My Reputation System Makes Me Rich

Chapter 2: Twenty Billion in the Bank

This morning, Alex proved that he was still sane and that the twenty billion wasn't a poison, but rather his first weapon. Nothing was destroyed by arrogance; instead, he was ready to destroy those who had been trampling on his dignity all this time.

"Lex, Alex. Wake up!" a panicked voice buzzed in Alex's ears.

Alex slowly opened his eyes. The piercing sunlight made his head throb. He saw the face of Sammy, a coworker, looking at him anxiously. "Thank goodness you're still alive. I've been looking everywhere for you. This alley is completely deserted." Sammy caught his breath.

"Sam, how long was I out?" Alex asked while trying to sit up. His ribs felt like they were being pierced by dozens of needles.

"Since last night. None of the market vendors dared to come close because Damon's men were guarding the front of the alley until midnight."

"How is Mr. David doing?" Alex asked, grabbing the collar of Sammy's shirt, ignoring the pain in his own body.

"That's the problem, Lex. Mr. David is in the hospital. He's in critical condition; his head was split open after being slapped and hitting a concrete pillar."

"Sam, take me there right now," Alex demanded.

"Are you crazy? Your body is badly injured!"

"Sam, take me there," Alex snapped.

Eventually, Sammy supported Alex as they walked to his old motorcycle. Along the way, Alex kept wondering if last night's events were just a dream. Was the blue light merely an hallucination? A soft, unfamiliar whisper that usually calmed his mind didn't appear; instead, it was replaced by a stark realization reminding him that the money was already secure in his bank account.

Now, Alex was at the hospital, forcing himself to walk through the pain toward the administration desk. "Nurse, how is the patient named David from the Greenwood market doing?" Alex asked, leaning his hands on the desk.

The nurse behind the desk looked Alex up and down. She stared cynically at Alex's shabby t-shirt, which was stained with dried blood.

"Are you family?" the nurse asked.

"I am the one responsible for him," Alex replied.

"The patient needs surgery immediately due to swelling in his temple, but he also has arrears for his asthma treatment from last month, plus the emergency room deposit from last night. The total is thirty-five million Rupiah. Are you sure you want to take responsibility?"

"Thirty-five million?" Alex repeated.

"Yes, do you market people even have that much money? If there isn't a minimum deposit of ten million, we'll be forced to move the patient to the general ward. The specialist surgeon won't intervene until the administration is settled."

Alex clenched his fists tightly. "Don't move him. Keep him in the VIP room."

The nurse chuckled softly. "VIP room? The cost is two million a day. Don't make a scene in the hospital; you're better off calling your bosses at the market to chip in. I'll give you one hour before the room is transferred to another patient."

"Just print the bill and give me this hospital's account number," Alex replied quickly.

The nurse fell silent, slightly taken aback by the young man's gaze. She roughly pulled a printed bill and handed it over. "Here. The payment machine is on the ground floor by the pharmacy. Don't try to cheat our system, it will instantly show whether the money has come in or not."

"Thank you." Alex immediately turned his back on the nurse.

"Lang, where are you going?" Sammy asked, chasing after Alex's limping steps. "We don't have that much. Even if we pool the donations from the market guys, it won't even reach a million."

"Sam, wait here. Keep watch at the ER and don't let anyone move Mr. David," Alex instructed as he left a bewildered Sammy behind.

Alex stood at the quiet payment machine, his hands trembling slightly as he inserted his bank card. A card that usually only held the meager remainder of his weekly wages as a rice porter.

"Let's prove whether you're real or just a deadly joke," Alex muttered softly.

Alex typed his PIN on the screen, which then displayed the main menu. His index finger moved hesitantly toward the check balance button. The machine processed for what felt like a very long few seconds. Then, a string of numbers appeared, filling the blue screen. Rp. 20,000,000,035,000.

Alex held his breath, his eyes widening as he brought his face closer to the screen. He counted the string of numbers displayed over and over again. There was no mistake; the twenty billion balance was really there.

"This—this is real. I hold money in my hands." A faint smile slowly spread across the corners of his lips.

Unwilling to waste any time, Alex immediately accessed the transfer menu. He entered the hospital's account number, then typed in the amount of thirty-five million Rupiah without hesitation. A small receipt popped out of the machine after the transaction was declared successful. The whirring sound of the machine felt like the most beautiful sound he had ever heard. He took the small slip of paper and crumpled it softly. Now, he was no longer a poor, helpless porter.

Alex returned to the third floor with his chest puffed out. He walked straight to the administration desk and placed the receipt right in front of the nurse. "Please check it."

The nurse took the paper Alex handed her. Her eyes immediately widened seeing the bill paid in full without any installments.

"This is from your account?" the nurse asked, looking at Alex with a completely different gaze.

"Has your system registered the incoming money?" Alex asked, ignoring the foolish question.

The nurse suddenly turned pale as she saw that Mr. David's bill had been fully settled. "Y-yes. Everything is paid in full, and the VIP deposit has also gone through." The nurse suddenly became very polite. "I apologize if my words earlier were offensive."

"Prepare the best room and call the best surgeon you have," Alex demanded with a cold stare.

"Right away, we will handle the transfer immediately. Is there anything else we can help you with?"

"I want to make sure no one from the developers or loan sharks comes anywhere near his room. If there's any commotion, call security immediately or contact me."

"Yes, we will keep him safe here."

Sammy, who had been standing behind Alex the whole time, could only gape in disbelief. His mouth was wide open, nearly dropping the plastic bag in his hand.

"Lex, which bank did you just rob?" Sammy asked, terrified.

Alex merely gave a faint smile and patted his friend's shoulder. "Please watch over Mr. David for a bit, Sam. His surgery will start soon."

"Where are you going now?"

"I have some unfinished business to take care of. It's time to deal with the bastards at the market." Alex stared straight toward the hospital exit.

The quiet hospital corridor suddenly grew noisy with the sound of boots stomping aggressively. Damon and his two lackeys strode arrogantly toward the administration desk, intending to drag Mr. David out if the old man refused to surrender his place as debt settlement. The nurse on duty immediately trembled in fear as Damon violently slammed his hands on the registration desk.

"What room is that old geezer David being treated in?" Damon asked impatiently.

The nurse swallowed hard, then looked at the computer screen. "B-but his bill was just paid in full."

Damon instantly grabbed the nurse's collar, his face full of rage and disbelief. "Are you trying to make a fool out of me? Which poor beggar dared to interfere and pay off that old man's debt?