Ding! My System Turns Your Arrogance Into Cash

Chapter 5: Allow Me Spend My Daily Limit, Loser

Nicholas ignored the clerk’s insults completely.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cracked smartphone, unlocking the screen.

"I want the three most expensive custom laptop and phone setups in that case," Nicholas said.

His voice was flat, empty of anger, but filled with a sudden commanding weight.

The clerk stared at him for a second, completely stunned by the sheer audacity.

Then, he burst into a loud, mocking laugh that echoed across the entire showroom.

"Are you insane, kid?" the clerk shouted, his face twisting with arrogant amusement.

"Three custom setups? You can't even afford the lint on our display cloths!"

The clerk didn't wait for a reply; he turned on his heel and grabbed the store's landline phone.

"Security! Get down to the front counter right now!" the clerk yelled into the receiver.

"We have a vagrant trying to cause trouble and pull a fake card scam. Hurry up!"

The loud shouting immediately drew the attention of every single customer in the store.

A crowd of wealthy students gathered around the section, pointing their fingers and whispering.

"Isn't that the scholarship kid from the economics lecture?" a guy in a designer hoodie whispered.

"Oh my god, yes! He still looks like he got out of a gutter," a girl replied, giggling behind her manicured hand.

Nicholas didn't blink or look away, his tall frame standing perfectly upright in the center of the room.

He walked past the laughing clerk with smooth, unbothered strides and stood right at the main register.

Outside the store's massive glass display window, two familiar figures suddenly stopped in their tracks.

Chad and Miranda were walking down the commercial strip, still arguing about the library incident.

Chad noticed the massive commotion inside the boutique and squinted through the bright glass window.

"Wait, look inside," Chad said, a sudden malicious grin spreading across his face. "It's the loser."

Miranda looked over, her expression instantly switching from frustration to deep shock. "Nicholas?"

"He's getting cornered by staff!" Chad laughed, dragging Miranda by the hand through the store entrance.

"Let's go watch this piece of garbage is up to now" Chad cheered.

They pushed through the glass doors, joining the back of the whispering, crowded circle.

Just as Chad started to shout a mockery, a door at the back of the store slammed open.

The store manager walked out, wearing a sharp navy suit and looking incredibly stressed by the noise.

"What is the meaning of this shouting?" the manager demanded, his eyes scanning the room.

The snobbish clerk immediately stepped forward, pointing a shaking finger directly at Nicholas.

"Manager, this broke student is trying to buy our most elite custom setups!" the clerk complained.

"He's clearly a scammer trying to use a stolen or fake card. I already called the guards!"

The manager turned his gaze to Nicholas, his eyes dropping to the damp clothes and muddy jeans.

A deep, heavy look of suspicion settled over the manager's face as he crossed his arms tightly.

"Is this true, young man?" the manager asked, his tone cold and entirely professional.

"Our custom setups cost thousands of dollars. This is not a place for student jokes."

Chad stepped forward from the crowd, letting out a loud, mocking bark of laughter.

"Manager, don't waste your breath!" Chad shouted, flashing his gold watch for everyone to see.

"I know this guy. He washes dishes at the campus diner and lives on a basic scholarship!"

Miranda nodded, looking at Nicholas with a mixture of pity and annoyance. "Just leave, Nicholas."

"You already caused enough trouble today," Miranda added. "Don't ruin your life completely over a lie."

The crowd chuckled loudly, entirely convinced that Nicholas was about to be arrested and ruined.

The clerk smirked triumphantly, leaning against the counter. "See? I told you he's a fraud."

The manager sighed, waving his hand toward the store entrance as two burly security guards arrived.

"Sir, I must ask you to show proof of funds immediately," the manager commanded sternly.

"If you cannot pay, my guards will escort you outside and hand you over to the campus police."

Nicholas didn't say a single word to Chad, Miranda, or the whispering crowd around him.

His expression remained an unreadable mask of absolute calm as he reached into his pocket.

He pulled out his standard, sleek black debit card—the one now linked directly to his system account.

He stepped closer to the payment counter, his movements completely steady and completely natural.

"Run the card," Nicholas said simply, his voice cutting through the murmurs of the entire room.

The clerk snickered, aggressively snatching the card from Nicholas's fingers and sliding it into the machine.

"With pleasure, big spender," the clerk mocked, his fingers quickly typing in the massive $5,000 total.

Miranda held her breath, her eyes wide as she waited for the final, humiliating blow to land.

Chad pulled out his phone, aiming the camera directly at Nicholas's face to capture his despair.

The entire room fell into a dead, suffocating silence as the small payment screen began to process.

The clerk kept his eyes glued to the monitor, a nasty, expectant smirk plastered across his face.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for the inevitable, bright red decline notification to flash on the screen.