Chapter 20 - Mango This and Mango That

Hari stood proudly in front of Mango Tower, the monumental fruit-shaped structure he had built with a mix of flair, mango-scented energy drinks, and sheer stubbornness. The grand opening had been a moderate success, mostly because no one was sure what to expect—except that it smelled like mangoes everywhere.

People from all over the newly mango-ified Dubai had gathered outside, eyeing the massive building with a mix of curiosity and confusion. Some were even taking selfies with the giant mango-shaped fountain that was inexplicably shooting mango juice into the air. Hari couldn't be more pleased with himself.

"Look at this," Hari grinned, giving Mango-chan a sidelong glance. "This is just the beginning! I'll have a mango empire that spans the entire world!"

Mango-chan, lounging on a mango-shaped couch he had definitely overbuilt, glanced up from her fruit cocktail. "Yeah, sure, whatever. You've got a tower, but you know what would be even better?"

"What?" Hari asked, excitedly leaning forward as if Mango-chan were about to share the secret to mango world domination.

"A mango skyscraper," she said casually, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"A… WHAT?!" Hari froze, eyes wide, looking at her as if she had just unlocked the ultimate cheat code. "Skyscrapers? Are you serious? I can build mango skyscrapers?!"

Mango-chan rolled her eyes. "Well, I'm not a genius or anything, but yeah. Skyscrapers. You've got the power of the system now. You could build one like a giant, colossal mango reaching toward the sky."

Hari's mind went into overdrive. "A mango skyscraper… a giant mango structure that pierces the heavens with its fruity greatness! It'll be like… The Mango Tower 2.0!"

"Good luck with the planning permission," Mango-chan deadpanned, sipping her drink again.

Hari didn't care. He was already picturing it in his mind—spires of mango glory, with balconies shaped like mangoes and elevators that looked like giant pits of mango pulp. Oh, and don't forget the mango lights hanging from every floor.

Just then, a notification pinged in front of him. The system had an update.

[System Update]New Ability Unlocked: Mango Skyscraper Construction!You can now build mango-themed skyscrapers of unimaginable size. Your empire shall touch the clouds—literally, because it's made of mangoes.Reward: Mango-Powered Building Materials™Note: This ability is only for truly massive constructions that will make people question their entire architectural existence.

"YES!" Hari shouted, startling a few curious onlookers. "The Mango Skyscraper is now possible! I can build a building so tall, it'll block out the sun with mango magic!"

Mango-chan, unimpressed, leaned back in her mango couch. "Okay, go ahead. But don't expect me to help with the paperwork for your zoning issues. Or the health inspection. Or… really, anything."

"Don't worry, I've got it covered," Hari said, dramatically cracking his knuckles. "Time to construct a Mango Tower for the future of mangoes!"

And so, construction began. Well, kind of.

The system had gifted Hari with an unimaginable ability to create mango skyscrapers from thin air, and of course, Hari was determined to make the biggest, most impractical mango monument possible.

"First thing's first," Hari muttered to himself, looking at the pile of mango-shaped bricks that suddenly materialized around him. "Mango elevators. All floors should smell like ripe mangoes. And I want glass walls—but with mangoes in them."

As he began to assemble the first layer of the skyscraper, the system helpfully provided the necessary materials—mango bricks that glowed with a golden hue, mango-flavored windows, and mango-scented ventilation systems that were somehow magically installed.

By the time the first Mango Tower 2.0 was half-built, the structure had reached a decent height, though Hari quickly realized that he might have gone a bit overboard with his vision. The tower had an oversized mango-shaped top, a revolving mango restaurant, and a mango swimming pool that wasn't entirely practical, but he wasn't about to let minor details like logic or physics slow him down.

The camels, who were now reluctantly employed as construction workers, seemed rather unperturbed by the giant pile of fruit they were helping to build. Some of them even tried to snack on the mango bricks, but Hari quickly put a stop to that.

"No, no, no, you can't eat the mango bricks!" he scolded them. "This is an architectural masterpiece, not a buffet!"

The camels stared at him, unimpressed, before wandering off to nibble on something else.

Just as Hari was surveying his work, a new notification appeared in the air in front of him:

[System Update: Mango Skyscraper Progress]Your Mango Skyscraper is 50% complete. You have unlocked the ability to construct additional floors. Keep going, the mango magic is strong with you!Reward: Mango-Enhanced Productivity Boost™You now work 10x faster with mango construction. This is the power of fruity teamwork!

Hari grinned like a man who had just won the mango lottery. "I am unstoppable! This is just the beginning! I'll have a mango empire that stretches across the globe, from Dubai to the world!"

He could already imagine it—mango skyscrapers popping up everywhere. The sight of gleaming, mango-colored towers would be as common as the palm trees. Soon, people would be walking down mango-scented streets, living in mango apartments, and eating mango ice cream in the middle of the desert.

He glanced over at Mango-chan, who was now rolling her eyes so hard it was almost a physical feat.

"I mean, I don't know about you, but the thought of living in a giant mango is giving me a headache," Mango-chan said, sipping her drink. "But hey, if it makes you happy…"

Hari ignored her. "Soon, my friend, the world will bow to the mighty mango! And then, THEN, I will create a mango army!"

Mango-chan sighed. "I feel like I've heard this speech before…"

As the sun set over the mango skyline, Hari stood proudly before the giant, half-built skyscraper. It was going to be a long road ahead, but he was ready. The Mango Empire was on the rise.