Rise of the Ultimate Profit System

Ed clutched the 2,000 pesos he had just earned from the pawnshop, his heart pounding. It was a small victory, but it wasn't enough. The system had given him 24 hours to earn 10,000 pesos, and time was slipping away.

His mind raced. What could he do next?

The streets of Manila were still in chaos. Ever since the sky changed colors and that strange energy filled the air, people had been panicking. Some were rushing to hoard supplies, while others were still frozen in fear.

And then, like a lightbulb flickering on in his mind, a thought hit him—panic breeds opportunity.

A new notification from the system popped up.

[Hint: Desperation makes people willing to pay more.]

A smirk formed on Ed's lips. The system encouraged greed, huh? Fine.

Ed rushed to a nearby convenience store. The lines were already long, with anxious people buying food, water, and other essentials.

He quickly scanned the shelves. His eyes locked onto the bottled water section.

In times of crisis, water was more valuable than gold.

Without hesitation, he grabbed as many bottles as he could and slammed them onto the counter.

The cashier blinked. "Uh… sir, that's a lot of water."

Ed nodded. "How much for everything?"

The cashier hesitated before tallying up the total. "That'll be 1,500 pesos."

Ed handed over the cash without a second thought. As soon as he got the bags, he rushed outside and found an empty corner near the market.

Then, he started selling.

"Fresh, clean water! Limited stock!" Ed called out. "Only 300 pesos per bottle!"

A woman scoffed. "300?! The store sells it for 50!"

Ed didn't even blink. "Go check the store, then."

She hesitated. Other people murmured, exchanging worried glances.

Then, another voice from the crowd shouted, "I just went inside! The shelves are empty!"

The tension in the air shifted. People who had ignored him before were now rushing forward.

"I'll take two!"

"Three for me!"

"Here's 1,000 pesos—give me as much as you can!"

[Ding! Transaction Complete!]

[Balance: 5,200 pesos]

Ed grinned. This was working.

But just as things were going smoothly, trouble arrived.

A tall, well-dressed man in his 20s, probably from an influential family, pushed his way through the crowd. His expensive watch gleamed under the golden sky.

"You little rat," the man sneered. "You're scamming people!"

Ed tilted his head. "Scamming? I'm just selling a product at a price people are willing to pay."

"You're taking advantage of the situation!" the man snapped. "Water should be free!"

Ed chuckled. "Then go ahead and give yours away for free. Oh wait, you didn't buy any, did you?"

The crowd snickered. The man's face twisted in anger.

"You think you're clever?" he growled. "Once the big families take control of this new world, rats like you will be crushed."

Ed's smirk didn't fade. "And yet, here you are, arguing with me over water. Who's really desperate?"

The man's fist clenched, but he didn't swing. He knew that in public, starting a fight would only make him look weak. Instead, he spat on the ground.

"Remember my name—Derek Salazar. We'll meet again."

Ed simply waved him off. "Looking forward to it, Mr. Free-Water."

As Derek stormed away, Ed checked his earnings.

[Ding! Transaction Complete!]

[Balance: 12,000 pesos]

[Mission Complete!]

[Reward: +10 Strength, +10 Speed, Basic Combat Skill Unlocked.]

A rush of raw power surged through his body. His muscles tensed, his reflexes sharpened. It was as if his body had just been recalibrated to a stronger version of itself.

Ed clenched his fist. This was just the beginning.

[Host: Ed Val]

[Strength: 12]

[Speed: 13]

[Endurance: 2]

[Luck: ???]

[Skills: Basic Combat]

Just as Ed was about to leave, a rough hand grabbed his collar.

"You think you can scam people and get away with it?"

Ed turned to see a burly, scar-faced man glaring at him. The crowd backed away, sensing a fight.

But Ed… smiled.

For the first time in his life, he wasn't afraid.

Time to test his new strength.