Chapter 3: Investing in the Apocalypse
735 Words
Arka leaned back in his chair, sipping on a hot cup of coffee. **For the first time in years, he wasn’t broke.**
With five million rupiah in cash, he had taken care of two things immediately:
1. **A proper meal.** Goodbye instant noodles, hello steak.
2. **Better clothes.** His old hoodie had holes in it, and he refused to look like a starving university student anymore.
Now, sitting in a quiet café, he pulled out a notebook and began planning his next steps.
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### **Step Four: Early Investments**
Most people thought the apocalypse was a sudden event—monsters appearing, dungeons opening, and the world collapsing overnight. **They were wrong.**
The signs were already there. Certain corporations were stockpiling resources. A few individuals—future big names—were already preparing in secret. And hidden in the shadows, powerful organizations were forming.
In his past life, Arka had been too focused on survival to pay attention to these things.
**Not this time.**
He flipped open his notebook and scribbled down a list of names. These were the people who would become *legends* in the coming years—the future strongest hunters, warlords, and leaders. Some would become heroes. Others, villains.
And one of them was about to be **scammed** by Arka.
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### **A Future Billionaire in the Making**
Three days later, Arka found himself standing in front of an expensive restaurant. Inside was **Leonard Kusuma**, a young entrepreneur who, in five years, would become one of the richest men in the apocalypse.
**Leonard was a genius when it came to business… but an absolute dumbass when it came to people.** He was too trusting. Too naive. And that’s why, in the past timeline, people had used him, taken his money, and left him for dead.
This time, Arka would make sure that *he* was the only one using Leonard.
He walked inside, spotted the man at a corner table, and approached with a confident smile.
"Leonard Kusuma, right? Mind if I sit?"
Leonard, a bespectacled man in his early twenties, looked up, confused. "Uh… do I know you?"
Arka grinned. "Not yet. But you’re about to."
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### **The Art of Bullsh—Negotiation**
Arka leaned forward, lowering his voice. "You’re an investor, right?"
Leonard hesitated. "Yes…?"
"Good. Because I have **a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity** for you."
Leonard frowned. "Go on."
Arka pulled out a fake business card (that he made five minutes ago) and slid it across the table.
"I'm representing a *very* exclusive investment group. We specialize in… let’s say, *future technologies*."
Leonard picked up the card, squinting. "I've never heard of your group."
"You wouldn’t have," Arka said smoothly. "We don’t advertise. We choose our clients *very* carefully."
Leonard looked intrigued. "What kind of investments?"
Arka smirked. "You ever heard of **dungeon crystals**?"
The businessman frowned. "No…?"
"Exactly. Because they haven’t been *discovered* yet."
Leonard’s eyes widened. "Wait—are you saying—?"
"In a few months," Arka said, tapping the table, "new energy sources will be found. The companies that get in *first* will make billions. I’m offering you a chance to be one of them."
Leonard stared at him. "And how do you know this?"
Arka leaned back with a mysterious smile. "Let’s just say… I have my sources."
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### **The First Investment**
Leonard hesitated. "And what do you need from me?"
"Simple. A small investment of 500 million rupiah."
Leonard nearly choked on his drink. "That’s *small*?"
"For the amount of money you’re going to make? Yes."
Leonard looked skeptical, but Arka knew what was going through his head. He was young, ambitious, and desperate for a *big break*. And Arka had just dangled **the biggest bait possible** in front of him.
Finally, Leonard sighed. "Alright. I’ll invest. But only 100 million for now."
Arka shrugged, pretending to be unimpressed. "Fair enough."
Inside, he was **screaming in victory**.
**Congratulations! You just scammed your first future billionaire!**
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### **Step Five: Prepare for the First Dungeon**
With 100 million now in his bank account, Arka had more than enough to **buy weapons, supplies, and early land near the first Dungeon Gate.**
Because when the apocalypse **truly** began, land near dungeon sites would become more valuable than gold.
And Arka was going to own *all of it*.
This time, he wasn’t going to be a hero.
**He was going to be a king.**
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**End of Chapter 3**
- Writer
