Asta Offers Her Black Card for a Place on the Divine Court's Fringe

The dark gold card hung in midair.

Imaginary crystals set along its edges caught the cold light of the ceiling lamps.

Asta held it up with both hands. Her wrists trembled badly, and her knuckles had gone pale from the strain.

The Interastral Peace Corporation's highest-tier Black Card hovered less than ten centimeters above the coffee table.

Himeko stood behind the sofa, off to one side. She edged back half a step in her heels.

She recognized the gear insignia.

The card was an unrestricted credential issued directly by the corporation's board. Even a full year of maintenance for the space station probably cost less than half the sum it held.

The air in the VIP Lounge felt too thick to breathe.

"Fourth Seat, sir." Asta parted her dry lips.

Her voice was hoarse. She swallowed twice.

"There's one billion Credits on this card, ready to spend."

She spoke faster and faster, afraid he would lose patience and cut her off. Sweat ran down her pink hair and into her collar, but she didn't dare blink.

"I don't want technology, or classified information about the Stellaron."

"All I ask is... all I ask is to be listed under the Imaginary Divine Court."

A plea crept into Asta's voice.

"Even if I'm only a registered member on the very fringes."

Su Chen sat on the black leather sofa.

His black-and-gold robe hid his legs, which he had pressed tightly together.

One billion.

His mind went blank with a roar.

In his previous life, after graduating, he had walked three kilometers across a bridge under the blazing sun just to save two yuan on bus fare while job hunting.

He had drunk every last drop of broth from his instant noodles.

Now a billion in cash was being held right under his nose.

The card reeked of money. To Su Chen, it smelled ten thousand times better than that lousy coffee Himeko had brewed.

Inside his sleeve, his hand clenched into a fist.

His nails dug into his palm, sending a faint sting through it.

I want to snatch it so badly.

With that billion, I could buy a few interstellar cruise ships, get a plot of land on Penacony, and spend every day sleeping in.

But he didn't dare move.

The Female Lord's amber eyes showed not the slightest ripple.

Though Su Chen's Adam's apple had bobbed twice, his flawless high-dimensional Avatar sat as still as a mountain.

If I reach out and take that card now...

All that talk about "erasing star systems" and "gazing upon Aeons" will be complete bullshit.

Why would an ancient deity who could conjure a meteor and crush a Doomsday Beast care about a few colorful electronic banknotes?

If I show even a hint of greed...

Herta and the corporation will see right through this empty shell.

Su Chen pressed his tongue against the roof of his mouth.

He forced down his sudden hunger for riches.

Slowly, he lifted his right hand from his knee.

Asta held her breath.

Himeko turned her head to watch that hand, as though it had been carved from white jade.

Su Chen extended two fingers.

He brought his index and middle fingers together and rested their tips lightly against the edge of the Black Card.

Joy flashed in Asta's eyes. She thought the Divine Court had accepted.

But the next moment...

Su Chen moved his wrist and pushed the Black Card through the air in a slow arc.

It slid back toward Asta, untouched.

As he did it, Su Chen felt the muscles in his thighs cramp and his heart bleed.

"Gold and iron of the mortal world."

The Female Lord's voice, cold as snow, echoed through the silent room.

"To us, they are no more than drifting clouds and specks of dust."

That wasn't a card I pushed away. That was a lifetime of wealth and comfort.

Asta froze.

Her hand remained raised with the card, and the flush drained from her face, leaving her deathly pale.

She had been rejected.

One billion Credits, and he hadn't even given it a second glance.

This was a true god.

Rather than feel disappointed, Asta found her reverence growing wildly, like vines.

She bit her lower lip and was about to put the card away.

Clink.

A small stone glowing faintly blue dropped onto the carpet before her.

Su Chen had rummaged through his system inventory for ages.

He hadn't found any impressive treasures.

All he had turned up was a common material from the world of Genshin Impact: Noctilucous Jade.

The stone's surface was rough and pitted.

Yet a deep blue light flowed within it like a night sky, casting a dark patch across the red carpet.

"The Divine Court has no regard for wealth."

Su Chen withdrew his hand and folded both hands over his abdomen.

"What matters is fate."

The Female Lord lowered his gaze slightly to Asta on the floor.

"Fate brought us together. Keep this as a memento."

Asta stared hard at the blue stone on the carpet.

She hastily stuffed the billion-Credit Black Card back into her pocket.

With trembling hands, she picked up the Noctilucous Jade as though it were a Stellaron that might explode at any moment.

The stone felt cool to the touch.

She sensed no known energy signature from it.

But to Asta, a substance that could not be analyzed at all had to be a high-dimensional token beyond the corporation's understanding.

With this, the space station had a connection to the Imaginary Divine Court.

It was a guarantee of safety.

"Thank you for your gift, sir!"

Asta clutched the Noctilucous Jade to her chest, her voice shaking uncontrollably.

Beside her, Arlan let out a long breath.

The boy's back finally relaxed.

The shadow of death hanging over the entire space station vanished with the arrival of that stone.

Himeko walked to the coffee table and picked up the Copper Kettle again.

The tension left her shoulders too.

She was just about to top up the Female Lord's cup with hot water.

Then hurried, heavy footsteps rang out on the metal grating in the corridor.

A bright female voice followed, loud and breathless.

"Himeko!"

March 7th's voice burst through the battered doorframe before she did.

"Mr. Yang! The girl with the Stellaron inside her is awake!"