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Chapter 9
The First Business Plan
Lucas crossed his arms and looked directly at the floating camera with a big, friendly smile. The sunlight pouring through his window made his messy brown hair shine slightly, and the bright morning breeze moved the soft curtains behind him gently, carrying the sweet scent of blooming garden flowers right into the room. Outside the mansion, birds chirped happily in the tall trees while glowing flowers swayed in the wind like they were quietly listening to the stream and cheering him on. Tiny spirit butterflies floated past the window, leaving little trails of sparkling light that made everything feel warm and full of magic.
Lucas cleared his throat, trying to look serious but mostly looking excited. "So chat… after thinking about it carefully, I have made an important decision."
The viewer count kept rising fast as people leaned closer to their screens, hearts and curious faces popping up everywhere.
Lucas raised one finger seriously, but his eyes were sparkling with fun. "As much as ruling the world sounds cool… I also don't want to die early."
The chat immediately exploded with laughs and cheers.
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Name: TrollKing
BRO CHOSE LIFE
Name: GamerLord
SMART MC FOR ONCE
Name: ChaosViewer
STEP ONE: DON'T DIE 😂
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Lucas nodded proudly, puffing out his chest a little. "Exactly. And as I said before, I also need to attend the Royal Academy this year. So conquering the world… will have to wait a little." He gave a playful shrug. "I mean, I still have to pack my bags and figure out how to not trip over my own feet in front of all those fancy nobles."
The chat instantly filled with reactions, messages flying in like happy butterflies.
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Name: StrategyKing
FIRST BUILD POWER
Name: EmpireBuilder
YOU NEED MONEY
Name: CuriousViewer
Start a guild!
Name: RoguePlayer
Become an adventurer
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Lucas rubbed his chin thoughtfully, pretending to be deep in thought while a little spirit butterfly landed on his shoulder for a second before fluttering away. "Right. If we want power… we need resources. And if we want resources…" He spread his hands dramatically, like he was revealing a big secret. "We need a business."
The chat exploded again, full of wild and funny ideas.
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Name: GamerLord
BUSINESS ARC
Name: FinanceGuy
FINALLY SOME ECONOMICS
Name: ChaosViewer
OPEN A TAVERN
Name: HunterGuy
SELL MONSTER PARTS
Name: FoodLover
OPEN A BAKERY
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Lucas laughed while reading the suggestions, his shoulders shaking with joy. "Alright, alright. There are too many ideas. A tavern sounds fun, monster parts could be exciting, and who doesn't love a good bakery with sweet glowing cakes?" Then suddenly a new comment appeared right in the middle of the screen, glowing a little softer than the others.
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Name: Unknown Viewer
Start a restaurant
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Lucas blinked, tilting his head. "A restaurant?" He leaned back in his chair and thought about it for a moment, the sunlight warming his face. "Actually… that's not a bad idea." He snapped his fingers, eyes lighting up like he had just found the perfect glowing flower in the garden. "Yes! If we start a restaurant, it won't be suspicious. I won't have nobles thinking I'm plotting something sneaky. And most importantly…" He grinned wide. "My head won't end up on a chopping block. I can just serve good food, make some coins, and slowly get stronger without anyone noticing."
The chat immediately started brainstorming even faster, hearts and excited faces everywhere.
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Name: ChefMaster
SELL UNIQUE FOOD
Name: GamerLord
EARTH RECIPES
Name: StrategyKing
TARGET NOBLES
Name: MarketFan
LOCATION IS IMPORTANT
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Lucas nodded enthusiastically, waving at the camera like he was already planning the menu. "Exactly. Location matters a lot. But before we do anything…" He raised one finger again, looking a little nervous but happy. "I need permission from my father. Wish me luck, chat!"
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Count Aldric's Study
A little later, Lucas stood inside the large study room of Count Aldric Valerian. Sunlight poured through tall windows, making the room feel bright and welcoming. Large maps of the county covered the walls, their glowing lines showing rivers, forests, and villages that seemed to sparkle softly. Shelves full of thick books lined the room, and a massive oak desk stood in the center, covered with neatly stacked papers that smelled faintly of ink and old magic.
Count Aldric looked up from a stack of documents, his kind but steady eyes meeting Lucas's. "Yes, Lucas?"
Lucas cleared his throat and smiled his best easy smile. "Father… I want to start a business."
The room went silent for a moment, the only sound the gentle rustle of the breeze outside. Count Aldric blinked slowly, clearly surprised. "You… want to do business?"
Lucas nodded, trying to look confident.
Count Aldric leaned back in his chair, a small amused smile tugging at his lips. "You? The same Lucas who avoids training… and doesn't even like leaving the mansion unless there's cake involved?"
The livestream chat exploded with laughter.
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Name: TrollKing
FATHER ROASTED HIM
Name: GamerLord
EXPOSED LIVE
Name: ChaosViewer
DAD KNOWS HIM TOO WELL
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Lucas coughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck while his cheeks turned a little pink. "Well… people can change, Father. I've been thinking a lot lately, and this feels like the right step."
Count Aldric studied him for a long moment, his eyes warm with quiet pride. Then surprisingly—he laughed. A deep, amused laugh that filled the whole study and made the glowing map lines shimmer brighter. "Well then. If you want to try something new, I won't stop you. It's good to see you excited about something."
Lucas blinked in happy surprise. "…Really?"
Count Aldric nodded, his voice gentle and encouraging. "But business requires money and good management. Go speak with Lord Cedric, the man responsible for managing the county finances. He will arrange the funds if your plan makes sense." He picked up a small document and handed it to Lucas with a kind smile. "And remember, Lucas—if it brings you joy and helps the family, I'm happy to support it."
Lucas smiled big and bright. "Thank you, Father!" He bowed quickly and hurried out, feeling lighter than he had in days.
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The County Finance Office
Later that day, Lucas sat inside a quieter office filled with scrolls, ledgers, and neatly stacked coins that glowed softly under little floating lanterns. Across the table sat a thin middle-aged man with glasses perched on his nose. Lord Cedric looked neat and smart in his simple robe embroidered with tiny silver runes.
"So you wish to open a restaurant, Young Master?" Lord Cedric asked, adjusting his glasses with a small, curious smile.
Lucas nodded eagerly. "Yes. A nice place with good food, maybe some special recipes from… well, my own ideas. It'll be fun and helpful for everyone."
Lord Cedric smiled slightly, flipping open a ledger book whose pages shimmered with soft magic. "That is… unexpected. But not unreasonable. If the Count has approved this, we can allocate a starting investment." He looked up, eyes kind. "How much do you think you'll need to begin?"
Lucas leaned forward, excitement bubbling inside him. "Enough to start properly. I want it to feel welcoming, like a warm hug after a long day."
Cedric closed the book with a soft thud. "A restaurant must have the right location. If you want success… you need land in the city center, where people come and go like a happy river." He stood up and gave a respectful nod. "I will introduce you to someone. A merchant who specializes in acquiring land quickly and fairly."
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City Center
A short time later, Lucas stood on a busy street inside the heart of the city. The buildings were taller here, their stone walls decorated with colorful carvings of flowers and stars that glowed gently in the sunlight. Merchants shouted cheerful greetings from colorful stalls, carriages rolled through the wide streets with soft clops of horse hooves, and crowds filled the market like a flowing, happy river. The air smelled wonderful—roasted meats, fresh bread, sweet spices, and the faint sparkle of enchanted fruits. Floating lanterns bobbed overhead even in daylight, adding pretty golden sparkles, while little spirit animals peeked out from alleyways, their eyes bright and curious.
Lucas looked around with wide, happy eyes. "Wow. This place is perfect."
The livestream chat reacted instantly, full of excitement.
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Name: MarketFan
THIS LOCATION IS INSANE
Name: StrategyKing
HIGH TRAFFIC AREA
Name: GamerLord
RICH CUSTOMERS
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Lucas smiled confidently, turning toward the camera. "Yes. If we're doing this… we're doing it properly." He waved at the busy street like he was already imagining tables full of laughing people. "So chat… Welcome to Phase One of our world domination plan. Step one… Build the best restaurant this empire has ever seen."
The viewer count continued rising rapidly, the chat buzzing with ideas and cheers. And somewhere deep inside the system… The Unknown Viewer watched silently, the little icon glowing with quiet interest, as if smiling at the start of something truly special.
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To be continued…
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