The next few weeks passed in a blur of sweat, dust, and receipts.
Ashburn had never worked this hard in his life.
From sunrise to late night, he managed deliveries, argued with suppliers, and rearranged the shelves of the family store until his back ached and his mother started complaining that he'd turned into a "dust ghost."
"Beta, sleep at least one night properly!" she scolded as she handed him a plate of parathas.
Ashburn grinned, eyes half-open. "Can't, Ammi. Sleep doesn't pay interest."
His younger brother Sami snorted from the corner. "But dark circles do!"
Even his father cracked a smile behind his newspaper. "Maybe the boy's finally serious about business."
Ashburn didn't answer — he was.
For the first time since graduation, he wasn't chasing jobs. He was building something of his own.
---
He started by calling in favors from old university classmates who worked in supply chains. One of them helped him get wholesale rates for branded snacks and energy drinks that had never been sold in Ashrock before.
When the first shipment arrived, Sami and Amina stared in awe at the colorful boxes stacked in the tiny store.
"Bhai, are we selling these or opening a party?" Sami asked, tearing open a packet.
"Both," Ashburn replied dryly. "Now get that out of your mouth before Ammi sees."
Within days, the new products began drawing attention. Kids stopped by after school, and even adults—curious about the "city snacks"—started buying. Ashburn observed quietly, noting which items caught eyes and which stayed untouched.
He had even placed a small suggestion box near the counter with a hand-written sign:
"What would you like to see next? Write it here."
Most notes were silly ("Free ice cream!" "TVs!" "A PlayStation, please!"), but a few were useful. Someone wanted herbal shampoos, another asked for battery-powered fans.
Ashburn read each one with a grin. "So this is what 'market research' feels like."
---
By the third week, business had doubled.
The store no longer felt sleepy — it buzzed.
People came in, browsed, talked. The bell on the door never seemed to stop ringing.
His father watched quietly, impressed but pretending otherwise. "You should be careful, beta. When something rises fast, it can fall faster."
Ashburn nodded. "That's why we'll anchor it right."
Still, he knew there were cracks forming — small ones.
The shop was cramped. The inventory turnover was faster than he could restock. Suppliers sometimes delayed deliveries, and he had to learn to manage frustration.
Each night, before sleeping, he checked the faint screen that appeared before his eyes.
> [Progress Evaluation: 73%]
Customer Satisfaction: Moderate-High
Efficiency: Improving
Suggestion: Expand logistics or delegate routine tasks.
He frowned at that. "Delegate to who? Sami? He'd eat the profits."
Still, the system wasn't wrong. He couldn't handle everything alone forever.
---
One particular evening, a problem hit.
A rival shopkeeper down the road, Irfan, started selling similar snacks — even cheaper.
"Copycat," Ashburn muttered, glaring across the street.
That night, he stayed awake, thinking. Competing on price would hurt both of them. So instead, he focused on experience.
The next morning, he rearranged the store again. Cleaned shelves, added small banners, played soft background music on a Bluetooth speaker, and introduced a "buy 2, get 1 free" deal on weekends.
Within a week, Irfan's discount stunt fizzled out. Customers preferred the livelier shop.
Sami puffed his chest and said, "That's our family brand now!"
Ashburn laughed. "Brand? More like chaos management."
But deep inside, pride burned quietly. He was learning.
---
Thirty days later.
The sun dipped low over Ashrock, painting everything in dusty orange light. The shop had just closed; Amina slept on the counter, hugging a candy jar, while his parents talked softly in the back.
Ashburn leaned on the doorframe, exhaustion sinking into his bones.
The faint voice returned — calm and mechanical.
> [Fortune Ledger: Evaluation Complete]
Status: Successful
Net Growth: +62%
Capital Return: ₹100,000
Profit Credited: ₹6,200
Ledger Bonus: +2% Future Profit Share
Reward: Skill – Quick Appraisal (Basic)
Description: Enables instant judgment of a product's value, quality, and potential demand within limited parameters.
Ashburn blinked. "A… skill?"
He focused on a jar of pickles nearby. The faint hologram shimmered beside it.
> Local Pickles – Medium Demand. High freshness. Current Margin: 12%. Potential resale opportunity – low.
A slow grin crept across his face.
"Oh, this is going to be fun."
---
He stepped outside, the cool night air brushing against his sweat-damp hair.
Somewhere, far above, the stars blinked faintly over Ashrock's skyline.
He looked at the glowing screen one last time before it faded.
> [Next Evaluation: 60 Days]
Next Capital: ₹200,000
Objective: Improve logistics and market reach.
Warning: Risk evaluation will now factor in volatility and supplier reliability.
Ashburn's chest tightened with a thrill.
Twice the money. Twice the risk. Twice the potential.
He stared at the dark streets — his city, his little desert home.
The hum of distant engines and chatter mixed with the faint whisper of wind sweeping across sand.
He smiled softly. "Alright, Ledger. Round two."
As he turned back toward home, his phone buzzed with a message from an unknown number.
"Ashburn? This is Kinat. From university. Do you still donate to the Ashrock Welfare Fund?"
He froze, staring at the message.
It had been over a year since they'd last talked.
The corners of his mouth lifted. "Looks like the next investment isn't just in business."
And as the screen faded into darkness, the Ledger pulsed one last time.
> [New Connection Detected: Potential Growth Opportunity – Human Network.]