Dimensional Storekeeper

Chapter 236: Unlocking A New World!

Eventually, the semi-finals arrived, with Hao squaring off against Mo Xixi. Hao gave it a decent fight, even pulling off a ridiculous triple bank shot.

But Mo Xixi just stared him down, and sank three balls in a single turn.

In the finals, she went against Tian Lu, who had gotten unnaturally good after his intense match with Kurome. He played fast and wild.

Still wasn’t enough.

Mo Xixi reigned victorious.

Champion of the Dimensional Convenience Store’s First Unofficial Billiards Mini Tournament.

Hao walked over, grinning as he reached out and gave Mo Xixi a ruffle on the head.

“Well done, champion.”

Mo Xixi stiffened. Her eyes narrowed into an annoyed glare as she turned her face slightly away.

“Stop that, boss. I’m not a kid.”

But she didn’t move away.

In fact, her cheeks were pink, and there was a softness to her stance.

Tian Lu blinked. “…”

Then blinked again. ’Ain’t no way this is the heir of the Ashen Curse Cult.’

He glanced around, as if someone might pop out from behind the wall and go.

“Gotcha! That’s actually her twin sister. The real one’s off cursing rivers somewhere.”

But no.

It was still her. Same expressionless face, same terrifying aura when she played. Same tiny blush.

As the morning haze lifted over Sovereign City, the tournament finally came to a close.

Everyone went their separate ways – except for Yan Zhi, who was trapped listening to Yan Shu’er give him a very detailed breakdown on how to improve his form, posture, mental focus, and possibly his entire tragic approach to life.

Eventually, the siblings split up.

Yan Shu’er headed straight for her archnemesis-turned-best-friend-now-maybe-roommate Mo Xixi.

Yan Zhi, on the other hand, dragged himself to his room feeling bankrupt. Not only had he lost the match, but he’d also been verbally body-slammed by his own sister.

The next day arrived with an aggressively normal kind of energy.

Inside the Dimensional Convenience Store, the doors opened precisely on time.

Host Hao stood behind the counter, not even pretending to yawn.

He wasn’t tired at all, actually.

Which was suspicious.

’I just hosted a whole event yesterday. Shouldn’t I be exhausted?’ Hao thought, glancing at the empty store.

But no. No soreness. No fatigue. Just… awake.

’Whatever. It’s not like I wanted to rest anyway.’

’I’m here for the mission. Grinding tasks. That’s right.’

He nodded. Maybe I’ve matured. Maybe I’ve turned over a new leaf.

Maybe this is character development.

He paused, and shuddered a little.

He looked down at his completely clean countertop. Then looked at the entrance door.

’…Or maybe I just want to catch a potential new customer the exact moment they step in.’

But let’s be honest.

The true inspiration behind this suspiciously early opening…

Was the glowing floating screen right in front of Hao.

It wasn’t duty. It wasn’t discipline.

It was the shiny notification panel giving him that dopamine rush!

────────────────

Main Task 1: Eight Ball, One Winner. Host a player pool tournament in-store after hours

※ Only customers who’ve made at least one purchase and rented the billiard pool at least once are eligible to join.

※ At least 4 participants must be actual customers. Employees are not allowed to participate.

※ Single elimination. One winner.

※ Tournament prizes will be displayed on the official poster released after business hours.

Progress: 1/1 Tournament Successfully Hosted

Reward: Unlock a new world! 3 random worlds will be presented as options. Upon selection, a door will automatically be established in that world, linking it to the store.

────────────────

Reward claimed!

Generating 3 random world options…

’Alright, system. Surprise me with your usual nonsense.’

’Totally not hoping for one actually good option this time.’

’That would be way too generous.’

Please select the world your dimensional convenience store will connect to.

Option 1: Insect Hive World

’…What is this?’

’Insect Hive World? That sounds like a documentary. Or a horror film.’

He squinted at the words, as if they’d rearrange into something more appealing.

’I’m not opening a convenience store inside a wasp nest, right? System, can you at least provide a little information about this world?’

[That will cost 1 crystal, Host. Do you want to proceed?]

Ah, here we go again.

’The classic paywall.’ Hao exhaled through his nose.

’Of course, system. Of course.’

’Fine, yeah. Proceed. That should cover all the info for the other two options too, right?’

“…”

There was a pause so long. A silence that screamed terms and conditions are updating.

The system didn’t respond. No answer came. Not even a beep.

The system had clearly graduated top of its class in passive neglect.

Eventually, a new floating screen slowly appeared.

“…”

────────────────

Insect Hive World

A sprawling, bio-organic world ruled by massive insect queens and hyper-evolved swarms. Sentient thought exists, but in the form of shared hive minds and chemical signals.

────────────────

Hao squinted at the description, one brow twitching upward.

’Huh… okay, I’ll admit. That sounds… weirdly cool.’

’Shared hive minds, chemical signal-based communication, giant bug queens…’

A pause.

’That’s either going to be a wildly profitable opportunity… or a fast track to getting my brain hijacked by a parasitic wasp.’

’If one of them learns about the store, then technically… all of them learn about it. Word of mouth? Instantaneous.’

’Cross-continental marketing? Built-in.’

’If one queen likes a product, the entire hive might crave it. That’s basically… mass advertising on steroids. No need to convince each individual.’

’Just one successful sale, and boom – colony-wide demand.’

“Think of the bulk orders. Think of the speed. One product, one message, one signal – five thousand mandibles clicking in approval. No complaints, no returns, no haggling. Just pure, chemical-based capitalism.

’But…’

’If just one of them hates it… or worse, thinks it’s a scam…’

Hao could already imagine it. Some bug ambassador returning to the hive, wings drooping, clicking out a message that translated to ’Don’t trust that place, overpriced noodles.’

Hao winced.

Bad press would spread even faster than the good stuff. One discontented drone, and the whole colony turns on me.

Hive-wide boycott. Cancelled across an entire ecosystem.

’It’s efficient. But it’s also a double-edged sword.’ Hao sighed.

“Alright. Still promising though. Let’s see what kind of fever dream the second option is.”

Option 2: Modern Idol High School World

He didn’t react immediately.

Instead, Hao gave a single cough, clearly waiting for the system to roll out the red carpet and unveil whatever absurdity it had lined up next.

As expected, the screen flashed.

────────────────

Modern Idol High School World

A high-energy world revolving around music, lights, and high school talent shows. Students train to become idols, influencers, or magical performance warriors.

────────────────

Hao smiled.

Paused.

Read it again.

Paused a little longer.

’…Huh?’ Another blink.

He leaned closer to the screen and narrowed his eyes.

’So basically… Earth. But shinier. With sparkles. And teenage spellcasters battling for followers?’

He scratched his head. ’Wait, are they fighting through interpretive dance? Or magical livestreams?’

’Do microphone duels determine cafeteria seating?’

He pressed his palm to his forehead. Honestly, he had no idea what to make of this option, so he just moved straight to the last one.

Option 3: Dungeon Fantasy World

Hao casually snapped his fingers together, already feeling the vibe shift.

────────────────

Dungeon Fantasy World

A world governed by dungeons, danger, and adventurer guilds.

Knights, mages, and beastkin risk their lives daily for gold, glory, and glowing loot.

────────────────

Now this… this felt right.

A setting overflowing with mana, treasure-hunters, battle-hardened warriors, and item-hungry adventurers? That was a target market delivered on a silver platter.

Dungeon crawlers needed healing, buffs, stamina restoration, gear maintenance, morale boosters. If he played it right, the store could become their unofficial resupply zone.

It practically sold itself.

Between the foot traffic of returning parties, curious newbies, and guilds scouting for affordable support goods, there was no shortage of potential business.

And the atmosphere – chaotic, but in a predictable way. Nothing he couldn’t manage.

Yes, Option 3 was clearly the safer choice. Reliable income. Predictable demand. A fantasy world that ran on gold and guts.

But…

Hao’s eyes wandered back to the screen floating beside it.

Option 1: Insect Hive World.

He was still really curious about that hive mind thing.

High risk. High reward.

Then there was Option 2…

Actually, no. There was no Option 2.

Hao mentally folded it up, lit it on fire, and blew the ashes away.

So now he was torn.

Go with the wild gamble of bug-based capitalism?

Or the steady goldmine of dungeon economics?

If only he could pick both.

’System, can I?’

[Absolutely not, host. You get one. This isn’t a buffet or a “collect-them-all” game. Finish more tasks if you want to unlock another.]

’Yada yada… thought so.’

“Huhmh…”

He leaned forward, elbows on the counter, chin in his hand.

Now which one.

Hao mulled it over for a solid minute. Then two. Then five.

’Crazy for crazy, huh?’

He exhaled sharply through his nose, lips curling into a grin.

’But yeah… maybe I’m being dumb. Maybe I’m underestimating it.’

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