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Side Task 1: Sell 50 Soft Serve Vanilla Ice Creams
Progress: 0/50
Reward: Unlock new product – Soft Serve Chocolate Ice Cream. The machine will be installed in the store after business hours.
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Hao turned to the system immediately.
’Wait, wait, wait.’
’Is the ice cream going to be served in a cup, or is it in a cone?’
A grin formed on Hao’s face.
A cone? That was even better!
Cone gang all the way.
There was just something different about eating ice cream from a cone.
The way it slowly melted down the sides.
The way you could crunch into it after finishing the top.
Cup was safe.
Cup was neat.
But cone was an experience!
A proper dessert needed a little bit of mess, a little bit of fun.
Besides, who would want to miss out on that final bite where the last bit of ice cream met the crunchy cone?
It was like saving the best part for last.
’System, the ice cream machine comes with the store upgrade, right?’
[Indeed, host. With the store expansion, it comes with a new Ice Cream Machine. It will be installed after business hours.]
Hao nodded, his excitement building.
’Finally, a dessert to end a meal properly.’
There was something so satisfying about finishing a meal with something sweet.
It felt like the perfect way to top off the day.
It wasn’t anything fancy, just a simple treat.
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Side Task 2: Accumulate 400 Crystals from Canned Drinks
Progress: 0/400
Reward: Unlock new product – Wing Blast. It will be delivered to the storage area after business hours.
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Wing Blast?
Wasn’t that the drink brand that always showed up in random crazy stunt videos?
The one where someone jumped off a roof with cardboard wings taped to their arms?
Or tried to skateboard down a mountain with nothing but a prayer?
The one that totally had nothing to do with their actual product? Not even real ads about the drink.
’I’ve tried it once before and yeah, it definitely woke me up.’ Hao thought, remembering the time when curiosity got the better of him.
One can.
Five minutes later, he was so wide awake he cleaned his entire room, finished three assignments, and organized his closet by color.
He chuckled.
It was powerful.
Too powerful, maybe.
He was wired like a spirit beast on a rampage.
The store’s version would probably have even stronger effects too.
After all, everything here was touched by the system’s magic.
Maybe it could really give wings this time.
’I wonder what effect it’ll have here.’
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Side Task 3: Hire your second store crew. You weren’t planning to overwork Mo Xixi, right? 0/1
Requirement: The employee must be at least Saint Realm or higher. The system will automatically detect individuals within the vicinity who meet the requirements.
Reward: Unlock Employee’s AirBuds. It will be delivered to the storage area after business hours.
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This was what he had been begging for before, right?
He coughed into his hand, hiding his roblox ahh face grin.
’System, you’re finally listening to me. I knew you had a kind heart somewhere.’
It was about time.
Hiring a second crew member meant he could finally slack off a little without feeling guilty.
Of course, he would still watch the store closely.
Even if someone else was manning the counter, he was still the storekeeper here.
His eyes then fell on the reward.
Employee’s AirBuds?
He tilted his head.
’AirBuds…? Where are they even gonna connect to?’
Bluetooth? Wi-Fi?
This wasn’t Earth.
There were no satellites flying around, right?
’Or… does it come with songs already downloaded?’
A random scene popped into Hao’s mind.
Tian Lu, fists flying, training with him seriously…
While nodding his head to a heavy phonk beat blasting through his airbuds.
’Would that… make him faster?’
The image was so ridiculous Hao nearly laughed out loud.
Before he could spiral further, the system’s voice rang.
[It does not come with songs, host. Its main purpose is for communication. Even if the area blocks spiritual sense, qi, or any technique, it will still allow instant talk. Even across different continents.]
The system sounded a little smug.
Like it was showing off.
’Basically… it’s just an upgraded walkie-talkie?’
’I’m just saying system, if you added some music, it would’ve been way cooler.’
No reply.
As expected.
’You should consider it, system.’ he shrugged.
Tomorrow was going to be a big day anyway.
The next morning, Hao woke up earlier than usual.
The sky outside was still dark, the faint stars barely hanging over Sovereign City.
The whole store was silent.
Mo Xixi, Tian Lu, Kurome, and the two kittens were all still asleep.
He stretched a little, feeling the chilly air bite at his skin.
He made his way down from the third floor.
But as soon as he reached the second floor, he froze.
“Damn.”
The second floor was completely different.
The second floor was already large before.
But now, it felt even bigger.
The changes were impossible to miss.
There were now four brand new bedrooms.
And four new bathrooms to match.
Added to the original three bedrooms and three bathrooms, there were seven in total now.
The shared kitchen still looked the same though.
But the lounge?
The lounge had doubled in size.
Instead of one lonely sofa, now there were two.
The walls looked like they were pushed farther back.
’Guess the store knows how to spoil its people.’
Hao paused.
He realized something.
The store was really growing.
Back then, it was just him.
One guy behind the counter, waiting.
Now, there were people.
Companions.
A real crew.
The store wasn’t just a store anymore.
It was not some grand sect.
But it was becoming a real home.
He scratched his head.
’Look at me, getting all sentimental.’
But deep down, he was proud.
He wasn’t alone anymore.
He walked further down, reaching the first floor.
The storage area remained unchanged.
Open and wide.
The newly delivered goods barely made a dent in the available space.
It still felt more like a giant warehouse than a cramped backroom.
But he was not here for that.
His true excitement was for the storefront.
He pushed open the door connecting the storage to the front counter.
And it did not disappoint him.
The changes hit him right away.