The days after securing the twenty-million-dollar order felt like controlled chaos. The factory moved into a new rhythm, tighter and faster than ever before. Ashburn, Aisha, and Faraz spent the first three days rewriting the production schedule from scratch. Every machine's operating hours were recalculated. The packaging units were reorganized. Delivery cycles were mapped in layers so that Bhawal Nagar would receive the freshest possible batches.
Ashburn's risk mapping skill helped him spot weak points instantly—two old sealing machines that were too slow, a loading area where workers wasted time, and a transport cycle that overlapped unnecessarily. By the end of the week, everything ran smoother, faster, and sharply disciplined. Even the workers felt the difference; there was a sense of seriousness in the air, like everyone understood the magnitude of the opportunity.
Aisha's part was equally important. She reorganized inventory spending, arranged additional raw materials, and negotiated with suppliers. Every penny was traced. She even shifted funds between accounts quietly to maintain a strong cash flow without slowing production. Faraz, on the other hand, handled city coordination—checking how much space the Bhawal Nagar storage could handle, assigning two more vans, and monitoring each shop's performance.
The third shop opened within this period. Smaller, but placed in a dense neighborhood where foot traffic remained high even late at night. It started getting customers from the first day. The fourth one followed a week later, properly stocked and better designed using all the lessons from the first shop. Ashburn visited both locations personally, checking arrangements, talking to the managers, and adjusting product placements on shelves.
Two weeks passed in a blur, and the first batch for TownMart was finally ready. The factory floor was spotless that morning. Workers lined up boxes neatly, label-side forward. Aisha double-checked the documentation. Faraz reviewed the delivery route again and again. Even the vans had been washed and inspected twice.
Ashburn walked between the stacked pallets slowly. He didn't rush. He let his instant evaluation skill flow over the products, the packaging, the weight, the overall consistency. Tiny imperfections lit up in his mind—one box slightly underfilled, another slightly dented. He corrected them on the spot. Workers replaced the problematic boxes immediately.
Risk mapping layered over the whole batch next. That skill showed him potential outcomes—how the chain manager would inspect the seals, how customers would react to the freshness, how the shelf stability would hold over the two-month cycle. Nothing alarming appeared. Instead, the skill gave him a calm, steady sense of satisfaction. The quality was high. The batch would pass every test.
He exhaled deeply. "Send it."
Faraz signaled to the drivers. The vans started loading, one box after another, moving like clockwork. When the first vehicle finally rolled out of the factory gate, it felt symbolic—like the first step of a much larger journey.
Aisha came to stand beside him. "Everything looks good."
"Better than good," Ashburn replied. "This batch will decide whether they trust us long-term."
"And they will," she said confidently. "You checked every detail yourself. Even if they wanted to complain, they won't find anything."
Faraz called from the side. "Boss! I'll follow the vans and handle the reception at TownMart. You want to come along?"
Ashburn shook his head. "No. You manage it. I want to visit the third and fourth shops again today. I need to see how they're handling peak hours."
Faraz grinned and ran off toward the convoy. Three vans drove out smoothly behind him. Workers clapped as they passed. The sound felt like a small celebration, even though no one said anything special.
Ashburn left for Bhawal Nagar afterward, moving between the new shops. The third one was performing beyond expectations. Customers stood near the snack shelf, comparing prices and flavors. A few kids asked their parents to buy the new chips. The manager reported that the morning sales had already doubled since the previous week.
The fourth shop was still stabilizing, but Ashburn adjusted the placement of the factory products there as well, shifting an entire row closer to the entrance to increase visibility. He observed customer flow with quiet focus and predicted that this change alone would boost sales by at least fifteen percent.
By late evening, Faraz called again.
"Boss, they checked the batch," he said, excitement trembling in his voice. "They're satisfied. Everything passed. They liked the quality. They said they'll review sales after two weeks but so far, they're impressed."
Ashburn leaned back in his seat, eyes closing for a moment, letting the relief wash through him. "Good. That's exactly what we needed."
"And boss…" Faraz added, almost laughing, "they said your packaging looks cleaner than two major brands."
Aisha raised an eyebrow from across the table. "That means we're entering the real competition circle now."
Ashburn nodded with a calm smile. "Then let's win inside that circle."
The momentum was building—not as a sudden leap, but as steady, undeniable growth. With four shops running, the regional storage active, and the first major order successfully delivered, Ashburn felt the city slowly leaning in his direction.
The expansion had only just begun.