Devil Capital System

CHAPTER 3 — Social Value

“Sorry, but... are you really planning to buy this model?”

“Yes. Why?”

“No, it’s nothing. It’s just...”

Gavin already understood that look from the phone store employee. The kind that silently measured whether he could actually afford it or was simply wasting everyone’s time.

But this time, Gavin had no intention of explaining himself.

“There’s no need to look at me like that. I’ll pay for it. But could you also help reactivate my phone number? My previous phone was stolen.”

“Gavin?”

Before the employee could respond, her attention shifted after hearing someone’s voice from nearby.

“Hey, Gavin. Isn’t that you?”

Gavin didn’t even bother turning around. He already knew exactly who it was.

After repeatedly testing it, Gavin was finally certain that Hope was the name of his System.

Simply thinking about the word Hope—or saying it aloud—would automatically summon or dismiss the System panels.

Since his phone had conveniently disappeared, Gavin decided to test Hope once again by visiting a large phone retailer.

Because he was sure he could use the same payment method from the restaurant earlier.

But who would’ve thought that not only would he receive suspicious looks from the employees... He would also run into someone he knew well enough to dislike.

“Oh, so it really is you.”

Gavin let out a quiet sigh. He still had no intention of turning around.

“Cedric, I’m in a hurry. Why don’t you mind your own business?”

“So, is it possible?” Gavin asked the employee again, who was still standing behind the display counter.

“Ah... sorry. You wanted to buy this one?” she asked, trying to regain her professionalism even though her eyes still occasionally drifted toward Gavin’s dirty, wrinkled clothes.

“Yes.”

“Hey, isn’t that the newest model?”

Cedric immediately interrupted, deliberately raising his voice.

“Gavin, are you seriously planning to buy that phone?”

Gavin didn’t answer. He merely closed his eyes for a second, as if he had already memorized exactly how this situation would unfold.

“You actually have money for that?” Cedric’s tone sharpened.

Several people around the display counter began glancing over. The atmosphere subtly shifted. This was no longer just a transaction. It was becoming entertainment.

“So? Is it possible?” Gavin repeated calmly.

Cedric laughed softly. “Seriously? You’re really here to buy that phone?”

His gaze shifted toward the display shelf. The latest flagship model. Shiny glass. A price tag expensive enough that most college students only dared admire it from a distance.

“You do know how much that thing costs, right?”

Gavin stayed silent. Cedric continued, his voice rising another level.

“Gavin, do you seriously think buying a phone like that will make Bella come back to you?”

“Bella?”

Originally, Gavin planned to ignore not only Cedric but also the woman standing beside him.

But the moment she finally spoke, Gavin became even more certain this wouldn’t end unless he dealt with it quickly.

Meanwhile, several people inside the store began paying closer attention when the woman beside Cedric suddenly stepped forward and stared at Gavin more sharply.

“Wait... are you that Gavin?”

“Yeah,” Cedric answered immediately. “The same Gavin all over VantaHub.”

Gavin frowned slightly after hearing that. “VantaHub? What the hell is that?” he wondered internally.

“No way... he’s really the Gavin from—”

“Yeah! Look at him. He’s even still wearing the same clothes.”

“Oh shit... it really is him. He’s—”

Gavin let out a low scoff before finally speaking. “Looks like I’ve become pretty famous over something completely meaningless.”

Cedric clicked his tongue. “Stop avoiding the question. Do you actually have money for that?”

The woman joined in, her tone colder this time. “Or maybe... where exactly did you get that money from?”

It didn’t sound like curiosity. It sounded more like an accusation she had already decided was true.

Finally, Gavin turned around. He looked at Cedric first. Then his eyes slowly scanned the woman from head to toe.

The woman instinctively stepped back, as if Gavin’s gaze alone had somehow contaminated her.

“How strange.”

Cedric frowned. “What did you just say?”

“I don’t even know your little girlfriend.”

Gavin glanced at the woman briefly. “But now I think I understand why the two of you ended up together.”

“You’re both equally weird.”

Without waiting for a response, Gavin walked toward the cashier counter.

Even though he didn’t know her name—or had ever spoken to her before—Gavin recognized the woman standing beside Cedric.

She was one of the girls who often hung around Cedric’s group at the university.

“I’ll take that phone,” Gavin said while pointing toward the display case.

The employee still looked hesitant, but she nevertheless tapped the payment terminal several times.

“The total is... three thousand eight hundred dollars,” she said quietly. “How would you like to pay?”

“Palm scan.”

“Understood.”

“Hahahahaha!”

Cedric burst out laughing immediately. “Palm scan? Nice. Let’s see this.”

The cashier said nothing more. But her eyes never blinked when Gavin slowly raised his hand and placed it over the palm scanner.

“Miss...” Cedric spoke toward the cashier smugly. “We already know how this ends. The payment’s going to fail, and then he’ll pretend—”

Ding!

Cedric stopped mid-sentence the moment the indicator flashed green.

Payment successful.

At the same time, Gavin’s System panel updated once again.

[Remaining MMS = $99,996,198]

“T-The payment... went through?” Cedric stammered in disbelief.

“No way...”

The woman beside him stepped closer toward the terminal screen, her mouth falling open instantly.

“That’s impossible...”

“The transaction name says... Gavin Valerio?”

The atmosphere inside the store changed immediately. But Gavin couldn’t care less. He simply walked back toward the display counter.

“I’ve already paid. Can I take it now?”

“Y-Yes... o-of course.”

The employee was apparently too shocked to react properly. But Gavin didn’t care. He immediately grabbed the phone and the box straight from the display area and walked away without even waiting for it to be packaged.

But just as he passed Cedric, Gavin suddenly stopped.

“You’re blocking my way.”

Cedric didn’t answer immediately. Yet unconsciously, he stepped aside. And Gavin resumed walking.

But just as he reached the store entrance, Cedric suddenly snapped out of his daze and turned around.

“You...” Cedric finally spoke. “Where the hell did you get that money?”

“From massaging your mother,” Gavin answered casually, still irritated.

Everyone inside the store instantly covered their mouths, trying to suppress their laughter.

Meanwhile, Cedric’s face turned bright red as he immediately tried chasing after Gavin. But his steps abruptly stopped when someone grabbed his arm.

“Cedric...”

Still emotional, Cedric raised his voice without realizing it.

“What?!”

But the woman didn’t care. Instead, she raised her voice back at him.

“Didn’t we come here because you promised to buy me a phone?”

Cedric didn’t answer immediately. His eyes were still locked toward the entrance Gavin had just walked through, as if trying to process something that completely contradicted his understanding of social reality.

“Cedric!!”

“...Yeah.”

The woman pointed toward the display shelf. “I want that one.”

Cedric finally turned his head, And immediately lost the ability to speak when he realized she was pointing at the exact same phone Gavin had just purchased.

“Oh, fuck...”