The So-Called Reason

A while later.

Watching Mr. and Mrs. Shando finish signing the documents, Xi Shenlian said nothing more.

On the spot, he had the lawyers complete the transfer using the devices they carried with them.

During the process, since it was a large transaction, March Bank even called to confirm.

But overall, everything went smoothly.

45 billion Yen was directly transferred to the other party.

Of course, taxes still had to be paid. But that had nothing to do with Xi Shenlian.

After all was done, just before turning to leave, Ms. Shando thought about it and stopped her impulse to walk straight out, choosing instead to ask:

"Though it's a bit presumptuous..."

"Lord Xi, could you tell me why you paid such a huge price to buy that apartment building?"

Hearing this, not only Mr. Shando beside her, but even the lawyers and the chef all showed curiosity.

45 billion Yen—what did that even mean?

Though this world had a larger population and total economy than Xi Shenlian's previous world, meaning more and wealthier rich people, even so, this sum was still a massive amount of money that even a well-run large corporation would take very seriously.

Out in the world, it was more than enough to drive thousands of desperadoes to risk their lives.

Calculating by the largest denomination of the national currency—one ten thousand Yen bill weighing about 2 grams—One hundred million Yen equaled ten thousand ten-thousand-Yen bills, or 20,000 grams, 20 kilograms. 45 billion Yen equaled 45 times 20 kilograms, or 9,000 kilograms, 9 tons—the weight of several cars. Just the weight alone could crush dozens of ordinary people.

Even if you found a ten-person gang of robbers and let them carry the money with all their might, they couldn't haul that much—they'd need a truck.

So, everyone present couldn't understand why Xi Shenlian would spend such a fortune, at a 29-times premium, to buy a run-of-the-mill apartment building. With that money, he could almost buy an ultra-luxury skyscraper!

Facing her question, facing their curiosity, Xi Shenlian chose not to dodge the answer. He simply opened his right hand, spreading his pale palm toward Ms. Shando, and said:

"There's nothing to hide about the reason."

"The only reason I bought that place is... I want to tear it down."

At that moment, faced with the completely unexpected answer, everyone froze.

"?"

They didn't understand what he meant.

But Xi Shenlian continued in the same tone, speaking to Ms. Shando:

"You should know very well that my past life was a failure—not even mediocre. The problems I was born with used to affect me constantly, making me see hallucinations and do inexplicable things, turning me into an outcast in others' eyes..."

"I won't deny it—those are not pleasant memories..."

"But now, I'm different. I've left that stage behind, broken free from the troubles that plagued me for years, and welcomed a new life and a fresh start."

"Still, past memories are real, after all. So, I want to destroy the vessels of those unpleasant memories."

"And that apartment building was one of them."

"Inside that cramped room, I spent two years lost and confused. Many times, even when I tried my hardest, I accomplished nothing—couldn't even afford a meal, just barely scraping together the rent to avoid sleeping on the streets..."

With that.

Xi Shenlian glanced at his own outstretched right palm, looking at the skin that had turned fair, no longer bearing the marks of heavy physical labor.

Then he withdrew it.

Pressed it beneath his chin:

"That's about the gist of it."

"I want to destroy some of my not-so-great memories."

He spoke calmly but earnestly:

"Maybe you can't fully understand."

"But I think you can see this as me being willful, doing some things I want to do on a whim."

"Not for any benefit, not for any clear goal—just pure willfulness."

To be honest.

He didn't dislike Ms. Shando.

He even respected her somewhat.

Because in those two years, she had never raised his rent, never pressed him for it, and never looked down on him for his past shortcomings.

So.

He didn't mind chatting with her.

Nor did he mind giving her a small favor.

Like buying her property at a high price, ensuring she'd have a solid material foundation in the future.

But... overall, that was where it ended.

He didn't need her to fully grasp his thoughts.

Nor did he need her to be a real acquaintance or friend.

They probably wouldn't see each other much from now on.

Maybe.

Today would be the last time.

The bond went only this far.

Right then.

After hearing Xi Shenlian's thoughts.

She couldn't help but fall into silence...

Because Xi Shenlian's reasoning was beyond her.

Spending hundreds of billions of Yen on something like this?

She was deeply puzzled.

Even utterly bewildered.

Still.

Looking at his serious expression, which didn't seem fake.

She could only sigh helplessly, then turn and leave.

Now.

She had lost the place she used to live.

Lost the big apartment her parents had left her.

Only the empty, money-stinking hundreds of billions of Yen remained as scant consolation...

For a moment.

There was a bleak, autumn-wind feeling.

Yeah.

Painful, disoriented.

After she left.

Xi Shenlian glanced at the signed documents in front of him, then looked away, treating them as nothing but boring scrap paper.

He turned straight to the lawyer he'd hired and said:

"Next, I'll trouble you to find people to relocate the remaining tenants in that apartment building."

"Give each tenant ten times the normal compensation."

"It's best to get this wrapped up within today."

"Tomorrow morning, I'll have people sent over to tear that place down."

"Likewise, during this time, just calculate your legal fees at ten times the usual rate—consider it compensation for running extra errands on my behalf."

One yen, one hundred million yen, ten billion yen.

None of it made any difference to Xi Shenlian anymore.

So.

To get them to finish up quickly, he didn't mind throwing in a little extra sweetener.

Hearing that they'd be getting ten times the usual fee.

The lawyers' expressions immediately sharpened, as if a surge of motivation coursed through them:

"Understood, we'll arrange it right away!"

Of course, more importantly, they were still trying to curry favor with Xi Shenlian.

Having arrived over ten minutes earlier than Mr. and Mrs. Shando, they had all personally witnessed Xi Shenlian's eating speed—a way of eating that ordinary people couldn't manage.

So, in their minds, they'd already made some guesses about Xi Shenlian's identity, and they dared not offend him in the slightest.