Tribute System: I have quintillion coins

Chapter 7: "100 Million Investment"

Aunt Beck had been Drake's sole pillar of support, especially in the absence of his gambling mother. Sadly, due to his mother's reckless behavior, Aunt Beck had stopped providing help to them. However, even though she had decided not to concern herself with Linda, she still held a soft spot in her heart for her niece and nephew.

"What are you doing here?" Aunt Beck asked, clearly surprised to see Drake in her store.

"Hi, Aunt," Drake said, greeting her with a warm smile. "Didn't I tell you I'd pay you back?"

"Seriously? Doesn't Eleanor need it more?" Aunt Beck inquired.

Aunt Beck stepped away from the cash register and approached Drake. She wasn't the cashier; she was simply idling in her own store.

"She does, and that's why I need your help, Aunt," Drake explained.

Aunt Beck's forehead furrowed in concern. "I may have a few game stores and arcades, but I'm not wealthy, Drake."

"I know. I'm not asking for money. I will genuinely pay back what I owe."

"Are you really going to pay me?" Aunt Beck asked skeptically. "That's three years' worth of interest."

"Yes, Aunt. But I have a request."

"Hmm? What is it?"

"It's hard to explain, so it's better for you to see."

Aunt Beck scrutinized him from head to toe, wondering if Drake had been drinking or had gone crazy like his mother. Despite her doubts, she decided to follow him.

They entered her recently cleared-out storeroom, and she watched as Drake entered with confidence.

"Aunt, I trust you."

"And?"

"Please don't be shocked by what I'm about to show you," Drake said as he pressed on his system. Aunt Beck, of course, could only see him pressing his finger against thin air.

Aunt Beck rolled her eyes, exhausted by Drake's antics. Just as she was about to turn away, a deluge of coins began piling up in the entire storeroom.

"W-what kind of sorcery is this?" she exclaimed in astonishment.

Drake had urged Aunt Beck not to be shocked, but it was an impossible request. How could she not be stunned? A cascade of coins had flooded her storeroom, creating a fantastical treasure trove that exceeded her wildest imagination. It was a sight Aunt Beck had never thought she would witness in real life.

"What is going on, Drake?" she asked, her voice trembling as she dropped down to sit on the floor.

"Calm down, Aunt," Drake said, rushing to support her as she was too shocked to move. "Please promise me not to tell anyone about this, especially my mother."

"Of course! Who would even believe me?" Aunt Beck replied, still unable to calm herself. She picked up a coin to examine it and was astonished to find that it was undeniably real.

"Where do you—I mean, how can you make this kind of magic? Or is this a miracle?" she asked, her voice filled with awe and curiosity.

"I was just lucky to stumble upon a mysterious temple. That temple granted me these coins," Drake shared.

"It granted you these? A temple? Like a god?" Aunt Beck inquired.

"Yes. I received 100 million coins," he lied, concealing the actual amount he had received.

"100 million? That much? Why?" Aunt Beck's eyes widened in astonishment.

"I don't know. But isn't it amazing? We'll no longer have to worry about our finances," Drake said with excitement.

"But, Drake, what are the consequences of receiving this much money? You're not selling your soul, are you?" Aunt Beck cupped his cheeks with concern, her worry evident in her eyes.

"No, I would never sell my soul for money!" Drake exclaimed, a note of sincerity in his voice.

"Really? Then what request do you have for me?" Aunt Beck finally calmed down, her curiosity piqued.

"I want you to manage all of these coins," Drake replied.

"Why me?" Aunt Beck asked.

"I trust you, Aunt. I can only withdraw this money in the form of coins, and I don't want the bank to become suspicious about the source of my coins. Also, please use this money to expand your business. Consider me your investor. I know these coins won't last forever, but if I invest them in you, I'm confident my money will be in good hands."

Aunt Beck gazed at Drake with quivering eyes, clearly overwhelmed by the situation. Drake realized that this was a lot for her to take in, so he gave her some time to think. Both of them sat in silence, surrounded by a mountain of coins.

"Okay, fine," Aunt Beck finally replied.

"Thank you, Aunt!" Drake's face lit up with gratitude.

"But," Aunt Beck continued, and the excitement in Drake's expression froze as he waited for her condition.

She said, "Never let your mother bother me! I am so done with her!"

"Y-yes. I will make sure that Mom never approaches you," Drake promised.

"Great, but what should we do with these coins now? How much is this?" Aunt Beck asked, still trying to comprehend the vast amount.

"These are 1 million coins. I've already arranged a pickup service from the bank. They'll come here to deposit it into your bank account," Drake explained.

"Is this why you asked for my business permit number?" Aunt Beck inquired.

"Yes, Aunt," Drake confirmed. "But, to avoid suspicions, I've also arranged pickups from your other stores. Can you let me store the coins here for pickup? I need ten million for my sister's surgery. You can take the rest for your business."

"Ten million? Is Eleanor's health really that dire?" Aunt Beck asked with concern.

"Yes, Aunt."

"Don't worry. It's your money, and I'll make sure this blessing isn't wasted," Aunt Beck assured Drake, her eyes now filled with determination. She might appear unapproachable, grumpy, and tough, but she genuinely cared for Drake and Eleanor.

Drake left Aunt Beck's store with a light heart. He returned to the hospital to spend time with his sister, something he had hardly been able to do before due to his job.

"Drake, why are you here?" Eleanor asked, her surprise evident. "Aren't you supposed to be at work?"

"I quit my job, Ely," he shared. Drake gently patted his sister's head while she remained lying on the bed. Eleanor's illness had already pushed her body to the brink, making her unable to move on her own.

"Why? Did something happen?"

"Yes, something happened. Something good happened," he shared with a smile.

"Really?" Eleanor looked confused.

"Yes, Aunt Beck and I have started a business, and it's doing well, so I don't have to work from 9 to 5 anymore," Drake explained.

"Wow! That's great!"

"Yes, we can spend more time together now."

"Yay! Drake, call Mom. It would be great if she's here too," Eleanor suggested.

Drake's smile faded. He inwardly panicked, unsure of how to break the news to his sister that their mother wouldn't be coming to see them at all.

"M-mom is busy, Ely. Sorry," he stammered.

"Aw, that's fine. I'm already glad I won't be alone here today."

Drake clenched his fist, feeling terrible for his sister. He lightly kissed her on the forehead and said, "Don't worry, Ely. Not just today. From now on, I'll spend more time with you."

A few days later, the bank transactions and the new business with Aunt Beck were going well. Aunt Beck had become extremely busy as she planned to improve and expand all of her stores, making them bigger and better.

Meanwhile, Drake had the luxury of spending all of his time taking care of his sister. The ten million that had once seemed impossible to achieve was now in his hands.

"Calm down, the surgery will take some time," Aunt Beck said to Drake, who kept pacing back and forth in front of the operating room.

"I know, Aunt, but I really can't calm down," he admitted. "What if something goes wrong? Will she be okay?"

"Oh, Drake, don't worry too much. Trust the doctors. We've paid them a significant sum of money, and they'll do their job," Aunt Beck reassured him.

However, there was one thorn that couldn't seem to leave Drake's misery. Linda, Drake's mother, made her appearance in the hospital, claiming to have a share of his money.

"Drake! Bastard! Why do you have to waste money on that frail girl!" she yelled angrily.

"What?" Drake said, relieved that Eleanor was still unconscious due to the anesthesia, but the scene his mother was creating in the hospital was unforgivable.

"We can claim more money in insurance if she dies! Why spend more money?" Linda heartlessly shouted, awakening Drake's rage.

"What did you say?" he thundered. "How dare you say that!"