...

The atmosphere inside the warehouse office was one of quiet anticipation. Zastan leaned back in his chair, eyes fixed on the screen of his computer where the live earnings for their milk tea business, Eternal Enchantment, would soon begin to display. The hum of the air conditioning was the only sound breaking the silence, a stark contrast to the bustling world outside where crowds were eagerly gathering at various Eternal Enchantment stalls and retail spaces.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the city, a group of investors had gathered in a sleek, modern boardroom. They were reviewing reports and discussing potential business opportunities. As they went through the list of rising stars in the food and beverage industry, one name stood out: Eternal Enchantment.

The buzz around this brand was palpable, and it had been making waves even before its grand opening. One of the investors turned to their assistant and asked, "Are they accepting investments? Franchising opportunities?"

The assistant, quick to respond, nodded. "We've reached out to their team, but it seems they're not currently looking for investors or franchise partners. The response was pretty firm."

The investor frowned slightly, intrigued but puzzled. "Really? With this kind of momentum, why wouldn't they want to expand through franchising? It's a gold mine waiting to happen."

Another investor chimed in, "Maybe they're just trying to retain control over quality and branding. Still, it's unusual to turn down such a rapid path to growth."

Back at the warehouse, Zastan smirked as he read through the emails from various parties expressing interest in buying equity or setting up franchises. This wasn't the first time such offers had come his way, and he had thought long and hard about them weeks before the launch. The allure of quick cash was tempting, no doubt, and setting up franchises could lead to a vast, rapid expansion. But Zastan wasn't interested in a short-term spike in revenue or in sharing the fruits of his labor.

"Why would I dilute my earnings when I have the system?" he muttered to himself, dismissing yet another email with a swift click. He understood that franchising could potentially flood the market, but it could also bring a host of issues—quality control, brand consistency, and the inevitable dilution of his vision. He wasn't in this just for the money; he was building an empire, and empires were not built by handing over keys to every eager investor.

"No, I'll do it my way," he decided, closing the email client. The system gave him capabilities beyond what any investor or franchise could provide. He didn't need their help to scale; he had resources that others could only dream of, and most importantly, he wanted to maintain complete control over his business.

As the clock inched closer to 10 a.m., Zastan's eyes shifted back to the computer screen displaying a dashboard of earnings for the day. The grand opening of Eternal Enchantment was about to kick off, and he was eager to see the numbers roll in. He took a sip of his coffee, savoring the moment. The seconds ticked by, and then, precisely at 10 a.m., the numbers started to appear.

First, the display showed $9.99—the price of a single cup. Then, within seconds, the figures began to climb. $18.98… $200… $500… $1,000. The numbers started climbing faster and faster, a testament to the eager customers flocking to each location.

In various parts of Luminae, the Eternal Enchantment stalls were a hive of activity. Each stall was equipped with cutting-edge automated machines that

Zastan had invested in—technology that allowed them to serve high-quality milk tea at an unprecedented speed. The machines were a marvel of efficiency, capable of producing up to eight cups simultaneously in just under two minutes.

Each machine was meticulously stocked with the finest ingredients: high-grade milk tea powders, precisely measured ice cubes, purified water, and the custom-designed cups that added an extra touch of elegance. Employees at the stalls only needed to ensure the machines were replenished with supplies regularly; the rest was automated. A simple press of a button set the machines in motion, with the inner workings visible through a transparent panel. Customers could watch as the machines expertly mixed, chilled, and sealed their beverages, adding an element of showmanship to the buying experience.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

At one of the bustling mall retail spaces, a steady line of customers snaked around the corner, eagerly watching their orders materialize before their eyes. The automated display above the machines showed the progress of each order—an array of digital bars slowly filling up to signify the completion of each cup. As the first batch of eight cups rolled out of the machine, the cashier swiftly handed them to waiting customers who were already scanning their payment codes, making the transaction smooth and quick.

The employees moved with practiced precision, their movements almost choreographed as they synchronized with the machines' output. Every stall was running at near-full capacity, pumping out nearly 3,000 cups throughout the opening hours. In the larger mall retail spaces, where multiple machines operated in tandem, the output soared even higher, in some locations, a stall could produce as many as 12,000 cups in a single day.

Customers were captivated not just by the taste but by the entire experience a cup gives. The branding, the sleek machinery, and the promise of a premium beverage all contributed to a sense of exclusivity that people were willing to pay for.

Social media was ablaze with posts, pictures, and videos of the grand opening. Influencers with thousands of followers were sharing their first sips of Eternal Enchantment, amplifying the hype. The hashtag #EternalEnchantment was trending across platforms, drawing even more attention to the brand.

Darius, monitoring the activities from his own station, was quick to call Zastan with an update. "Young Master, I've got some early numbers. Based on our reach and the engagement we've tracked, even with a conservative estimate, we're looking at easily moving over 100,000 cups today. That's just the start, this momentum can only go up as time passes by."

Zastan nodded, though his eyes remained fixed on the screen. The figures now showed $10,000… $15,000… $20,000. It was climbing by the second.

"And what does that translate to in earnings?"

Darius didn't miss a beat. "If we're pushing 100,000 cups at $9.99 each, we're looking at just under a million dollars in gross revenue for the day. That's only if we hit the lower end of our projections. If the momentum keeps up, we could easily surpass that."

Zastan smirked, pleased with the initial success. "That's impressive. It's only the first day, and we're already making waves."

Darius continued, "And that's with our current setup. As we continue to refine our processes, optimize the machines, and increase our footprint, we can push these numbers even higher. The interest is there. The market is ripe, and we've set the stage perfectly."

Zastan leaned back, satisfied but still calculating his next moves. "Good. But let's keep our heads. Monitor everything—social media, customer feedback, stall efficiency. I want all of this this to be perfect."

"Yes, Young Master," Darius affirmed. "We've got teams in place at each location to handle customer inquiries and to maintain quality control."

Zastan's gaze returned to the screen, watching the numbers continue their rapid ascent. He had built the foundation, but this was only the beginning. There was still a long road ahead, and countless opportunities yet to seize. But today, as he watched the fruits of his planning and investment unfold in real time, he allowed himself a rare moment of satisfaction.

"Let's make sure we exceed expectations," Zastan said finally. "And Darius, keep an eye on the system. I want real-time updates on everything."

"Of course, Young Master," Darius replied. "This is just the start."

...

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the city in shades of orange and pink, the last customers of the day were still eagerly queuing up at the remaining open stalls of Eternal Enchantment.

Inside the warehouse office, the atmosphere was tense but electric. Zastan and Darius had kept a close eye on every aspect of the operation throughout the day, ensuring that every stall ran at optimal efficiency. They had pushed the boundaries of their setup, and now, as the final tallies came in, it was time to see if their efforts had paid off.

Zastan leaned forward, his eyes locked on the dashboard screen. The final earnings for the day were still climbing, the numbers ticking upwards as the last transactions were processed. Darius stood beside him, occasionally glancing at his phone to monitor updates from various locations.

"Let's see how we did," Zastan murmured, anticipation thrumming in his voice. The screen refreshed one last time, and the final figure flashed in bold numbers:

$3,278,492.

A wave of satisfaction washed over Zastan. It was more than he had hoped for, more than even their most optimistic projections had anticipated. The sheer volume of sales had exceeded expectations, and some of the machines had been pushed beyond their usual limits to keep up with the relentless demand.

...