The sky above the city shimmered with Christmas lights, but Steven Blake's mind was far from merry. While laughter and carols echoed through the neighborhood, he leaned against the cold railing outside his house, watching people move joyfully through the streets. The Rich Lord System's task still loomed in his mind:
Transform Heavenly Dine into a five-star high-class restaurant.
Steven had spent most of the day brainstorming, mapping out strategies, sketching floor plans in his notebook, and researching fine dining trends—but nothing clicked. That was until his eyes settled on a small family laughing together as they carried a pastry box from a local bakery.
"Pastries," Steven whispered to himself. "Not just food—experience."
His mind shifted gears rapidly. He rushed back inside and approached his parents, who were tidying up the small kitchen after another long day.
"Let's do something different tomorrow," Steven said with an eager spark in his eyes. "Let's give people more than a meal—let's give them a Christmas memory."
His parents looked intrigued but hesitant. "What are you suggesting?" his mother asked.
"Desserts. Pastries. Cakes. The works," Steven replied. "I want to turn this place into a Christmas bakery. Just for one day."
His father frowned slightly. "We're a noodle shop. We don't even have a menu for that."
Steven grinned. "That's where I come in."
He didn't sleep that night. Instead, he headed to the supermarket and returned with carts full of ingredients, decorative lights, tablecloths, and even two large bakery display counters. With the system guiding him and the fire of determination blazing within, Steven set to work.
He scoured recipes and fine-tuned techniques, assisted by the system's internal knowledge bank. The kitchen became a flurry of flour, sugar, and heat.
[Skill Unlocked: Baking (1/10)][Skill Upgraded: Baking (11/100)][Baking Progress: 25/100]
From soft muffins and colorful macarons to creamy cheesecakes, golden waffles, and perfectly rolled croissants—Steven baked it all. A sweet scent filled the shop, drawing in curious neighbors even before the sun had risen.
By morning, Heavenly Dine was unrecognizable.
A towering Christmas tree stood in the center, wrapped in twinkling lights and handmade ornaments. The once-humble shop now resembled a cozy, upscale café. Tea, coffee, and hot chocolate brewed near the counter, and the pastry shelves glistened like treasure chests filled with golden delights.
Customers arrived in waves, drawn in by the festive aroma and glowing ambiance.
"This is… amazing," Steven's mother whispered as she handed out slices of cake to a group of giggling children.
Their father nodded slowly. "He's turned our noodle shop into a wonderland."
By day's end, the shelves were empty, the cash register full, and the entire family beaming. The profits exceeded anything they had ever made in a single day.
Steven, exhausted but satisfied, slumped into his chair that night with a hot chocolate and a leftover cheesecake slice. The restaurant wasn't just popular again—it was special.
And yet, one problem still gnawed at him.
He had enough capital now to completely renovate Heavenly Dine—but how would he explain it? A teenager with a million-dollar investment? It would raise too many questions.
Just as he was weighing possible cover stories, a message popped up on his computer:
[Damien: Hey Steven! Long time no see. Join me for a game?]
Steven chuckled. "Why not? It is Christmas."
Within minutes, Steven was logged into a multiplayer survival horror game. The setting: a zombie apocalypse.
[Skill Unlocked: Gaming (27/100)]
His hands moved effortlessly across the keyboard, instinctively avoiding undead hordes, scavenging high-tier loot, and clearing missions with deadly precision.
"Dude!" Damien's voice rang out in chat. "How are you this good?"
Steven smirked. "Just feeling lucky, I guess."
They finished the game in record time. Before logging off, Damien suggested another title—Gladiator, a ranked PvP arena where only pure skill mattered.
Steven selected a knight in shining silver armor and named him SilverKnight. What followed was an hour of pure dominance. Match after match, Steven swept through the competition.
[Gaming Skill Increased: Intermediate (35/100)]
"Bro, you could go pro," Damien said, clearly stunned.
But Steven's mind was already moving forward. Games are fun—but what if I make one?
He logged out and started reading. From Unity and Unreal to Blender and scripting languages, Steven devoured tutorials and system-assisted lessons like candy canes.
[Skill Unlocked: Game Development (5/10)]
He began crafting small games—Tetris, Chess, Space Shooter. Each success gave birth to another idea. His skills rapidly matured.
Three days later, Steven had developed racing games, action-fighters, and story-driven adventures.
[Game Development Skill: Intermediate (57/100)]
Every night, after running the busy shop and helping his parents prepare new dishes—pizzas, tiramisu, ravioli—Steven would return to his computer and code late into the night.
He also built the restaurant's online presence, designing pages for Facebook and Instagram. His marketing posts began gaining traction fast.
[Skill Unlocked: Social Media Marketing (6/10)]
Local influencers began sharing the posts. Food bloggers visited. Reviews soared. Takeout orders tripled.
Heavenly Dine had become a household name.
But Steven wasn't finished yet.
One night, while browsing game publishing platforms, he discovered Raven Games, a small studio based just thirty miles away. He sent in a portfolio, expecting nothing.
To his surprise, a response arrived within hours.
The manager was stunned by his work. They offered between $200,000 and $250,000 per game. Steven had created over six complete games.
The total? $1.5 million.
Steven signed the deal. The funds were transferred to his account.
His hands trembled slightly as he stared at the number on the screen.
Not even two weeks ago, he was worried about affording a single restaurant upgrade. Now, he had become a full-fledged developer and entrepreneur, quietly building an empire.
That night, sipping yet another cup of hot chocolate, Steven looked out his window.
The snow was still falling. Lights still twinkled. Somewhere nearby, a child laughed.
Steven smiled.
"This holiday wasn't for rest," he murmured. "It was for rising
Steven stood up and stretched.
"Alright," he said softly. "Let's build something legendary."