The Binder

As the meal neared its end, the girls' expressions grew increasingly complicated. Based on the information they had gathered during their conversation with Zeb, it became clear that his story, while somewhat vague, carried an undeniable ring of truth. They could sense his sincerity when he spoke of his struggles: his impoverished family living in a remote rural area far from the city, his younger sister still in senior high school, his rented apartment, and his recent job loss. He had mentioned that he had only managed to enroll in such a prestigious university thanks to a scholarship program. Despite the credibility of his words, the girls couldn't help but feel perplexed. If everything he said was true, one question lingered in their minds: Why did you invite us here?

Zeb, noticing that the meal was nearly finished, exchanged a subtle glance with the waitress. She immediately understood and approached with the bill in hand.

"Sir, your bill," the waitress said with a professional smile.

Zeb nodded, still chatting cheerfully with the girls, completely unbothered—after all, it wasn't his money that was going to bleed. Casually, he reached into his wallet and handed her a card. However, unbeknownst to him, the card he handed over wasn't Zayn's black card. Instead, it was the black card he had received from the old man a few days ago. Too absorbed in maintaining his "professional" demeanor, Zeb failed to notice the mix-up.

The waitress, however, was momentarily stunned. It was the first time she had handled such an extravagant-looking card. Her thoughts raced: Ha! I knew it. Another big boss pretending to be low-key. A young master in disguise, flaunting wealth despite his unassuming appearance.

Not wanting to offend the "young master," she processed the transaction with utmost care and efficiency. When the payment was successful, her attitude noticeably shifted to one of refined deference. She returned to Zeb's side, holding the card with both hands and offering it back with a slight bow.

"Here's your card, young master," she said, her tone and expression exuding respect. She even emphasized the term "young master" with natural ease.

The girls were visibly taken aback by the sudden turn of events. Their puzzled expressions mirrored their inner thoughts: What's going on?

Zeb, too, was momentarily stunned. Just as the waitress swiped the card, a strange digital floating window materialized before his eyes. It was a sleek, high-tech hologram bearing the words "The Binder System" in an extravagant gold design. The interface resembled something straight out of a futuristic video game, complete with various details and options he couldn't quite process yet.

He froze, his gaze darting back and forth between the hologram, the girls, and the waitress at the counter. Then, with growing confusion, he looked down at his wallet. There it was—the black card Zayn had given him just two days ago, still nestled inside. His heart skipped a beat.

Wait… if that's here, then what card did I just use?

The surreal situation left him grappling for answers as he struggled to piece together what had just happened. Meanwhile, the girls exchanged glances, their curiosity and suspicion only deepening. The air around the table was charged with unspoken questions, each of them trying to make sense of the mysterious young man sitting before them.

While the girls were still comprehending the situation, like the time has stopped in zeb's POV, a sudden realization hit him back to the day of what the old man said to him about the black card, on how he would dominate the world with that card and a lot of vague words still lingering in his memory.

The waitress, still holding out the luxurious black card toward Zeb, tilted her head slightly, unsure why he was staring blankly into the air instead of taking it. She maintained her polite posture, her professional smile unwavering. Finally noticing her extended hand, Zeb snapped out of his daze, coughing awkwardly as he reached out to accept the card. He quickly slid it back into his wallet, all while avoiding direct eye contact.

"Thank you," he muttered, standing up abruptly. "Excuse me, I need to use the comfort room."

The waitress gave a polite nod, her expression softening into something more playful as she added a subtle wink before turning away. Zeb, still caught up in his thoughts, barely registered her gesture. The girls, on the other hand, exchanged wide-eyed glances, their expressions teetering between confusion and curiosity.

The word "young master" still echoed in their minds as they nodded reflexively like pecking hens, too stunned to say anything. Zeb didn't spare them a glance as he walked briskly toward the restroom, resisting the urge to bolt outright. He still had to maintain his composure, even if his mind was a chaotic swirl of disbelief and questions.

Once inside the restroom, Zeb locked himself in a stall, sinking onto the closed toilet seat. The hologram, still floating in front of him, hadn't disappeared. He stared at it in silence, the glowing interface bathing his face in a soft golden hue.

"Okay," he muttered under his breath, his voice barely above a whisper. "What the hell is this?"

Experimenting carefully, he realized the hologram was only visible to him. Neither the waitress nor the girls had reacted to it earlier, and their expressions had remained normal. He tried reaching out to touch it, but his hand passed through the glowing display like it wasn't there. However, as he concentrated on specific sections, the interface responded to his thoughts, almost as if he were navigating a digital menu with his mind.

At the top, bold golden letters read: The Binder System. Below that was his digital profile and a game-like layout of stats.

Name: Zeb (Full name omitted)

Brief Description: A student currently facing life challenges and unexpected opportunities.

Stats:

Wealth: 2,388

Strength: 8

Speed: 7

Endurance: 8

Energy: 0

Card Limit: 4,998,280.75

Card Limit: The current wealth capacity provided by the Binder System. It replenishes monthly and can increase its maximum limit depending on your level of authority. Think of it as a credit card: you can't withdraw the amount, but you can use it for digital payments.

Note: This card can only be used in a binded place.

Place Bind: Lustre Galleria Grande

Each attribute came with a detailed explanation:

Wealth: Indicates current funds, reflecting both liquid assets and expendable resources

.Strength: Represents physical power and capacity for heavy tasks.

Speed: Measures agility and reaction time.

Endurance: Gauges stamina and ability to sustain effort over time.

Energy: (Currently locked and gray, with no description available.)

The system noted that an average, healthy adult male with a balanced lifestyle had attributes around 10. Athletes typically scored around 20 in their specialties, while extraordinary individuals—those who performed seemingly superhuman feats—could reach 30 or beyond in select attributes.

Zeb's attributes, while slightly below average, weren't abysmal. What stood out, though, was the Wealth stat. The number 2,957.25 wasn't familiar—it didn't match his current bank balance.

Tabs Overview

Zeb scrolled mentally through the tabs:

Home Tab: The main interface displaying his profile, stats, and current state.

Inventory Tab: Intrigued, Zeb tried something. He pulled his wallet out of his pocket and willed it into the inventory. The hologram blinked, and the wallet vanished from his hand, reappearing as a glowing icon in the inventory. He gasped softly. "That's... insane." He tapped on the icon mentally, and the wallet reappeared in his palm, identical to before. Practical, magical, and efficient.

Skills Tab: This tab was still blank, with a numbered scale from 1 to 10. It seemed to indicate skill slots, but there is only two skills written on it.

 Bind (Level 1): A skill that allows you to bind a place to the Binder System.

 Current Limit: 1 place.

 Upgrade Paths: Increase binding radius or quantity of bindable places.

 Card's Master (Level 1): Every payment using the card has a 100% cash back. Total limit will depends on the level of the skill and will replenish monthly.

Event Tab: This was divided into several subsections:

Sign-In Tab: Zeb opened it, finding a glowing button labeled "Daily Sign-In."

Mission Tab: It displayed available and completed missions, though it currently showed no active tasks.

Lottery Tab: A spinning wheel interface with mysterious rewards. It required some form of currency or tokens to use, none of which Zeb currently possessed.

Upgrade Tab: This section offered various options to enhance the system, though it seemed inaccessible for now.

And lastly it's the Notification Tab: as the name implies it is were the notification goes to.

Zeb sat in stunned silence, absorbing the surreal reality of what was unfolding. "Is this some kind of game? Or... no, this is too real to be just that."

The possibilities swirled in his mind as the glowing hologram shimmered, patiently awaiting his next command.

Zeb's gaze shifted to the Notification Tab, curiosity compelling him to explore it further. The moment he accessed it, several messages appeared in crisp, glowing text:

Welcome to The Binder System.

Congratulations on your first transaction!

Ding!

Card's Master Skill activated: 100% of your transaction will be converted to your wealth.

Transaction Summary: $1,719.25 has been added to your Wealth.

Zeb's eyes widened as realization dawned upon him. His Wealth stat, previously showing $2,957.25. It was then that he understood the mysterious increase—his system wasn't just a digital gimmick; it had actively reimbursed the cost of the meal.

He let out a low whistle, leaning back against the stall wall. "So... I just earned back everything I spent? That's insane." His fingers ran through his hair as the implications of the system began to settle in. It wasn't just some odd tech experiment—it was real, and it had actual, tangible effects.

But the surprises didn't end there.

After calming himself, Zeb switched over to the Mission Tab. A single mission was listed, its details glowing ominously in the interface:

[Daily Mission]: Spend a total of $50,000 at Lustre Galleria Grande today.

Zeb groaned, his head falling into his hands. "Fifty thousand? Today? Are you kidding me?" The absurdity of the task left him torn between disbelief and panic.

He couldn't fathom how he was supposed to spend that much money in a single afternoon. His thoughts swirled—how was he supposed to justify such reckless spending? His brothers would never buy it. They'd think he was joking, or worse, delusional. And what about the girls? They were still waiting for him, and after the humble persona he'd crafted, any outrageous spending spree would obliterate his credibility.

The headache was instant and overwhelming.

Zeb inhaled deeply, forcing himself to focus. "Okay," he muttered to himself. "Let's take it one step at a time. First, confirm if this system is legit. If it really works, I can figure out the rest later."

Steeling himself, Zeb stood up, the hologram hovering obediently in his peripheral vision. He mentally willed it to minimize, and the interface vanished with a faint shimmer.

After splashing cold water on his face, Zeb exited the restroom, his movements deliberate and calculated. The weight of the revelation pressed heavily on his mind, but he couldn't afford to lose his composure—not in front of the girls, and definitely not in such a high-end establishment.

When Zeb reappeared at the table, Alice and Suzi immediately straightened up, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. The "young master" comment from the waitress lingered in their minds, and they weren't sure how to approach the subject.

"Everything okay?" Alice asked cautiously, her voice betraying her hesitation.

"Yeah, just needed a moment to freshen up," Zeb replied with an easy smile, slipping back into his seat as if nothing had happened. He glanced at their empty plates and the now nearly finished wine bottle. "Looks like you both enjoyed the meal."

Suzi gave a nervous laugh, twirling a strand of her hair. "It was... amazing. But, uh, about earlier—"

"Yeah," Alice chimed in, leaning forward slightly. "The waitress called you 'young master.' What's that all about?"

Zeb chuckled, shaking his head as if brushing off the comment. "Oh, that. Just a misunderstanding, I think. Probably confused me for someone else." He waved his hand dismissively, but the girls weren't entirely convinced.

Alice frowned slightly. "But she was holding your card. She seemed pretty certain."

Zeb shrugged, maintaining his composure. "It's just a regular card. Maybe it looks fancy, but I'm telling you, there's nothing to it."

The girls exchanged skeptical glances but chose not to press further—for now.

As Zeb settled back into his seat, a familiar voice crackled through the earphones he was wearing—a device Zayn had insisted on to monitor the "blind date" mission. His brothers had been listening the entire time, their commentary filling the silence in his ears.

Ruzzel's boisterous laughter was the first to break through. "Young master, huh? Zebrylle, how does it feel to wear the crown of nobility? Should we start bowing when you walk into a room?"

Another voice chimed in, likely Marcus's, dripping with mock seriousness. "Do you prefer us to call you 'Young Master Zebrylle' or just 'Master Zeb'? Let us know so we can prepare the fanfare."

Zeb rolled his eyes, silently cursing the earphones. "Shut up, you guys," he muttered under his breath, careful not to let the girls notice his irritation.

"Don't be shy now, Your Majesty," Ruzzel continued, his laughter growing louder. "Tell us, what's it like to be a mysterious young master out on the town with two beauties? Bet Zayn's card feels heavier in your wallet, huh?"

Zayn's voice cut through, annoyed and defensive. "Oh, come on! Don't drag me into this. That's not me—that's him! He's the one they called young master."

Ruzzel's booming laughter in response was so loud it nearly made Zeb yank out the earphones.

Trying to ignore the chaos in his ears, Zeb turned to the girls, a sly smile playing on his lips. "So, ladies, any plans after this? Shopping, maybe?"

His question seemed innocent enough, but inside, Zeb's mind churned with ideas. The Daily Mission loomed over him like a ticking time bomb: spend $50,000 at Lustre Galleria Grande by the end of the day. He saw shopping as a potential solution—a chance to fulfill the mission while also exacting some petty revenge on Zayn for baiting him into this ridiculous blind date in the first place.

Imagine his face when he finds out I blew 50,000 using what he thinks is his card, Zeb thought, his grin widening. Sure, it was a risk, but the idea of turning the tables on his overly confident brother was too tempting to resist.

Before either Alice or Suzi could respond, Zayn's voice rose in the earphones, frantic and almost pleading. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! No, no shopping! Go to a movie, get coffee, do literally anything else! Shopping with women is a curse—it's exhausting, and it'll drain my card. Don't even think about it, Zeb!"

The desperate tone in Zayn's voice was almost comical, and Zeb had to suppress a laugh. He didn't reply, instead pretending not to hear.

"Hey, Zeb! I know you can hear me! Don't you dare take them shopping!" Zayn's protests grew louder, his voice tinged with the pain of someone recalling traumatic shopping experiences.

"Poor Zayn," Ruzzel chimed in with mock pity. "Sounds like he's been dragged through the trenches by women who've abused not just his wallet but his soul."

Zeb smirked to himself, already envisioning Zayn's face when he revealed the bill later.

Meanwhile, Alice's eyes sparkled at Zeb's suggestion. A self-proclaimed lover of all things luxury, she was quick to jump on the opportunity. "Shopping? Oh, absolutely! If you're paying, I'm not going to say no. I mean, who would?" She clapped her hands together, practically bouncing in her seat as visions of designer handbags and jewelry danced in her mind.

Suzi, on the other hand, looked hesitant. She glanced at Zeb's smiling face, unsure if she should agree. The strange events of the meal were still fresh in her mind, and the sudden shift in plans felt almost too convenient. But Zeb's easygoing demeanor and the way he urged them to go along with it left her with little room to object. "Um... sure. I guess I'll come too," she said with a nod, albeit more reluctantly.

As the girls made up their minds, Zeb couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. This is going to be interesting, he thought. He wasn't entirely sure if the system was real or if this was some elaborate prank orchestrated by the mysterious old man who had given him the card.

Still, he decided to play along—for now. If the system was real, completing the mission could unlock something even more valuable. If not, well... he'd just have to make up a story about winning the lottery or brush it off with humor when his brothers inevitably grilled him later.

For now, though, his focus was on two things: fulfilling the mission and milking every ounce of revenge he could against Zayn for dragging him into this absurd situation.