Zero to Trillionaire: The Scholar’s God-Tier System

I’ll Buy the Store

Elena was still screaming for security, her face turning a nasty shade of red. She looked like she was about to pop a vein. The other two salesgirls were standing behind her, whispering and pointing at my old sneakers like they were toxic waste. In the back, Silas Thorne didn't even turn around. He just kept adjusting his silver tie in the mirror, looking bored as if a fly was buzzing in the room.

"Where is security?!" Elena barked, slamming her hand on the marble counter. "I want this trash out of the store right now!"

I didn't blink. I didn't even look at her. I just tapped the screen on my phone and hit the call button for the top contact in my list. It picked up on the first ring.

"Mr. Wang," I said. My voice was low, but in that quiet, frozen store, it sounded like a gunshot.

On the other end, the man’s voice sounded like he’d just run a marathon. "Mr. Vance! Yes! I was just about to call you. I heard you were in the Diamond District. Is everything okay? Is the service to your liking?"

"I'm at L’Eclat," I said, looking Elena right in her angry eyes. "A woman named Elena just told me my life isn't worth the sleeve of a silk shirt. She’s calling security to have me dragged out because I’m ruining the vibe for Mr. Thorne. I don't like the vibe here anymore, Mr. Wang. Fix it."

I didn't wait for him to answer. I just hung up and put the phone back in my pocket.

Elena burst out laughing. It was a loud, ugly sound that echoed off the crystal chandeliers. "Mr. Wang? You’re pretending to talk to the CEO of the Mall Group? Are you insane? Do you think we’re stupid?"

The other girls joined in. "He’s a good actor, I’ll give him that," one of them mocked. "Maybe he can get a job as a clown after he gets kicked out of school."

Even Silas Thorne finally turned around. He looked at me with a thin, judgmental smile. "Young man, lying only makes your situation more pathetic. Mr. Wang doesn't take calls from students. He doesn't even take calls from most millionaires. You should have just walked out when you had the chance. Now, you’ve made a fool of yourself in front of me."

"I wasn't lying," I said. I crossed my arms and leaned against a pillar. "And I’m not leaving."

"That’s it!" Elena grabbed the landline on the desk. "I'm calling the police. You’re not just trespassing now; you’re harassing our guests."

But before she could dial the first number, the store’s phone started ringing. It wasn't the normal ring. It was a loud, aggressive buzzing sound—the emergency line that only the corporate office used.

Elena froze. Her hand stayed on the receiver. She looked at the flashing red light on the phone, and for the first time, her smirk wavered. She picked it up slowly.

"L-L’Eclat, this is Elena..."

She went silent. I watched her face. It was like watching a ghost appear in real-time. The red in her cheeks drained away, leaving her skin a sickly, chalky white. Her jaw literally dropped open.

"But... but sir... he’s just a kid in a hoodie... I didn't... Yes, sir. No, sir! Please! I didn't know he was—"

The person on the other end must have been screaming, because I could hear the muffled yelling from three feet away. Elena started shaking. Her knees actually knocked together. She looked like she was about to faint right onto the marble floor.

"Yes... I understand," she whispered. The phone slipped out of her hand and hit the desk with a heavy clack.

She looked up at me. Her eyes were huge, vibrating with pure terror. She tried to say something, but her throat seemed to be stuck.

"What happened, Elena?" I asked, tilting my head. "Did Mr. Wang have some news?"

Silas Thorne frowned, stepping forward. "What is the meaning of this? Elena, finish the call and get this boy out of here."

Elena didn't even look at him. She walked around the counter, her legs wobbling like they were made of jelly. She stopped two feet away from me and did something that made the whole room go dead silent.

She bowed. She bowed so low her forehead almost hit the floor.

"Mr. Vance... please... I am so, so sorry," she sobbed. Her voice was trembling. "I didn't know. I was just... I was being stupid. Please tell Mr. Wang not to fire me. I have kids. I have a car payment. I have a mortgage. I’ll do anything! I’ll give you the suit for free! Just please!"

The other two salesgirls looked like they’d been turned to stone. They stood there with their mouths open, staring at their boss crying at the feet of a guy in a stained hoodie.

Suddenly, the back office door flew open. A man in a very expensive black suit came sprinting out, his tie flying over his shoulder. It was the store manager. He was sweating so much his hair was sticking to his forehead. He didn't even glance at Silas Thorne. He ran straight to me and bowed even lower than Elena.

"Mr. Vance! I am the manager, John! I am deeply, deeply sorry for this insult!" he panted. "The CEO just called. He was furious! As of this moment, the ownership of L’Eclat has been transferred. You are the sole owner of this boutique. All the staff, the inventory, the building... it all belongs to you."

Silas Thorne’s espresso cup fell from his hand. It hit the floor and shattered, brown liquid splashing all over his $5,000 shoes. He didn't even notice. He was staring at me like I had just grown a second head.

"He... he bought the store?" Silas stammered. "That’s impossible. This boutique is worth millions. He’s a student!"

I looked at Silas. "I told you, Mr. Thorne. You shouldn't worry about my bank account. You should worry about your own."

Then I turned my gaze to Elena, who was still on her knees, crying and shaking.

"You told me your shirt cost more than my life," I said. My voice was cold. No big words, just facts. "You told me to go to a thrift store. You said I ruined the vibe of your shop."

"I was wrong! I was so wrong!" she wailed.

"You were," I agreed. "And since I own the shop now, I think the vibe needs to change. You’re fired. All three of you."

The other two girls started crying then, too. "But we didn't say anything! It was Elena!"

"You laughed," I said, looking at them. "That’s enough for me. Get your things and get out. Now."

The manager, john, snapped his fingers at the security guards who had finally arrived. "You heard the Boss! Escort them out! And make sure they don't take a single thread with them!"

I watched as the three girls were led out the door, crying and begging. The Diamond District shoppers outside stopped to watch, whispering as the elite salesgirls were kicked out like common thieves.

I turned back to Silas Thorne. He was standing there, looking smaller than he did ten minutes ago.

"Mr. Thorne," I said. "I believe your fitting is over. I don't like having people in my store who call me a beggar. Manager, show Mr. Thorne to the door. And tell him he’s no longer welcome at L’Eclat or any other shop owned by the Vance Group."

Silas opened his mouth to argue, his face turning a deep purple. But he looked at the manager, then at me, and realized he had no power here. He had just been kicked out of a store by a kid he’d mocked five minutes ago. He turned around and walked out, his head down, looking like he’d aged ten years.

[Ding! Mission Complete: The Shopping Face-Slap.]

[Reward: 10% Ownership of the Diamond Mall has been registered in your name.]

[Reward: 'Business Tycoon' Knowledge transmitted.]

Suddenly, my brain felt like it was expanding. I understood markets, real estate, and how to crush a company with one phone call. I knew the value of every building in this district.

I looked at the manager. "I still need a suit for the Gala. Close the store. I want a private session."

"Right away, Mr. Vance!" he shouted, rushing to lock the front doors.

I sat down in the velvet chair where Silas had been sitting. I felt the soft fabric against my hoodie. I wasn't the Scholar-Pauper anymore. I was the man who owned the room. And the Gala was just a few hours away.

Bryan Montgomery and Chloe were waiting for me there. They thought they were going to see the loser Ethan Vance one last time.

They had no idea what was coming for them.