[The First Scenario 'New Money Curse' has been unlocked!]
[New Quest Unlocked.]
[Spend one hundred billion dollars within 12 hours!]
[Rewards: ???]
[Penalty for Refusal: System Deactivation. Refusal Not Allowed Before Level 10.]
Selene stared at the glowing text hovering before her. Has she really lost her mind or is it the system? How can someone spend one hundred BILLION dollars that fast?!
"Is this even real…" Selene murmured, placing a hand on her head. There was no fever.
With that, she hurriedly rushed to the nearest department store. Grabbed a bag of tomato chips and placed them on the counter.
"Selene. No." The cashier immediately refused, "You are not getting anything unless you settle the old bills!"
Even though Matthew had always helped Selene because she was beautiful, he could no longer continue that given her situation. What if she is never able to pay him back? What if she runs away?
It was obvious that her rich father had stopped caring a long time ago. And everyone in the city knew that.
Selene smiled awkwardly and asked the system in her mind.
'How do I make any payment?'
The response was instant.
[System Alert: Analyzing the current world's payment infrastructure…]
[New Update Installed!]
Selene's phone vibrated violently.
She instinctively opened it and saw the screen flash gold before a new app materialized on her home screen—its logo was a grinning emoji with dollar eyes.
[Congratulations, host! The InstaPay app has been successfully installed on your device! You can now make all payments directly through InstaPay. It will function just like the world's existing payment apps but with superior billionaire-grade efficiency!]
Matthew scowled, "Selene, you are just standing there! Just leave if you're here to beg."
Selene let out a startled laugh.
Then, she opened the app and scanned the payment code at the counter. Matthew rolled his eyes with a bitter expression.
Beep.
A small digital receipt rolled out.
Transaction Complete.
Four point nine nine dollars deducted.
The balance on the system screen adjusted like liquid gold, flowing down in real-time.
Selene's stomach clenched. It was real.
A slow, almost giddy feeling crept into her chest. She could buy anything.
And that meant—
The vet.
She bolted out of the store, knocking over a cardboard cutout of a grinning insurance mascot holding a dollar sign.
Matthew raised an unimpressed eyebrow, shaking his head, "What a pathetic girl, looking so happy because of chips."
Selene ran to the Welfare Veterinary Clinic. After running for three minutes, she remembered she now had money and instantly hailed a cab.
At We Care Veterinary Hospital, an uncaring vet stood over a stainless steel table, staring lazily at a frail, black kitten barely the size of his palm.
The kitten's tiny chest rose and fell weakly, its life hanging by a fragile thread.
The technician prepared the syringe, sighing, "We should be quick. This poor kid doesn't have a chance."
Just then, the doors slammed open.
"STOP! DON'T KILL HIM!"
The entire room froze as Selene burst inside, her breath ragged, her hair wild from running up the stairs.
The vet frowned. "Miss Sinclair? You have no money. Euthanasia is the only way to save this kitten now."
"I can pay for the surgery now!" Selene grinned, marched forward, and quickly rushed to the counter. The receptionist eyed her suspiciously and repeated in an annoyed voice.
"It will be a total of twenty-seven thousand and five hundred dollars, miss."
"I know," Selene whispered.
Three months ago, she adopted a newborn kitten on the verge of death. Selene thought she had saved him, but then more complications arose. In the end, there was no other way aside from a surgery she could never afford.
Twenty-seven thousand dollars.
Once, that number was an impossible mountain—her salary was barely peanuts. Her father refused to believe she wanted the money for a kitten. Selene had no one to help. And the kitten only had days. Now?
She clicked 'Pay Now' without hesitation.
Beep!
Transaction Complete.
Fifty thousand dollars deducted!
The vet choked on her saliva. "W-What?"
"Save her." Selene went over to the tiny, barely breathing kitten and kissed its forehead softly. "Please."
The kitten's tiny paws twitched. Its tail gave the faintest flick.
After getting so much money, the hospital staff wasted not a single moment to prepare for the emergency surgery. Some stared at Selene in disbelief, some murmured.
"Is the Sinclair daughter taken back into her family?"
"No way! She must have begged them for money."
"What a loser… she must have done something serious to be thrown out of the family.
Selene turned away from the kitten before her heart could break again. There was no time to waste. She had a lot of money to spend and not enough time.
[Quest: Spend one hundred billion dollars within 12 hours!]
[Time Remaining: 11 Hours and 29 Minutes]
As soon as Selene stepped out of the hospital, her phone buzzed loudly. It was another incoming call from debt collectors… and thinking of them, Selene's expression instantly soured.
She was drowning in debt. Student loans. Missed rents. Credit card bills. One thing after another kept going wrong, and she never had her account balance in the positive.
Now, with a hopeful smile, Selene instantly paid all her debts!
Ding!
'Transaction Complete! Two Hundred Dollars Paid for Students Loans!'
Ding!
'Two Million Dollars Paid to Loan Sharks!'
Ding!
'Five thousand dollars paid to the Landlord!'
Ding!
'Ten thousand dollars paid to We Care Credit Card Services!'
[Ding! 2 Star Coins Received!]
All of the transactions were instantly completed as Selene drove in an NUber Elite cab to the richest neighbourhood of the city. The driver narrowed his eyes at her in disgust because of her clothes. But he had no objections once she offered him a hefty tip!
And soon, they arrived at Crystal Avenue—a luxury residential building owned by the Sinclair Group. There was a penthouse on the highest floor. Not just any penthouse. Her mother's old home—the one Bianca convinced her father to sell, erasing every trace of her mother's existence.
It was still on the market. And it was expensive—obscenely so. Fifty million dollars for a modest penthouse. So expensive only because the former Sinclair Lady once lived there.
Good thing Selene had money to burn.
She stormed through the crystal doors.
The moment she stepped inside, Selene collided with some and fell hard on the ground. Her butt hurt as she stared ahead—at a massive man with a cruel smile.
"Well, well, well," William, her father's brother and her uncle, drawled sweetly, "If this isn't the disowned heiress. What are you doing here? Applying for another janitor job?"
"Fuck off, William," Selene said through gritted teeth as she got up.
But her uncle only laughed.
"Do you really think daddy's connection will get you a job here? I heard what happened at the bar—good luck getting another job now, Selene."
Selene coldly glared at him.
She wanted to ignore her uncle but unfortunately, he was the owner of the building. If William was not there it might have been much easier to buy the penthouse.
"I am here to purchase Mom's penthouse," she announced firmly.
If she had money, he wouldn't refuse, right? Selene could always just pay him more.
William blinked. Then… he laughed. It was a sound so loud that everyone in the lobby started looking at them. Some recognized Selene and snickered.
"Oh, dear," William said, still grinning, "That's adorable."
And then, he quietly stepped past her. Tipped his cup of coffee—and the burning liquid splashed onto Selene's blouse.
She flinched and instantly stepped back.
"ARE YOU CRAZY—!"
But William only smirked, "You should watch where you're going. Now, get lost before I call the security."
Selene clenched her fists, "I am really here to buy the penthouse!"
Without waiting for him to mock her further, she stormed to the reception and instantly scanned the payment code.
Beep!
Transaction complete.
Fifty million dollars have been deducted!
Ding!
[50 Star Coins Received!]
William froze. Then, his entire face changed.
He immediately rushed to the counter to ensure if the payment was legit—of course, it was. Selene smiled as she watched his confusion turn into shock.
"Can we start the paperwork now?" she asked.
William's jaw clenched. Then, ever so casually, he folded his hands and scoffed.
"You can't fool me. This money must be stolen. No one but your father can give you this much amount—and I know he would not. You're not getting anything here before his approval."
Selene frowned. "Wait—"
"Get lost. The money will stay here," William said with a smirk. "And I will have the entire situation investigated. Either way, forget getting anything in this place as long as I am alive."
Selene was at a loss for words.
Why was her uncle being so mean? She was never close to her extended family—but she never had any conflict with them either. Was this all because of her mother? But then—
She quickly pushed those thoughts away.
And smiled innocently.
"You see, uncle. The money is not mine. I have met a secret billionaire—someone who can even buy Sinclair Group. He wanted the penthouse here… but now that you have refused, I will let him know."
William's smile faded.
Someone even richer than the Sinclairs? In Atlantis? That shouldn't be possible.
But he had also seen the transaction happen. It was real… then—
A trickle of sweat trailed down his forehead.
Selene calmly walked out of the building. Even though she was burning up with anger. How dare that old bastard hold grudges against a teen?
Selene was nineteen.
And the last time she had properly met her uncle was when she was a kid.
"They are all just stupid," she grumbled under her breath.
But as she remembered the look on William's face, Selene couldn't help but smile.
There were only three things the rich feared. Tax audits. Their children embarrassing them at charity galas. Even richer people.
And Selene was about to show everyone what rich meant.