The Gaming Master

Chapter 4: Klaus’s POV

For the first time in what felt like forever, I had hope.

The system was real. It had acknowledged me.

My heart pounded in my chest as I stared at the glowing message. [GET READY FOR YOUR FIRST MISSION.] But after a few seconds, the message flickered and vanished. I waited, expecting something more—a new power, an ability, anything. But nothing happened. 

The hope I had felt moments ago began to fade.

I clenched my fists and sighed, pushing down the disappointment. Maybe the system needed time to activate? Or maybe I was just getting ahead of myself. Either way, I had no choice but to go on with my daily routine. 

My mind shifted back to how I had to run errands, do assignments and not to even mention the smug grin that was usually on Celine's face the moment I went to get her books to do her assignments. 

Dragging my tired body forward, I entered the school grounds. My uniform was still slightly damp from the previous night’s storm, and my leg ached with every step. I haven't had enough uniform to change into. So I had to dry clean the one from the previous night if possible but most of the night, I was always tired and worn out. 

I even barely had time to keep up with my daily shifts. My boss complained severely before I was kicked out. 

The moment I walked past the front gate, my heart sank.

Felix, Celine, and their usual entourage stood in a semi-circle near the main building. The smirk on Felix’s face was even more condescending than usual.

“Oh look, it’s our favorite errand boy,” Felix sneered, crossing his arms.

I didn’t respond.

Felix walked towards me and threw his hands around my neck dragging to the centre of the group. I looked around and I could see the gazes of the student fixed on us. 

“ I would have opted out if I were him. He is just way beneath us.” 

“ Look at him, he is not even worth it. I bet I could even hire him as my personal maid.” 

“ My maid is better off than him.” 

I could hear their vicious words but I am less concerned. My heart was in pain and I cared less about what anyone thinks of me. 

Celine giggled. “Klaus, why do you look like a drowned rat? Didn’t you dry off from last night?”

Their laughter grated against my nerves, but I bit my tongue. There was no point in fighting back—not when I knew how it would end.

Felix stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with something sinister. “I actually have some news for you, Klaus. Something that might just ruin your whole day.”

I swallowed hard, dreading whatever was about to come out of his mouth. My gaze was fixed on his lips as I tried to hear whatever he had to say. 

Felix pulled a folded paper from his pocket and held it up dramatically before tossing it at my feet.

“Congratulations,” he said mockingly. “You’re officially a nobody.”

My heart beat just rose up by what he had said. 

What does he mean that I am a nobody? 

I stared at the paper for a long moment before forcing my hands to move. My fingers trembled as I picked it up and unfolded it. My eyes scanned the words printed in bold at the top.

[ NOTICE OF SCHOLARSHIP WITHDRAWAL ]

My breath hitched. No. No, no, no.

My vision blurred as I read through the document. My scholarship had been revoked. The one thing keeping me in this prestigious university—the only thing that made all the suffering worth it—was gone.

Due to my plummeting academic performance, I had officially lost my funding.

My hands shook as my chest tightened painfully.

The ground beneath me felt like it was shifting. My world, already fragile, was crumbling right before my eyes.

I felt my knees give way.

A cruel laugh rang out from above me. “Oops. Guess you should’ve worked harder, huh?” Felix taunted. “What a shame. No more free ride for the loser.”

I wanted to scream. I wanted to punch him, to make him feel just a fraction of the humiliation and despair I felt at that moment. But my body wouldn’t move. My mind was a storm of helplessness and fury.

Then—

[ DING! ]

A blue screen flashed before my eyes.

> [SYSTEM NEW MISSION: SPEND $2,000,000 IN A WEEK TO UNLOCK NEXT MISSION.]

I blinked.

I read it again.

Spend $2,000,000?

My brain struggled to understand the absurdity of the task. I didn’t even have two dollars to my name, let alone two million. Was this some kind of twisted joke? Was the system mocking me in my lowest moment?

I let out a bitter laugh. “Yeah, sure. Why not? Maybe I should just rob a bank while I’m at it.”

Felix raised an eyebrow. “What was that, Klaus? Talking to yourself now? Wow, losing your scholarship must’ve fried your brain.”

Celine smirked. “Maybe he finally realized how useless he is.”

Their words barely registered. My mind was still processing the impossible mission the system had given me.

Then, another notification appeared.

[ DING! ]

A small white envelope appeared on my phone making me wonders what it was.

> [SYSTEM BANK ACCOUNT ACTIVATED: BALANCE - $2,000,000.]

I froze.

For a full ten seconds, I couldn’t breathe.

Then, a rush of adrenaline surged through me. My fingers tightened around my phone as my heart pounded wildly in my chest.

I had money. Real money.

Two million dollars.

Was this even possible? Could I actually use it?

I needed to test it. I needed to spend it.

A slow grin crept onto my face for the first time in forever. I looked up, straight at Felix, who was still smirking down at me, oblivious to what had just happened.

Felix thought he had won.

But he had no idea.

The game had just begun.