Ch.: 10. Shop opened, Rio vega(future Morales), Spider-Man shopping

Blockcraft Industries had officially opened its doors, and Manav was filled with anticipation. The company's logo, a planet made entirely of blocks, had been crafted with care to reflect his love for the blocky, Minecraft-inspired world he had created. He rented a small shop, modest in size, but it had a charm of its own. The shop was small, much like the ones often described in fanfictions where protagonists began their journeys from humble beginnings. It was a setup that many would deem insufficient for big business, but for Manav, it was the perfect place to start.

The shop sign, simple and direct, read "Blockcraft Shop, Since 2014," without any frills or extravagant design. To attract customers, Manav posted an advertisement online, featuring a picture of his shop with a line that read: "We believe in great people doing great things. Explore our job openings and find your perfect fit. Join us today!"

Now, with the shop set up, Manav took his seat behind the counter, ready to greet the potential customers. The interior of the shop was designed entirely around Minecraft-inspired products. He had replaced the previous décor with items crafted from blocks—beds, lanterns, glass blocks, and even figurines inspired by the Spider-Verse. These figurines were some of his proudest creations, each standing at 95 centimeters tall, encased in glass blocks that gave them a unique and artistic look. Manav had even added a figurine of Captain America, encapsulated within a transparent block. The craftsmanship was impeccable, and while he briefly entertained the thought of keeping the technique to himself, he quickly dismissed the idea. He knew that if he didn't sell the product, someone else would eventually try to.

Manav was still marveling at his creations when the bell above the door jingled. Someone had entered.

"Hello, esteemed customer! Welcome to Blockcraft," Manav greeted, rising from his chair as a young woman stepped inside.

"Hello, are you the manager here?" the girl asked.

"Yes, I'm both the manager and the owner," Manav replied with a smile. "What can I help you with? We have a variety of products suitable for everyone, from children to adults."

The girl raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Actually, I'm here to inquire about the job. I saw your post online about the salary—$1,000 a month, which increases with performance and tips. Is that true?"

Manav nodded. "It's true, but only for full-time workers. Are you looking for a part-time or full-time position?"

The girl looked skeptical, as one might expect when hearing about such a high salary from a small shop. "I'm a part-timer. I can work from 11 AM to 4 PM," she said, counting her fingers.

"Then your salary will be $600 a month," Manav replied after a brief pause.

The girl raised an eyebrow. "I want $800. No one's going to believe you with such a small shop and a high salary. You need me to make this job credible."

Manav frowned, thinking for a moment. "Alright, I can offer you $700."

"Make it $800, and you've got a deal," the girl countered.

"Alright, $750," Manav agreed. "You're hired."

"Great!" the girl said, smiling. "Now, tell me your name, age, address, and experience," Manav said, grabbing a paper and a pen.

"Rio Vega, 19 years old, from Brooklyn, Williamsburg. I've been a nurse in the emergency ward for four years, so I'm experienced. I'm also good at speaking directly and to the point," Rio answered, giving him the information he needed.

"Alright, when would you like to start? Today or tomorrow?" Manav asked, filling out the details.

"I'm ready to start today. Any uniform?" Rio asked.

Manav pointed to the back of the shop, where he had set up a small storage room. "You can change there. Just pull the lever, and you'll find everything you need."

Rio hesitated for a moment before heading toward the storage room. "Are there any hidden cameras?" she asked, slightly suspicious.

"Who would put cameras in a storage room?" Manav responded with a shrug. "Besides, I'm not a pervert. If I was interested, I'd show you the money first, then ask."

Rio entered the small storage room, which had a wooden chest inside. After noticing the chest, she simply pulled the lever on the wall and entered the room to change. She emerged a few minutes later, now wearing a hoodie that matched the store's simple, blocky aesthetic.

"Nice setup," Rio commented as she returned. "I've got to say, this shop is pretty impressive."

Manav smiled at the compliment. "Thanks! The design is one of the things I'm most proud of."

Rio pointed to the hoodie she was now wearing. "Can I keep this? I like it."

"Sure, but you can only buy it after working here for a month," Manav said, grinning.

"Fair enough," Rio said, nodding. "So, what do I do now?"

"Just wait for customers," Manav replied, handing her a manual. "When they arrive, introduce them to our products."

Half an hour passed, and just as Rio was getting settled, the door's bell jingled again. Rio immediately stood up to greet the customer, who she was surprised to see was wearing a Spider-Man suit.

"Oh, sorry," Rio stammered, stopping mid-sentence. "You're Spider-Man, right?"

"Yeah," Spider-Man said with a sheepish grin. "I'm just here to buy some things for my aunt. I figured I'd do some shopping, you know, like a normal person."

Manav chuckled to himself, recognizing the Spider-Man from the Marvel Universe. "Well, welcome to Blockcraft, Spider-Man. It's not every day we get a superhero in here. Don't worry, your secret's safe with us."

Rio, still a bit starstruck, began introducing the products to Spider-Man. She showed him the block bed, the lantern, and the unique glass block figurines. "This is our block bed, the softest in the world. This lantern can last for up to a month. For recharging, you'll have to come back to the shop. And here's a glass block version of your Spider-Man family. The founder of this shop is a huge fan of the Spider-Verse, so he created these figurines."

Manav watched the interaction with amusement, knowing that Spider-Man was probably just starting his superhero journey in this universe. "I'm pretty sure he's trying to sound all mysterious, but I'm not fooled," Manav thought, smiling to himself.

After browsing for a while, Spider-Man finally made his decision. "I'll take the lantern. I'm not exactly rolling in cash," he said, pointing to the lantern.

"Alright, I'll pack it up for you. Would you like it in normal packaging or gift packaging?" Rio asked, preparing to wrap it up.

"Gift packaging," Spider-Man replied. "What's the price?"

"You can pay at the counter," Rio said, pointing to Manav, who was standing behind it.

Spider-Man made his way to the counter, and Manav gave him the price. "The lantern is $45, but since you're our first customer, you get a special discount."

"Alright," Spider-Man said, pulling out the cash. "Here you go."

"By the way," Manav added, "we have a special mystery gift for our first customer. Could you give me your address for delivery?"

Spider-Man hesitated, clearly uncomfortable. "Uh, no need," he said, shaking his head. "You can give it to the next customer."

Manav raised an eyebrow but insisted, "Come on, it's part of the deal. You have to sign this paper. If I break my first rule, the shop will never be successful. If my records ever leak, I'll... I'll take full responsibility."

After a moment of silence, Spider-Man reluctantly nodded. "Alright," he said, signing the paper.

Manav smiled. "Thank you, Spider-Man. You've been a great first customer." With that, he handed Spider-Man the wrapped lantern and sent him on his way, eagerly awaiting the next customer to walk through the door.