What She Lost, What I Gained: Money, Money, Money

To everyone, regardless of their own motives, I want to say the same thing—welcome!!!

"If you want to snatch something from a tiger's mouth, if you want to seize power and profit, if you want to create a new era, then go for it if you can!"

"This is the capital of wealth and power! The strong are revered, the rich are kings, and the poor are less than ants—but!"

The projection spreads out its arms, which are over 100 meters wide, as if to embrace the entire city.

"Opportunity! Opportunity is equal for everyone! Even a homeless person on the street can become a billionaire overnight! Even a powerful figure who can control a country can become a silent corpse in a single day!"

"Come on, ambitious dreamers! The gates of Business Capital are always open to you! And—"

His gaze suddenly froze.

It is us.

He was staring at us.

"Distinguished guests, I, Imba Azwraith Mingmei, Chairman and CEO of the Gray Starling Group, representing the pinnacle of the entire Spirit Star economy, welcome you!"

After saying this, the projection exploded into countless golden particles of light, which slowly dissipated into the air.

Tens of thousands of people were left looking at each other in bewilderment.

"What's going on...?"

"Distinguished guest? Who is he referring to?"

"To receive a personal welcome from the Chairman... just what kind of Big Figure deserves this treatment?"

"Speaking of which, the West Saint Continent was unified recently. Could it be that the newly emerged Blood Ash Emperor was involved?"

"Only those at the level of the continent's rulers are qualified to be personally welcomed by the Chairman."

Listening to these increasingly distorted rumors, I broke out in a cold sweat. Sorry, Nid- chan, you'll probably have to be our shield from now on.

However... it seems Yu He already knows we've arrived in Business Capital.

This Chairman with the bizarre name is not just welcoming us; he may very well be deliberately making a scene to notify the Extra Weapon that "the target has been reached."

Our battle has only just begun.

"Welcome."

On the top floor of a building, Ankri took a breath, removed the device from her head and the voice changer from her neck, and stepped away from the projector.

Broadcast complete.

Although she had performed this act countless times, she still found it difficult to adapt. The reason was simply that she, a mere secretary, dared to impersonate President. Even though it was Yu He's own instruction, she still felt an overwhelming sense of guilt.

"What a bunch of fools! Some people actually believe that the Grey Starlings have some kind of 'Chairman,' and they're spreading strange rumors..."

Ankri glanced at the jubilant crowd at the port through the spirit display screen and couldn't help but purse her lips.

How could anyone in Spirit Star's economic circle have a higher status than President Yu He? It's utterly ridiculous. This so-called Chairman with such a strange name as Xi·Imba·Azwraith·Mingmei has been a fictional character from the beginning, just a convenient facade. His majesty and aura were all acted out by his secretary, Ankri.

Such fictional figures are countless among the upper echelons of the Gray Starling Group. After all, even the entire board of directors is a fabrication, all because of Yu He's low profile. He never appears directly in the spotlight, much less loudly proclaim that Gray Starling is his. Given his status, he is certainly not merely a "President," nor is he a "Chairman" representing the board. He is a truly authoritative figure. If one had to assign him a title, it would probably be "the ruler."

As for why his confidants call him "President"... it's purely out of habit. Yu He himself said, "Don't worry too much about the title, just call him President."

"President..."

Just thinking about Yu He's face made Ankri's cheeks burn. Her feelings for the President had long surpassed the respect a secretary has for her superior—a fact she was well aware of. She still didn't understand why the President as unremarkable as her as his personal secretary. Her remaining girlish heart inevitably led her to fantasize, but she was very self-controlled. Being the President's secretary was already a blessing she might not even achieve in several lifetimes; what more could she ask for?

Yu He is always so reliable. He possesses extraordinary talent but never flaunts it. As a high-ranking member of the organization, he is always kind to people. He occupies the pinnacle of Human Society but never shows his face. Perhaps there is also a consideration for long-term interests as a businessman involved, but so what? Using various means to conceal oneself is ultimately a low-level tactic. Yu He never needs to deliberately hide himself; his true self is already impeccable.

But...

Once, after working for Yu He for so long, only once Yu He show a sad expression in front of Ankri. It was a deep, unforgettable pain that could not be faked or hidden.

"Loneliness... Everyone is lonely, Ankri."

"People spend their lives in indifference and alienation; even if they occasionally find genuine friendship or love, they can never truly understand others..."

The heartfelt words Yu He uttered back then still resonate in Ankri's ears today.

From that day on, Ankri made up her mind—never to let the President show that sad expression again.

"We!!! F***ing!!! Need!!! Money!!!"

With a bang, I slammed the passbook onto the table. However, the number on the open page was exactly our current savings, in Tong Coin.

There's no need to specify the exact figures, but in terms of Spirit Star's prices, we're now incredibly wealthy. Even if we stayed in presidential suites every day and ate those fancy dishes that weren't even as good as the stir-fried mung bean jelly sold at street stalls, we could still live a carefree life for quite some time.

But it's not enough! It's simply not enough! Even with so much money, we're only allowed to use the power we had a little over a year ago! It's simply not enough! And the Blood Blade Dynasty, our backer, can't support us because they still owe Yu He money!

"I know you're upset, Xiao Ye, but complaining all the time when you're in a dilemma is one of your biggest flaws," Hao Yue comforted me.

"Shut up, you're so noisy," Xiao Wu scolded me.

"... You dare say Xiao Ye is noisy?"

"... I'm just stating the facts, so what?"

Mmmmmmmmm~~~~ The two stared at each other, nose to nose, sparks flying where their eyes met.

What?! You say I'm a complainer? Aren't you guys just as bad? You get easily provoked.

Just then—bang!

"""What's wrong!!!!"""

The three of us leaped into the air simultaneously, my blood gushing from my body. I gripped the Haoyue Longsword horizontally, Xiao Wu held twin pistols, instantly entering combat mode!

And in front of our view-

"Uh, I just accidentally knocked over the basin..."

Little Ying scratched her face sheepishly and picked up a small metal basin used for rinsing rice.

"..."

Thump! Clang! Snap!

Little Ying had three large bumps on her head, one on top of the other.

"Ouch! Why did you hit me... Waaaaah..."

"Don't create tension!"

"Aren't you the ones who are nervous?!"

Little Ying swung her arms back and forth in frustration. I can't believe I'm being criticized by her one day. I'm so resentful.

Indeed, ever since our near-death experience last time, we've all become a bit paranoid and our vigilance has increased considerably.

That was a complete disaster. Xiao Wu and I were one thing, but even the usually quick-witted Haoyue seemed to have lost her mind. If it weren't for the Sick Spider and Little Ying's mischievous sneaking out, we probably would have been wiped out inside the Sea Beast. Just thinking about it makes me shudder.

I can't live with myself if I don't reward the Sick Spider.

"Thanks to the little spider..."

Knead, knead, knead, knead~

"Hey! Is your reward just a head pat?"

"This is the ultimate move of a male protagonist in a visual novel, you're lucky to have enjoyed it so many times."

I'll shred you! I'm much stronger than you now!

Ignoring her, I continued to rub and rub. Her originally pale face was now flushed, and she was moaning comfortably. Little brat, she said no but her body was quite obedient.

Oh no, oh no, this is really awful! This tiny body and soft skin feel amazing to the touch; I'm about to become a lolicon.

Of course, after the incident, I explained the matter of the Sick Spider to Haoyue and the others. They were initially surprised, but now they have accepted the reality.

"Stop messing around! Think about what you're going to do next!" The Sick Spider broke free from my embrace and said coldly.

"What do you mean, what should we do?"

"How are you going to make money? You were just yelling about needing money."

"... compensated dating?"

"..."

"Stop, stop, stop! I was just kidding!"

"Seriously... Putting aside defeating Yu He and all that, first of all—"

She looked around.

"--At least we need a decent place to live!"

I followed her gaze and looked around.

Um...

Countless colored lights and searchlights.

The Deep Sea "sky" illuminated by city lights.

Streetlights and car headlights moving along the road.

Fireworks explode intermittently in the distance.

"The scenery is quite nice!"

"No problem my foot! This is clearly the rooftop!!!"

"Don't reveal the truth..."

We are currently in a shack on the rooftop of a high-end hotel on the third floor of the Business Capital.

Yes, it was indeed a shack, the kind where homeless people live under bridges. I used blood crystals to create the basic outline, and they split up and, under the cover of darkness, collected some cloth and sheet metal from the alleys and streets to lay on it, making do with what could barely fit us into a "home." The only piece of furniture inside the Sin Annihilation was a rusty iron table that Zui Mie had picked up from somewhere, and the bed was made of old newspapers that Hao Yue had painstakingly cleaned and spread on the smooth blood crystals.

Sin Annihilation had suggested using her flesh to make a mattress or something, but that was too grotesque and was therefore rejected.

At first, we wanted to bring the boat down and live on it, but that "Fiser" also stayed on our small boat for a few minutes. Who knows if she might have done something to the boat? Anyway, we didn't dare to stay there, so we had to give up.

I feel so miserable.

Actually, with our strength, even though we're currently under strict restrictions, it would still be quite easy for us to forcibly seize a presidential suite in this hotel.

The problem is Yu He and our contract.

As mentioned above, "This is a different story during combat, but in peacetime one must never do anything out of line."

How exactly is something considered out of line defined?

Widespread vandalism in the city goes without saying, but what if petty theft is considered "outrageous"? What about stealing a house to live in?

None of us want to break the law.

The surrounding area was brightly lit and decorated with lanterns; even the most decadent cities like Las Vegas couldn't compare to it by a tenth.

Business Capital, Business Capital, the most prosperous and extravagant city in the world, truly lives up to its reputation.

Just the fact that we reached the third level immediately after emerging from the Sea Beast already made us... feel the difference between being rich and poor.

I need money.

We desperately need money.

However, due to contractual constraints, the money can only come from two sources.

After killing the Extra Weapon, steal their money as loot.

2. Earn it yourself

"..." what to do?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~·

I have quite a few Monthly Votes today. I wonder if I can turn the tide and get back into the top ten?