The Ultimate Man

Chapter 4 - Do You Afford to Pay

Sandro exited the vice president's office and walked down the corridor, with Daniel following behind. They arrived at a door with a sign that read "Administrative Center". From the sign, one could infer that the room in front of them was the place where all administrative matters of Tectona University were handled, including tuition payments.

When Sandro opened the door, it was a large hall filled with rows of neat, small cubicles equipped with a desk and chair, each occupied by one person. Everyone's attention was focused on the computer screens in front of them. Next to the door was a long table facing the cubicles. Behind the table were several chairs where several women were doing the same thing as the people in the booths.

As Sandro entered the room, he walked straight to the long table and turned his back to the women, while Daniel stayed by the door. Seeing Sandro's arrival, a beautiful girl and several older women straightened up and looked at each other. They moved their hands and heads as if to ask, "What is the old man going to do?"

"Everyone, please pay attention!" Sandro shouted a little louder. His words echoed through the room and made everyone stop what they were doing and turn to him.

"I've brought someone with me that I don't think any of you know," Sandro pointed his left finger at Daniel. "Daniel... he is a student who lives on the campus allowance. But I took away all that luxury last week. I had to do it because he was using that money to have fun with women!" Sandro said, looking at Daniel with a grin on his face.

Daniel was a little startled by the statement, but he managed to control himself. Daniel had learned Sandro's character from their first meeting.

"He just came into my office and asked me to give him his money back. Of course, I would have been willing if he had apologized and regretted his actions. But he was angry and unwilling," Sandro continued, pretending to show sadness on his face.

"This boy then changed his words. He said he didn't need the money. He will even return everything he has received for three years!"

Those words made everyone in the room in an uproar. They looked at each other. Who was this poor young man who was so overconfident? Thinking that he didn't need a scholarship and even arrogantly wanting to return all the money he had received. Almost everyone in the room began to come to the same conclusion about Daniel, a poor boy who had lost his mind.

"I don't want to prolong this issue and forget what happened between me and him. But since the reputation of the university is at stake, I would like to know your opinion. Should this young man prove his words?" Sandro looked at everyone and pretended to ask for their opinion.

At the sound of his words, the people in the booths immediately stood up from their chairs one by one.

"Yes! Let him give back the money!"

"If he really has self-respect, he will do as he says!" said another man.

"Hey, poor boy! If you can't do it, take back what you said and apologize! No need to act!" shouted a young woman in the front row booth. She didn't even hesitate to point her finger at Daniel. The girl looked like she was under pressure and needed someone to vent to.

"Yes!"

"Agreed!"

"Do it!"

The room was filled with voices. They demanded that Daniel do what he had said. Meanwhile, Sandro wore an uncomfortable expression on his face while the old man laughed out loud in his heart. "Daniel, you want to play with me, don't you? Let's see who wins!"

"All right, everyone, as you wish." Sandro then turned to Daniel. "Daniel, you heard what they said, right? But as the newly appointed Vice President, I will be generous with you. Forget about your words! You just have to pay for the next year."

Daniel just stared at Sandro with no expression on his face. He had to take several deep breaths to control his emotions. His heart was full of rage. But he didn't want to act ruthlessly.

On the one hand, these people had been influenced by Sandro's provocation. They would believe whatever the old man said. If Daniel denied the man's words now, it would only make them misunderstand him even more.

On the other hand, Daniel could not just leave the room without doing anything. If he left now, it would only make them believe Sandro's words even more. His name would become even more famous as a student who had no sense of responsibility.

"There is no other choice. I have to pay now!"

Daniel didn't say a word. Then he walked over to the long table behind Sandro and approached the part of the table that said "Teller".

"Hello, can I help you?"

A young woman in formal attire greeted Daniel with a forced smile. Her name was written as 'Erica Timmermans' on the ID card on her chest.

Erica had no doubt about Sandro's words. But for some reason, seeing a young man in very simple clothes in front of her made her feel sad.

"I want to pay for the next two semesters," Daniel replied briefly.

For the past three years, Daniel had received an annual scholarship of $75,000. Two-thirds of that amount went to tuition, and the rest went to his living expenses. Therefore, he only had to pay $50,000 for his final year.

"Okay! Can I borrow the card you used to pay?" Erica replied with the same expression as before.

Daniel reached into his pocket and handed over his debit card.

After that, Erica pressed on the keyboard to punch in a certain amount of money. She then handed over a tiny square device with a small circle in the center. "Please put your thumb here!" Erica said, pointing at the circle.

Daniel did as the girl asked. Almost simultaneously, a voice was heard from a machine box next to the computer. "Payment failed!"

Hahaha!

Hahaha!

The room was immediately filled with laughter. They were laughing as if they had just witnessed the funniest event of their lives. Some people held their stomachs, which were beginning to hurt from laughing. Others even hit the table to express their emotions.

Daniel ignored their reactions. He was actually shocked by what he had just heard. How could the payment fail? Didn't the system give him access to unlimited funds? He could not only pay the tuition, but also buy Tectona University if he wanted to.

After thinking for a moment, Daniel realized something. "I should have figured out how to use the money in the system!" He had to leave the place and come back when he figured out how to do it.

Just as Daniel was about to ask for his card back, Erica looked at him with a questioning look on her face.

"Did you not register this card?"

"No..." Daniel shook his head, not understanding the meaning of the question.

"Enough, Miss! You don't have to pretend! It's clear that this young man has no money!" one of the men in the first row commented casually.

"He should have been ashamed from the beginning! Poor but with no manners! Really disgusting!" another man in the same row commented as he looked at Daniel. His eyes were filled with hatred.

Erica just smiled bitterly when she heard their comments. The girl was only doing her job. She wasn't trying to help Daniel.

"Alright! Let me try another way."