Silence fell over the convenience store. Park Jin-ho, the arrogant heir who had just been humiliated, stared at Kang-dae with wide, trembling eyes. His phone slipped from his hand, clattering onto the floor.
"This... this is impossible," Jin-ho stammered. "You're just a part-timer! How could you buy this place in seconds?"
Kang-dae didn't answer. He didn't need to. The feeling of the steel-like muscles under his skin and the heavy weight of ten million won in his bank account was all the proof he needed. He released Jin-ho's wrist, leaving a deep red mark behind.
"I won't say it again," Kang-dae said, his voice echoing in the small shop. "Leave."
Jin-ho scrambled out of the store, nearly tripping over his own feet. As the door chimed behind him, Kang-dae finally let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. He was alone, but a blue screen was still floating in the air, glowing with a soft light.
[Ding! Congratulations on your first successful mission.]
[You have earned 100 Experience Points.]
[The 'Bronze Mystery Box' is ready to be opened. Would you like to proceed?]
"Open it," Kang-dae whispered.
The blue box on the screen began to shake. Bright golden light leaked from the cracks before it exploded into a shower of digital sparks.
[Ding! You have received the passive skill: 'The Eye of Business'.]
[Skill Description: You can now see the 'Success Rate' and 'Profit Potential' of any business or investment within your line of sight.]
Kang-dae's vision blurred for a second. When it cleared, the world looked different. He looked at a shelf of expensive wine behind the counter.
[Product: 2015 Bordeaux. Profit Potential: 12%. Demand: Low.]
Then, he looked out the window at a crumbling building across the street that had a "For Sale" sign on it.
[Property: Old Myung-dong Commercial Building. Profit Potential: 800%. Reason: A new subway station will be announced here in 48 hours.]
Kang-dae's heart skipped a beat. Eight hundred percent profit? If he could buy that building before the announcement, he wouldn't just be a convenience store owner. He would be a billionaire.
But there was a problem. The building cost 500 million won, and he only had ten million.
[Ding! New Main Quest Issued: The First Empire.]
[Task: Acquire the Old Myung-dong Building within 48 hours.]
[Failure Penalty: System Uninstallation and Permanent Poverty.]
Kang-dae gripped the counter. The System was giving him a path to the top, but it was also a gamble. He had two days to turn ten million into five hundred million.
"System," Kang-dae said, a sharp glint appearing in his eyes. "Show me the nearest high-stakes poker game."