The next morning, the club smelled of stale beer and burnt circuits. The neon sign outside flickered weakly, only half the letters working.
Yujhae stood in the middle of the empty dance floor, arms crossed, eyes scanning every broken light and dusty corner.
"This place is dying," he muttered. "But not for long."
---
SYSTEM:
New Quest: "Upgrade the Club to Level 2."
Objectives:
Improve food quality
Recruit hostesses
Increase popularity through marketing
Reward: 11 Stat Points + Skill — "Boxing Jab"
---
"Alright, let's get to work," Yujhae said under his breath.
He spent the next few hours pacing between the kitchen and the bar. The cook, a thin man with grease-stained hands, looked up nervously as Yujhae entered.
"Boss, we barely have enough ingredients for tonight," he said.
"Then we're changing that," Yujhae replied, tossing a stack of cash onto the counter. "Get fresh meat, seafood, real ingredients. No instant stuff. From now on, we serve food that makes people stay."
The cook blinked, then grinned. "Got it, boss."
By evening, the aroma of sizzling beef and garlic filled the air. It wasn't perfect, but it was something new — something alive.
---
Next came the hostesses.
Yujhae called in a few contacts from his part-time days. Within a few hours, three women walked in — all confident, sharp, and ready to make money.
He explained the vision:
"This isn't just another shady club. We're building a place where people actually want to come. Treat customers right, smile like it's your last night alive, and I'll make sure you earn more than any other place in this district."
They exchanged glances, then nodded.
The club lights came on. The music pulsed. For the first time in weeks, the place felt alive again.
---
But Yujhae wasn't done.
He took out his phone and began filming — quick shots of the food, the bar, the crowd starting to grow. He uploaded it online with a caption:
> "New energy. New faces. Same streets. Welcome to Club Phoenix."
By midnight, people started pouring in — curious faces, street regulars, even a few influencers.
Money flowed. Drinks sold out. Laughter echoed.
And Yujhae, standing at the bar, couldn't help but smirk.
"Guess we're really doing this," he whispered.
---
SYSTEM UPDATE:
Objective: "Increase popularity" — COMPLETE
Club Popularity +20%
Hidden Progress: Level Up pending…
---
But success in this city never lasted long.
Around 2 a.m., just as the crowd reached its peak, the doors burst open.
Five men in black jackets walked in — tattoos crawling up their necks, eyes cold as knives. The music stuttered and stopped.
The tallest one, with "Selima" inked across his forearm, stepped forward.
"Nice place you got here," he said, voice dripping with mockery. "Heard you've been stealing our customers."
Yujhae's smile faded. "Didn't know this street belonged to anyone."
The man chuckled. "Now you do."
Without warning, one of the gang members kicked a table, sending glasses shattering across the floor. Another grabbed a chair and smashed it into the bar counter.
"Stop!" Yujhae shouted, but his voice was drowned out by chaos — screams, breaking glass, the thud of fists against wood.
The hostesses ran for cover. The cook hid behind the kitchen door.
Yujhae stood frozen, rage boiling beneath his skin.
He clenched his fists, but before he could act, a knife glinted under the neon light.
The leader pointed it at him. "This is your only warning. Club Phoenix doesn't rise again — not while Selima owns these streets."
Then, as quickly as they came, they left — leaving the place in ruins.
---
Yujhae stood among the wreckage, chest heaving, eyes cold.
Broken bottles. Blood on the floor. Music dead.
But beneath the anger, something stirred again — that same burning excitement.
SYSTEM ALERT:
Quest Failed: "Upgrade the Club to Level 2" — INCOMPLETE
New Emergency Quest: "Retaliate — or be erased."
Partial Reward Granted: +11 Stat Points, Skill Unlocked — "Boxing Jab."
Yujhae wiped the blood from his lip and stared at the broken neon sign.
"Selima, huh…" he muttered. "Then let's see who really owns these streets."
---
End of Chapter 3
Thanks bye