CHAPTER 7 – The Cost of Legitimacy
With his mother's approval, Noah felt more confident in running his small business.
But success always attracts attention.
And sometimes, the wrong kind.
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One afternoon, Noah was busy selling snacks outside the school when a group of men in uniforms approached.
One of them, a middle-aged man with a stern expression, stepped forward.
"Who owns this?" he asked.
Noah froze.
The other vendors nearby immediately went silent.
The students stepped back, sensing trouble.
Noah wiped his hands on his apron and faced the man.
"I am."
The man frowned. "Do you have a business permit?"
Shit.
Noah's heart sank.
He hadn't even thought about that.
---
The man pulled out a clipboard.
"You're an illegal vendor," he stated. "According to the city ordinance, selling outside school without a permit is prohibited."
Noah swallowed hard.
" I'm sorry, Sir. I didn't know."
The inspector sighed. "Ignorance of the law is not an excuse, hijo."
He pointed at Noah's cart. "I'll give you three days to fix your permit. If not, we'll confiscate this."
Noah clenched his fists.
Three days?
How was he supposed to get a permit that fast?
---
That night, Noah sat at the dinner table, deep in thought.
His mother, Linda, noticed his silence.
"Noah, what's wrong?"
Noah sighed and explained the situation.
Jake chuckled. "I told you. It's not that easy, little bro."
Claire frowned. "But there's a way, right?"
Noah nodded. "I need to get a permit."
Linda sighed. "Do you know how much that costs?"
Noah froze.
Shit.
He hadn't thought about that.
"How much?" he asked.
Linda hesitated, then said, "Around ₱5,000."
Noah's stomach dropped.
Five thousand pesos?!
That was all his savings.
And even if he paid for the permit, there was no guarantee he'd get approved in three days.
---
Noah had two options:
1. Risk it. Keep selling and hope the inspector doesn't come back in three days.
2. Find a way to get the permit legally or not.
His mind raced.
Then, an idea hit him.
---
The next morning, Noah visited City Hall.
Inside, a long line of small business owners waited for their turn.
Noah sighed and took a number.
After an hour, he finally reached the permit office.
A bored-looking employee glanced at his form.
"Processing takes two weeks," she said.
Noah's heart dropped.
"But… I only have three days," he admitted.
The woman shrugged. "Sorry, kid. Rules are rules."
Noah bit his lip.
There had to be another way.
Just then, a man in a white polo shirt approached him.
"Do you want a faster process.
Noah blinked. "What do you mean?"
The man smiled. "I know someone inside. We can speed it up… for a small 'fee.'"
Noah stared.
He was being offered a shortcut.
A bribe.
---
The Moral Dilemma
Noah felt torn.
Paying extra meant he could continue his business.
But it also meant doing something illegal.
Wasn't he supposed to be better than that?
He clenched his fists.
Then
He made his decision.
---
Noah shook his head.
"Sorry, but I don't want to cheat."
The man raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? You're wasting your time."
Noah nodded.
"I'd rather do this the right way."
The man shrugged and walked away.
Noah took a deep breath and prepared for the long process.
---
Just as he was about to leave, someone tapped his shoulder.
A woman in her forties stood behind him.
"I overheard your conversation," she said.
Noah blinked. "Yes?"
She smiled. "I work for a youth entrepreneurship program. We help young vendors like you get legal permits, for free."
Noah's eyes widened.
"Really?"
She nodded. "Come to our office tomorrow. We'll help you."
Noah grinned.
Sometimes, doing the right thing paid off.
---
System Notification
> [LEGAL TROUBLE RESOLVED]
Reward: +1 Charisma, [Beginner's Business License]
Noah had won again.
But the journey was far from over.
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End of Chapter 7
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