A New Urban Legend
Peter was extremely excited, but at the same time, he was also filled with a strong sense of fear, because there had been widespread absences in his class that day, and the reason was quite simple.
Those classmates who had bullied him were all stripped naked and hung on lampposts.
I heard that everyone had a sign on them that said "Transaction Completed".
While this wasn't particularly surprising given the recent surge in crime in Bekeland, Peter knew perfectly well that it all stemmed from the coin he had tossed.
After the man disappeared, he returned home with the coin. Having witnessed the surreal events, his youthful, somewhat delusional side was ignited. Back home, he tried to find the coin's origin, but no country had ever issued such a strange coin.
He considered using the coin to ask for money, or to learn supernatural abilities, but whenever he saw the heart and gold bar on either side of the scales on the coin, he suppressed those thoughts.
It must be said that in Victoria, a country with a strong religious atmosphere, there are many parables related to making deals with the devil. As for why the man was judged to be a devil... in the eyes of Christianity believers, only Yahweh can perform miracles, and those who use supernatural powers other than Yahweh can be called devils.
Peter originally intended to keep the coin as a memento of this unusual experience, but in the following days, under the bullying of his classmates, he finally made a choice.
Humans are sometimes strange creatures. When they have no power to resist, they can endure any painful experience, but once they have the means to resist, their tolerance drops dramatically.
What was usually just routine bullying ignited Peter's hatred this time. In a moment of impulse, he threw a note that read, "I hope those who bullied me will be punished," along with a coin, into Storage Box number 13 at Princeton Station. The result was that the next morning, all the classmates who had bullied him had turned into lamppost ornaments.
What happened to Peter was not an isolated incident. Since the arrest of the serial killer codenamed "Shadow Ghost," a new "criminal" has emerged in Bekeland.
Underage children are hung from lampposts, cars parked in other people's parking spaces suddenly disappear, and even prisoners die mysteriously. What connects all of this is that a sign that reads "Transaction Completed" can always be found next to the victims.
As time went on, the story slowly began to unfold, and a new Urban Legend started circulating on Bekeland's social media.
In Bekeland, you might occasionally encounter an Asian youth seeking your help. If you help him, you'll receive a beautifully crafted coin. Wrap the coin in a piece of paper with your wish written on it, drop it into the spot he tells you to place, and he'll grant your wish.
From finding lost cats and dogs, healing the sick and saving lives, to assassinations, revenge, kidnappings, and prison breaks, it seems there's nothing they can't do. But conversely, not every wisher gets the result they want.
For example, a man apparently made a wish to have more money than he could ever spend in his lifetime. The day after he made the wish, tons of gold and a sign that said "Transaction Completed" appeared in his house. But before he could celebrate for long, news broke that the Central Bank of Bekeland had been robbed, and the man was arrested in a very short time. It was his confession that made the story of the wishing coin truly spread.
However, as the rumors spread and the "transaction completed" sign appeared more and more frequently, people gradually summarized some patterns.
That is the "legitimacy" of the transaction itself. However, this legitimacy does not seem to be based on Victoria law, but rather on a very simple "moral concept." In the words of Yan State, it is "repay kindness with kindness, repay injustice with justice, pay for murder with a life, and repay debts with money."
If one conforms to this moral code, even infiltrating the most prestigious prison in Victoria and assassinating a criminal with a lenient sentence would be easy. However, if one desires what one does not deserve, it will bring disastrous consequences.
Despite this, the coin's value still attracted considerable attention. Some people spent a lot of money to buy it but failed, while others searched the streets for Asian youths, which made life much better for Asians in Bekeland for a time.
As the instigator of everything, Feng Xue arrived at the public lockers at St. George's Station with great excitement, checking if anyone had made a wish. For each coin, he told them the different drop-off locations. Although it was a bit troublesome, it could minimize the chance of being staked out.
"Oh, there aren't any... It seems the person who got the coin this time has more ideas!" Finding no coins in the locker, Feng Xue wasn't too concerned. Whether the other person used the coins to make a wish or sold them to someone else at a high price, it was still a manifestation of "value."
And indeed, his conjecture was proven true, for just last night he created his first true Phantom Object—
Name: Phantom Object - Handmade Coin
Elements: [Trade], [Currency], [Rare], [Valuable]
Description: A beautifully handcrafted coin, given to anyone with a concept of "transaction," can be used to request that they do something within their capabilities for you.
Note: Remember, a transaction is just a transaction.
Undoubtedly, this is a seemingly ordinary yet highly practical Phantom Object. However, just like those who suffer misfortune due to excessive greed in Feng Xue's coin Weird Tale, this coin becomes impoverished and powerless once it goes beyond "mutual consent."
As the introduction states, a transaction is just a transaction, not brainwashing, and cannot truly distort a person's perception. Even if Feng Xue forcibly buys a top-tier Phantom Object from someone using coins, the other party can simply throw the coins back and buy the Phantom Object back.
Regardless, Feng Xue's success is undoubtedly a good start. He not only created his first true Phantom Object artifact, but also learned how to develop Manufacturing Type Tag such as [Chef] and [Book Copyist].
As long as he follows this line of thought, he will eventually be able to create Phantom Object and secret manuals without relying on Golden Finger —as long as enough people believe that what he copied is a true manual.
"Unfortunately, this is Victoria. Giving out secret manuals on the street not only has no market, but you're also likely to be seen as a pervert with LT fetishes."
Feng Xue grumbled twice in dissatisfaction, then suddenly Spiritual Light struck her, and she immediately headed towards the supermarket.
If someone is experiencing health problems adapting to the climate and environment of Victoria, what about Medicinal Cuisine with special effects?
It's the devil's cuisine, so it's normal for it to have some magical effects, isn't it?
The claim about inferior coins has nothing to do with copper content. The main issue is the manufacturing method: the design on the coin is ground off first, then it's re-engraved. This makes the coin thinner, resulting in a poor feel and lack of quality. To put it another way, which looks more like currency: a thick coin or a small metal disc? Even if the disc were pure gold, it would still be called a gold leaf, not a gold coin, right?
So the protagonist's solution was to use a furnace or something similar to melt down and Reforge the penny coins, ensuring they had the right thickness and a good feel.