SPEND OR DIE: THE GOURMET WEALTH SYSTEM

Chapter 3:Rebirth.

Killan jolted up panting hard, the dream had felt all too real. He looked down at his left wrist, it wasn’t bleeding out, he wasn’t sitting in the pool of his own blood. He let out a breath of relief, that end in the dream was too scary,

Only that something of it resonates, he was lying on an old mattress in a small room, the tiny apartment he rented after Martha sold their house.

A loud buzzing noise filled Killian’s ears and he looked up only to see a small screen appear before his eyes. A green ink showed up on the screen and he strained his eyes to see the wording. The system suddenly enlarged and the ink became bolder.

[Welcome Back Killan Quinn]

Killan’s heartbeat skipped twice, he thought desperately on what it could be, before he could even get to question it, the answer appeared.

[I am an ancient gourmet wealth system]

[You made a pact with me]

[You have to fulfill my obligations]

Killan was dumbfounded! He never remembered making a pact with any human nor a machine. He looked round the apartment building and a small rat rushed towards the room exit door, realization suddenly struck him, it was not merely a dream, he had actually committed sucide.

Martha’s betrayal, loosing his job, Henry stealing his recipe and blacklisting him in the culinary world, they were all as real as his determination for revenge, suddenly it didn’t feel so strange to make a pact with a fucking ancient system only that he wasn’t willing to bend to the system’s demands.

“Did I ask you to save me?” Killan yelled hoping the system could hear his voice.

[Arrogance]

Killian felt his body suddenly grow cold, he was back in the pool of his own blood, his wrist was cut open. His life was hanging by a thread, he was dying, he was in pain and he felt it again, the urge to be saved.

Then it happened again, he woke up on the exact same spot, panting hard, no silted wrist, no pool of blood, just emptiness,the loud buzzing sound and the system appeared again.

[Welcome Back Killan Quinn]

[You made a pact with me again]

[Your First Revenge Mission awaits, refusal means death, if you accept press the green button below and if you refuse, press the red button]

Killian knew death was scary now, revenge wasn’t, not anymore. His life and death sorely lies in the hands of the ancient system, despite not to his liking. He reluctantly reaches his hand forward and clicks the green button.

Suddenly, he felt dizzy and the room tumbled in his vision. He went down on his knees and the system went off. Killan lost consciousness, but this time, he didn’t die. He woke up an hour later and the system resurfaced with its first demand,

To give him ancient recipes of legendary dishes forgotten in history, in exchange for spending a certain amount of money handed to him within a specific time limit.

The mission sounded simple enough until the last clause was written.

[Failure to spend money totally, punishable by death]

Killan laughed hysterically, he was cheated by the world because of poverty, if having to spend money to avoid death was the deal, he was ready to become the world’s most crazy spender.

✿ ✿ ✿✿ ✿ ✿✿ ✿ ✿✿ ✿ ✿✿ ✿ ✿✿ ✿ ✿✿ ✿ ✿✿ ✿ ✿

Henry kisses Martha on the cheek as they walk into the Longrich Hotel, a top tier hotel only permissible to the country’s president, top government officials, business executives and wealthy donors.

The inauguration ceremony of his win was lobbied by his father, he could have quietly started his duty at the blue house without much noise but his family needed that fame so his father bribed the chief of staff to persuade the president, hence, the celebration.

Martha’s eyes roamed the entrance to the hall, her slightly trimmed nails bit slightly into Henry’s flesh, he noticed her unease and gave her a reassuring smile. She still feels inadequate towards Henry’s family who obviously only accepted her because of the value she had offered their son.

“Here comes the star of the day.” The commentator’s voice echoed through the room as the couples walked in.

Applause reigned in the air as they made their way to the VIP seat right beside Henry’s father. Dignitaries from all walks of life were present at the occasion but Henry still felt dissatisfied, the country’s president had not attended, perhaps he wasn’t important enough to prompt his attendance, he vowed to himself, the next time the world gathers on his behalf, he would be sitting right beside the president.

“Are you okay?” Martha whispered, sensing his mood shift.

“Yes babe, I am fine.” He gently squeezed her hand.

The merriment in the room intensified, not only were they celebrating Henry’s position as the Blue House top Chef, Infact, that was the secondary purpose of the show, his father had lobbied that part, Longrich Hotel was celebrating its twenty- first anniversary.

The CEO of the hotel was an acquaintance to Mr Calvary, Henry’s father. The goal was to merge their families influence by establishing an avenue for a possible contract marriage between one of Henry’s sisters and his son.

Henry’s eyes swept through the room again. He smiled happily to himself, finally, his name was going to appear in the country’s media spotlight for the next few weeks, the internet was going to explode with his praises, Longrich Hotel was the best ally anyone could hope for and now, he had them right in his corner.

The commentator took to the stage once again and grabbed the microphone, the background music reduced and his voice echoed through the air.

“This has really been so amazing, fortunately, I am obliged to announce the presence of one of Longrich’s latest investors, a man of integrity. Despite being behind schedule, he came with special bounties, Infact, all the meals for this very occasion were sponsored by him.”

Gasps filled the air, people murmured in surprise and excitement. Feeding over a hundred wealthy people isn’t possible for an average person.

“Please join me as I welcome to the party,”

The entrance door opened and a tall man in white suit walked in.

“….Mr Killian Quinn, please come over to the high table.”

He pointed towards a chair right beside the CEO of Longrich Hotel. Two of the event ushers rushed towards Killan’s direction.Henry got up on his seat, with every powerful step Killan took, his jaw dropped open.

It can’t be!