Ding! My System Turns Your Arrogance Into Cash

Chapter 3: I Unlocked My First Allowance

And then, while he was wondering, a sudden sound echoed.

Ding!

[The My Infinite Cashflow System has successfully initialized.]

[Host: Nicholas. Status: Pitiful. Emotional State: Broken.]

[Level 1 Daily Allowance unlocked: $5,000.00.]

[System Policy: All funds must be completely spent before midnight, or your account resets to zero.]

[Bonus Skill Granted: Wealth Insight.]

Nicholas staggered backward, his knees hitting the old wooden chair as his chest heaved.

"Who said that? Is someone playing a prank?" he demanded, looking around the dark archive room.

No one answered. Only the quiet hum of the flickering basement light bulb met his ears.

His phone buzzed violently, the blood-red interface instantly snapping back to his normal home screen.

A notification from his official mobile banking application popped up at the top.

Alert: A direct deposit of $5,000.00 has been successfully credited to your account.

Nicholas's hands shook so badly he almost dropped the phone onto the concrete floor.

He quickly tapped the application, his thumb hovering over the screen as he breathed heavily.

Current Available Balance: $5,004.50.

"Five thousand... real dollars?" Nicholas whispered, his eyes wide with absolute, stunning shock.

His calm exterior completely cracked as a dizzying rush of adrenaline flooded his entire body.

Is this a dream? Am I losing my mind because of the hunger and the stress?

He pinched his arm hard. The sharp pain proved he was completely awake.

"Five thousand dollars," he muttered again, a sudden, desperate hope flaring up in his chest.

Before he could even process the bizarre reality, the heavy metal basement door slammed open.

The loud bang echoed like a gunshot through the silent archive room, making Nicholas jump.

Heavy, aggressive footsteps marched down the concrete stairs, breaking the quiet.

Professor Vance emerged from the shadows, his face twisted in a look of supreme arrogance.

Right behind him stepped Chad and Miranda, their arms linked together tightly.

"There he is! The rat is hiding exactly where I said he would be," Chad sneered, pointing a finger.

Miranda crossed her arms, looking at Nicholas with an expression of pure, unadulterated disgust.

"Nicholas, I can't believe you've sunk this low," Miranda said, shaking her head in mockery.

Nicholas quickly slipped his phone into his pocket, forcing his face to look confused. "What is going on?"

"Don't play dumb with me, Nicholas!" Professor Vance roared, his voice booming off the walls.

"A highly valuable, limited-edition historical textbook went missing from the display case upstairs," Vance barked.

"And Chad saw you hanging around that exact section right before you sneaked down here," the professor added.

Chad smirked, stepping forward with a look of ultimate triumph on his face.

"Yeah, Nico. I saw you slip it right into your cheap backpack," Chad lied smoothly, grinning.

"You're pathetic. Are you so broke that you have to steal university property to sell for cash?" Chad scoffed.

Nicholas felt his blood boil, a wave of deep frustration threatening to break through his mask.

"I haven't even been upstairs today. I came straight to the basement after class," Nicholas said firmly.

"Oh, please, Nicholas. Just stop lying," Miranda interrupted, her voice filled with arrogant pity.

"You're just making yourself look even more miserable than you already are," she added with a sneer.

"Just confess and return the book to Professor Vance. Stop embarrassing yourself further," Miranda said.

Nicholas looked at her, his heart aching at how easily she could join in to destroy him.

She really thinks I'm a thief just because I don't have money, Nicholas thought bitterly.

Suddenly, a strange, translucent floating text box appeared right above Chad's head.

Name: Chad Sterling. Current Liquid Cash: $1,200. Family Debt: $1.5 Million (Hidden).

Nicholas blinked, his eyes widening slightly as the text box shifted over to Professor Vance.

Name: Vance Miller. Secret: Received a $500 cash bribe from Chad Sterling ten minutes ago.

Nicholas gasped internally. The Wealth Insight ability from the system was actually working.

A wave of realization washed over him, and his trembling hands suddenly stopped shaking completely.

The helplessness in his chest evaporated, replaced by a sudden, intense feeling of absolute power.

"I will ask you one last time, Nicholas," Professor Vance threatened, taking a giant step forward.

"Hand over your backpack right now, or I am calling the campus police to lock you up!" Vance shouted.

"I didn't take any textbook, Professor. Search the security cameras instead," Nicholas replied evenly.

"I don't need to check any cameras when I have an eyewitness!" Vance yelled, his face turning red with rage.

"You are a thief, and I am going to make sure you are expelled from this school by tonight!"

Miranda shook her head, leaning against Chad. "What a complete loser. Enjoy jail, Nicholas."