The Indomitable Klaus Whitlock

CHAPTER 10

Klaus followed him, brushing a hand through his disheveled hair. His fingers caught on knots, reminding him just how much he had let himself go. His beard was overgrown, his clothes slightly wrinkled from days of wear. He probably did look like a beggar.

Behind them, two employees near the counter exchanged glances.

"Does Steve not realize that man is a beggar?" a female attendant muttered under her breath. She folded her arms, watching them disappear into the grooming section. "He acts like this boutique is his entire world, always showing off what he knows."

Another attendant, a male, scoffed. "He thinks he’s better than us just because he won Employee of the Year last year. I really hope he gets into trouble this time."

The two chuckled quietly, glancing toward the entrance, where their supervisor, Mr. Jonathan, was due to arrive at any moment.

"If the supervisor catches him wasting time on someone who clearly can’t afford anything, he’s done for," one of them whispered.

They weren’t just irritated by Steve’s enthusiasm—they were jealous. He was always cheerful, always helpful, even when he didn't get tips. Seeing him humiliated would be satisfying.

Meanwhile, Klaus settled into the barber's chair. The buzzing of clippers filled the air, and strands of dark hair tumbled to the floor. Steve worked with precision, his focus unwavering.

By the time he was finished, Klaus barely recognized himself. He looked younger, sharper. He ran a hand along his freshly trimmed beard and smirked. It was incredible what a simple grooming session could do.

"Now, let’s pick out some clothes, shall we?" Klaus said casually.

Steve blinked, momentarily dazed, before nodding. "Oh—yes, of course!"

As Klaus stepped out of the salon area, a few women passing by turned their heads. One of them, a blonde in a fitted dress, visibly slowed her pace, her gaze lingering.

Klaus, amused, met her eyes and winked. She quickly averted her gaze, but not before a blush crept up her cheeks.

Steve coughed into his fist, regaining composure. "Right this way, sir."

Klaus moved through the boutique, selecting items with swift precision. He chose a crisp white shirt, a tailored black blazer, and a pair of polished dress shoes. Steve held up a few more options, but Klaus barely hesitated before nodding in approval.

When it was time to pay, Steve retrieved a receipt booklet and a calculator, tallying up the total.

"The total comes to $200,000," Steve announced.

Klaus raised an eyebrow, pulling out his wallet. "Do you accept cards?" He debated spending more, just for the hell of it. The thought made him chuckle internally.

"Certainly! One moment," Steve replied, moving to retrieve the card reader from the staff drawer.

At that moment, the boutique’s glass doors swung open, and in strode their supervisor, Mr. Jonathan. He was a middle-aged man with a sharp suit, a well-groomed mustache, and an air of self-importance. His eyes immediately locked onto Steve and the man he was assisting.

Jonathan’s expression darkened. He signaled Steve over, his posture rigid.

"Steve, you should know better than to waste your time on people who don’t matter," Jonathan began sharply. His voice was loud enough for other customers to hear, drawing some glances. "That man clearly can’t afford these clothes! And I see you even gave him a fresh haircut? If he doesn’t pay for everything, consider your position here in jeopardy!"

Steve stiffened but kept his expression neutral.

Klaus, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.

"Excuse me," he said, his voice calm but firm. "I’m the customer Steve is assisting. Would you mind letting him do his job? I’m in a hurry."

Jonathan scoffed. "Absolutely not! Return the items you’re pretending to buy and leave. People like you don’t belong here."

Klaus exhaled sharply, amused. "Oh? Is that so?"

"Yes! Now get out!" Jonathan snapped, his voice rising. He didn't know why but something about this particular customer irritated him, the confidence he had, the grace in his steps, it was a slap in his face.

"I will get security to throw you out!" Jonathan fumed, his chubby body vibrating like a bumble bee as he called for guards to quickly come and throw him out, the sight of Klaus still standing there confidentially was provoking to his person.

At that moment, Klaus felt something shift—like the fabric of reality itself bending. A small notification flashed in his vision.

[Luck Infuse?]

[Yes] [No]

His Luck Stat: 1000pts.

A smirk played on his lips. He selected [Yes].

[-500pts deducted.]

For a brief moment, his eyes flickered with a soft purple glow. An almost imperceptible wave of energy pulsed through the air. Then, his phone vibrated.

He pulled out his sleek, purple-cased device and answered.

"Hello, is this Mr. Klaus Whitlock?"

"Uh… yes, speaking."

"Congratulations! You are now the proud owner of Thera Supermarket and Hotel Suites. Mr. Holiday, the previous owner, has finalized the sale for $100 million."

Klaus stared blankly at the wall. "Wait—what?"

The line went dead before he could ask anything else. More notifications flooded his screen.

[User has acquired Thera Supermarket and Suites. Congratulations! ]

[Luck infusion was successful. $100,000,000 has been deducted from your account.]

[System Balance: $6,000,000.]

Klaus let out a slow breath, realization sinking in.

He hadn’t just changed his fortune.

He had rewritten reality.