Special Edition Luck Potion

"Lady Tsunade..." Shizune lowered her head in shame at such blatant scamming of the Hokage.

"Keep opening them. There are still four left." Tsunade did not mind at all.

At the height of her gambling addiction, it was not as though she had never done anything even less dignified.

Open miraculous goods, trade them to Konoha for money, then keep opening.

Until those old fogies understood the value of these Jars.

By gathering the strength of the entire village, they would surely be able to open something that could Resurrect Nawaki.

That was Tsunade's current plan.

She was determined to Resurrect Nawaki.

Shen Mo could vaguely sense Tsunade's resolve. Naturally, that was a good thing for him.

Then he would give them something slightly better.

Shizune continued opening the remaining four Jars.

A bottle of Body-Tempering Pills, an Experience Aura for medical surgery, a medicinal herb from a cultivation world, and a small bottle of potion that could bring good luck.

The last one was the key.

"A potion that brings good luck?" Tsunade looked at the small bottle of transparent liquid.

"Miss Shizune, perhaps you are someone blessed by the Omniscient and Omnipotent Merchant Guild." Shen Mo sighed. "Five Level 2 Chests, and every one of them contained decent goods. Especially this one—the Special Edition Luck Potion. Drink it, and for the next hour, the user's luck will be enhanced!"

This was not the Luck Potion from the world of Harry Potter.

It had been customized by Shen Mo.

Its value was still kept at the lowest price of six thousand Trading Points.

Yet its miraculous effect could achieve far greater results. After all, the original version's good fortune was merely an illusion caused by enhanced effects.

"It can even control luck?"

Tsunade looked at the small bottle of transparent potion, seemingly finding it hard to believe.

Luck was something so intangible.

It was even more miraculous than the Cross of Courage.

She seemed to think of something and suddenly asked, "Can it be used for Opening Chests?"

Opening Chests was gambling in itself. Since it was a potion of luck, then perhaps—

"No, it has no effect on Opening Chests." Shen Mo shattered Tsunade's fantasy and said with a mysterious smile, "Only the Chests are special. No matter what kind of being or method is involved, nothing can affect the results of Opening Chests. So, Miss Tsunade, you need not worry about your gambling luck. It is best to open them personally, because they represent a change in the Chest Opener's fate."

Chest Opening could not possibly be influenced.

After all, Shen Mo had placed everything inside himself.

But he certainly could not say that.

So he would just make something up.

"A change in fate?" Tsunade repeated softly.

"That's right." Shen Mo nodded and slowly spun his tale. "The items inside the Chests are things that do not belong to this world. You were never meant to come into contact with them in your fates, but the moment they appear, the gears of fate have already changed. Therefore, Miss Tsunade, your unusual luck will not work before them."

Tsunade's gambling luck only turned from bad to good when she lost someone important.

That had happened when the Third died.

And it had happened when Jiraiya died as well.

"All this mystical nonsense..." Tsunade fell silent for a moment, then shook her head. Looking at Shen Mo with her arms crossed, she said, "Anyway, I'm out of money."

"I can see that." Shen Mo sounded rather helpless.

In his eyes, Tsunade had been a huge cash cow, yet she was actually this poor.

Could she not think of some way to get more money?

Grrr...

A rumbling sound suddenly rang out.

Shen Mo's eyes widened slightly as he looked at Tsunade in surprise.

The sound had come from her stomach.

Even with Tsunade's thick skin, her face could not help turning red at a time like this, though she forcibly maintained her composure.

Then—

Grrr...

Another rumble sounded. This time, it came from Shizune.

"You two..." Shen Mo's expression immediately turned strange. "Don't tell me you haven't eaten at all?"

"Because Lady Tsunade squeezed out every last bit of money."

Shizune hugged her pet piglet, lowered her head, and covered her stomach, looking pitiful beyond words.

"Although I appreciate how much you are supporting my business, but..." Shen Mo covered his forehead, looking speechless. Finally, he said helplessly, "Since you're both so enthusiastic about the Chests, how about this? I'll treat you to dinner tonight. We can find somewhere in Konoha."

It was not that his heart had suddenly softened.

It was simply that if he built a decent relationship with Tsunade, some people in Konoha would naturally view him more favorably.

It would make it easier to start doing business.

Besides, no matter how the plot changed, Tsunade was basically the only candidate for the Fifth Hokage. By then, the resources she could command would be considerable.

While making money, Shen Mo did not mind getting along pleasantly with some customers.

"Oh, how could I possibly accept that?" Tsunade's eyes lit up as she patted Shen Mo on the shoulder, then said at lightning speed, "I know a barbecue restaurant—"

"We're having ramen." Shen Mo cut her off directly. "I once heard a customer mention Ichiraku Ramen. It seems quite famous, so we'll go there."

Since he had come to Konoha, how could he not visit Ichiraku Ramen?

And besides—

Perhaps he could take the opportunity to make a deal.

"Tch, cheapskate." Tsunade was not nearly as pleased.

Her eyelids drooped, and she looked a little sulky.

The sight made the corners of Shen Mo's eyes twitch.

You were already so old. Even if you looked young, even if you were pretty, even if you had a huge chest, you could not seriously act cute like a little girl.

"Ichiraku it is, then. Shizune, let's go. We have to eat back every bit of money we spent."

"Lady Tsunade, that's impossible."

"Quit whining. Just eat as much as you want!"

"..."

Shen Mo followed the two of them out in silence.

Before him lay a bustling town.

Two- and three-story buildings, broad roads, neatly paved stone streets, crowds coming and going—it was more prosperous than the "village" he had imagined, already large enough to count as a substantial town. The shops lining both sides of the streets were also decorated in a style unique to this world.

It felt like he had stepped into a perfect live-action movie.

So this was Konoha...

Shen Mo looked around with curious eyes.

Along the way, people respectfully greeted Tsunade. Her popularity here was obvious, though Tsunade mostly did not return their greetings. Instead, she glanced at Shen Mo from the corner of her eye.

"A merchant like you must have seen far more magnificent cities, right?" she asked, as if casually.

"Magnificent?" Shen Mo shook his head. "If we are talking about magnificence, compared to the cities I have visited, this place is like a shabby village in some remote corner. But what I value is not so-called grandeur. It is the people here."

"Oh?" Tsunade seemed to grow interested and turned to look at him. "What is different about the people?"