Kai stepped into the cavernous sports brand outlet. The interior was massive, brightly lit, and smelled faintly of new rubber and synthetic fabric. The seven-figure balance in his System Bank gave him a confidence he hadn't possessed a moment ago.
He walked past the racks of brightly colored sneakers and headed straight for the athletic apparel section. He needed a complete overhaul of his wardrobe, starting with the gym clothes.
A young woman stood near a display of compression shirts, looking slightly overwhelmed. She was wearing the store's uniform shirt but her nametag kept tilting sideways. She looked new.
Kai approached her. "Excuse me, I'm looking for the men's workout gear. Specifically, compression shorts and large shirts."
The woman whose slightly crooked nametag read Mia looked up quickly, her eyes wide. She fumbled with a stack of folded jerseys she was holding. One of them slipped from her grasp and landed on the floor.
"Oh! Sorry! Yes, I... I can show you," Mia stammered, bending down quickly. She was clearly flustered.
Kai knelt down casually and picked up the fallen shirt before she could. He handed it back to her. "No problem at all. Looks like you're still learning the ropes."
Mia gave him a relieved, genuine smile. "I just started yesterday. The store layout is huge. Thank you."
"Don't worry about it," Kai said warmly. He remembered the feeling of being the new person. "I'm looking for a total upgrade. I need some things that will hold up while I start getting back in shape."
Mia immediately brightened, happy to have a focused task. "We have the best durable wear over here. Since you're just starting out, you'll want fabrics that breathe a lot. And for compression, we can get you sized right away."
She led him through the aisle. Kai started pulling items from the rack. He chose a few pairs of black compression shorts and several dry-fit tees in dark colors, deliberately selecting items that were his current size but had a premium feel. He wasn't aiming for the cheapest gear; he was aiming for motivation.
"This is good," Kai said, tossing a black dry-fit shirt onto the growing pile she was holding. "And I'll need a good gym bag. Something big enough for clothes, a towel, and a few containers."
Mia pointed down the adjacent aisle. "The bags are just around the corner. We have a great duffel that has a separate compartment for wet clothes. I know exactly which one you mean."
They walked together. Kai enjoyed having someone knowledgeable and friendly to guide him, and Mia was clearly trying hard to do a good job despite her inexperience. She helped him find a simple black gym duffel bag that fit all his criteria.
Next, Kai realized he needed supplements. "Where do you keep the protein powders and pre-workouts?"
Mia bit her lip, pausing. "Uh, that's in the nutrition section. Follow me, but I'm still learning the brand names. I might need a second to find the aisle."
"No problem," Kai said, walking beside her. "I know what I'm looking for. Just get me to the right area."
They found the nutrition section. Kai selected a large tub of whey protein isolate and a container of creatine. He knew this would aid in his recovery and muscle retention as he lost weight.
He looked at the huge pile of items Mia was now carefully cradling. Clothes, a bag, and two large tubs of powder. This was going to be a substantial purchase.
"Thank you, Mia," Kai said, stopping near the front registers. "You've been a huge help. You really know your products."
Mia blushed. "It's my pleasure, sir. I hope you find everything works out."
"It will," Kai assured her. "Now, where do I check out?"
Mia gestured toward a nearby cash register where another employee was bagging an item. "Right here. I can ring you up myself."
Kai smiled. This was the moment. The entire journey was leading to this transaction.
Kai followed Mia to the checkout area. He had a great selection of dark, motivating workout clothes, a sleek gym bag with a separate compartment, and his nutritional supplements.
"We can check out right here," Mia said, gesturing to an available register.
Kai paused when he saw the register. Next to the staffed counters was a row of self-checkout kiosks.
"You know what," Kai said, giving Mia a kind look. "It looks busy. Why don't I use the self-checkout? You've helped me find everything, so you don't need to stay here. Just give me the total list of everything you're holding."
Mia seemed relieved, her shoulders dropping slightly. "Oh, thank you, sir. That would be easier. Let me just scan the barcodes for you, and I can start a transaction on the kiosk."
They quickly went through the items. Kai made sure his two tubs of protein and creatine were not the massive, inconvenient tubs, but smaller, travel-sized containers that would fit easily into his new duffel bag later. The clothes were already separated.
The total for his new wardrobe, bag, and supplements came to $378.50.
Mia initiated the transaction on the self-checkout screen, gave him a final smile, and walked off to help another customer, thinking her job with him was done.
Kai took over the screen. He scanned his System Bank Card. The transaction processed instantly. Then, the screen changed, presenting him with the final option: Tip for your assistant?
This was the feature Kai was waiting for. He clicked the button. The screen asked: Select Assistant to Tip (Optional). He saw Mia's name listed along with the other staff working nearby.
He selected Mia's name.
Now for the amount. He had just made four million from the cab driver. It was time for a statement. He entered $2,000.00.
He finalized the payment.
The system chimed instantly in his mind, the reward notification sharp and clear.
[System Notification!]
[Host has given away $2,000.00!]
[The 10000x Return System is activated.]
[Reward: $20,000,000.00 has been transferred to your System Bank!]
Twenty million dollars. Kai felt a rush of adrenaline. He was now sitting on a fortune larger than many small businesses. All for buying some gym clothes and tipping a kind, struggling new employee.
He grabbed his bags and started walking toward the exit. As he did, he glanced back.
Mia was helping a customer nearby when her work phone, which was linked to the store's tipping system, chimed loudly. She glanced at it, and her eyes went huge. She clapped a hand over her mouth in shock.
The employee at the next register, a lanky young man who had seen the transaction amount pop up on the staff monitor, immediately stopped what he was doing.
"Mia! Did you see that?" the young man hissed, leaning over the counter. "Who just gave you a two thousand dollar tip? You've only been here two days!"
Another female co-worker walked past and paused, her face twisted in disbelief. "Two grand? Did you save his life or something? Lucky you!"
Mia could only stammer, looking around wildly for the customer. She spotted Kai walking out the door. She tried to catch his eye, but he gave a small, almost imperceptible nod and kept going. He didn't need the verbal thanks; he already had the reward.