https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-55-Thirty-Years-West-of-the-River/12969560/
Chapter 54: The Final Card
Chapter 54: The Final Card
(Modified)
Isn't that just nonsense? Who the hell would want to sell their life to you?
Although he wanted to refuse outright, the other party's ability was that of a forced purchase. The way they had just pulled him over, even being able to buy something as abstract as "distance", left him with no ability to refuse.
Looking at the toad before him, whose smile was rather creepy, Lyon had no choice but to face its dense compound eyes, gritting his teeth as he questioned:
"Selling my life to you... I suppose it's not impossible, but the price you're offering is just too low!"
"Oh?"
Hearing Lyon's response, the golden toad, who had only intended to toy with the human and chat with an "old friend", tilted its head and smiled, retorting:
"Then, what do you think you're worth?"
"..."
I think I'm priceless, right? No amount of money would make me want to sell!
However, despite this truth, seeing the golden toad's mocking gaze, Lyon knew that saying this would likely be useless. In the end, he swallowed his words and changed his approach, saying:
"I think... many things cannot be measured by money."
"So, you're not only questioning my judgment of value, but also my understanding of this world?"
Upon hearing Lyon's words, the golden toad, who had been acting quite gentle, suddenly turned cold. Its enormous compound eyes slightly concave, countless tiny spheres all focused on Lyon, staring at him intently as it spoke with deliberate emphasis:
"Money is all-powerful."
"From the first seashell used as currency, with its shine and beauty, it conquered humanity. Money and the wealth it represents have become the goal of all intelligent life!
Not just in your tiny kingdom, but also the merfolk in the deepest parts of the boundless ocean, and even the moon's inhabitants. Wherever intelligent life exists, money is an indispensable part of their world.
Only money is the cornerstone of this world's operation! And your insignificant lives are merely the most pitiful things it can buy!"
"Sigh... never mind, what's the point of telling you all this?"
The golden toad shook its head as it glanced at Lyon, who didn't immediately refute but was clearly still thinking of a retort.
"Even if you're a chosen servant of the great devil, in the end, you're just a servant. You don't need to understand these things at all; just obediently accept your fate... Come on! Let me appraise your insignificant life!"
As the golden toad spoke, the reflections in its eyes trembled, quickly replaced by countless new, chaotic scenes.
The innocent childhood, the happy days spent on his parents' laps, the wailing after losing them, followed by vast stretches of dark emptiness.
After the darkness, there was half a year of high fever, bedridden and sickly, spending most of the family's savings on medical treatment, and then the desperate struggle for money.
Painting the villa's walls under the scorching sun, using his frail body to carry packages at the docks, holding a two-meter-long custom-made cleaning rod, and laboriously scrubbing the ferry blackened by the chimney's soot.
When the river froze and ships stopped running, he took over the abandoned newsstand by the roadside, selling newspapers in the cold winter, sometimes padding his shoes to disguise his age, sneaking into various factories with relaxed management, doing odd jobs that didn't require a resume, earning a pittance...
Sadly, after two years of hard work, the poor little family in the images not only didn't become wealthy but appeared increasingly empty. The occasional glimpse of a girl's face grew paler, her coughing worsened, and the two children with obscured features began to lose weight...
"A boring life."
In less than a second, after witnessing over five thousand days and nights, the golden toad shook its head, ready to "cut off" the scene, but suddenly caught a glimpse of bright red hair.
"What the hell?! That woman?!"
Her eyes widened in shock, interrupting the subsequent scene. The Golden Toad's expression darkened as she turned her head towards the ram's head in the shopping bag, disbelief written all over her face.
"Damn it! You actually collaborated with the Cleanup Bureau?!"
"Nonsense! What are you talking about?"
Upon hearing the Golden Toad's interrogation, the Black Sheep, having fallen into such a pitiful state, could no longer keep up the act.
It stuck out its tongue, licked the shopping bag twice, revealing its angry eyes, and glared at the familiar toad across from it.
"I didn't collaborate with the Cleanup Bureau! I'm just temporarily staying there, and in exchange for regular extreme evil sacrifices, I casually bestow them with a little power."
"You're not even collaborating... Are you hired by them? Or... Have you completely fallen into the hands of the Cleanup Bureau and become their lackey?"
"..."
"You're the lackey!"
The Black Sheep, its wound reopened, instantly lost its temper and started cursing.
"I'm just temporarily staying there, you idiot! Do you understand? Are the holes on both sides of your brain plugged? Damn it! It's only because I haven't recovered yet that you, you damn toad, are waiting for me!"
Hmph, lackey!
After a disdainful glance at the Black Sheep, the Golden Toad ignored its furious curses and turned her head back. Her large compound eyes stared at Leon, and her voice turned cold as she asked,
"So... Are you from the Cleanup Bureau?"
"Yes!"
Understanding the Golden Toad's implication, Leon realized she was likely an enemy of the Cleanup Bureau. He decided to take a bold approach and lifted the Black Sheep, shaking it as he taunted Leon,
"Now, even though you look down on it, when you end up in the same situation, turned into an anomaly, I guarantee your fate will be ten times more miserable than its!"
"What?!"
The Golden Toad, with just a pair of eyes, seemed to have seen through Leon's situation. Leon's breath hitched as he couldn't help but recall the Red-Haired Bureau Chief's assessment of him.
Could it be... that I'm indeed an easy-to-understand person?
"Hmph, I guess I was right."
After noticing the confusion in Leon's eyes, the Golden Toad couldn't help but smile wider. She pointed at the small mountain of gold coins in front of her and said,
"I'm sorry, but I don't enjoy being physically aggressive. Instead, I prefer fair and reasonable transactions, directly buying the lives I want to harvest. Your trump card probably won't be of much use.
Take these thirty thousand gold coins and hand over your life to me. For your uninteresting life, this is the most generous price I can offer."
(End of Chapter)
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