Chapter 3: "A Bucket of 19,000 Coins."

Drake's world was turned upside down by the revelation of the Tribute System and the unimaginable wealth it held. The shock of seeing the astronomical balance of 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 coins overwhelmed him, causing him to lose consciousness.

Hours passed, and Drake slowly stirred back to awareness, his head throbbing from the earlier hangover.

“What the heck was that? A dream?” he wondered, still dazed. “It must be a dream.”

It was only when the shrill ringing of his phone pierced the silence that Drake jolted fully awake. He fumbled for the device, his heart pounding as he answered it.

"Drake Chwe!" The voice on the other end was harsh and unforgiving. "Do you have any idea what time it is? You were supposed to be at work hours ago!"

It was Marcus Lee.

Panic surged through Drake as he glanced at the clock. It was 1 in the afternoon, far past his usual starting time.

"I-I'm so sorry, Manager Lee," Drake stammered, his voice filled with desperation. "I must have overslept. It won't happen again, I promise."

"This is the last straw, Drake! You're lucky I haven't fired you. Get your lazy self to the office right now, or you can kiss your job goodbye!" Marcus's response was laced with anger and frustration.

With trembling hands, Drake hung up the phone and hastily got dressed. He had completely forgotten about the surreal encounter with the Tribute System and the vast wealth it had promised. In his mind, it had all seemed like a dream, an impossible fantasy.

He rushed out of his apartment and into the bustling city.

"Damn it! Forget those crazy coins! That dream messed me up big time today! I can't afford to lose my job! I need the cash for my sister!"

Drake arrived at the office with his heart pounding with anxiety. He pleaded with Marcus, promising to make up for his tardiness and vowing to be a better employee. It was a pitiful display, and Marcus seemed to relish every moment of it.

Barely had Drake settled back at his desk when David Cheng, his coworker and one of the tormentors in his daily life, approached him with a cardboard box filled with GPS devices. David's smirk hinted at the mischief he had in mind, and he shoved the box into Drake's arms.

"Hey, Drake," David said, his tone dripping with condescension. "I've got a special task for you. These GPS devices need to be delivered to our client right away."

Drake's heart sank as he looked at the box in his hands. He knew this wasn't a simple favor; it was another way for David to belittle and humiliate him. But he had no choice; he couldn't risk further antagonizing his coworker.

"Okay, David," Drake replied, his voice resigned. "I'll make the delivery."

David leaned in closer, his tone menacing. "Good," he said with a sly grin. "And don't forget, Drake, I saw you leaving the office yesterday at five. Marcus won't be happy if he finds out you're slacking off."

It was a thinly veiled threat, and Drake knew it. Drake had indeed left the office early, still reeling from the shock of the amount he needed to earn for his sister's surgery. Leaving early or staying late wouldn't make any difference, as he was completely devastated by the shocking news he had received yesterday. However, he couldn't afford any more trouble at work, especially now that his job was on the line. He needed to make sure David wouldn't tell their manager about this.

With the cardboard box heavy in his arms, Drake left the office and headed toward the client's location, his steps weighed down by a sense of helplessness. The client's address was about 20 minutes away, and he delivered the devices without suspecting anything was going wrong.

However, Drake stood before the client's building, his heart heavy with dread, as he watched the man inspect the GPS devices he had just delivered. The client's stern expression made it clear that something was amiss.

After what felt like an eternity, the client turned to Drake, his face etched with annoyance. "These devices are all broken!" he snapped. "Every single one of them! What kind of shoddy service is this?"

Drake's face paled, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of the situation.

"I assure you, sir," Drake stammered. "I took every precaution. I'm just as baffled as you are. Can you please show me what happened?"

The client, clearly frustrated, reluctantly handed one of the broken devices to Drake. "You'd better have a good explanation for this, or I'm taking my business elsewhere."

Drake examined the device carefully, noting the visible damage. "It looks like there might have been a manufacturing defect in these units. I can't explain how they all broke, but I'm committed to resolving this issue for you."

The client's anger softened slightly as he saw Drake's determination to make things right. "Alright, but you need to fix this, and fast. I can't afford any more downtime."

Drake nodded, relieved that the client was willing to work with him. "I understand, and I'll do everything I can to rectify this situation as quickly as possible."

Panicking, Drake excused himself from the client's presence and retreated to the restroom. He knew he had to inform David Cheng.

"David," Drake said, his voice quivering with anxiety, "the client says all the GPS devices are broken. I don't know how it happened, but..."

Before he could finish explaining, David's voice cut in, sharp and accusatory.

"Broken? Seriously, Drake? Do you realize how much those devices cost? You're on the hook for this mess, and you'll be footing the bill for the damages!"

"I... I'm aware... they're valued at $1,000 each," Drake replied.

"So you're aware, huh? Then sort this out before you're looking at a $19,000 bill!" David yelled before abruptly ending the call.

In his moment of despair, the Tribute System reappeared, its holographic window shimmering before him. Drake's eyes widened as he read the message:

"User Drake, you have the means to resolve this situation. Use the coins at your disposal to purchase new GPS devices and rectify the mistake."

"W-what, this wasn't a dream?" Drake stammered.

"No, the tribute system and I are very real," the system affirmed.

"So, I can actually cash out these coins?"

"Absolutely!"

"T-then, how can I spend these coins in a city with a different currency?" Drake asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

The Tribute System responded promptly, its message appearing before him in the familiar holographic window.

"The coins within the system will automatically be converted to the local currency once you withdraw them. Rest assured, you can use them like any other form of money in your city."

Drake's anxiety began to ease as he absorbed this information. It seemed that the system had thought of everything, ensuring that the wealth it bestowed upon him was not a mere illusion.

“Okay, then withdraw me $19,000!"

“Copy! Withdrawing 19,000 coins!”

“W-wait? Coins?”

To his surprise, a shower of 1-dollar coins cascaded in front of him, filling the restroom with the unmistakable clinking sound of metal hitting metal. Drake's eyes widened in shock and disbelief as he watched the coins pile up.

"Is this a joke?" he muttered, his voice filled with incredulity. He had expected paper bills, not a literal mountain of coins.

The Tribute System responded once more, its message clear and concise.

"This is the form in which your withdrawals will appear by default. However, you can unlock the option to receive bills instead by offering another tribute to the miniature temple where you first encountered me."

"Miniature temple? I was wasted! I can't even recall how I made it home, let alone remember where it's located." Panic welled up within him as he realized that he might have lost the opportunity to make the conversion.

Drake's client's restroom had transformed into an unexpected treasure trove of 1-dollar coins, creating a daunting challenge he hadn't anticipated.

“How can I even transport these coins? This is too much!”

Desperation urged him to find a solution, and he cast his gaze around the restroom, landing on a plastic bucket tucked away in a corner.

“Ugh! Whatever!”

Drake grabbed the bucket and started shoveling the coins into it. The dull clinking sound echoed through the restroom as he worked, sweat forming on his brow from the physical exertion. It was a tedious and time-consuming process, but he knew it was the only way to transport the coins discreetly.

Once the bucket was filled to the brim, Drake covered it with his coat to conceal its contents. He knew he had to act quickly to avoid drawing any unnecessary attention, so he rushed out of the building and headed straight to the nearest bank.

Drake approached one of the tellers with his bucket of coins, he couldn't help but feel out of place. The bank teller, a young woman with a polite smile, greeted him with a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

"Hello, how can I assist you today?"

Drake cleared his throat, his nerves getting the better of him. "I, um, need to exchange these coins for bills," he replied, his voice trembling slightly as he placed the bucket on the counter.

The teller's eyebrows raised in surprise as she peered into the bucket, the glimmer of countless coins reflecting in her eyes. It was an unusual sight, and she couldn't help but wonder about the story behind this odd transaction.

"Of course," she said, her professionalism unwavering. "Let me count them for you." She began the painstaking process of tallying up the coins, her fingers moving swiftly.

Drake watched anxiously, his heart pounding in his chest. It felt like an eternity, but finally, the teller finished counting and turned back to him.

"Your total is $19,000," she said, offering a polite smile.

Relief washed over Drake as he nodded and accepted the stack of bills.

Drake returned to the office, and David was waiting for him.

With a sly smile, David had expected Drake to come crawling, begging to be spared the financial burden of the broken devices.

But to David's astonishment, Drake walked into the office with a newfound air of confidence. His steps were steady, and there was a determined glint in his eyes. Without a word, he approached David, handed him a stack of $100 bills totaling $19,000, and picked up the replacement GPS devices.

David's face contorted in confusion and frustration. He had expected Drake to grovel and plead for mercy, but instead, he was met with a resolute silence. Drake didn't give David the satisfaction of seeing him humiliated any further.

As Drake left the office again to complete the delivery, David couldn't contain his curiosity any longer. He cornered Drake when he returned, his voice laced with irritation.

"What kind of trick did you pull, Drake?" David demanded. "How did you manage to come up with that money so quickly?"

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