บท 6: Making First $10
Alex stepped out of the hospital, squinting as bright daylight washed over him. The cool breeze brushed against his skin, refreshingly contrasting the sterile atmosphere.
He took a deep breath, relishing the freedom of being outside, but a question lingered, 'Where to go now?'
He could skip classes for the rest of the week—his sick leave gave him three days off, which meant no lectures until Monday.
It was a strange feeling.
Normally, he'd scramble to catch up on assignments or lecture notes. Still, now, with the Empire System in his life, he felt a pull in a different direction. The idea of just going through the usual motions didn't seem as appealing anymore.
He looked around, taking in the bustling city streets. 'Maybe it's time to start exploring what this system can do for me,' he thought.
As he was wondering, another notification popped up as Alex pondered his next steps, pulling his attention to the Empire System.
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[New Mission: Make Your First $10 Within One Hour]
Objective: Earn $10 within the next hour. No asking or borrowing from anyone.
Reason: Every empire starts with a foundation. Money and power are essential to building an empire, and in this world, money comes first. Start with small gains to set the stage for greater accomplishments.
Time Limit: 1 hour
Reward:
1. 50 EXP
2. 20 Coins
=====
Alex blinked, reading over the mission details carefully. It seemed straightforward, but the time limit added a sense of urgency. 'Building an empire,' he mused, 'whatever kind that means, I guess it starts with cash.'
He glanced at his watch. One hour. 'Alright,' he thought, feeling a determined spark light up inside him. "Let's see what I can do."
Alex stared at the mission notification, feeling a sense of uncertainty wash over him. Making $10 in an hour sounded simple, but when he thought about it, he realized he had only ever made money by working long, steady hours.
His part-time job at the convenience store paid him $8.00 per hour—barely enough to cover his financial needs, especially for his studies. The thought of making $10 quickly felt daunting.
"What can I do..."
He glanced around the bustling city streets, mulling over the possibilities. The system hadn't specified how to make the money, only that he was not allowed to ask for money. He could do anything—sell something, perform, or maybe even try something riskier if he was desperate.
He looked around and thought hard. 'What am I good at?'
But then, an idea struck him, one that surprised him. Football.
Though Alex wasn't exactly known for his confidence, there was one thing he knew he was good at. He'd spent years practicing his footwork, ball control, and tricks. On the field, he felt different, like he could truly express himself without holding back.
He'd never thought of using his football skills to earn money, but now… it didn't seem so impossible.
Alex scanned the park across the street, where a few people were passing by, and spotted a grassy area where he could set up. A small crowd, a few tricks, maybe even a friendly challenge for a few dollars—if he played his cards right, he might pull this off.
'Alright,' he thought, feeling a surge of determination. 'Time to make this mission count.'
Just as Alex was gearing up mentally, he realized a crucial detail he'd overlooked—he didn't have a ball with him. 'Great,' he thought, mildly annoyed.
Buying a ball would cost money, but Alex reasoned that the system's mission was to make $10, not necessarily to make a profit of that amount. Still, a part of him believed he could go beyond that goal, perhaps even make a solid profit if he played his cards right.
He pulled out his phone and searched for the nearest sports store. Within seconds, a location just a few blocks away popped up —perfect.
As he headed in that direction, he calculated that he'd have a little less than an hour by the time he got the ball. However, with his skills, Alex was confident he could draw enough attention to earn more than the mission's requirement.
When Alex arrived at the sports store, he noticed that the shutters were still down and the lights inside were dim. 'Just my luck,' he thought, glancing at his watch. It was still early in the morning. But then, he spotted someone outside—a man in his forties casually unlocking the doors.
Without missing a beat, Alex approached him. "Excuse me," he began, "are you the owner? I know the store isn't open yet, but would it be possible to buy a football quickly?"
The man looked him up and down, then shrugged, a slight grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Sure, kid. A sale's a sale. Come on in," he said, stepping aside to let Alex through.
Grateful for the quick response, Alex entered, scanning the shelves for the balls.
Alex's eyes landed on a brightly colored, almost neon-patterned ball on the bottom shelf. It was a local brand with a flashy design that almost looked out of place, but he figured the bold colors would help draw attention—exactly what he needed.
As he picked it up, he noticed a small tag dangling from it, marked with a discount. 'Probably because no one else wants it,' he thought with a slight smirk. "Perfect."
The owner watched him curiously as Alex brought the ball to the counter. "Are you sure about this one?" the man asked, raising an eyebrow. "This ball's a bit harder than usual—it doesn't bounce well. Most people don't like it for that reason and for its...design."
Alex nodded confidently. "I'll manage," he replied, feeling determined. 'It doesn't matter what kind of ball it is. I just need to get people watching.'
The owner shrugged and rang him up, and soon enough, Alex was stepping out of the store, his brightly colored ball in hand.
Alex returned to the park and found a spot he thought would be perfect—a small clearing near the walking paths, where people often passed by on their way to work or morning errands.
He put his jacket on the ground, shaping it into a makeshift bowl, hoping it would signal that he was open to tips.
"It has been a while, buddy," Alex said as he began to warm up, juggling the brightly colored ball with controlled precision. People slowed their pace, glancing over curiously.
Freestyle football displays weren't something they often saw in this part of the city, and the bright neon ball and Alex's focused movements added to the intrigue. Luckily, he still had his skills and touch.
'Time to give them a show.' He thought, feeling his nerves settle as he fell into a rhythm.
Alex took a deep breath, feeling the eyes of the growing crowd on him. He rolled his shoulders, grounded himself, and kicked the ball with a practiced flick. From the very first touch, it was clear that he was no ordinary player.
He started with some classic juggles, effortlessly bouncing the ball between his feet as if it were weightless, easily controlling every move. He did not forget to make eye contact and smiled at the crowd.
"He's not even looking at the ball?"
Then, as he let it hover in the air, he flicked it up with his knee, transitioning smoothly into a Neck Stall—balancing the ball on the back of his neck with impressive stillness. The crowd murmured, a few phones popping out to record.
"Did you see that? He didn't even flinch!"
Moving seamlessly, he tossed the ball from his neck, arching it high over his head and catching it on his left foot without letting it touch the ground. The crowd gasped, a few people stopping in their tracks to watch.
"He's amazing! Where did this kid come from?"
"Nah. That was a basic skill everyone can do."
Alex didn't let the momentum slow. He shifted smoothly into an Around the World, swinging his foot around the ball mid-air and catching it effortlessly. The flashy, neon-colored ball only made his footwork look faster and brighter.
"Wow, I've only seen tricks like that on TV!"
"Can you do that?" Sneered a man to the one that said everyone could do the basic skill before.
Next, Alex executed a Lemmens Around the World, a double variation of his previous trick, looping his foot twice around the ball in a blur of motion. The crowd's whispers grew louder as he held their attention, and he moved into a Knee Stall to rest the ball on his knee, balancing it as if it were glued there.
With a quick flick, he launched into a Crossover, his feet moving with a hypnotic speed that made it look almost unreal. People were leaning closer, captivated; some had already tossed a few bills into his jacket.
"This kid has skills," one man whispered to his friend, who looked like they were late for work but couldn't tear themselves away.
Alex kept going, bouncing the ball from his knee to his head and spinning it on his forehead in a perfect Head Stand. He balanced it there for a few seconds before tipping his head slightly, letting the ball roll down his neck and catching it on his back in a smooth Chest Stand.
A few kids had gathered closer, their eyes wide with admiration as Alex continued. He looked up briefly, spotting them, and grinned. He'd planned the next set out in his mind, ready to give them a show.
He performed a Foot Stall, then moved into a more advanced trick—a No-Touch Around the World, looping his foot around the ball without making contact before catching it with his opposite foot. The crowd gasped, some even applauding as he continued.
"He's a pro, no doubt about it."
The ball moved in a graceful arc as Alex spun into a 360-degree Flick-up, kicking it up and spinning his body in a full turn to meet it again mid-air. The crowd watched, transfixed, as he transitioned smoothly into a Toe Bounce, keeping the ball suspended between his toes perfectly.
"Unbelievable! Look at the control he has!"
Without missing a beat, he tossed the ball up. He caught it in a Sole Juggle, balancing it on his foot's sole before moving into a Heel Juggle—keeping it bouncing with only his heels. This trick required intense focus and timing. The crowd was visibly impressed now, murmuring with admiration and fascination.
"Where did this kid learn all this?"
Alex kept his rhythm, shifting into a Soul Stall, catching the ball between his ankles mid-air, then popping it up to begin a Chest Pop, where he launched it from his chest into a short, precise arc.
From there, he launched into a Clipper Stall, expertly catching the ball on the inside of his foot and balancing it while standing on one leg.
The crowd grew thicker, the curious murmurs blending with excitement as Alex executed a Dragon Stall—keeping the ball on his foot and lifting his leg with perfect control. The moment he released it, he performed a quick Akka move. This complicated flick made the ball shoot forward and instantly reverse direction.
"He must practice every single day. Look at how focused he is!"
With a quick, playful wink to the kids watching in awe, Alex capped off his routine with a complex combo. He moved into a Touzani Around the World, a triple-foot spin around the ball before catching it perfectly mid-air with his opposite foot, and ended with a stop under his right foot. This left everyone breathless.
The crowd erupted in cheers and applause, some tossing more bills into his jacket, others taking videos with looks of amazement. Even those rushing to work had stopped, captivated by Alex's energy and skill.
One crowd member whispered, "I don't know who he is, but he's just made my day."
Another said, "With skills like that, he should be on a team or… something bigger."
The sound of money hitting his jacket continued as Alex caught his breath, glancing down to see a surprising amount of bills already gathered there. He'd done it—and the thrill of performing, of finally showcasing his talent, felt more exhilarating than he'd ever imagined.
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