The next morning, Himawan stood in front of his newly secured lemonade stand, the cardboard sign now looking a bit more polished. Thanks to Miyuki's uncle, the business permit rested neatly in his pocket—a small but crucial first victory.
[Mission Update: Business Permit Acquired. Ready to Operate.]
The sun was shining brightly, and the town's streets were bustling with people. Himawan stretched his arms, filled with renewed determination. Today, things were going to be different. No more interruptions—just profits.
"Alright," he muttered with a grin. "Let's make some cash."
As he squeezed lemons and stirred the sugar into the water, the warm breeze carried the scent through the street. It wasn't long before a couple of curious passersby stopped at his stand.
"How much for a cup?" a middle-aged man asked.
"Just 50 yen! Fresh and ice-cold," Himawan replied with a salesman's enthusiasm.
The man nodded and handed over the coins. "One cup, please."
Himawan quickly filled the plastic cup and handed it over, a small ding ringing in his mind.
[2/5 cups sold. Reward Progress: 40%.]
Business started to pick up. A mother with her child stopped by for a drink, followed by a delivery worker on his morning break. With each sale, the numbers climbed:
[3/5 cups sold.]
[4/5 cups sold.]
Just as Himawan was about to complete his first mission, a familiar voice called out.
"Looks like you're on fire today!"
He glanced up to see Miyuki approaching with a cheerful smile, her school bag slung over one shoulder.
"You came back!" Himawan said, a bit surprised but pleased.
"Of course! I promised I'd buy more lemonade, didn't I?" She grinned and dropped a 50-yen coin onto the counter.
Himawan filled another cup and handed it to her, earning one final ding in his mind.
[Mission Complete: Sell 5 Lemonade Cups!]
Reward: ¥500, Basic Entrepreneur Badge Unlocked.
The notification filled Himawan with satisfaction. This was just a small step, but it was proof that he could make progress in this world. As the extra 500 yen appeared in his system balance, he realized something: every little victory mattered, no matter how small.
"Thanks, Miyuki," Himawan said as she sipped her lemonade.
"You're welcome!" she replied with a playful wink. "Looks like you're off to a good start."
Just then, a sleek black sports car rumbled down the street, drawing the attention of everyone nearby. Himawan's eyes widened as it passed—a sleek, low-slung machine with a powerful growl.
"Now that's the kind of car I need," he whispered to himself, his heart racing.
Miyuki followed his gaze and giggled. "You've got expensive taste, huh?"
"You have no idea," Himawan muttered, his mind already calculating. A supercar like that would cost millions... I'll need to scale this business fast.
But just as he started dreaming of high-end sports cars and penthouses, another system notification popped up in his vision.
New Mission Unlocked: Expand Operations.
Task: Find a Partner or Employee to Scale Business.
Reward: ¥2,000, Business Expansion Badge.*
Himawan rubbed his chin thoughtfully. A partner, huh? He glanced at Miyuki, who was finishing her lemonade with a satisfied smile.
"Hey, Miyuki," he began cautiously, "how do you feel about helping me grow this little lemonade venture?"
Miyuki tilted her head, curious. "Are you offering me a job?"
"Something like that," Himawan said with a grin. "I'll give you a share of the profits... once we make some real money, that is."
Miyuki laughed. "Why not? This sounds like fun!"
[Task Progress: Partner Acquired. Business Expansion in Progress.]
With a new ally by his side and bigger goals in mind, Himawan felt unstoppable. The lemonade stand was just the beginning—soon, he'd be running a chain of businesses, stacking wealth, and working his way toward the life he dreamed of.
This world may have its challenges, he thought, but nothing's going to stop me from becoming the richest.
And so, the journey to build an empire began. With each sale, Himawan's dream came closer—and with Miyuki's help, the next step in his adventure was already in motion.
The race to wealth had officially begun.