The engine revved smoothly as he drove through the chaotic roads of the City.
Navigating through Central City was a grave task on its own, now he had to do in this oversized car that just came out of the mechanic workshop. Every speed bump and pothole made him fidget a little in fear that it would all come apart right there in the middle of the road.
He was headed somewhere which was suitable for the storage of the mobile kitchen truck, he couldn't risk thieves and car jackers stealing his new found investment away from him. And there was nowhere more secure than Central City's impound lot.
On getting to the impound, he met the attendant there and filed a parking permit for the vehicle, paid him and left on foot.
He arrived at the main road and hailed a taxi that took him straight home and by the time he stepped through the doors of his apartment, the weariness of the day caught up to him.
He slumped into his worn out couch and summoned the Investment God System.
"Come forth…"
Ti-ring!
The interface appeared, but there was no notification, not text, not highlight, nothing.
Just an empty, tranparent screen.
"Huh…" he moaned in disappointment, expecting another notification or instruction from the system.
He got up and moved to the kitchen insearch of something to eat. He hadn't cooked in weeks and he had been relying on takeouts and cheap ramen noodles.
But, the idea of running a food truck meant that he himself would never have to think of something to eat.
Just when he was about to move his feet, that soft, familiar chime of the system rang in his ears.
~System has recommended a domain for newfound investment.~
~OPEN to reveal~
"Open…"
~Domain recommendation is of high traffic: Orchard Street Market, 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM Central City time~
He read through the message and almost instantly, a proud smirk plastered across his lips. He was relieved, thinking earlier that the system was going to abandon him in the dark, now its giving him a path to walk on in real time.
He tapped the screen and more details about the location dropped down like a sac of potatoes.
"Alright," Maximus said to himself. "I guess I know where I'll be going to tomorrow."
Then, his brain shot a thought across his mind, causing him to jerk subtly and place a thinking hand on his chin.
"The food… it is a mobile kitchen… a food truck…"
That was his next challenge, the food itself.
He dashed to the living room and snatched his laptop and began searching for recipes that were simple enough to prepare for a beginner like him but were very much appealing to the masses. And also one that could be enjoyed on the go.
He read through articles and studied, jotting down information he deemed useful to his new business. The system had given him a million dollars, but he knew better than to blow through it like a maniac.
By the end of the hour, a menu was ready, and he leaned back admiring all the brain storming he had just accomplished. It was different, he felt different, he finally had something worth fighting for and that was himself.
Maximus rolled his sleeve up to reveal his wrist watch, it was late, and he needed rest, lots of it.
Because the next day would decide if he was a true failure or his past down hills were just a result of circumstances beyond his control.
He climbed into bed, his mind racing with the images of the possibilities of the next day. Would people patronize him? Would he even be able to make the food so its tasty enough?
There were too many questions running through his head, but they were all going to be answered the next day, not tonight.
"I'll leave tomorrows problems for tomorrow's me…"
»»»«««
The next morning was pretty chaotic, he stumbled out of his apartment as he shuffled his trousers on.
"Gotta look decent… ain't no one gonna buy from me if I look like I'm gonna rob them…"
He tied his braids into a neat back whip with a black head band.
He glanced at his watch, it was 5:30 am, and that meant he was too early for even the bus.
He shot out his phone and ordered a private taxi to his location, his fingers moving fast like they operated on battery.
He shut his apartment door and spent a few seconds praying his landlord doesn't lock him out. Even though he had more than enough to cover the rent cost, this was a now a habit as he did this ritual ever so often when he left his apartment.
His private taxi screeched to the curb as soon as he stepped foot out on the street and he was taken straight to the impound lot where he parked the truck.
The impound attendant located the truck where it was parked, gave him the keys and in a few minutes, Maximus was driving along the asphalt of Central City's road.
His first stop was at a wholesale grocery building, although he arrived before the shop owner, he waited a few seconds and got what he wanted.
The grocery shop owner was astonished as to the large amount of items in Maximus's shopping list. She asked him if he was stocking up for the apocalypse to which he replied with a dry smile.
When he was done shopping, he packed the goods into the truck. Neatly arranging the perishables into the mobile refrigerator in the back and putting everything in the best possible location.
He glanced at his wrist watch, it was 6:30. he still had sometime before the Orchard Street Market would officially open at 7:00 am.
He began chopping, dicing, frying and whipping up different delicacies that he had gotten from his research the previous day.
And in the space of an hour, the food truck smelled like a real kitchen. Ham burgers, ramen noodles, hot dogs, beef patty and lots more where all hot and ready for consumption.
This was what he needed.
Purpose.
He wasn't just sitting around in his worn out couch anymore like a couch potato, he was taking life by the horns and riding that motherfucker!
He drove out of the parking lot of the grocery shop and began his route to the market.
"Wooooo!"
He yelled into the air as his heart started to feel alive again.