Asta Throws a Fortune at the Imaginary Divine Court for a Place on Its Fringes

The dark gold card hung in midair.

The imaginary crystals set around its edges caught the ceiling lights' cold glow.

Asta held it up with both hands. Her wrists trembled violently, her knuckles pale from the strain.

The Interastral Peace Corporation's highest-tier black card was less than ten centimeters from the coffee table.

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

She recognized the gear emblem.

It marked an unrestricted credential issued directly by the corporation's board. A full year of maintenance for the space station probably cost less than half the funds on that card.

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

"Your Excellency, Fourth Seat." Asta parted her dry lips.

Her voice was hoarse. She swallowed twice.

"Th-there are one billion credits on this card. Available immediately."

Her words came faster and faster, as if she feared being cut off. Sweat ran down her pink hair and into her collar, but she did not dare blink.

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

"All I ask is... to be allowed to join the Imaginary Divine Court in name."

Asta's voice turned openly pleading.

"Even as a registered member on its outermost fringe."

Su Chen sat on the black leather sofa.

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

One billion.

His mind went blank with a roar.

In his previous life, fresh out of school and hunting for work, he had walked three kilometers across a bridge under the blazing sun just to save two yuan on bus fare.

He had even drunk every last drop of instant noodle broth.

And now a billion credits in cash were 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 curled into a fist.

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

I want to snatch it so badly.

With a billion credits, I could buy a few interstellar cruise ships, pick up a plot of land on Penacony, and retire. Sleep in every day.

But he did not dare move.

Not a ripple crossed the Female Lord's amber eyes.

Even though Su Chen's Adam's apple had bobbed twice, his flawless high-dimensional guise remained seated, unmoving as a mountain.

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

All that talk about "erasing star systems" and "watching the Aeons" will turn into a load of crap.

How could an ancient god who had conjured a meteorite and crushed the Doomsday Beast possibly covet a few colorful electronic banknotes?

If he showed even a trace of greed, Herta and the corporation would strip his hollow act bare in an instant.

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

He forced down his craving for sudden wealth.

Slowly, he lifted his right hand from his knee.

Asta held her breath.

Himeko turned her head too, watching that hand, as exquisite as a carving of white jade.

Su Chen extended two fingers.

He held his index and middle fingers together and rested their tips lightly against the edge of the black card.

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

Then, a moment later...

Su Chen shifted his wrist and pushed the black card through the air in a slow arc.

He returned it to Asta, untouched.

As he did, his thigh muscles cramped and his heart bled.

"Gold and iron of the mortal world."

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

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

That wasn't a card I just pushed away. It was a life of luxury.

Asta froze.

Her hand stayed suspended with the card, while the flush drained from her face and left her deathly pale.

She had been refused.

One billion credits, and the Female Lord had barely glanced at it.

This is a true god.

Rather than feeling disappointed, Asta felt her awe grow like a wild vine.

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

Clink.

A small stone glowing faintly blue dropped onto the carpet in front of her.

Su Chen had spent ages rummaging through the system's portable storage.

He had found no impressive magical treasure.

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

The stone's surface was rough and pitted.

Deep blue light, like a night sky, shimmered within it, casting a dark patch across the red carpet.

"The Divine Court places no value on wealth."

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

"We care only for fate."

The Female Lord lowered her gaze slightly toward Asta on the floor.

"Our paths have crossed. That is fate enough. Keep this as a memento."

Asta stared fixedly at the blue stone on the carpet.

She hurriedly stuffed the billion-credit black card into her pocket.

Her hands shaking, she cupped the Noctilucous Jade as though it were a Stellaron that might explode at any moment.

The stone felt slightly cool.

She detected no known energy signature from it.

But to Asta, a substance she could not analyze 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 protection.

"Thank you for your gift, Your Excellency!"

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

Beside her, Arlan, still on his knees, let out a long breath.

The boy's back finally relaxed.

With the stone's arrival, the shadow of death hanging over the entire space station vanished completely.

Himeko walked to the coffee table and picked up the red copper kettle again.

Her tense shoulders relaxed too.

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

Then hurried, heavy footsteps sounded on the metal-grate floor outside the room.

A bright, excited voice followed.

"Himeko!"

March 7th had not arrived yet, but her voice came booming through the battered doorframe.

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