Ding! My System Turns Your Arrogance Into Cash

Chapter 12: A Hidden Exchange

Nicholas stood perfectly still, his eyes locked onto the arrogant man blocking his way. The head host puffed out his chest, adjusting his pristine silk bowtie with a smug grin.

He sneered because he loved making ordinary people feel small to validate his own fake status.

To him, Nicholas looked like just another broke student trying to sneak a peek at high society. Nicholas didn't blink, his cold expression making the elitist host suddenly flinch.

A strange, freezing pressure seemed to fill the lavish, gold-trimmed lobby.

Nicholas mentally tapped his interface, activating the System's Wealth Insight ability.

A transparent screen flashed into his vision, revealing the host's dirtiest secrets.

"Your name tag says Marcus," Nicholas said, his voice terrifyingly calm.

"Yes, and it means you need to leave," Marcus snapped, eager to chase him out.

"It also means you owe three hundred thousand dollars to local loan sharks," Nicholas countered smoothly.

Marcus froze, his snobbish smile instantly vanishing from his face.

"What did you just say?" Marcus stammered, his eyes widening in sudden panic.

"You have been stealing vintage Romanée-Conti wine from the private cellar," Nicholas continued.

"You smuggle the bottles out at night to pay off your illegal gambling debts."

The wealthy dining guests nearby stopped chatting, turning their heads to whisper in shock.

Marcus felt a wave of intense fear hit his chest, his face turning ghostly pale. Nicholas spoke with such absolute certainty that Marcus knew his life was falling apart.

If the owner found out about the wine, Marcus would go straight to prison.

"You are lying! You are just a crazy kid!" Marcus shrieked, his voice cracking with desperation.

He needed to silence Nicholas immediately before the rumors ruined him completely. Marcus reached for the heavy walkie-talkie clipped to his tailored trousers.

"Security! Get to the front lobby right now!" Marcus screamed into the device, his hands shaking violently.

"We have a trespasser creating a public disturbance! Drag him out the back door!"

Nicholas completely ignored the panicked shouting.

This Marcus guy was beginning to piss him off. And right now, he was about to kill two birds with one stone. Finish his daily task and make him pay.

His face remained an unreadable mask as he pulled his sleek smartphone from his pocket, entirely unbothered by the approaching guards.

The digital countdown timer on his screen was flashing a dangerous red: [00:04:12].

Nicholas opened the System portal, immediately pulling up the restaurant’s corporate registration.

"Let’s see who owns this place," Nicholas murmured, his finger hovering over the screen.

The System quickly located the primary owner's direct financial contact info.

Nicholas clicked the acquisition button, preparing to use his Tier 2 allowance.

Ding!

[System Notification: Initiating full buyout of 'The Golden Caviar' parent company.]

[Total Cost: $45,000. Processing wire transfer via Tier 2 allowance.]

The countdown timer kept ticking down backward: [00:00:15... 00:00:14...]

Suddenly, a middle-aged man in a sharp tuxedo walked out from the main dining room. It was Mr. Vance, the general manager of the entire elite establishment.

Marcus immediately felt haughty and proud again, his posture straightening up instantly. He smirked at Nicholas, assuming his powerful boss would handle this trash right away.

"Mr. Vance! Thank goodness you are here," Marcus announced loudly, stepping forward.

He wanted to make a show of his loyalty in front of the high-society guests.

"This broke student sneaked past the outer gates and is making up insane lies," Marcus explained.

"He is threatening me and claiming I stole from the cellar just to cause a scene."

Marcus smiled maliciously, eagerly waiting for the manager to pounce on Nicholas and throw him out.

Mr. Vance listened quietly, turning a careful, calculating gaze toward the young man.

Unlike Marcus, the manager was experienced and noticed the high-end tailored suit Nicholas wore.

"Young man, who exactly are you?" Mr. Vance asked, his voice cautious and controlled.

Nicholas looked at the manager with an almost bored look. “So…you’re the manager, uh?”

The manager frowned, anger growing at how casual Nicholas referred to him.

“Look boy, this isn’t some place you play your childish game. Or any spot around your campus you walk in to chill.” He raised his hand and wagered it in front of Nicholas. “Leave now before things get really messy for you.”

Silence followed after the manager’s words. Marcus was now grinning. The other guests were eager to see how this ended. It was typical of the rich.

They were waiting for retaliation from Nicholas then afterwards watching how he would be treated like an animal or worse for trespassing where he didn’t belong.

"Have you checked the corporate registry to see the new owner of this establishment?" Nicholas asked instead.

Mr. Vance frowned, a flash of confusion crossing his face at the unexpected question.

"What is your business with that?" Mr. Vance demanded, his tone sharpening.

"How could a student like you possibly know there has been a sudden change in power?"

Nicholas didn't say a word, simply turning his smartphone screen around to face the manager. On the screen was an official, automated confirmation email from the central banking portal.

It clearly detailed the 100% stock acquisition of the parent company completed just two minutes ago.

Mr. Vance’s eyes scanned the digital document, his face turning an instant, ghostly shade of white.

His breath caught painfully in his throat as he saw the legal signature at the bottom of the deed.

"You... you are Mr. Peterson?!" Mr. Vance gasped, his knees trembling so violently he almost tripped.

The arrogant general manager completely shattered, dropping his clipboard onto the floor.

"Mr. Peterson, please accept my humblest apologies!" Mr. Vance began to beg, bowing repeatedly.

"I am so deeply sorry for my absolute blindness! Please pardon me for not recognizing you!"

Behind him, Marcus was already shivering violently, his hands dripping with cold sweat.

His mind was spinning in total chaos as he realized the broke kid was actually his ultimate billionaire boss.

How the hell was that even possible! But it was too late to ask that now.

Marcus shrank back into the corner, praying silently that Nicholas would just forget about him.

Nicholas hadn't originally planned to buy the restaurant or even teach anyone a lesson today.

But looking at the terrified host, Nicholas knew he couldn't just let this terrible behavior go.

"Your head host represents the face of this establishment," Nicholas spoke evenly, his voice ice-cold.

"Marcus stopped me at the door purely because he judged my background from my age."

"Then he abused his authority to call security to cover up his own panic," Nicholas continued.

Nicholas started to talk about what Marcus did and how completely unethical his professional standards were.

Mr. Vance didn't even let Nicholas finish his sentence before spinning around in rage.