Lucien was on edge, glancing anxiously at the clock. The moment was almost here—soon the store would open its doors and the website would go live. He was eager to see if all his hard work and planning would pay off and whether the store would be successful. With numerous ideas and strategies in mind, he hoped for a positive outcome; otherwise, the disappointment would be significant. Considering he needed the funds for the rebranding of the cafes he had acquired as a reward from the system.
Tom had assured Lucien that he didn't need to be there if he was busy, but Lucien was determined to witness the opening of his first convenience store. It was a milestone for him, marking the launch of his very own business. The significance of this moment, being the first venture he had built from the ground up, made it all the more special for him.
At precisely 9 o'clock, the employees unlocked the doors, and the anticipation of the crowd became palpable. As soon as the doors swung open, curious customers streamed in, eager to explore the store. They wandered through the aisles, taking in the diverse range of products laid out before them, each section representing different cities and countries. The store buzzed with excitement as people began to discover the unique offerings and the samples of various items on display.
Everyone was taken aback by the large crowd, but Tom quickly took control of the situation. He efficiently instructed the employees, guiding them on how to assist the customers. They then spread out, engaging with the shoppers, explaining the products, and ensuring everyone had a pleasant experience.
Lucien stood to the side, watching the scene unfold with a smile. He was thrilled to see such a large crowd at the opening of his convenience store. Despite the significant investment he had made in advertisements, the turnout was even better than he had anticipated. It was a pleasant surprise to see so many people eager to visit the store. Among the regular customers, he also noticed the celebrities he had hired for the promotion. Their presence was a reassuring sign—they seemed genuinely interested in the store, rather than just endorsing it for the money.
As Lucien was lost in thought, a customer approached him with a question about a product. He hesitated for a moment, scanning the store for an employee to help. Seeing that everyone was busy, he decided to step in himself. He explained the product to the lady, who thanked him warmly for the assistance.
Lucien ended up spending most of the day assisting in the store, explaining products, giving examples, and distributing samples. He was pleased to see several familiar faces from the previous event, including the middle-aged lady who had asked him about the store, she congratulated him on the successful opening.
Once the customer flow began to ease, Lucien informed Tom that he would be heading to Tom's office in the back of the store. He assured Tom that he was available if any issues arose and that he would be ready to assist if needed.
Once Lucien was in the office, he immediately pulled up the store's website. It took a bit longer to load than usual, but when it finally opened, everything seemed to be running smoothly. As he checked the statistics, his eyes widened in disbelief. It wasn't just the store that was bustling with customers—there was a huge influx of visitors online as well. Orders were coming in, and to his surprise, a significant number of people had already signed up for the membership program.
It seemed like Lucien's planning was paying off. His ideas were working, and everything was falling into place. Still, the high number of online orders made him anxious. He quickly called the manager of the storage unit, wanting to make sure they could handle the sudden influx of deliveries.
"Is everything under control?" Lucien asked, concern lacing his voice.
The manager reassured him, "Yes, we're fine. The number of orders was definitely a surprise, but we've got it under control. The team pulled together, and we're managing to keep up with the demand."
Hearing this, Lucien felt a wave of relief wash over him. Despite the unexpected rush, it seemed they were handling the situation well.
Lucien hung up after a brief conversation, not wanting to keep the manager from his work. He leaned back in his chair, refreshing the website again. Each time he did, the numbers kept climbing—more visitors, more purchases, more memberships. At one point, he couldn't help but doubt if the numbers were real. It seemed too good to be true, almost unbelievable.
'Could it really be this successful already?' he thought, staring at the screen in disbelief. But no matter how many times he refreshed, the results stayed the same. The rush wasn't slowing down.
Lucien pulled out his phone and searched for his store's name. He was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of posts about it flooding his feed. There were reviews, reactions, recommendations, and even some critiques. The buzz around the store was clearly growing, with people discussing the unique products and sharing their experiences.
He noticed the posts were becoming more frequent, each one adding to the growing conversation about his new shop. Some people praised the store's selection and ambiance, while others offered constructive feedback. The variety of reactions showed that the store was making an impact, and Lucien couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and relief.
Many of the posts also praised the online shop aspect of the convenience store. People were impressed that they could browse and shop for groceries online and have them delivered right to their homes. This service was still relatively new, with only a few restaurants offering similar delivery options at that time.
The idea of a grocery store providing home delivery was seen as innovative, and customers appreciated the convenience. The positive feedback highlighted how the store's modern approach was resonating with people, further fueling the excitement around the launch. Lucien felt a surge of pride as he read through the comments, seeing how well his ideas were being received and how they were setting his store apart from the competition.
Many people also complimented the website itself, noting how easily accessible it was. They praised the clear and detailed product descriptions, the user-friendly interface, and other features that made their online shopping experience smooth and enjoyable. Lucien spent a considerable amount of time reading through the various threads and comments, captivated by the genuine feedback from customers.
He was eager to understand what aspects of the store and its services resonated most with people, as well as areas where improvements could be made. The positive responses were encouraging, but he was equally interested in any constructive criticism that could help him refine and enhance the shopping experience. The feedback gave him valuable insights and reinforced his commitment to continuously improving his business.
Ultimately, Lucien spent the entire day in the store, engrossed in reading reports and reviews online. He also took occasional breaks to check on the store's operations, ensuring everything was running smoothly. By the evening, the customer flow had significantly slowed down, which made things easier for the employees.
The staff took the opportunity to change shifts, allowing some of them to take a much-needed break. They relaxed in the back room of the store, enjoying some food and catching up on their rest. Lucien made sure to keep an eye on things, but he was relieved to see that the initial rush had settled, and the store was running efficiently.
Once the store closed, Tom called the storage unit to request a report on sales, expenses, and other details. Meanwhile, Lucien stayed in the back room of the store, to chat with the employees. At first, they were a bit unsure how to interact with him, given his young age and position as their boss. However, Lucien's relaxed approach helped put them at ease. He started some casual conversation, asking them about their day and how they felt about the store's opening. Despite his refined and composed demeanor, Lucien was friendly and approachable, which made the employees feel comfortable and more relaxed.
Once Tom finished compiling a comprehensive report on the day's expenses and earnings, he handed it over to Lucien. By that time, the employees had already left, as it had taken a while to prepare the report. Lucien told Tom he could go home and get some rest since he would need to be up early the next morning to work in the store. He mentioned that he wouldn't be there the following day and asked Tom to send a brief report at the end of the week, noting that daily updates were not necessary.
Tom acknowledged Lucien's instructions, said his goodbyes, and left. Once Lucien was alone, he reviewed the report on the website. It showed that the site had received a total of 47,382 views. There were 2,975 orders, with an average order value of $42, leading to an estimated earnings of $124,950. The number of new memberships had reached 6,725, far exceeding his expectations.
He then reviewed Tom's report on the convenience store. While they couldn't determine the exact number of customers who entered the store, they estimated it to be at least 2,000. Of those, 1,485 made purchases, with an average transaction value of $53, totaling $78,705 in sales. Additionally, 627 customers signed up for the membership, representing about 30% to 40% of the visitors.
`System Alert: Title Effect triggered
Hard Work Pays Off
You have triggered the first special effect of the title "Hard Work Pays Off."
Prepare to test your luck. ´
As soon as he was done reviewing the reports, a completion notification for the mission appeared. Shortly after, the Wheel of Fortune screen came up. Lucien spun the wheel, and it landed on the number 8, multiplying all his earnings for the day by 8.
`System Alert: Special Effect Used
Congratulations! Earnings are being multiplied by 8.
Final Earnings: $1.709.240 ´
Then another screen appeared in front of him.
`System Alert: Title Effect triggered
Hard Work Pays Off
You have triggered the second special effect of the title "Hard Work Pays Off"
Rewarding a unique Lootbox. ´
"I wonder what the rewards are for the Unique Lootbox; they should be quite impressive," Lucien thought as he glanced at the reward details for the second effect of his title. He then proceeded to retrieve the rewards for the mission.
`System Alert: Rewards collected
Congratulations! You have received the following rewards:
Enhanced Store Image
180 Exp ´
He then went ahead and took the two Lootboxes out of his inventory. Lucien eagerly opened the gold Lootbox first. Inside, he found a high-performance motorcycle named the Vortex Fury and an investment cheque. The Vortex Fury was a sleek, popular bike with a top speed of 249 mph, usually priced between $40,000 and $55,000. Lucien's eyes lit up as he saw it; he had always been fascinated by motorcycles and dreamed of owning one. This was more than just a reward—it was something he had always wanted. The investment cheque worth $68,630 was a welcome addition, giving him a boost to his finances.
Lucien turned his attention to the unique Lootbox, his anticipation building. Unlike the gold Lootbox, this one had vibrant, colorful corners that immediately caught his eye. As he opened it, a swirl of shimmering particles danced around him, creating a moment of magical anticipation.
When the particles settled and the reward revealed itself, Lucien's eyes widened in disbelief. He was both confused and astonished, unable to fully grasp what he was seeing. The system had rewarded something beyond his expectations, something so surprising that he wasn't quite sure how to react. To be honest he wasn't even completely sure what the system even meant by that.
`System Alert: Lootbox (Unique) opened
Congratulations! You have received the following rewards:
Custom Employee ´
He retrieved it from the inventory, a paper materialized in his hand. The paper displayed two categories: Skills and Characteristics. Each category had brief explanations that helped him understand what a custom employee meant.
The document explained that he could select three skills and two characteristics for this employee. The employee would be completely loyal to him, with no chance of betrayal. As Lucien read through the options, he realized this was a rare opportunity to design an ideal team member who would fit perfectly into his plans and business needs. He carefully considered his choices, knowing how crucial this decision could be for his future operations.
Lucien studied the sheet carefully, feeling a mix of excitement and uncertainty about selecting the right skills and characteristics. After some thought, he decided on the options that he believed would be most beneficial for his business.
For the Skills, he chose:
Talent Scout: To identify and recruit individuals with the right potential and fit for his needs.
Negotiation Mastery: To handle contracts and deals more effectively, ensuring the best terms for his business.
Market Analysis: To understand and predict market trends, helping him make informed decisions.
For the Characteristics, he selected:
Resourceful: To make the most out of any situation and find creative solutions to problems.
Charismatic: To build strong relationships and inspire others, which would be invaluable in both internal and external interactions.
Lucien was pleased with his choices, feeling that they would significantly bolster his plans and help maintain the efficiency and growth of his business.
After he made his selections, the paper disintegrated into a flurry of sparkles, and a system notification popped up in his line of sight. It provided details on when the new employee would arrive, letting Lucien know when to expect them.
Lucien found it hard to calm down, the excitement still buzzing through him. He was eager about the future and the possibilities it held. With each step, he felt he was moving closer to his dreams of expanding his businesses and providing the life he and his family had always hoped for. The progress he had made so far made him optimistic about what was yet to come.
Once Lucien had managed to calm down, he closed up the shop and headed back to his apartment. Although he had the new motorcycle at his disposal, he chose to walk. The stroll gave him a chance to clear his mind, reflect on the day's events, and enjoy a bit of solitude amidst all the excitement.
When he finally arrived back at his apartment, Lucien freshened up quickly before collapsing onto his bed. He hadn't realized just how exhausted he was until he laid down. Fatigue hit him all at once, and within moments, he was fast asleep.