Will I Ultimately Become a Capitalist Tycoon?

"Am I right, pal?"

Los Angeles, USA.

A mafia man in a green suit stared at the newest group member, his expression eager.

Valmont.

A villain who never forgot his roots.

Collect all twelve talismans and rule the world—his first move after getting them was to hand three to each of his four henchmen, then form a team to blow up a vault.

General Shendu could summon the Demon Shadow Army, a force strong even among the Shadowkhan.

This guy's idea after getting that mask was to loot the city's cash dry, and after taking it off, his expectation for the mask was to sell it at a high price to Jackie Chan.

With money-making as his goal, he deepened his craft in the robbery industry, professional enough to be called the Robbery Immortal.

"Listen, if you stick with me, you'll have the best house in Manhattan District."

The mafia man promised solemnly.

Valmont had high hopes for the group members.

In fact, he'd tried recruiting people from the group before.

But Megumin and Naruto Uzumaki were good kids, Skadi ignored him too, and the only one who answered his call was Huihui.

After seeing Huihui blow up the vault door and the vault itself with one Explosion Magic spell, he quickly kicked her out.

Though he hated that indiscriminate destructive power, Valmont had gained some understanding of his group mates from it.

—These people were all capable.

Valmont never skimped on capable people.

But—

It seemed he'd recruited the wrong person this time.

Russell, intent on returning to the status of a people's tycoon, looked at Valmont, his gaze shifting slightly.

You're seriously trying to make me your wage slave?

What can be endured can be endured, what can't, can't!

Valmont, I'm the boss in this group!

"Then, go with you to be the bus driver rescued by the Dragon Team in the Apocalypse War?"

The boy declared someone's future.

Those words made Valmont in Los Angeles frown.

Wait, why does the newbie know the concept of the Dragon Team?

Could it be that he's on Jackie Chan's side?

Thinking this, Valmont's expression turned serious.

"How do you know about the Dragon Team?"

Valmont almost demanded.

Then, his expression froze.

"Usually, a chat group sends a member who knows the other members' plots—isn't that common sense?"

The boy said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"What the hell?!"

That was Valmont.

"Huh?"

That was Huihui.

"Brother Russell, what are you talking about? I don't quite get it."

That was a bewildered Naruto Uzumaki.

"..."

That was Megumin.

"..."

That was Skadi echoing.

One sentence silenced the entire group.

The Transmigrator, well-versed in human nature, looked at the group mates who were clearly stunned and shook his head.

Shocked by this little spoiler?

This batch of netizens wasn't up to par.

"Wait, you mean my ending is becoming a bus driver?"

Valmont's expression turned horrified.

Russell's words just now carried a huge amount of information.

Every so-called chat group often comes equipped with a prophet, and this group's prophet was Russell.

In the ending he had observed, Valmont found himself accompanied by a beat-up bus.

Valmont felt his heart tremble.

He feared nothing in heaven or on earth, except becoming a dead broke dog.

Gah, anything but that!!

Ending up as a bus driver or something... that kind of thing, that kind of thing should at least wait until after eighteen reincarnations!!

"Ding—Group member Valmont has sent you a red envelope."

Russell stared at the private message Valmont had sent, his expression freezing for a moment.

His greatest expectation from his group members was to have them work for him and help him earn money.

Valmont sending this red envelope caught him off guard.

Russell opened the red envelope.

Inside the red envelope was a talisman stamped with a red dragon's head.

The Dragon Talisman?

Russell's expression instantly turned subtle.

The most ferocious and vicious of the Twelve Talismans, its magic could grant the holder the power of combustion and explosion.

"You're willing to give me the Dragon Talisman, the one representing explosion?"

"This talisman isn't the strongest, but it's the favorite of that old dragon, the Holy Lord. Giving this to me means you won't be able to report back."

"It's still not too late to take back the talisman now."

Russell gave Valmont a chance to reclaim the talisman.

"Hey, pal, looks like you really know a lot about my, no, our story."

Valmont's expression was utterly indifferent.

No, rather, the fact that Russell could name the talisman's value actually made him happy.

—This guy wasn't just talking big; he really knew his story.

"Since you know that much, you should also understand that I don't want to follow the Holy Lord anymore."

The reason Valmont obeyed the great villain Holy Lord without question was that the Holy Lord had promised him the legendary Golden Rooster King's Treasure if he helped gather all Twelve Talismans. But the Holy Lord treated Valmont like a servant, and that attitude bred resentment.

Valmont shrugged and said.

"If worst comes to worst, you can just say the talisman was snatched by Jackie Chan."

That reasoning held water.

For the Holy Lord, any unfavorable development could be explained with "Damn it, Jackie Chan must have done it."

"So, my friend, can you tell me why I ended up as a bus driver?"

Valmont paced in his villa, asking.

The Dragon Talisman was a good thing.

But it certainly wasn't more important than his own wealth and glory.

If sacrificing one Dragon Talisman could avert future bankruptcy, it was undoubtedly worth it.

After all, the talisman wasn't his property.

Holy Lord Young Master picks up the tab.jpg.

"Because the Holy Lord is notoriously untrustworthy even among demons."

Russell thought for a moment and began dissing Valmont's boss.

?!

"The Holy Lord... has no credibility?"

"Yes, among demons who are all bastards, the Holy Lord is the most untrustworthy. He never intended to give you the Golden Rooster King's Treasure. Later on, he even took your underlings away. With your wealth drained and your men stolen, it would be abnormal if you could maintain your current lifestyle."

The prophet's prediction made Valmont's entire face turn ashen.

Freeloading off my labor and stealing my subordinates?!

Damn, is this something a dragon does?!

"I'm going to kill that bastard!!"

Under the bewildered gazes of his three underlings, Valmont directly pulled out his Laser Sword, ready to fight the Holy Lord.

But after charging just a few meters, he spotted the Shadow Clone Army patrolling ahead.

Valmont instantly calmed down.

"Oh, my friend, do you know a way to deal with Shendu?"

This money-grubbing Mafia member turned to Russell, speaking with Liu Lao Si's voice.

Intelligence, the sharpest blade.

If there was anyone among his acquaintances who could handle that old dragon Shendu, it was probably this quasi-prophet.

"Hmm, theoretically, one Dragon Blast could send him back to Hell, but there are still seven demons in Hell. In the Script, the head dragon was released by the demons twice, both times using your body to act... From that perspective, you and Shendu really have an unending karmic entanglement."

"That old bastard dragon Shendu is quite troublesome."

Russell thought for a moment, then said.

That scumbag Shendu is way too damn tenacious!

Valmont was dumbfounded.

And what the hell is 'unending karmic entanglement'?!!

Was he going to be eaten by this guy for the rest of his life?

Misery.

Valmont collapsed onto the sofa, utterly dejected.

Ah...

It felt like Valmont had suddenly wilted.

Russell scratched his cheek. After all, he had taken a Dragon Talisman from Valmont, yet only told the customer that he was fated to clash with Shendu—seemed a bit inappropriate.

So, what weaknesses did Shendu have?

"Hmm, don't be so sad. It's not like there's no solution."

Russell's words made Valmont seem to come back to life in an instant, leaping straight up from the sofa.