The next day, Himawan stood at the edge of the bustling marketplace, eyes gleaming. His system had pushed him to expand—and this crowded area, filled with merchants and tourists, was the perfect place to launch the third stand.
[Mission: Establish a Third Location.]
Task: Open a new stall in a high-traffic area.
Reward: ¥10,000, Early Market Leader Badge.
"We open here, and we'll be raking in cash," Himawan said confidently.
Miyuki squinted at the busy street. "It's perfect, but... there's competition everywhere."
Riku leaned against his skateboard, eyeing a nearby coffee truck and a bubble tea stand. "They've got fancy signs and loyal customers. Think we can really beat them?"
Himawan's grin widened. "Of course. If we're going to grow, we'll have to dominate the competition."
As they discussed their plans, a commotion drew their attention. A sleek cart selling artisanal smoothies rolled into the marketplace, attracting a crowd with loud music and flashy advertisements. A stylish, silver-haired girl stepped behind the counter, offering free samples.
"Try our limited-edition Dragonfruit Smoothie! Smooth as silk, sweet as summer!" she called out. Her charisma captivated everyone around her, causing people to flock toward her cart.
"Who's that?" Miyuki whispered.
Riku let out a low whistle. "That's Satsuki Yukimura. Her family runs a bunch of high-end cafes. Looks like we've got real competition now."
Himawan frowned. Satsuki, huh? This won't be easy.
As if sensing their gaze, Satsuki glanced over and locked eyes with Himawan. She gave him a smug smile, tossing her silver hair over her shoulder. "Thinking about setting up here?" she called out. "You'll need more than lemonade if you want to keep up with me."
Her challenge was clear—and Himawan loved it.
"She doesn't know what she's just started," he muttered.
New System Notification:
[Rival Encounter Detected – Satsuki Yukimura.]
Bonus Mission: Outsell the Rival Stand.
Reward: ¥15,000, Reputation Boost Badge.
Miyuki nudged him. "So, what's the plan, boss?"
Himawan's mind raced. "We're not backing down. We'll set up right here, next to her. If she wants a war, we'll give her one."
The trio quickly got to work. Himawan rented a small, portable cart with the ¥3,000 reward they'd earned from the previous mission. They stocked it with fresh lemons, tea leaves, and some new ingredients to upgrade their iced fruit tea.
Miyuki handled advertising, handing out flyers to passing tourists. "Special discount! Buy two drinks, get the third free!" she shouted cheerfully.
Riku, surprisingly motivated by the competition, set up a signboard with hand-drawn graphics that read: "Refreshing Drinks, Half the Price of Fancy Smoothies!"
The real battle began as the two stands operated side by side. Customers were drawn to Satsuki's cart first, dazzled by her charm and the novelty of dragonfruit. But once they realized the high prices, many shifted their attention to Himawan's cart, where affordable and refreshing drinks awaited.
Sales Update:
Lemonade & Iced Tea Stand – ¥4,500 Earned Today.
Satsuki's Smoothie Cart – Rival Sales: Unknown.
"Not bad for the first day," Miyuki said, wiping sweat from her brow.
Himawan nodded, but he knew this was just the beginning. Outselling Satsuki wouldn't happen overnight. "We need a hook—something unique."
As they brainstormed, a new system notification appeared.
New System Feature Unlocked: Marketing Skills.
Bonus: Create a Viral Promotion.
Hint: Collaborate with Key Figures in the Market.
Himawan grinned. "Marketing, huh? If that's what it takes, we'll do it."
The following day, Himawan put his new marketing plan into action. He approached a group of popular high school students who frequented the marketplace. "How about this," he offered, "we'll give you free drinks for a week if you post about our lemonade stand on social media. Sound good?"
The group's leader, a charismatic boy named Kaito, raised an eyebrow but smiled. "Free drinks, huh? I like the sound of that."
With Kaito and his friends on board, photos and videos of Himawan's stand flooded the local social media channels.
"Best lemonade in town—#LemonadeKing!"
"Forget overpriced smoothies—#SupportLocal!"
The hashtags trended quickly, bringing in a surge of customers. Satsuki watched from her cart, lips pursed in frustration as more people lined up at Himawan's stand.
Sales Update:
Total Earnings Today – ¥8,000.
Miyuki couldn't contain her excitement. "We're killing it!"
Himawan gave a satisfied nod. "This is how we win—by thinking smart."
But just as they celebrated, Satsuki walked over, arms crossed and a dangerous gleam in her eye.
"You're good," she admitted. "But this isn't over. I'll crush you—just wait."
Himawan smirked. "I'm looking forward to it."
System Notification:
[Rival Challenge Continues – Weekly Sales Competition Activated.]
Top Performer Reward: ¥15,000 and Market Leader Status.
The stakes had risen, but so had Himawan's ambition. With his growing team, clever strategies, and a rival to push him further, the journey to becoming the wealthiest person in this world was just heating up.
In business, as in life, every challenge was an opportunity—and Himawan was ready for all of it.