A Little Interlude in the Current Era, Part Three

"What happens to the money left after purchasing the equipment and instruments?"

"..."

Eden silently watched Pardo, Pardo suddenly seemed to understand something, and her excited smile gradually disappeared.

"... That's it? All gone?"

"It's all gone. Four and a half million isn't even enough to buy all the instruments I want. I can only pick two or three." Eden sighed.

"..."

Pardo wore an expression of incomprehension, while Sakura and Rin were already trembling.

"Well enough."

Vil-V remained relatively calm. At first, she was only shocked by Eden's speed at making money. If she really didn't care about morality, she could make money much faster than Eden.

"It's actually acceptable, Pardo. Think positively; it's an investment."

Liu Bai could actually understand why Pardo couldn't understand.

This amount was enough for Pardo to retire from crime and live a comfortable life, but now Eden has proven with his actions that this amount of money is utterly useless.

Pardo's worldview is starting to crumble.

Of course, it's only because Vil-V has absolutely no idea about Eden's potential that she's capable of doing so right now; otherwise, Vil-V worldview would have collapsed.

In Liu Bai's memory, at the peak of Eden's career, he would have been contemptible to hang himself if a single digital album didn't sell more than a billion copies, let alone concert tickets or live electronic tickets.

A national idol? No, no, no, Eden is practically a civilization-level idol. A single concert or album release is essentially equivalent to half a civilization making an offering to Eden.

If a civilization has a population of 10 billion, and half of them make offerings to Eden in various ways, on average, each person would make offerings of 100 each time. You can do the multiplication, right? And in reality, this number will only be higher, not lower.

This explains why Eden stopped making money after the Seventh Honkai Eruption, but could still casually throw away gems, invest in Vil-V, and even fund the construction of the Golden Courtyard all by Eden himself.

Moreover, as a civilization-level idol, Eden isn't afraid of being targeted. After all, if Eden were to lead the charge and stir up trouble... In addition, Eden can provide people with a huge amount of happiness, and he himself is virtuous. In this situation, only an idiot would dare to pick a fight with Eden. Besides, there are taxes and other miscellaneous things involved. It's not like Eden eats it all up by himself. Many people are also overfed. So if it weren't for the Honkai, Eden's status as a civilization idol might have been able to continue indefinitely.

If Vil-V had any understanding of Eden's potential, she would be here now, clinging to its coattails.

But this silly child clearly doesn't have a clear understanding...

"It's done."

The topic of money caused many people present to fall silent. During this time, Eden also prepared two plates of fried rice and placed them in front of Vil-V.

"Please enjoy, and remember to tell me your thoughts after you finish."

"Thoughts?" Vil-V felt like something was off, but hunger drove Vil-V to pick up a spoon and scoop a mouthful into her mouth.

"Ugh! Eden! What kind of pig swill is this?!"

Vil-V almost spat out her drink.

"When did you think I was a good cook?" Eden asked casually.

Don't you know that Liu Bai usually does the cooking?

"If you're such a bad cook, what are you doing in the kitchen wearing an apron? Are you trying to stick scallions in your nose like a pig?!"

Vil-V struggled to swallow her food and retorted rather irritably.

"And didn't you used to be in the kitchen too?"

"Because I'm making pudding." Eden took out two plates of small puddings and placed them in front of Sakura and Rin. "As for before... I was helping Liu Bai."

Eden's dessert-making skills are quite good.

"Don't look so irritable. It's good that you can eat at all; at least you don't need to have your stomach pumped."

At this moment, Liu Bai also brought out two bowls of noodles.

He had to say something on Eden's behalf: Eden's cooking was just ordinary and not very tasty, but it posed no danger whatsoever.

"Who would eat a meal that requires stomach pumping?"

Vil-V gave a slight twitch at the corner of her mouth.

"That's hard to say." Liu Bai smiled at Vil-V, which made Vil-V feel inexplicably terrified.

"... Food poisoning?"

"Yes."

"It's not a big deal, is it?" Vil-V felt that getting food poisoning once or twice in one's life was a very normal experience.

"The problem is that some people are able to consistently produce highly toxic food—using perfectly normal ingredients."

"..."

This is getting more and more terrifying!

"For example?"

"Mobius".

"..."

That guy can't even cook?

After thinking about it, Vil-V felt that this might actually be quite reasonable.

However, on the other hand, although she doesn't cook much, her cooking skills are passable.

How about... taking some time to practice your cooking skills?

Vil-V still believes in concepts like "use it or lose it."

No matter what, don't be on the same level as Mobius!

Chapter 338 A Minor Interlude in Modern Civilization (Part 3)

"So, what can I do now?"

After eating a bowl of delicious noodles to fill her stomach, Sakura asked Liu Bai again.

The current situation, where it seems like one can have a comfortable life without having to do anything, makes this pink-haired girl, who decided to support herself and her sister with her own hands back in the Far East, quite uneasy.

She was eager to find something she could do.

"You're capable of... learning to sing?"

Although Liu Bai intended to use the idol company as a front to lure the two sisters in, to be honest, Liu Bai didn't really expect the two sisters to be capable of anything.

What pressure could there be in supporting two freeloaders? Especially since they're future Flame-Chasers like Sakura, feeding them well is hardly a loss.

"Singing? Like Miss Eden?"

Sakura pondered for a moment, then a rare shy expression appeared on her face.

"This... could you please choose another one?"

Sakura has absolutely no confidence in singing, let alone letting others listen to her sing.

Although she had never tried it, just thinking about it made Sakura want to crawl into a hole and disappear.

As a traditional samurai woman, Sakura was still somewhat reluctant to appear in public—of course, now Sakura realized that this seemed to be an idol company.

On the other hand, Sakura initially prepared for assembly line work, so she wasn't mentally prepared for the sudden switch to singing.

"If it's absolutely necessary... I can give it a try?"

Sakura then changed her mind, saying that given the current situation, it wouldn't be good for her to be picky.

"Need not."

Eden rejected Liu Bai's suggestion outright and looked at Sakura with a serious expression.

"How about you be my model?"

"Model?" Sakura paused for a moment, then realized something and blushed. "You mean the kind of job where you have to wear revealing clothes and walk the runway?"

Eden sighed, "Strange preconceived notions—but all I need is for you to help me try on clothes—you remember those mall mannequins, right?"

Eden really didn't want to put it so crudely, but it seemed difficult for her to communicate effectively with Sakura otherwise.

Sakura thought about the mannequins she had seen when shopping in malls before, and suddenly it dawned on her.

Oh, this thing is also a model.

"No problem."

Sakura had absolutely no objection to this job.

Although it's a bit embarrassing to say this, Sakura likes this kind of brainless work.

"In that case, Sakura, if you have time at other times, please take a look at Vil-V and Pardo."

Seeing that the two had reached an agreement, Liu Bai casually added.

"Tickling?" Sakura was slightly taken aback, but then she understood that Liu Bai meant for her to supervise the two of them in their training—Sakura always had an unimaginable sensitivity when it came to martial arts.

"That's no problem either." Sakura nodded in agreement. This job might be easier for her than being a model.

"Hey! Aren't you going to ask for my opinion?"

Vil-V is still a bit rebellious... Just then, Liu Bai noticed that Vil-V had already finished both plates of fried rice.

That's amazing!

"What do you think, Vil-V?" Liu Bai readily agreed.

"Of course I'm against it! What kind of training do I need? Besides Sakura, who here has a stronger grip than me?"

Vil-V wasn't joking at all. She was a mechanic, and tightening screws with a large wrench was routine for her. In her opinion, she didn't need to practice.

"Oh, objection overruled."

Liu Bai directly demonstrated what hegemony is.

"You...!"

"What do you mean 'you'? Tomorrow, besides architectural design, submit me another schedule. The schedule must include at least five hours of study time, about two hours of exercise time, and flexible work hours."

Upon hearing this, Vil-V's expression softened slightly. There was still plenty of time for studying, so this arrangement was barely acceptable—it was just that Liu Bai's domineering expression was really annoying!

"Pardo? Don't you want to say anything?" Although Vil-V accepted the suggestion in her heart, she still nudged Pardo, trying to stir things up.

"We... we do whatever the boss tells us to do." Pardo scratched her head.

She's already very satisfied with her current life. Is adding more exercise time a problem? Absolutely not.

"Next, I'll find Ling a school. Hmm, I'll have Mobius help arrange that."

Liu Bai glanced at the bell.

"As for Eden and me, let's strike while the iron is hot and continue to expand our influence."

"I just bought a new piano too." Eden's face lit up with anticipation.

In just a few words, Liu Bai had arranged things for everyone present.

"Alright, that's all for now. Meeting adjourned!"

Anti-Entropy, Far East Branch.

"Wendy, what are we having for lunch?"

Himeko lay lazily on the bed and asked the girl who was sweeping the floor with a broom.

"Hmm... the cafeteria?" Wendy looked thoughtful. "Anyway, even if we're considering what to eat, Himeko- sensei, you still need to get up first, right?"

Wendy looked at the red-haired woman who had wrapped herself up in the blanket with a sense of helplessness.

"Okay, then let's order takeout."

Himeko took out her phone, fiddled with it for a bit, and then handed it to Wendy.

"I've finished ordering. Wendy, could you keep an eye on things for me and pick them up for me while you're at it?"

"... Himeko- sensei, you're really too downcast, aren't you?"

"Ah... Wendy, you don't understand, this is what happens when you get middle-aged."

You're only 28 years old, what kind of middle-aged person are you!