Realizing that he couldn't sell any bread for the next two hours, Noah decided to return to the real world.
"System, exchange the gold coins for money. And make sure that my daily revenue is paid in money, not gold coins."
[Yes, Host.]
A second later, Noah's phone buzzed. He grabbed it, eyes widening at the notification:
[Your account ending in xx00 has been credited $300.]
"Perfect." A smile spread across his face as he checked his updated stats:
—
IDLE TYCOON SYSTEM
Host: Noah Carter
Age: 28
Shops: 1
Daily Revenue: $300
Current Assets: $ 1600.56
Shop points: 20
Attributes: Strength: 4, Vitality: 4, Intelligence: 6, Agility: 3
Skills: Programming (Level 2), Finance (Level 1), Surviving on Ramen (Level 3)
—
Looking around his messy apartment, Noah let out a disbelieving laugh. Energy drink cans and instant ramen cups cluttered every surface. His desk was buried under notes and empty coffee mugs.
"Three hundred bucks. Every. Single. Day."
"That's $9,000 a month. Life is finally going to be good,"
He flopped back onto his unmade bed, staring at the ceiling. Just like that, his income problems were solved. No more dodging calls from debt collectors. No more choosing between rent and his dad's medical bills.
"I can practically live a decent life without doing anything now. I don't need to go back to that world either. But that would be stupid,
His phone buzzed again. Another debt collector. Noah picked it up with newfound confidence.
"Hello?"
"Mr. Carter? This is Amanda from—"
"From Capital Recovery, I know." Noah sat up, suddenly feeling bold. "I'll be making a payment tomorrow."
A pause on the other end. "That's... good to hear, Mr. Carter. Will you be paying the minimum or—"
"Five hundred dollars," he said, relishing the shocked silence that followed.
"I... well, that's excellent news. We'll process that payment—"
"And next week, another five hundred." Noah couldn't stop grinning.
"Great!"
The reason Noah was paying a larger amount per month was because of the interest rate. He wanted to get rid of it as soon as possible.
'I still have one more debt collector…and they are a bigger hassle', He sighed
After ending the call, Noah sprang to his feet, suddenly energised. He began gathering empty food containers, tossing them into a trash bag.
"If I'm going to be a multidimensional business tycoon, I can't live in a dump."
He glanced at his laptop, where PRISM's code still glowed on the screen.
'My precious laptop and precious algorithm that I spent coding for so long.' He placed both in the bag and hid them under the bed, for memories.
"System, how long until a bread piece is baked?"
[1 Hour and 25 Minutes]
Noah nodded, continuing his cleanup. If one loaf of bread could generate $300 daily, what would happen when he unlocked more products? Or opened more shops?
His phone rang again—this time it was his father.
"Hey, Dad."
"Hello, son. I was wondering if you are going to visit today?"
Noah smiled. "Of course, Dad. I will be there in two hours."
"Alright, son. I will see you then."
"See you, Dad. Take care of yourself."
After hanging up the call, Noah's eyes darkened slightly. Although everything appeared well, it wasn't.
After his mom's passing, his dad's health slowly deteriorated. Until it led to his hospitalisation.
Thinking about his dad's health and his bread, Noah's eyes brightened immediately.
"System, can I take out the bread from my shop and feed it to my dad?"
[No Host. You don't have such privileges.]
Noah's shoulders slumped, hearing no, but her next sentence made him hope.
"Does that mean that I can do it in the future?"
[Of course host. Your privileges increase when you unlock more products and more shops. So work hard for that! The more you sell, the more you upgrade your shops, and the more shops you own]
"Great! How can I unlock more products?"
[Host can unlock more products by buying them from the Shop Upgrade Slot. It's currently unavailable to the host as he has not reached the required sales threshold of 10. Once you sell ten pieces of bread, you will be able to unlock the Shop Upgrade Slot]
"Does that mean that I need to buy the products?"
[No, host. You don't need to buy anything. It's your choice, but yes, to unlock new products, you need to buy them using money.]
"Oh...Maybe I shouldn't have paid my debts so quickly." He scratched the back of his head.
He had already spent $500 of his current old worth of $1600.
Leaving him with $1,100 in his bank.
"Hopefully, I can have enough to buy something by the time I unlock the Shop Upgrade Slot,"
After he finished cleaning, he went to take a shower and changed his clothes.
He placed his old clothes in the laundry basket and took it down with him. He lived in a small apartment room and the apartment building had paid washing machines that you could use.
He placed his clothes in the washing machine and waited until it was done. Around thirty minutes later, the clothes were cleaned and dried. He took them back to his apartment room and left to meet his dad in the hospital. On the way to the hospital, he stopped by a supermarket and got his dad various fruits.
He wasn't able to before because he didn't have the budget. But now that he did? He was going to spoil his dad.
The hospital corridors reeked of disinfectant and false cheer. Noah hated this place—hated the beeping machines, the squeaking shoes. But today was different. Today he walked with his head high, a bag of premium fruits swinging from his hand.
"Well, look who's got a spring in his step," called Nurse Martinez from the station. "Your lottery ticket hit?"
Noah grinned. "Something like that."
"Do you want some apples?" He said, moving the basket closer to her.
"Sure. How did you know I was craving some fruits?" She smiled as she took an apple from the basket.
"Magic" He smiled.
She giggled and slapped his shoulder lightly.
He leaned in closer, acting like he didn't want anyone to hear him.
"Psst. Don't tell anyone I gave you that apple, okay?"
She nodded with a smile on her face, before whispering.
"Okay, now go before someone sees you with it."
He nodded hurriedly, as if he were really afraid.
Noah had already become known in his dad's section. He knew the nurses, and they knew him.
'Sigh, life really hit him hard after graduation. Although he is good-looking, charming and funny, he is still unable to provide for a wife. Otherwise…'
He found his father in the usual spot—room 412, by the window.
Alan Carter looked small in the hospital bed, his once-powerful body slowly withered by illness.
Hearing footsteps, Alan turned around.
"There he is," Alan said, his voice stronger than it had been in weeks. "And he brought... wait, are those actual fresh fruits? Who are you, and what have you done with my son?"
Noah laughed, setting the fruit basket on the bedside table. "Very funny. Can't a guy bring his dad some decent food?"
"Not when last week you couldn't afford to eat." Alan's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Noah, you didn't do anything stupid, did you? Loan sharks? Gambling?"
"Dad, relax. My code finally paid off—sort of." Not exactly a lie. "I've got some good income coming in now. Steady income."
Alan studied his son's face. "Overnight?"
"You always said opportunity doesn't knock—it sneaks up and jumps you when you're not looking."
His father snorted. "I don't remember saying that, but that does sound like me."
He reached for a strawberry, examining it like some exotic specimen.
"Well, whatever it is, I hope it's legal."
"Totally legal."
Interdimensional, but legal.
"Just focus on getting better, okay? The bills are handled."
"Noah—"
"I mean it, Dad. No more stress about money. Doctor Garcia says stress is making your recovery harder."
Alan fell silent, eating the strawberry with slow, deliberate bites. "It's good," he finally said. "Really good."
They spent the next hour talking about the hospital food, about the nurses, about anything except Noah's sudden financial turnaround. When visiting hours were ending, Noah checked his phone.
"Gotta run, Dad. I'll be back tomorrow or the day after." Noah squeezed his father's shoulder.
Alan nodded.
"Take care, son."
"Take care, Dad, love you too"
His dad smiled as he watched his son leave the room.