Chapter 3 : Rocky
Even Ken wanted to jump on the deal.
Who wouldn't? After all, it was a good deal.
To get a house that would normally sell for at least seven million dollars at a rate of four million was not an opportunity that one would allow to slip.
The Hargreaves were trapped in Zain's chokehold and were forced to eventually drop their high shoulders and give into his request.
They agreed to buy the house from him.
Seeing how desperate the Hargreaves had grown as he spoke to Ken on the phone, Zain smiled and cut the call after he got what he wanted.
"Fine then. I will sell to y'all because we are family," Zain clearly made a jest of them with such an aloof response.
Zain was going to take the money from them without any regrets, and finally he can get to work.
After the Hargreaves pay four million for this house, they would be broke and that was exactly what Zain was aiming for—their bankruptcy.
Without money, one would not have any purchasing power to buy anything.
Purchasing power was going to be a very important factor that would determine a person's chances of survival.
Few days before the onset of the apocalypse, an announcement from the ruling government would be broadcast all over the place, advising the citizens to stock up on things they would need.
In his past life, those who did not have the purchasing power to get things before the end of the world suffered terribly.
The Hargreaves gathered around and discussed the issue briefly while Zain waited patiently. He wasn't in a hurry for anything, they were.
If eventually they decided against paying, he could just call Ken again.
"Ahem," Caroline coughed. Being the major spokesperson of the family, she walked up to Zain again and this time with her phone in hand.
Zain smiled, knowing full well that she was about to drain the family's savings down to almost nothing.
"Put your account details here," she requested as she handed her phone over to Zain.
Zain picked up his own phone and pressed a few buttons before placing both phones edge to edge.
*Ding*
[Name: Zain Hargreaves]
[Account number: XXX-XXXX-XXX]
Caroline took her phone back and filled in the rest of the details needed for a successful transfer.
*Ding*
Zain's phone soon chimed. An additional four million dollars had landed into his bank account.
[Amount received: $4,000,000]
[Sender: House Hargreaves]
Zain confirmed the transfer and smiled, much to the despair of the others.
"Thank you all," Zain said. "I will go with you to the State Ministry of Housing to transfer ownership officially whenever you are ready."
Caroline nodded. "That's just fine."
"When are you leaving?" a voice that has been quiet for so long finally spoke up.
Michael Hargreaves finally grew a pair of balls.
"Now that we own the place, you should get your things and get out!"
Zain looked at his stepbrother with a narrowed gaze and an eerie smile on his face. "Look who just grew a pair of testicles."
He then pointed to the side of his head. "What if I vanish after leaving? How do you get ownership? Try to get smarter, little brother. Trust me, it will save your ass one day."
"Tch!" Michael scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "Just take all your trash and get out of here! Including that stupid pet of yours. I don't want my beautiful wife catching some animal disease later."
Pet?
Zain's mind snapped in an instant.
Did his stepbrother just say pet?
That means…
Zain was suddenly overjoyed at the realisation.
'That's right! Rocky is still alive at this point!' he thought excitedly, almost laughing out in joy.
As much as he wanted to rush into the house and check the rooms to confirm that Rocky was really there, Zain had to handle his family first.
"Give me a few days and I will get all my things out of here."
"Three days. That's all we will give you."
Zain nodded in agreement. "That's more than enough."
The Hargreaves departed, letting the young man be.
As soon as he was sure that they had all gone, Zain rushed into the room where Rocky usually stays.
Bursting the door open, he saw him—his longlife friend whom he thought he wouldn't see again.
Zain dropped to his knees as tears gathered in his eyes as he stared at the rottweiler who had just been startled awake.
The dog hurried to his side and Zain hugged him, giving him a kiss on the head as he caressed his neck.
"I missed you, boy!" he said, laughing while trying to wipe his tears.
Rocky barked and started to lick his master all over, making Zain laugh even more.
The Hargreaves had killed Rocky in Zain's past life to save resources for themselves after the apocalypse came, and not long after that event, they also left Zain to struggle alone.
He blamed himself for being too weak and afraid to protect his best friend and eventually, he suffered for it.
However, not this time.
Zain was not going to make that mistake again in this life.
"Don't worry, boy. No one will hurt you ever again."
Rocky continued to lick his master and bark.
"I swear it, Rocky. I will protect you."
After their little reunion, Zain took Rocky out of the room to feed it while also starting to pack.
His family had given him 3 days to get out of the house but he hoped he would be able to leave even before that.
As he packed, Zain looked around and a sense of belonging tried to tie him back to this place.
He had spent years living in this house, it was only natural that he was attached to it.
He also considered how he would move the furniture and his appliances, and where he would move it to.
As he contemplated his options, a mechanical sound ringed in his mind.
*Ding*
[Assessing subject…]
*Ding*
[Subject: Zain Hargreaves]
[Congratulations Zain Hargreaves!]
[You are now host to the Infinite Inventory System]