Chapter 3: No.3: Ultimate Rebate System
[Congratulations on successfully Activating the Ultimate Rebate System!]
[This System is divided into Ten Stages]
[First Stage: Wimp Stage (Upgradeable ↑)]
{Description: Due to currently being at your lowest point in life, Host falls under this category. As such, only limited access to the System is provided unless upgraded to the next Stage}
{Limitations:
~Host is only able to Bond with a maximum of 2 Targets. (Caution is advised when selecting a Target, as Bonded Targets are permanent and cannot be cancelled or replaced.)
~Each Bonded Target can only offer Rebate a maximum of three times daily. Rebate Coins or Bonus Rewards will not be issued upon surpassing this limit}
{Stage Upgrade Requirement: Complete Three Main Tasks}
Already familiar with similar settings from his vast experience reading System novels, Bruce quickly familiarized himself with the interface.
However, he felt somewhat strange upon seeing the First Stage’s name.
’Does it really have to call it that? Couldn’t it have come up with something less... provocative?’
Preferring not to dwell on it, he resumed checking what the Ultimate Rebate System was actually about.
[This System mainly serves as a means of converting the affection of highly rated Beauties of the opposite sex toward the Host into Rebate Coins through spoiling them]
Familiar with similar premises as well, Bruce found himself wondering about the latter part instead.
’Hmm! I wonder what these Rebate Coins are used for exactly.’
As though responding to his thoughts, another notification appeared while a monotone voice echoed within his mind.
[Rebate Coin is an exchangeable currency rewarded by the System upon each successful Spoil performed on a Bonded Target. (Host is currently only able to convert Rebate Coins into World Currency Denominations due to the System’s current Stage.)]
Surprised that the System actually responded to his thoughts, Bruce realized he didn’t need to verbally issue commands in order to ask questions.
Continuing his inspection, he scrolled through the available information.
[Affinity Level: This is the level of affection Bonded Targets/Potential Bonded Targets have toward the Host. (Only Targets with a Beauty Rating of ≥4.0 Stars can be Bonded.)]
{Examples: ...}
{Affinity Level ≤10 = Disgust}
{Affinity Level 20 = Neutral}
{Affinity Level 30 = Acquaintance}
{Affinity Level 40 = Friends}
{Affinity Level 50 = Budding Feelings}
{Affinity Level 60 = Deep Feelings}
{Affinity Level 70 = Infatuated}
{Affinity Level 80 = Madly in Love}
{Affinity Level 90 = Addicted}
{Affinity Level 99+ = Cooked}
Marveling at how simplified the System made things, Bruce wondered whether he’d really be able to increase women’s affection toward him so easily.
However, upon seeing the final category, he wasn’t entirely sure what the System meant by ’Cooked.’
Still, it didn’t take a genius to understand the implication.
Based on his experience with such things, it most likely referred to him rather than the Target.
And if that was the case, it sounded less like a reward and more like a recipe for disaster.
’Best to keep it at 90 at most, if possible. Just for safety precautions.’
Shuddering slightly at the thought, he decided not to dwell on it for now.
After all, he hadn’t even obtained a single Bonded Target yet.
Resuming his inspection, he continued reading.
[Spoiling Targets with sweets, gifts, affection, and so on will reward the Host with Rebate Coins. Bonus Rewards will also be issued for money spent on them, with a minimum of 10× Rebate or more depending on the Bonded Target’s Affinity Level.]
{Example: ...}
{Beauty with Affinity Level 50 = 10× Rebate}
{Beauty with Affinity Level 50 > 60 = 20× Rebate...}
Understanding the general concept, Bruce quickly grasped the System’s purpose and decided to focus on the more pressing issue at hand.
.....
Upon arriving, the two officers briefly inquired about the reason they had been called over.
However, upon realizing it was little more than a minor dispute between a few people, their interest visibly diminished.
Still, they listened due to standard procedure.
Having snapped out of his dazed state a while ago, the twiggy young man immediately began complaining about how Bruce had intentionally assaulted them while pretending it was all an accident.
Hearing the twig’s accusations, Bruce simply watched in silence.
Knowing that direct violence would have likely landed him in jail regardless of whether he was the victim or not, simply due to his lower social standing, Bruce had chosen a different approach.
Though his methods might have been questionable even by his own standards, it was the only solution he had managed to come up with on short notice.
Especially when he realized the duo were about to leave, at the time.
Not bothering to defend himself upon seeing the officers arrive, Bruce instead relied on the crowd.
Based on the memories he inherited, this world heavily favored the powerful and influential while placing blame on the poor whenever possible.
As such, arguing directly would likely achieve nothing.
Instead, he had intentionally made everything look like an accident.
Though public testimony could still be influenced by truly powerful individuals, Bruce doubted the twiggy young man belonged to that level of society.
And since the matter had not escalated too far, he figured the worst he’d receive would be a slap on the wrist.
Although the young man and Sydney had initially been uncertain whether everything was intentional, the smirk that had appeared on Bruce’s face when the officers arrived made them realize the truth.
That realization only infuriated them further.
After listening to their complaints, the older officer glanced at Bruce before looking back at twig for a man.
"It seems you really have a knack for finding trouble, don’t you, Joe?" Massaging his temples in frustration, the officer smirked. "If you keep this up, I might have no choice but to tell your ’Mummy’ about your rather ’unfilial’ behavior."
A chill immediately ran down Joe’s spine on hearing this, as he shuddered in barely concealed fear before awkwardly replying.
"H-Haha! There’s no need for that, Officer Monroe. We’ll be on our merry way now. Goodbye!"
The moment he finished speaking, Joe swiftly dragged the stunned Sydney away, who appeared to be completely bewildered by how quickly he had surrendered despite everything that had happened.
"Damn. Is his mum really that scary?"
Absent-mindedly, Bruce couldn’t help muttering the words as he watched Joe’s attitude perform a complete one-eighty at the mere mention of a single person.
Laughing, Officer Monroe shook his head in reply.
"Haha...! Nah. He’s just an annoying brat living off someone else’s wealth. A literal leech on society if you ask me."
It took Bruce a moment to understand what the officer meant. Only then did he realize that the ’Mummy’ used in his sentence earlier probably wasn’t the biological kind.
Meaning, Joe was most likely living as a kept man.
"Anyways, based on the brat’s history with others, I’m guessing that was your girl he just stole?" Officer Monroe paused briefly as he watched Bruce awkwardly scratch his head in response. "You’re a brave one, I’ll give you that. Most people either fight back or break down afterward. But you’re still able to act casually. You’re quite something, huh?"
Hearing this, Bruce wasn’t particularly surprised to learn that Joe had a history of stealing other people’s girlfriends. Instead, what surprised him was how casually the officer was speaking with him.
Even more surprising was the fact that the man seemed to be taking his side.
Thinking about it more carefully, however, it wasn’t difficult to understand why.
Police officers were often made up of those who either possessed no Ability, which was incredibly rare, or had weak, non-combat-oriented Abilities.
As a result, they were frequently looked down upon and forced to appease their superiors and those with greater influence just to support themselves and their families.
This often resulted in them being belittled, sometimes by people half their age.
Over time, many developed a quiet resentment toward the upper classes or those around them.
"Anyways, cheer up, kid. I’m sure you’ll find someone better. Take care, Bruce."
With that, Officer Monroe and his partner returned to their vehicle and drove away.
Leaving behind a puzzled Bruce, as he wondered.
’Hmm? Have I met him before? I don’t remember telling him my name.’
Unable to recall ever meeting the officer before, Bruce found himself confused.
However, with the inherited memories still chaotic and disorganized, recalling specific details remained difficult.
Before he could think of an explanation, another notification appeared, the sight of which immediately sent a cold sweat trickling-down his spine.
{Main Task Feature has been Initiated!]
[Task Title: First of Many]
{Description: Take the first of many steps on your ascent toward wealth and power}
{Task Requirement: Bond with your first Target of ≥4.0 Star Beauty Rating within 24 Hours.}
{Reward: Unlock Shop Feature}
{Punishment: Death!}
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