Chapter 6: The First Big Challenge

  With Carter Enterprises rapidly growing, Nate was feeling unstoppable. He had the system backing him, a strong cash flow, and a trusted ally in Jordan. But in business, nothing ever goes smoothly for long.

  One morning, Nate logged into his supplier portal, expecting to place a bulk order for gaming consoles. Instead, he was greeted with a message that sent a chill down his spine:

  "Due to supply chain disruptions, all bulk orders are temporarily halted. Next restock: Unknown."

  "Damn it," Nate muttered, rubbing his temples. Gaming consoles were his biggest cash cow, and without them, his revenue would take a serious hit. He had customers waiting, pre-orders lined up, and now his main supply was cut off.

  Jordan walked into the warehouse, sipping on an energy drink. "Yo, what’s up? You look like you just lost a million bucks."

  "Might as well have," Nate sighed. "Our supplier just cut off bulk orders. No gaming consoles until further notice."

  Jordan whistled. "That’s bad. Real bad. What’s the plan?"

  Nate refused to panic. He had been through worse in his past life, and this time, he had an advantage—the Cashback System.

  [Ding! New Quest Activated!]

  [Supply Chain Crisis: Find a new supplier and receive a 200% cashback bonus on first transaction!]

  A smirk crept onto Nate’s face. The system never failed him. If the traditional suppliers were failing, he had to think outside the box.

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

  He began scouring forums, business networks, and reaching out to smaller, independent distributors. After hours of searching, he found a promising lead—an international supplier in Hong Kong who had stock available.

  Nate wasted no time setting up a video call. A middle-aged man with sharp eyes and a businesslike demeanor appeared on the screen.

  "Mr. Carter, I hear you’re looking for gaming consoles. I can supply you, but my prices are not cheap."

  "I understand, Mr. Liang," Nate said smoothly. "But I’m not looking for cheap—I’m looking for reliability. If you can guarantee consistent stock, I’m willing to form a long-term partnership."

  Liang’s expression shifted slightly, intrigued. "You’re young, but I like your confidence. Tell me, how much are you willing to invest?"

  Nate leaned forward. "Let’s start with 100 units. If the deal goes well, we’ll scale up from there."

  After a tense back-and-forth, they agreed on a wholesale price of $850 per unit, slightly higher than his previous supplier but still profitable.

  [Ding! New Supplier Acquired!]

  [$85,000 Transaction Complete!]

  [Cashback Bonus: $170,000 Credited!]

  Nate’s heart pounded as he saw his balance soar past $250,000. The system had doubled his investment, and he now had a solid supplier.

  The next problem was shipping. Getting 100 gaming consoles from Hong Kong to his warehouse wasn’t going to be easy—or cheap. International shipping was a nightmare if not handled properly.

  Nate researched freight forwarding companies and found one that specialized in express cargo shipments. The cost? $5,000.

  [Ding! Logistics Optimization Bonus!]

  [$10,000 Cashback Applied!]

  By the end of the week, the consoles had arrived safely. Carter Enterprises was back in business.

  Just as Nate was celebrating his successful pivot, he received an email that made his blood boil:

  "Dear Carter Enterprises,

  We’ve noticed your recent surge in sales. Consider this a friendly warning—stay in your lane.

  - TitanTech Distributors"

  A competitor had taken notice of his success.

  Jordan raised an eyebrow. "Who the hell is TitanTech?"

  "A problem," Nate muttered, eyes narrowing. "And problems are meant to be solved."

  His empire was rising, but now, the real battles were about to begin.