Endless Summer, Filthy Rich

Wu Zhong nodded under his umbrella in the rain.

Hide the Door's properties and only claim to be a Ghost-God Sacrifice?

Of course that was good. He had already understood the importance of intelligence.

Keeping his own properties hidden was essential.

Endless Summer was looking out for him by telling him not to expose himself.

Wu Zhong smiled. "Understood! But does that make me one of the Calamity Realm's people?"

Endless Summer nodded. "You should be a humanoid calamity, so of course it does. You may even be the purest kind of 'calamity bearer.'"

"Um... I mean, after hiding my abilities, would I still count? Can I just make up some Ghost-God Mark?" Wu Zhong pressed.

Endless Summer explained, "You still count. There are three kinds of 'calamity bearers' in this circle."

"First, humanoid calamities. Their very existence possesses absolute properties."

"Second, holders of calamity objects. They possess at least one calamity object or derivative and use certain absolute powers through it."

"Third, property-infected individuals. For some reason, they have been infected with derivative effects. For example, Air Shield or Multiversal Force. That makes them part of the circle."

"There are the most of this type. Even negative effects count. Take the Eternal Thirst Effect, for instance. Those who are eternally thirsty are also calamity bearers."

Wu Zhong blinked. "Huh? People infected with the Eternal Thirst Effect are calamity bearers too? They're worse off than ordinary people."

Endless Summer shook his head. "Do you really think everyone infected with the Eternal Thirst Effect kills themselves?"

"I once saw a Blue-White Society member who held on for nearly three years after getting hit without killing himself."

"He even used his absolute thirst to suppress a calamity object... I still remember it vividly."

Wu Zhong was baffled. "Huh? He used it to suppress a calamity object?"

"How could that work? What the hell is absolute thirst good for?"

Endless Summer explained, "The effect of absolute thirst is unsolvable. Altering hormones, forcibly changing the brain's neural responses, even warping the mind—none of it works."

"The infected gain immunity to hormonal alteration and neural input to the brain, along with a certain degree of mental resistance."

"On top of that, absolute thirst does not actually dehydrate the body... In that case, theoretically, if someone has strong enough willpower and is willing to endure it, this can actually be a positive effect!"

Wu Zhong sucked in a breath. It could work like that?

Right. What exactly did "unsolvable" mean?

What would happen if hormones were administered? What if electrical signals were fed into the brain? Or if another calamity object intervened?

Unit 985 must have tried a whole range of methods, including medication and surgical modification, before ultimately declaring it unsolvable.

So the Eternal Thirst Effect simply invalidated all those methods.

It was equivalent to having all kinds of immunity effects built in.

"This Eternal Thirst Effect is so domineering. It's like an incredibly potent poison—once you're poisoned by it, no other poison is allowed to affect you."

Endless Summer nodded. "That's an excellent summary. Exactly. Any effect that could possibly 'relieve' the sensation of thirst is rendered immune."

"Even making absolute thirst merely the second most painful sensation in the body is impossible. It must remain the strongest negative sensation. It's extremely domineering."

Wu Zhong murmured, "But what kind of willpower would that take? It's ridiculous. How could anyone endure it?"

After experiencing Forced Laughter for barely over ten minutes, he had already considered suicide.

And eternal thirst was a hundred times worse. Could someone really endure it for three years?

"Wait... you weren't just bullshitting me, were you?"

"Lu Guangqi said the Eternal Thirst Plum was only discovered last year. It infected a total of 119 people, and every single one committed suicide without exception."

"Where could there possibly be someone who lasted three years?"

Wu Zhong suddenly found a hole in the other man's story.

Endless Summer froze for a moment, then smiled sheepishly. "Oh, Lu Guangqi said that? You remember it so clearly. Heh heh, fine. I made all that up just now."

"..." Wu Zhong's mouth twitched.

The details had sounded so convincing. How could he fabricate such nonsense... It had all seemed so plausible. If Wu Zhong had not known that the Eternal Thirst Plum had appeared only last year, he might have believed him.

Endless Summer covered his mouth and coughed. "Ahem. The story may be fake, but the point I was making is the same. Whether something is negative or positive depends on the person."

"One man's poison is another man's honey. Things like that happen all the time in the Calamity Realm."

Wu Zhong was still puzzled. "Why did you suddenly lie to me, Brother Xia...?"

Endless Summer looked toward the highway. "It wasn't exactly a lie. I just couldn't think of a good example at the time. You happened to know about the Eternal Thirst Plum, so I used it as an example."

"Mm, making up stories is also one of the essential skills in the Calamity Realm."

Wu Zhong stood amid the wind and rain. "I see. I'll remember that."

He had not expected Endless Summer to suddenly start spouting nonsense, and he found himself deep in thought.

Endless Summer continued, "So even if something like a 'Ghost-God Mark' is fabricated, you really will be hunted by the Night Wanderer. Who would know it was made up? That puts you in the third category of calamity bearers."

"Even a useless negative effect still makes you a calamity bearer. Who knows what tricks someone might pull with it?"

By now, Wu Zhong could draw conclusions from the example. "Then by that logic, there should be a fourth type, right?"

"People with no properties or effects at all, but who know the circle's affairs extremely well and possess authority, special knowledge, or technology."

Endless Summer said, "Mm, more or less."

"But they need to possess derivatives to count. That actually still puts them in the second type."

"Derivatives?" Wu Zhong tilted his head. What were those?

The other man opened his coat and pointed at the grenade Wu Zhong had hidden against his body. "The Laughing Grenade is a standard derivative."

"Derivatives and calamity objects both have effects, making them difficult to distinguish. The difference is that derivatives have a clear source."

"Calamity objects are one of a kind, while derivatives are created from them and may be mass-produced."

Wu Zhong had not expected the grenade hidden in his clothes to be discovered.

He immediately took it out and handed it to Endless Summer.

But Endless Summer did not take it. Calmly, he said, "Keep it for self-defense."

"The source of this thing is a military production line. When it is used to manufacture standard Type 86 grenades, the result is a defective product with no explosive power, but it forces every living thing within thirty meters to laugh."

"In theory, just carrying this one grenade lets you be classified as a second-type calamity bearer. You count as someone from the circle... heh heh."

"After all, not every organization has such a useful infection effect as Air Shield."

"The official containment forces of some small countries have pitiful equipment. They do not have any exclusive anomalies at all."

"They are basically just special forces carrying a few 'anomalous weapons,' and even those are imported from major powers!"

Wu Zhong exclaimed, "No way? Even if nothing else works, they can become Awakened, can't they?"

"Even a small country could spend some money, find someone in the circle to call daddy, and bring in some Awakened. That shouldn't be difficult, right?"

Endless Summer chuckled. "That involves the Calamity Non-Proliferation Treaty. The waters run deep there."

"In short, the daddy-recognition route is actually strictly forbidden. People are checking on it constantly."

"Nowadays, some continental European nations can still pull it off, but weak countries definitely cannot."

Wu Zhong was initially confused. "So what if they find out? The rice is already cook—"

His pupils suddenly contracted. "Right, they can revoke the parent-child relationship!"

"The eligibility for attaching oneself to parents relies on official procedures. Once the authorities step in and remove it, wouldn't that pull the rug out from under them?"

"Given how Multiversal Force works, no matter how powerful they become, they would lose everything overnight! They'd turn back into ordinary people!"

He could infer the rest without needing Endless Summer to explain. He could already guess the consequences for Awakened who had taken the daddy-recognition route and were later banned by the authorities.

It was equivalent to crippling their spiritual roots and destroying all their cultivation!

No wonder moderately developed countries might be able to pull it off, while small countries never could. Small countries seemed lax enough to fish in troubled waters, but in reality, they were tightly suppressed by the five great powers and had no opportunity whatsoever.

"Completely correct." Endless Summer was quite pleased with Wu Zhong's instincts.

"That is why I said helping you awaken Multiversal Force requires long-term planning. It isn't something we can just make happen whenever we want."

Wu Zhong nodded. Of the three ways to obtain Multiversal Force—

The daddy-recognition route was the simplest.

If one had connections and spent some money to recognize adoptive parents, one could awaken.

But it was also the least reliable route.

For Awakened who took the daddy-recognition route, their "foundation of the Dao" was held in the authorities' hands.

As long as the authorities found out and banned them, they would become ordinary people.

Without question, unless there was no other option, one should avoid becoming a "daddy-recognition Awakened." It meant being born with a massive weakness and an unstable foundation.

Unless one was already part of the authorities, or planned to stick with a major power.

"I understand. It really does require long-term planning."

Wu Zhong sighed. If he did not take that route, then he would have to sleep with a "Pavas."

Or take the most proper route and apply to Multiverse Academy.

But both of those were even harder. Ordinary connections and background would not be enough.

"I actually regret becoming Awakened through the daddy-recognition route, but it can't be changed now."

"Anyway, listen to me. It's good if you get the chance to awaken Multiversal Force, but don't force it if you don't."

"The multiversal system itself is a property, but the energy drawn in by Multiversal Force is not. It is merely natural energy unique to other universes."

"The effect of any calamity object—remember, any one of them!—takes priority over martial arts, divine power, magic, and all that nonsense."

Endless Summer's words left Wu Zhong bitter.

Seeing this, Endless Summer said lightly, "Don't worry. Stick with me, and I won't treat you badly."

"I'll recommend you to join my organization. For a humanoid calamity like you, the church will give you the highest level of treatment. You practically won't need to do any work. You only need to guard a Door properly."

Wu Zhong was stunned. Endless Summer's organization? Wasn't he part of the Mercenary Club?

A church? What the hell was a church? Did he have another organization?

Well, Zhang Qinglang was both a mercenary and a Daoist priest of the Celestial Master's Mansion. He held multiple roles too.

As they spoke, a Bentley suddenly pulled up beside the road with its hazard lights flashing.

Wu Zhong swallowed the question he had been about to ask and was just about to move aside.

At the same time, he found it strange. They had already reached a very remote area, so why was there a luxury car parked here?

Then he saw Endless Summer walk over and open the door. "Yang Chunsha, you took your sweet time."

A gentle, intellectual voice came from inside the car. "Endless Summer? Heh, get in. The local Unit 985 boys have already gone berserk."

Endless Summer called for Wu Zhong to get in, while he himself sat in the front passenger seat.

However, Wu Zhong approached somewhat awkwardly but did not open the door for a long time.

"Hmm?" Endless Summer found this strange and turned back to look at him.

Wu Zhong looked anxious and gestured for Endless Summer to open the door for him.

Endless Summer was taken aback, then realized something. His expression grew somewhat serious.

Still, he got out and opened the rear door for Wu Zhong, then sat in the back with him.

"Could it be that you can't..." Endless Summer whispered softly.

Wu Zhong nodded heavily, indicating that it was exactly what Endless Summer thought.

Endless Summer was speechless. Damn it, what kind of garbage property was this?

It was actually a passive skill?

He had overlooked that point all along, only now realizing that Wu Zhong's property might be even more useless than he had imagined.

Any Door that had been welded shut could be used normally only by Wu Zhong himself. No one else could ever open or close it!

And even Wu Zhong himself could not undo it. It was a passive effect.

Since Endless Summer had just instructed him not to expose his abilities to anyone, Wu Zhong had not dared open the car door and had deliberately waited for him to do it.

As long as Wu Zhong opened or closed any Door, that thing would become a derivative—an abnormal object forever.

Unless Endless Summer took the car away afterward too, it would be exposed sooner or later.

"Tch."

Thinking this, Endless Summer's eyes showed a trace of exasperation, but he did not reveal anything outwardly.

No matter what, Wu Zhong was still a humanoid calamity.

But if it could not be undone, would there still be any use in having him join the church? Letting him use that Door would be dangerous... Once he used that Door, there would be no way to make him undo it later. No, this still required long-term planning.

"Who is this young friend, for you to make such a scene and snatch him from Unit 985?"

Yang Chunsha was a woman seated in the Bentley's driver's seat, her slender fingers resting on the dark steering wheel. A compass ornament sat in the center of the wheel.

Her gold-rimmed glasses had slid halfway down her nose. Behind the lenses were calm eyes, and her voice carried an intellectual charm.

Endless Summer answered evenly, "This little brother saved my life. If not for him, I would have been infected by the Eternal Thirst Plum."

"He helped me, but he could no longer stay with Unit 985. I couldn't just ignore him."

Wu Zhong shot him a puzzled glance. Damn, he could just make things up without batting an eye?

Hadn't he said before that he would tell his associates Wu Zhong had a Ghost-God Mark? Why was he making up another story now?

Oh, perhaps this woman was not his associate?

Seeing Endless Summer spin lies so effortlessly, Wu Zhong silently thought that he had learned something.

And he put it to use right away, casually concealing the fact that he could undo the Door-Welding effect.

There was no choice. That was basically the only part of his ability he could control, the only thing he could hide.

As long as he did not actively want to undo it, the property was almost entirely passive.

Endless Summer himself had said that laying all one's cards on the table was equivalent to handing over one's life. Wu Zhong was just getting some practice.

"Endless Summer, do you think I believe that?" Yang Chunsha had actually caught the falsehood in his words.

"This young friend must be connected to the Mount Lu Incident. Otherwise, given your past record, you would never make such a huge fuss."

"Tonight, it is rare for you to ask the Club for help getting away... You have always completed your missions and slipped away unnoticed on your own, operating alone without needing anyone to receive you."

"You posted a request-for-assistance mission limited to local mercenaries because you wanted to take him away."

Endless Summer shrugged. "Believe what you want. Either way, I completed my mission. All of Unit 985's intelligence regarding Mount Lu has been uploaded."

"If you want information about Mount Lu, spend your own money and buy it from the Club. Why ask me... little Bronze?"

Seeing how cold he was, Yang Chunsha gave him a somewhat resentful look through the rearview mirror. "I'm just a minor local player. I haven't dared take missions of this level for years. I clock in at a company every day for my paycheck, and I'm practically broke. How could I afford intelligence like that?"

"Still, I came to rescue you. In all of Northwestern Jiangxi, for such an urgent escape mission, I was the only one who dared accept it."

"Come on, just tell me... Think of it as helping out a poor little sister."

Wu Zhong couldn't help grumbling inwardly. You drive a freaking Bentley and still call yourself poor?

Endless Summer's tone was cold and distant. "Little Bronze, just lead the way properly. Why do you care about so much?"

Yang Chunsha was still unwilling to give up. "The Mount Lu Cloud Dragon Incident suddenly appeared on the 17th. It caused such a huge stir that every faction in the Calamity Realm is watching it, desperate to learn more."

"Any related information is fetching sky-high prices on the market!"

"The orders to investigate this matter on the platform have gone completely crazy, but no one dares recklessly barge in and provoke 985. They're all waiting to see what happens..."

"Only you, Brother Xia, were brave enough to sneak in that very day, upload firsthand information, and make it back out in one piece."

"Come on, tell me. You're so capable—just let a little something slip, and your little sister here would benefit endlessly."

Her voice gradually shifted from cool and intellectual to sweet and syrupy, making even Wu Zhong want to join the conversation.

But Wu Zhong kept his mouth tightly shut, thinking, This woman really isn't Brother Xia's companion. She seems to be just a helper he found at the last minute.

Endless Summer had no local connections. He could have teleported away directly, but he couldn't take anyone with him.

So, in order to save Wu Zhong as well, he had no choice but to post a help request at the club, asking Calamity Realm mercenaries with local connections to help them get away.

This Yang Chunsha knew Endless Summer had done something huge, so she wanted to pry out some information to sell for money. She was the type to take the job and still try to squeeze out some extra profit.

Endless Summer replied, "Cut the crap. I spent twenty Bitcoin on this job. Do you want me to cancel the order and leave a bad review?"

"You..." Yang Chunsha immediately backed down. "Don't... don't. It wasn't easy for me to land such a big job, and I've even been keeping you company. Was that really necessary?"

Wu Zhong, meanwhile, was stunned. Twenty Bitcoin?

Wasn't that the unit of Multiversal Force? It seemed to be a currency unit too?

"Could it be... Bitcoin?" he murmured in disbelief.

He suddenly remembered that during his fight with Zhang Qinglang, Endless Summer had shown him a USB drive from his mouth.

Could that have been his way of telling Zhang Qinglang that he carried a Bitcoin wallet with him?

Yang Chunsha caught Wu Zhong's voice. Though it was quiet, she still heard him clearly.

Not daring to pry further with Endless Summer, she immediately turned to Wu Zhong. "Kid, Bitcoin is hard currency in the Calamity Realm."

"The current rate is over a million per Bitcoin. It's rare for your big sister to make some money, you know. As a Bronze, half of those twenty coins will still be taken by the platform."

Wu Zhong's mind was shaken to the core.

So it really was Bitcoin. Twenty of them—wouldn't that be over twenty million?

So, in order to help him escape, Endless Summer had silently spent twenty million on him!

Wu Zhong thought of something even more shocking: Endless Summer had once told Zhang Qinglang, "I have thirty thousand Bitcoin."

No wonder Zhang Qinglang had been so frightened that he immediately begged his patriarch for help... That was an enormous fortune.

Wu Zhong stared at Endless Summer. He never would have imagined that the person sitting beside him was a billionaire worth tens of billions!