Chapter 3 I Have Money

System?

Could this actually be happening?

Was someone playing a joke on him?

Tristan looked at the area and realized that the crowd had disappeared, leaving him by himself.

"System?" Tristan whispered.

But the electronic voice didn't answer him.

Instead, a notification from his bank popped up on his phone. "You've received a deposit of 1, 000, 000 dollars. Your new balance is 1, 000, 823.3 dollars."

Could this really be happening?

Tristan's eyes went wide.

The system was legit! He had received a million dollars!

A wave of excitement washed over Tristan.

This money was a lifeline!

With this sum, he could afford the treatment for his condition!

He was about to head to the hospital when he remembered the system's rules; he had to spend one million within four hours, but only for dining.

Spending it on hospital bills wouldn't count as a dining expense.

If he failed the task, he would lose the system's support.

What if the system took back the one million then?

Tristan pinched himself hard, trying to regain his composure.

He was too scared to gamble with this opportunity.

After all, he had been given a chance to survive and he wasn't going to waste it.

Besides, the system had made it clear that once he completed the task, he would get one million in return.

In other words, he could use the reward money for anything, including his medical bills.

The cost to treat leukemia was around 500, 000 dollars. With this one million, he would have more than enough.

After considering his options, Tristan's eyes sparkled with determination. Spending the money would be easy!

Seeing a path to recovery, Tristan was eager to get started.

He needed to spend one million on food in just four hours.

It seemed straightforward at first. But, after giving it some thought, he realized it was far from simple.

Most regular eateries couldn't handle such lavish expenditures.

In Aylbupool, the first place that popped into Tristan's mind was...

"Sir, to Breezy Hotel, please!" Tristan hailed a taxi outside the school.

Breezy Hotel, renowned for being Aylbupool's most opulent hotel, offered everything one could imagine.

Previously, just looking at its grandeur from a distance made Tristan feel somewhat out of place.

It catered to the elite. Situated in the city's heart, the hotel felt like a world apart. It was as though an unseen barrier existed between Tristan and those of high society.

Yet, today was different.

Tristan walked in with a million to his name!

Upon entering the hotel's grand lobby, however, he was met with a loud argument.

"Randy, it was Lillian working yesterday. She's to blame!"

A sharp voice filled the air.

Marlie Harrison stood, hands on hips, in a suit skirt, wearing a smug smile, and exuding an aggressive aura.

"She's the reason the customer managed to leave without paying! Maybe she even let it happen on purpose! She's been nothing but trouble for our hotel and needs to be fired! And she dares to compete for the lobby manager position against me. How disgraceful!"

Lillian Perez wore the same suit skirt, but her curvaceous figure and ample chest were impossible to miss. Her well-endowed chest nearly spilled out of the white shirt.

Her attire struggled to contain her, suggesting a mix of professionalism and allure that few could ignore.

Beneath the skirt, she wore black stockings, hinting at delicate skin and accentuating her straight, slender legs.

Despite being a regular suit skirt, it exuded a unique charm on her, captivating anyone who laid eyes on her.

Lillian's fists clenched tightly, her face flushing with anger and frustration.

"I didn't do it! I have no idea how this happened!"

Randy Webster, the manager, stood by, stroking his chin, lost in thought.

Witnessing the scene, Tristan's brow furrowed. He recognized Marlie.

She was Ellie's cousin.

Back when Tristan dated Ellie, Marlie frequently criticized him, always ready with a harsh word.

Despite Tristan's hospitality, Marlie never reciprocated with kindness, choosing instead to find fault and make his experience unpleasant.

Tristan harbored some resentment, though he had previously held back for Ellie's sake.

Now that he had seen Ellie's true colors and they had completely broken up, he would no longer show Marlie any respect.

"How much did the customer owe? I'll take care of it," Tristan said, stepping forward.

His offer caught everyone by surprise.

Lillian looked at him with wide eyes. "You..."

She paused, realizing she didn't know the man standing before her.

What made this stranger want to help her?

The thought puzzled Lillian.

Meanwhile, Marlie's expression darkened, and she couldn't contain her anger. "Tristan! Why are you even here? Do you think you belong here? Leave this place! And stop making a scene!"

Randy intervened, instructing, "Marlie! You need to show respect to our customers!"

Marlie quickly switched to a more ingratiating tone. "Randy, you're mistaken. This Tristan isn't a customer of ours. He's after my cousin, nothing but a broke student. He must be here looking for a job washing dishes."

She then glanced at Tristan with disdain.

"Tristan, let me make this clear. Don't expect any favors because you know me. I won't be of any help to you. Your shabby look doesn't even meet the standards for a security position here at Breezy Hotel!"

Tristan's frustration grew. He had always had issues with Marlie, and his patience was wearing thin. He responded sharply, "Hey! Let me set two things straight. Firstly, your cousin Ellie and I are no longer together because she betrayed me. And secondly, I do have money."

With that, Tristan pulled out his bank card, and slammed it forcefully on the table.

"How much did that customer owe? I'll settle it."

Marlie was shocked. She couldn't believe Tristan's audacity.

Furious, she pointed at him and criticized him. "What's gotten into you? Claiming to have money while you're out there doing odd jobs? Did Ellie's rejection drive you mad? Your wallet looks like it's on its last legs. And yet you claim to be wealthy? What a joke!"

Both Randy and Lillian observed Tristan's worn-out wallet, noting its tattered appearance.

Tristan didn't look the part of someone with financial means.

Randy seemed to take Marlie's side and cautioned Tristan with a stern voice, "Look... The customer who didn't pay left our hotel short by fifty thousand dollars. That's a significant sum."

Tristan bit his lip.

Given the four-hour deadline he was up against, replacing his wallet was the least of his concerns.

"I've told you, I can pay. Let's use my card!"

Tristan chose not to dwell on the matter of his wallet, and he tapped his bank card on the table, showing signs of impatience.

Truth be told, he was not entirely convinced himself.

Feigning urgency and adopting a confident demeanor were merely tactics to mask his doubts.

The system's existence could be genuine. And his phone had indeed shown a notification from the bank. But the what-ifs lingered in his mind.

What if his perception was clouded by his illness and frustration?

What if there was no system to begin with?

Tristan's heart raced with these thoughts.

Opting to pay for the unpaid bill seemed like the safest bet.

Should it turn out to be an illusion, at least he wouldn't end up in trouble with law enforcement called by the hotel manager.

For Tristan, this path held the least amount of risk.

If he was unable to pay the bill after a spending spree, the fallout could be dire!