A New Reality

Chapter Four: A New Reality

Ali stared at the screen in disbelief.

$10,000.

His heart pounded as the number burned into his mind. Just twenty-four hours ago, he had barely enough money to get by. Now, he had more than what his father made in months of driving a taxi.

He exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples.

This isn't a dream. This is real.

The system had given him knowledge, a task, and a way out of poverty—and he had completed it. But one question loomed in his mind.

What's next?

Just as the thought crossed his mind, the golden screen flashed again.

[Ding! New Task Generated!]

[Task: Use your wealth to establish a steady source of income. Invest in a business or asset that generates at least $500 in passive income per month. Reward: $15,000.]

Ali raised an eyebrow.

A steady income? That means the system doesn't just want me to make money—it wants me to become rich for the long run.

A slow grin spread across his face.

Alright, let's do this.

Planning for the Future

Ali left his apartment early, before his parents woke up. He didn't want to explain where he suddenly got money from—not yet.

As he walked the streets of Brooklyn, he thought about his options.

How do rich people make money without working?

The answer was obvious—businesses, real estate, and investments.

Stocks and crypto were too unstable for a steady income. What I need is something consistent.

He pulled out his phone and started researching.

The Idea: Automated Online Store

Ali scrolled through forums and YouTube videos about passive income. Dropshipping, digital marketing, online businesses—these things were making people thousands every month.

Then, he found it.

An Automated Online Store.

With just a few thousand dollars, he could hire freelancers to set up an e-commerce store that ran on autopilot.

The concept was simple:

Pick a trending product. Find something that people were buying a lot.

Create a website. Hire a freelancer to design a professional-looking store.

Use dropshipping. He wouldn't need to buy inventory. Instead, he'd list products, and once someone placed an order, a supplier would ship it directly to the customer.

Run ads. Facebook and TikTok ads would bring in customers.

Automate the process. Once everything was running, he'd only need to check in occasionally while the store made money.

Ali smirked. That's it. This is my move.

Finding the Right Freelancer

Ali opened Upwork, one of the biggest platforms for hiring freelancers. People from all over the world were offering their services—web developers, marketing experts, designers.

He filtered his search to Shopify store experts and found a freelancer named Daniel Carter—a highly rated e-commerce specialist with over 50 successful projects and glowing reviews.

Without wasting time, Ali clicked on "Hire Now" and started a chat.

Conversation with Daniel

Ali: Hey, Daniel. I need a professional Shopify store built from scratch. Are you available?

Daniel: Hey! Absolutely. I've built multiple six-figure stores for clients. What type of store are you looking for?

Ali hesitated for a moment. He didn't want to sound like a total beginner, so he used the knowledge boost the system had given him.

Ali: I want a trending-product one-product store focused on high conversion. Something simple but effective.

Daniel: Smart move! A one-product store is great for branding and ad performance. Do you have a product in mind, or do you need help finding one?

Ali: I need help with that too. I want something high-margin with a growing trend.

Daniel: Got it. For product research + store setup, my usual rate is $3,000. That includes:

Finding a winning product

Building a premium Shopify store

Optimizing for mobile and desktop

Setting up automated order processing

Creating a professional logo and branding

Ali took a deep breath. It was a lot of money, but he needed this to work.

Ali: Let's do it. How soon can you start?

Daniel: I'll begin right away. You'll get the product research in 24 hours, and the full store will be ready within 5 days.

Ali: Sounds good. Send me the contract.

A few minutes later, Ali confirmed the payment and Daniel was officially hired.

Making It Happen

Without wasting time, Ali also allocated:

$2,000 for market research and ad testing.

$3,000 for Facebook and TikTok advertising once the store was live.

A notification popped up.

[Ding! Progress Update: Business Setup 30% Completed.]

Ali leaned back, watching as the store came to life.

It would take a few days to fully launch, but once it did?

He wouldn't just be making money. He'd be making wealth.

And when the next mission arrived, he'd be ready.