[Supreme Dominion System - V1.0] - Host: Leo Carter (22, Brooklyn) - Current Wealth: $15,327.29 (Active Income: $15/day | Laundromat Part-time | -$160 Laundromat Supplies) - Team Loyalty: Jake Miller (75%) | Marty (55%) - Unlocked Skills: Market Analysis Eye (LV1: 3 Uses/Day | Fatigue: 10mins/Use | +30% Business Opportunity Detection) | Ruthless Heart (LV1: Passive | Immunity to Emotional Provocation +10% Business Judgment) - Mission Progress: Turn Sunshine Wash Profitable (20/100) | Next Reward: $50,000 + Basic Business Management System - Influence: Brooklyn (2/100) | Local Reputation: Neutral (60/100)
The next two days were a blur of grease, cleaning supplies, and broken washing machines.
Leo and Jake showed up at Sunshine Wash at dawn every morning, armed with screwdrivers, replacement parts, and a level of energy Marty hadn't seen in years.
Leo fixed the broken coin slots.
He replaced the worn-out belts.
He repainted the stained walls.
He even reorganized the detergent shelves so customers could actually find what they needed.
Jake, true to his chaotic self, turned into a one-man hype crew.
He joked with the regulars.
He helped old ladies carry their baskets.
He even made a little "Free Candy for Good Customers" bowl that somehow turned the laundromat into the most welcoming spot on the street.
Within forty-eight hours, the place was unrecognizable.
Marty lingered quietly, doing basic work without slacking off. He did not understand the plan, but he followed instructions.
[DING!]
[Laundromat improvement progress: 70%]
[Customer satisfaction increased sharply!]
[Daily income rising…]
Jake leaned against a working machine, grinning.
"Look at us, Boss! Saving the world, one load of socks at a time."
Leo did not smile.
He was already looking ahead.
Because he knew.
The peace wouldn't last.
That evening, as Leo locked up the laundromat, his phone buzzed.
A social media notification.
A mutual college friend had posted a party photo.
The location:
The most expensive rooftop lounge in Manhattan.
In the center of the picture:
Mia, in a tight red dress.
Derek, holding her waist, laughing.
A caption:
Best night with the best people. Rich vibes only.
A dozen other rich kids surrounded them.
All of them friends with Derek.
All of them people who'd looked down on Leo for being poor.
Jake peeked over Leo's shoulder and saw the photo.
His grin vanished instantly.
"…Boss. You okay?"
Leo's expression did not shift.
His hand tightened slightly around the phone.
Inside him, though, the old anger was no longer pain.
It was fuel.
Cold, quiet, unshakable fuel.
"I'm fine," he said flatly.
"Those guys are just… celebrating," Jake mumbled, awkwardly trying to fix it. "You know. Celebrating being privileged and clueless and… kinda insufferable."
Leo locked the door and dropped his phone into his pocket.
"They can celebrate," he said quietly.
"Let them enjoy their party."
His voice dropped, cold as steel.
"While I build the army that's going to take everything from them."
Jake shivered.
But he nodded, hard.
"Got it, Boss. When the party ends… we start the war."
[DING!]
[Host has encountered psychological pressure from rivals.]
[Mental state: Stable. Resolve strengthened.]
[Hidden passive skill unlocked:
—— Ruthless Heart]
Effect: Immunity to emotional provocation.
Business judgment becomes sharper when facing rivals.
Leo's eyes cleared.
No more distraction.
No more hesitation.
The party was for the rich.
The war was for him.
Back at the rooftop party.
Mia laughed at something Derek said, but her eyes drifted to her phone, unconsciously.
She hadn't heard from Leo at all.
No texts.
No calls.
No desperate begging to come back.
It was strange.
It made her uneasy.
Derek noticed her distraction and pulled her closer.
"Still thinking about him?" he asked, half-joking, half-threatening.
Mia immediately forced a brighter smile and shook her head.
"Of course not. Why would I?"
She turned back to the party.
But deep inside, the tiny voice grew louder:
What if you made a mistake?
She pushed it down.
Leo was just a poor kid with a broken heart.
Nothing more.
Right?
Leo and Jake walked back through the dark streets of Brooklyn.
The city was quiet.
The rich were celebrating.
The poor were surviving.
And Leo?
He was building.
"Jake," Leo said suddenly.
"Tomorrow we run a full day of discounted washing. Bring in as many new customers as possible."
Jake blinked.
"Discounts? Boss, we're trying to make money, not give it away!"
Leo smiled faintly.
"We're making a different kind of money," he said.
"Trust me."
He was buying something far more valuable than cash.
Reputation.
Support.
Influence.
The foundation of an empire.
[DING!]
[Host's strategic vision detected.]
[Influence in the local area: rising…]
The war hadn't started yet.
But the battlefield was already being set.
[Chapter 6 Data Change]
- Wealth: $15,487.29 → $15,327.29 (-$160 | Laundromat Renovation Supplies)
- Laundromat Progress: 0/100 → 70/100 (Renovation & Customer Satisfaction Improved)
- Skill Unlocked: Ruthless Heart (LV1 | Passive) | Influence: Brooklyn (1/100 → 2/100)
[Reader Interaction]
Do you think Leo's decision to run a discount event is a good move to boost the laundromat's popularity?
[Next Chapter Preview]
Leo launches a big discount event at Sunshine Wash — the Brooklyn block is shocked, and the laundromat is packed with customers! But Derek's friends show up to mock Leo.