Apocalypse Survivor

Chapter 6 The Million-Dollar Purchase

“Ethan?”

The woman standing before him smiled in disbelief.

“It really is you.”

Ethan studied her face for a moment before recognition settled in. “Elena?”

Her smile immediately widened. “I knew it!” She laughed and gave him a light hug.

“It has been years!” Ethan smiled.

They had been high school classmates. Back then, neither of them could have imagined where life would eventually take them.

“How have you been?” Elena asked.

“Doing well. You?”

“I just moved to the city recently. I started working here.”

She gestured toward the property center. “I haven't been here very long.”

Before Ethan could reply, a few snickers came from behind them. “She must be desperate.”

Another employee laughed. “She hasn't sold anything since she started.”

“Can you blame her? She's new to the city.”

Elena's expression tightened. “Guys, that's enough.”

One of the women rolled her eyes. “Relax. We were only joking.”

Ethan glanced at the employees.

They were looking at him with barely concealed amusement.

To them, he was still the same poor man they remembered. A man who had worked multiple menial jobs just to survive.

There was no way someone like him could afford anything in this section.

One of them whispered, “I wonder what he's even doing here.”

Ethan ignored them. Instead, he pointed toward the enormous property model.

“That facility.” Elena followed his finger. “The abandoned military facility?”

“Yes.” She looked surprised. “You're interested in that?”

“I want to buy it.” 

The snickering immediately stopped. 

“The entire facility?”

“Yes, the entire facility and the surrounding water banks.”

Elena stared at him shocked. She had been expecting him to get one of the moderate houses with savings. But this stunned he r 

“That property is worth several million dollars.”

“How much?” 

She quickly checked the records. “Ten million dollars.”

Ethan nodded. “I'll take it.”

Silence.

Even people across the room began turning to see what was happening.

One employee finally laughed.

“Sir, perhaps you misunderstood. She said "Ten million dollars.”

Ethan looked at him. “I heard her.”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out his bank card. “I said I'll take it.”

Elena's eyes widened. “Ethan, are you sure?”

He nodded and she quickly prepared the transaction with a flabbergasted expression on her face. 

How rich was he? She wondered. 

The facility, surrounding land, and water access were being sold together for a staggering $5,000,000.

Elena couldn't believe her luck. A 2.5% percent commission meant she would receive $250,000. That was

That was more money than she had ever expected to earn from a single deal. She inserted the card into the terminal.

“Please enter your PIN.”

Ethan did. The machine processed the payment.

Then— DECLINED.

Elena froze. 

“It must have been an error.” Ethan frowned. He had just funded his account; there was no way it would fail. 

“Try it again.”

DECLINED.

A wave of whispers swept through the room.

“I knew it.”

Benita, the porter from before, laughed as she clapped her hands.

“Ten million dollars? Seriously?”

Another employee laughed. “He actually thought he could buy the property.”

Elena looked uncomfortable. “Benita, please. There's no need to be rude.”

Benita scoffed.

“I'm not being rude. I'm being realistic.”

She looked Ethan up and down.

“People like him come here all the time pretending they can afford things. Then their cards get declined.”

Ethan didn't respond.

He pulled out his phone and opened his banking app.

His expression changed.

ACCOUNT TEMPORARILY FROZEN.

He refreshed the page. Nothing changed.

Apparently, the sudden movement of hundreds of millions of dollars had triggered the bank's security system.

Benita immediately laughed.

“I told you.”

She turned toward the others. "He doesn't have the money.”

One of the employees nodded. “Should we call security?”

Benita was already doing it. “Security! We have a problem over here.”

Two security officers approached.

Elena quickly stepped forward. “Wait. There's probably a misunderstanding.”

Benita pointed at Ethan.

“He tried to purchase a five-million-dollar property with a card that doesn't even work.”

One of the security officers looked at Ethan.

“Sir, perhaps you should come with us while we sort this out.”

Ethan remained calm. “Before anyone does anything stupid, let me make a call.”

Benita folded her arms.

“Sure. Call whoever you want.”

The manager of the real estate company had finally arrived after hearing the commotion.

“What is happening here?”

Benita immediately rushed to explain.

“This man tried to purchase a five-million-dollar property, but his card was declined twice. I think he's wasting everyone's time.”

The manager looked at Ethan, then at the security officers.

“Hold on.”

The security officers stopped.

“Don't do anything yet.”

The manager turned toward Ethan.

“Sir, please make your call. Let's verify everything before we take further action.”

Ethan nodded.

He called his bank's customer service.

After several rings, someone answered.

“Good afternoon. How may we assist you?”

“My account has been frozen.”

The customer-service representative quickly verified his identity.

“Mr. Ethan, I can see that your account has been temporarily restricted because of unusual transaction activity.”

“I need the restriction removed.”

“We'll investigate the transaction and escalate the matter to our security department. Someone will get back to you shortly.”

“How long?”

“We'll try to resolve it as quickly as possible, sir.”

“Fine.”

Ethan ended the call.

Benita couldn't resist.

“So now we're waiting for your imaginary bank manager?”

A few employees laughed.

Ethan ignored her.

Benita shook her head.

“Honestly, I can't believe you came here and wasted everyone's time.”

She glanced at the five-million-dollar property.

“You actually thought you were going to buy that?”

Ethan finally looked at her.

“You seem very confident.”

“Because I'm right.”

She smirked.

“If you actually have five million dollars in that account, I'll lick this entire floor.”

The room erupted in laughter.

Elena frowned.

“Benita, that's enough.”

But Benita only crossed her arms. "What? I'm just making a promise.”

Ethan gave her a calm look.

“Be careful what you promise.”

Before Benita could respond, Ethan's phone rang.

He glanced at the screen.bThe caller ID displayed his bank.

He answered immediately. “Hello?”

“Mr. Ethan, I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.”

The voice belonged to the bank manager himself.

“Our security system automatically restricted your account because of the extraordinary transaction activity associated with your recent funds.”

Ethan listened quietly.

“We have completed our verification. Your account is completely open again, and there are no restrictions on your funds.”

“So I can make the payment?”

“Yes, sir. Everything has been cleared.”

“It's fine.”

Ethan ended the call.

He looked at Elena.

“Try it again.”

Elena inserted the card.

Everyone watched.

The terminal processed the payment.

Beep— APPROVED. 

The room went completely silent.

Elena stared at the screen. $10,000,000 PAYMENT SUCCESSFUL.

The manager's expression changed instantly.

He straightened his clothes and approached Ethan with a completely different attitude.

“Mr. Ethan, please accept my sincerest apologies.”

Ethan simply nodded.

The manager's eyes shifted toward Benita.

She had already begun quietly moving toward the back of the office.

“Benita.”

She stopped.

The manager frowned. “Where are you going?”

“I... I need to step outside.” She slowly turned around.

The manager pointed toward the floor.

“Didn't you say you were going to lick the floor if Mr. Ethan purchased the property?”

Benita's face went pale. “Sir, I was only joking.”

“You made the promise in front of our clients.”

“I'm sorry.” She hurried toward the manager. “Please. I need this job.”

The manager shook his head.

“You embarrassed this company and insulted a client because you assumed he couldn't afford the property.”

“Please, sir!”

“You're fired.”

Benita froze. “What?”

“Security will escort you out.”

She began begging, but the manager had already turned away.

Ethan didn't even bother watching her leave.

He signed the final documents.

The property transfer was completed.

PROPERTY TRANSFER COMPLETE.

The abandoned military facility, surrounding land, and water access now belonged to him.

The same people who had laughed at him minutes earlier couldn't even meet his eyes.

Ethan turned toward Elena. “I'll also need somewhere to stay.”

“A hotel?”

“No. A house for lease preferably a mansion.” 

Elena blinked. “A mansion?”

“Something furnished. Preferably a duplex or larger.”

She quickly pulled up several listings.

Within minutes, Ethan selected a luxury mansion.

The monthly lease was $100,000.!He paid without hesitation.

Soon, a driver handed him the keys.

The mansion came fully furnished, complete with butlers, housekeeping staff, and room service.

Ethan stepped through the enormous entrance and looked around.

Only a few days ago, he had been worrying about debt. Now people were standing around waiting to serve him.

He smiled. “This isn't bad.”

But he hadn't come this far just to enjoy luxury.

Ethan picked up his phone and called a major construction company.

A man answered. "Hello?"

“I need a Tier 5 survival base constructed. How long is your expected timeline?”