[Grand Opening Boost Active]
Effect: +200% Customer Traffic for 72 hours
Store Status: Fully Operational
Opening Recommendation: Start now?
"Yes," I said quietly. "Start now."
The system didn't flash or make any dramatic effect. Instead, the moment I confirmed, the atmosphere of the store shifted. It felt like the air itself sharpened, like the world outside drew one collective breath. And then… footsteps echoed from down the street. It was too early for normal business hours, but people were already passing by. And unlike yesterday, today their eyes stopped on the glowing "Vale Industries" sign. My heart thumped when I spotted Lira approaching from the sidewalk. The red-haired saleswoman had a calm smile and a confidence I desperately needed to borrow. "Morning, sir," she said. "You're here early." "Couldn't sleep," I admitted. She nodded, glancing at the store interior. "Everything looks great. The layout is clean and the product display is attractive. Customers will love it." I hoped she was right. At exactly 8:00 AM, the doors officially unlocked. The first customer came in at 8:05. A middle-aged man, dressed in work overalls, scanning the shelves curiously. I froze. Lira didn't. She approached him with a bright smile, her voice warm and practiced. "Good morning! Welcome to Vale Industries. Looking for something specific?" The man nodded shyly. "Uh… my old wrist device is almost dead. Need a new one." "We have a great selection of mid-range models right over here," she said. "Reliable, long battery, and affordable." She guided him to the shelf. He studied several models, picking one up with interest. Meanwhile, I stood behind the counter, trying my best not to look like an awkward statue.
My wrist device vibrated.
[Grand Opening Boost: + First Customer Attracted]
[Customer Satisfaction Prediction: 78%]
[Chance of Purchase: High]
I didn't know the system could calculate customer moods, but at this point I just accepted everything it did as normal. A few minutes later, the man placed a box on the counter. "I'll take this one." My heart nearly stopped. Lira beamed proudly behind him. "Great choice, sir." I scanned the product.
"Total is 520 credits," I said. He paid. Simple. Quick. Yet the moment the transaction completed, a strange warmth spread in my chest. My first sale. My first real income earned in this world. Not a gift. Not a system reward. Something I earned. The system chimed again.
[First Sale Completed]
Reward: +5,000 Credits
Bonus: +Business EXP
I nearly choked. Five thousand credits for a sale barely worth five hundred? The system was absurd—but in the best possible way. More customers trickled in. Some came in out of curiosity, others after seeing someone exit with a box in hand. Lira handled most interactions while I worked the counter. She was smooth, patient, and surprisingly good at convincing people that they needed something extra—screen protectors, charging docks, upgraded earbuds. Within an hour, we already had ten customers. And they weren't window-shopping. They were buying. Some bought small items, some bought pricey mini drones that I had displayed near the front. Every scan of a barcode felt like striking gold. Every customer's satisfied nod felt like an achievement badge. But around 10:30 AM, something unexpected happened. A tall man with sharp features, slicked-back hair, and an expensive wrist device walked in. His steps were slow, deliberate—like a predator surveying territory it expected to own. Lira greeted him normally, but he barely acknowledged her. Instead, he walked straight toward me at the counter. "So," he said, looking around with a faint smirk, "you're the new one." "…New what?" "New shop. New face. New… competition." His eyes narrowed. "This area belongs to our retail group. We run a chain of electronics stores around here. I hope you understand what I'm saying." I did. He wasn't here to shop. He was here to intimidate. Lira stepped closer, standing behind him with a worried look. But I didn't let her interrupt. "I understand," I said calmly. "You're worried." His brows twitched. "What?" "If you weren't worried, you wouldn't be here." The man's jaw tightened. "You think opening a small store makes you a threat to me?" "I think," I said slowly, "you wouldn't be here if you didn't think so." The silence that followed was tense, like the air had thickened. The man leaned forward. "I don't know how you got the money for this. But small flames get extinguished quickly. Don't forget that." He turned sharply and walked out. Lira let out a breath she had been holding. "That was risky," she whispered. "He looks dangerous." "Let him look," I said. "We're not closing." My wrist buzzed again.
[Warning: Rival Entity Detected]
[Scanning…]
Name: TechNova Retail Group
Threat Level: Moderate
Prediction: Attempts to sabotage or pressure Vale Industries within 14 days
Recommended Action: Increase marketing + boost reputation quickly.
So it begins. I had expected competition eventually, but not on day one. Still, I wasn't backing down. Not after coming this far. The boost the system gave me wasn't meant for nothing. And I wasn't the same powerless person I once was.
Customers kept coming steadily through the afternoon. Some asked about drones, some browsed smart home devices, and some simply admired the clean layout. The shelves slowly thinned as inventory numbers dropped. Lira worked tirelessly—her energy never fading. At one point, an elderly couple bought three devices at once because she explained them so simply they felt confident for the first time. Watching her, I realized hiring her was one of the best decisions the system had nudged me toward. By evening, I checked the sales numbers. And froze. We had sold nearly 40% of all inventory in a single day. That was… unbelievable. Unreal.
The system chimed again.
[Daily Sales Report — Grand Opening Day 1]
Total Customers: 142
Total Sales: 312,840 Credits
Grand Opening Bonus Earned: +100,000 Credits
Store Popularity Increase: +43
Vale Industries Reputation: 43/100
[Business EXP Increased]
[Vale Industries — Level 3 (Progress: 62%)]
I stared at the numbers, hardly able to breathe. We earned back everything we spent—renovation, inventory, fixtures—and still made profit. This wasn't luck. This was opportunity. And for the first time, I felt the foundation of something massive beginning to form beneath my feet. Lira approached the counter, wiping sweat from her forehead. "Sir… we did really well today." I nodded slowly. "We did. Thanks to you." Her face brightened at the compliment. "I'll work even harder tomorrow." "We both will." As I locked the store at night, the city lights reflecting against the glass front, I knew one thing with absolute certainty. This wasn't just a good start.
It was the birth of something that could reshape my entire life.
But threats were coming. Rivals were watching. And the path ahead wasn't going to be peaceful.
"Bring it on," I whispered into the dark street.
Vale Industries had opened its doors.
Now it was time for the world to notice.