Being Broke is a Sin

Dante stood outside his apartment building, taking in the early morning breeze. He reached into his pocket and switched on his broken phone, opening the bank application.

Mr. D. Lexus

[73628$]

His eyes widened in shock as he saw the balance displayed on the screen. He had inherited a significant amount of money from his parents' life policy after their untimely death.

Checking the date, it was 31st December 2023, just one day before the release of "Myriad Realms Online," the game that promised to change the world. But there was something Dante knew that others didn't this game which should've been like any other game that fades into obscurity after a couple of years was not a game but rather a tutorial simulation preparing the population of Earth for the mana acclimation event that will shift the structure of the earth and grant beings extraordinary powers that come straight out from movies or novels whilst transporting other ruined worlds and merging them with Earth.

Thinking back on this, he quickly realized there was no time to waste as he needed a VR helmet. He speeded as he made his way to the Astral store, the only store in the city that sold the VR headset required to play the game. As he walked past, he noted his surroundings, aware that destruction and ruin would soon take their place. As he arrived, he admired the building and even remembered on how they never figured out how the Astral store worked in his last life. Wiping that smile instantly from his face was when he saw that ridiculous line.

"Damn... Fuck... Fuck... Fuck!, I'm not going to be able to buy it in time with the way things are looking," Dante said as he surveyed the line looking for any opening or method he could use when he spotted something.

Since he had learned from experience that when people look sleazy and corrupt, they are usually willing to take a bribe; he was confident he could get past the guard.

"Hey there friend," Dante said, gaining the attention of the man

"Mind telling a friend what could be causing such a heavy look on your face," giving eye contact towards the wads of cash Dante had in his hand.

"Argh.. the wife at home is sick and I don't have enough money to possibly afford treatment for it," the guard said smiling but his eyes weren't, whilst giving the signs of rubbing his two fingers together.

Instantly sending off Dante's alert signal that if he doesn't get a proper amount that satisfies the guard, he going to get banned from this store or worse.

"Ahhh, what kind of sickness does she have? Maybe I could help," Dante said whilst pulling out more money from his pocket.

Finally, after a lengthy abstract discussion on lots of things, he gave the guard $500, hugging the guard and sliding it into his pocket.

Both of them laughed merrily as they entered the store.

Outside Pov:

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"Ay, why does he get to cut the line?" Random passerby 1 said.

"I can't believe he just skipped the line like that! What makes him so special?" random passerby 2 said.

"I've been waiting here for hours and he just waltzes in and buys his way to the front. It's not fair!" random passerby 3 said.

"He has no respect for anyone else's time. It's like the rules don't apply to him."random passerby 4 said,

"I don't care how much money he has, he should have to wait in line like everyone else." random passerby 5 said

"This is ridiculous. I'm going to complain to the manager about this."random passerby 6 said.

"He's setting a terrible example for others. It's not okay to just buy your way to the front of the line." A random line waiter said.

"I feel bad for that poor man with cancer. He could have at least shown some compassion and let him go first." random passerby 7 said

"It's people like him that ruin the experience for everyone else. I hope he gets what's coming to him." a random line waiter said.

"I don't even want to support a store that allows this kind of behavior. I'm taking my business elsewhere." random passerby 8 said whilst pretending to walk away, hoping to garner a reaction from the crowd.

"This just shows how entitled and selfish some people can be. It's sickening." Random line waiter 69 said

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Meanwhile, Dante's Pov:

As he made his way to the counter, he noticed that they had already sold all the basic headsets out. Frustrated, he turned to the clerk and demanded that he be given the basic headset at any cost. The clerk told him that if he was willing to pay ten thousand dollars more than the last buyer, the helmet would be his. Due to the time being short and that incredible headache he just had, he agreed without much haggling.

However, before he could head out on his way, he heard a shout from a middle-aged man right in front of the line.

"Please let me get one. I have cancer and the doctor told me I have only 3 months to live, and my son's birthday is tomorrow and he's been wanting this headset for months now. As a dying father's last wish, I want to get this for him"

Looking at the man, the clerk said, "Don't worry about that sir, just carry on with your day"

Dante then looked at the clerk from the side of his eye, whilst proceeding to the outside of the store, to where the man was standing.

Eyeing the man, Dante said five words, "How is that my problem",

The man, looking visibly stunned, said, "It's not your problem sir but..."

"Then why the hell did you shout out loud like it was... peasant!," Dante said

The man, now looking visibly shaken, said," Because I saw nothing left and you getting the last one"

Dante then glared at the man with his piercing blue eyes before saying, "Don't hate me...when being broke is a sin"

The man, now looking finished, just repeated one word over and over "But... But"

As Dante walked back into the store smiling, reveling in the man's pain.

The clerk tried to say something to him, but Dante said to him, "Shut up and give me the documents I have to sign."

After signing the necessary documents, they informed Dante that they would deliver the headset to him the following day. He went back to his apartment and spent the rest of the day planning his strategies for the game, knowing that he needed to get ahead of the other players if he wanted to make a name for himself early on.