Will I Eventually Become a Capitalist? Chapter 30

But could such bizarre words truly convince her comrades?

They would absolutely see this as picking a fight.

After all, this was a crucial moment to identify their leader!

Frostnova was one thing, as she was already acquainted with Russell, but Patriot had only met Russell twice and harbored some hostility towards him...

Russell's timing for this joke was truly terrible!!!

Talulah felt her very brain trembling.

But in the next instant, a furious cold current and black-red aura erupted without warning.

These were the Originium Arts of Frostnova and Patriot, and they glared at the second Red Dragon, their killing intent palpable.

Talulah looked at her comrades in disbelief.

No, you guys actually believed that?!

Chapter Thirty-Four: Thousand Years of Death. Triple Hit!!

While Talulah was lost in confusion, the blizzard from the Rabbit and the heavy blow from the Wendigo had already landed on the second Red Dragon's head.

This was a combined attack from the Wendigo and her adopted daughter!

Among Russell's acquaintances, excluding the Orca and the Goose, no one could withstand this combo.

Almost predictably, Grand Duke Black Snake, who had transformed into a Red Dragon, was crushed into a pulp!

"Congratulations, Ata. From today onwards, you are free."

Russell walked up to Talulah, took the other half of the Tiger Talisman from her, then walked over to the pulp and retrieved the remaining half.

While both were fond of money, Russell wasn't as careless as Valmont, who would just toss away talismans and masks.

Talulah remained silent, watching the young man who distinguished himself from his adoptive father by his femininity.

She wanted to say something, but it felt as if her throat was filled with indescribable emotions, making it impossible to speak.

She looked over to the other side again.

Her comrades—Patriot and Frostnova—both struck the enemy the moment Russell suggested the Black Snake was more feminine...

Her heart felt so heavy.

Was it a consensus that she lacked femininity?

Although she never thought femininity was important, being told she had none at all...

Talulah pulled her cloak tighter around herself, feeling the chill of the day.

She wished she could burrow into a warm bed and never have to face this heart-chilling world again.

"Alright, Grand Duke Black Snake, stop playing dead."

After retrieving the Tiger Talisman, the young man didn't completely relax but spoke to the pulp.

Koschei the Undying.

A monster from Slavic legend, also known as a Shapeshifter, sometimes sighted as a monster and sometimes as a human, who liked to transform into a rapid whirlwind to abduct women.

In legends, this monster was extremely cautious.

Fearing death, he removed his soul from his body and hid it in a needle, the needle in an egg, the egg in a duck, the duck in a rabbit, which was then locked in an iron or crystal box, buried under a green oak tree on an island.

It was said that if the box was dug up and opened, the rabbit would try to escape. If the rabbit was killed, the duck would try to escape, and only when his opponent obtained the egg was Koschei's life truly threatened.

Given how afraid of death the original Koschei was, It was somewhat comical to say he died just because his container was smashed.

As Russell's questioning continued, countless wisps of black mist drifted out from the frozen corpse fragments...

To the horror of the Reunion Movement, a long serpent coiled in the air.

[Koschei the Undying, Mental-type, Level: Two Inner Guards. Koschei is a genuine demon and lacks a physical form, making him immune to physical attacks. With the addition of spiritual attributes, damage can be calculated and inflict triple pain.]

As the long serpent manifested, Patriot took a step forward.

He was the strongest person in this area and had to protect his comrades.

"Lord Bozkash, there's no need to assume such a stance. You cannot hunt me without first setting up an altar."

"Of course, you could try to fully activate your Originium Arts, but if that happens, I will choose to escape. Once I escape, I will dispatch the Third Army Group to the Northern Territory for a thorough cleansing. I believe that's not something Captain would want to see."

Patriot raised his halberd high, neither advancing nor retreating, continuing to confront the Black Snake.

"Leave this place... Snake Lord. If anything happens to the Reunion Movement... I will hunt you... to the ends of the earth."

His voice was still hoarse and weak, but it carried a mountain-like authority.

At first glance, Patriot only had one Inner Guard's power more than the Black Snake, but the strength of Inner Guards wasn't simply additive. Patriot, with the power of three Inner Guards, was clearly not just the Black Snake plus one Inner Guard—if he was prepared, he could have utterly crushed the Black Snake.

"...As you wish, Captain."

"However, before that, I wish to converse with a certain friend for a moment."

The Black Snake clearly feared Patriot's power and took a step back.

Patriot looked at Russell, who nodded while applying chili essence to his kunai.

"I'm waiting for the enchantment; you're waiting for death."

"We all have bright futures."

"What business do you have with me?"

"Lord Russell, you truly are omniscient."

The black, long snake coiled in the air, praising Russell.

"Talulah's move took a lot of effort from me, and you easily ruined my game."

"What, you still want to blame me?"

Russell raised an eyebrow and retorted.

"No, no, no, how could I possibly fall out with you just because a game was ruined?"

Perhaps because its perspective had always been aligned with that strange mind of Talulah's, the Black Snake felt a strong sense of apprehension towards Russell.

Should I say they live up to their reputation as a race that opposes the Son of Heaven?

Whether it was in strategy or bravery, they were truly astonishing.

"It's just that I don't understand why you would assist the Reunion Movement. For you, it would have been a better choice to let Yan and Ursus go to war... that way, you would have had the chance to strike down the Son of Heaven."

What the hell are you talking about?

Russell felt like his head was full of question marks.

Why would I strike down the Son of Heaven?

No...

I'm just a damn miner.

Russell was rendered speechless, but that silence took on a whole new meaning in the Black Snake's eyes.

"Heh, are you still considering Victoria's situation? Indeed, if you support Talulah well, you can command all of Victoria's armies, and Victoria's strength is considered top-tier even among the world's nations."

"However, Lord Russell, you must know that Victoria has completely lost order. Both major royal lineages have disappeared, the demon race controls their capital, and the Eight Great Dukes who hold troops have no intention of confronting the demon race. They are merely vying in secret, hoping other Dukes will expend their strength so they can ascend to the throne."

"Victoria may be beautiful, but that cake is too difficult to grasp."

"Lord Russell, we should be allies."

The Black Snake's tone was gentle.

"You need blood to wash away a hundred generations of hatred, and we need war to complete a cleansing for Ursus. Strictly speaking, you are still a Baron... If you are willing to join us, we will offer you the position of Marquis and hand over command of the Third Army Group to you."

A perfectly crafted temptation.

Talulah and Frostnova, standing nearby, looked grim.

Russell had good character, but he was still a noble at heart, and a YaZi craving revenge.

From his perspective, he had no reason to refuse the Black Snake...

The Reunion Movement could only offer him the legitimacy of Victoria's royal lineage, but the Black Snake offered military strength sufficient to destroy half a duchy.

Russell...

Will he become an enemy?

Talulah's expression grew heavy.

The pie is drawn beautifully. If Russell were an ambitious man, he'd be kneeling now, saying, "I heard you have no sons, and I'd like to care for you in your old age."

But the problem is—

I really am just a miner who sells medicine!

My plan is to make money and then hold the Wallbreaker Conference in Victoria!

You bastard, what do you even understand now!!

So you understand Baron Russell better than I do, huh!!

"...Are you finished?"

Russell vigorously swung his kunai, feeling its perfect balance.

He didn't want to talk to the Black Snake anymore. He had thought the national will of the esteemed Ursus would offer profound insights, but it turned out these people always imagined he wanted to be an enemy to everyone in the world.

"Lord Russell... are you sure you want to stand against Ursus?"

Even the Black Snake seemed somewhat perplexed.

It didn't quite understand why Russell was still siding with Talulah at this moment.

"Are you interested in Talulah?"

It asked, confused, then its entire snake head swayed.

"But Talulah doesn't seem to have much charm."

Talulah, standing far to the side, stiffened. Wait, I'm just standing here, and I can still get hurt?

How can this world always be filled with persecution against me, Talulah.

Can this world just be okay?

"You have too many murals!!"

In the Black Snake's slightly annoyed view, the young man raised his kunai.

From the Black Snake's perspective, the kunai wasn't exactly a high-class weapon. In fact, kunai weren't really anything to be proud of. Proper people used ten-character spears on the battlefield, alright?

Who the hell uses a kunai or a katana!

But, the moment the young man raised his weapon, the giant snake's expression drastically changed.

Russell raised his kunai high, like a priest raising a ritual artifact, and thrust it upwards.

The next instant, the kunai in Russell's hand appeared somewhere below the Black Snake!!

It was an armament carrying a spiritual attribute, capable of restoring physical damage to spiritual bodies and inflicting triple pain!!

The snake shadow floating in the sky froze. Its entire body began to convulse violently.

Pain caused the spiritual body of the giant snake to writhe, but before it could react further, the kunai that had struck it returned to the hands of YaZi, who was holding it as if in a ritual.

"No!!!"

The Black Snake's eyes turned blood red. It whipped its tail, intending to break Russell's hand holding the kunai, but the distance between them became an insurmountable chasm!

Before its tail could even reach Russell's arm, Russell had already raised his kunai once more!!