The sun peeked through the hospital room's window, casting faint beams of morning light across Zaky's bed. He rubbed his eyes groggily, still adjusting to the new day. The events of the previous night lingered in his mind—the nurse's smile, the completed mission, and the sense of accomplishment that came with it. It had been a small act—a simple sketch—but it had meant something.
And now, with a new mission displayed in his mind, Zaky knew that the next step wouldn't be easy. Offer a service that creates value for someone.
He swung his legs over the edge of the bed, letting his bare feet touch the cold hospital floor. Small steps, small profits, but every success mattered. The warmth of motivation stirred inside him—a feeling that, no matter how modest his progress, he was building toward something bigger.
He had nothing in his pockets, no assets to his name. But the nurse's joyful reaction to his drawing had shown him that value didn't always mean money. He could offer things beyond currency—things people needed, even if they didn't realize it.
The hospital remained eerily quiet in the early hours, with the occasional murmur from nurses passing by in the hallway. Zaky sat in bed, lost in thought, tapping the corner of his notebook with the end of a dull pencil. What could he offer next?
A thought flickered in his mind—something simple. He couldn't build an empire in a day. Every business started small, and for now, he needed to focus on small wins. If he could string together enough small successes, the momentum would grow.
He remembered the old man he had passed earlier in the hallway, the one sitting in a wheelchair, looking out the window with a distant expression. Maybe, just maybe, Zaky could offer him something valuable—company.
It wouldn't be a grand gesture. But sometimes, what people needed most was to feel seen.
Zaky's bare feet padded quietly down the cold hallway as he made his way to the sitting area by the large windows. The old man was there, just as Zaky had hoped, his hands resting on the armrests of the wheelchair, staring out at the city skyline. The man seemed lost in thought, his gaze distant and heavy with unspoken stories.
Zaky approached cautiously, unsure of how to start. This wasn't a business deal. It wasn't a product he could sell or a transaction he could measure in money.
"Hello, sir," Zaky said softly, standing just a step behind the old man.
The man's head turned slowly, his expression neutral, but his tired eyes softened just a little. "Morning, kid. What brings you here?"
Zaky shifted nervously. "I just… wanted to say hi. Thought maybe I could sit with you for a while."
The old man gave a faint chuckle, though there was a trace of sadness in it. "Well, I won't stop you. Not like I've got anywhere else to be."
Zaky pulled a nearby chair closer and sat down. For a moment, they both sat in silence, the sounds of distant city traffic faint through the window. It was a quiet, peaceful moment—nothing grand, just the presence of one person sharing space with another.
Minutes passed slowly, and Zaky began to feel more at ease. It wasn't about forcing a conversation—it was about being present, showing that someone cared enough to sit beside the old man in silence.
"I used to have a dream, you know," the old man said suddenly, breaking the stillness. "Always wanted to open a little coffee shop. Simple, nothing fancy. Just a place where folks could stop by, have a chat, maybe feel a little less alone."
Zaky glanced at the man, sensing the weight of the words. Dreams didn't always need to be extravagant, but the loss of them could still leave an ache.
"That's a nice dream," Zaky replied quietly. "Maybe it's not too late."
The man chuckled again, shaking his head. "Too old for that now, kid. But it's nice to think about it sometimes."
They sat together in silence once more, but something had shifted—a tiny moment of connection, a small exchange that felt meaningful.
The familiar soft chime echoed in Zaky's mind, and a message appeared:
[Mission Complete: Offer a Service That Creates Value for Someone.]
[Reward: Basic Understanding of Customer Service and Emotional Needs.]
Zaky's heart fluttered with a quiet sense of achievement. It wasn't a grand success, but it was something. The knowledge from the system settled gently into his mind, teaching him that sometimes, the value in business wasn't about selling products—it was about understanding people and meeting their emotional needs.
As the mission text faded, a new message appeared:
[Mission 4: Find a Way to Earn Your First 10,000 Rupiah.]
Zaky's eyes widened slightly. This was the first mission directly tied to money. He knew it wouldn't be easy—earning real cash, even a small amount, felt like a daunting step. But he also knew that every step, no matter how small, would bring him closer to his dream.
The old man shifted in his wheelchair, glancing at Zaky with a small smile. "Thanks for sitting with me, kid. It's been a while since someone bothered to stop by."
Zaky smiled back. "It was nice. I'm glad I could."
As he stood up to leave, the old man gave him a curious look. "You've got something on your mind, don't you? You're not just a regular kid, are you?"
Zaky hesitated for a moment, then shrugged with a small, knowing grin. "Let's just say… I've got some dreams of my own."
The old man gave a thoughtful nod, as if he understood more than he let on. "Well, keep chasing them, kid. Dreams are funny things—they can slip away if you don't grab them tight."
Zaky nodded, feeling a spark of motivation flare inside him. Small profits, small wins—they mattered. They were the foundation of something greater.
As he walked back to his room, his mind buzzed with ideas. The system was teaching him step by step, and now it was time to take things to the next level. Ten thousand rupiah wasn't much—but it was more than he had right now.
He knew the path ahead wouldn't be easy. But with every mission, every lesson, and every small success, his confidence was growing.
He would earn that ten thousand, no matter what it took.
Because every small profit was another step closer to his dream.
And with every step forward, his motivation only grew stronger.