The top lightning user was a dog

Shares worth three billion, sold for just one billion-wasn't that the ultimate sucker move?

These shares had been left to Chen Luo by his parents and had originally represented a 42 percent stake in the Chen Group.

Over six years, that stake had dropped from 42 percent to 17 percent.

The shares had originally been worth over seven billion. Now they were worth only three billion.

The group's growth required financing, so dilution was understandable. But their value hadn't merely failed to rise-it had plummeted. That was inexcusable.

Chen Luo's eldest uncle, Chen Jian'an, had racked up enormous losses in the name of investment. On paper, the money was lost. In reality, it had simply moved into another of Chen Jian'an's pockets.

When the apocalypse struck in his previous life, Chen Luo had been a naive twenty-one-year-old with little experience of the world. By the time he realized what was happening, he was no match for a cunning old fox like Chen Jian'an and couldn't escape his control.

Even after being reborn, Chen Luo would have a hard time selling the shares at a fair price. An agreement gave Chen Jian'an, the majority shareholder, the right of first refusal on Chen Luo's shares.

Only if Chen Jian'an declined could Chen Luo sell them to someone else.

The moment Chen Luo showed any intention of selling, Chen Jian'an would drag things out and do everything he could to drive down the price. Chen Luo might end up with less than a billion.

It would also waste a great deal of time.

Although the apocalypse was still nearly a month away, Chen Luo couldn't afford to waste his time on this.

Without money, who would sell him anything?

Chen Luo had no time to haggle with Chen Jian'an, so he approached a wealthy young man with powerful connections. He sold him the three-billion stake for just one billion, on the condition that the money arrived the next day.

With that single move, he had let a wolf into the house.

For a young man with such powerful backing, agreeing to Chen Luo's terms was a sure profit. He could make at least a billion from the deal.

How could Chen Jian'an not fly into a rage when he heard the news?

"Come to the office," Chen Jian'an said over the phone. "We'll talk in person."

Although Chen Luo didn't want to see him, he agreed. Otherwise, he wouldn't have a moment's peace over the coming month.

"Chen Luo, blink if someone threatened you."

Chen Jian'an stood before him, looking utterly heartbroken.

He really was heartbroken. Given a few more years to work his schemes, he could have left Chen Luo with nothing. Instead, Chen Luo had gone and sold everything outright.

It violated their agreement, but what use was an agreement against certain people?

Chen Luo wore an expression of respect for his elder, while a fierce urge to kill rose inside him.

Six years ago, his parents had died in a car accident caused by brake failure. The man behind it had been none other than Chen Jian'an.

His eldest uncle. His own flesh and blood.

Chen Jian'an's son, Chen Fei, had admitted it himself after the apocalypse.

Chen Luo smiled. "Uncle, nobody threatened me. I have a feeling pork prices are going to skyrocket again. Fifty a jin isn't a pipe dream. If that happens, the billion I spend stockpiling pork could turn into five billion."

"No, let's think bigger. A hundred a jin isn't impossible."

Chen Luo wasn't lying. After the apocalypse, buying food with money?

Even at a hundred thousand a jin, good luck finding anyone willing to sell.

Chen Jian'an stared at him, mouth hanging open. Was the boy a complete moron?

How could he even dream of something like that?

He'd never been this stupid before.

Once the shock passed, Chen Jian'an smiled. Chen Luo might not be a genius, but he wasn't that stupid.

"Little Luo," Chen Jian'an said earnestly, "how about selling them to me for one and a half billion instead?"

Chen Luo shrugged. "Sorry, Uncle. I've already sold them. The contract's signed. There's no way I could buy them back from that young man now, is there?"

Chen Jian'an frowned. That young man had powerful backing and wasn't someone to mess with. Buying the shares back at the original price was impossible. If Chen Jian'an wanted them, he would have to bleed for them.

Chen Luo was a busy man. His phone rang again.

With an apologetic look, Chen Luo walked to the window and answered. The contact name made his heart skip. Could it be?

A young woman's voice came through the phone.

"Mr. Chen, we have a lead on the black Chinese Rural Dog with one missing ear that you asked us to find. We've sent you a photo. Please check whether it's the dog you lost."

At those words, Chen Luo's breathing immediately quickened.

After the apocalypse, some busybodies with too much time on their hands had ranked ability users in each category.

Naturally, Chen Luo had ranked first among spatial ability users.

First among fire users was Flame Empress, known as the Blood Rose.

First among lightning users was... a dog known as Thunder Dharma King.

Some humans became zombies, while others evolved and gained abilities. The same happened to animals and plants. Those that didn't become zombie creatures also had a chance of developing abilities.

Animals generally had less potential than humans, but there were exceptions. Thunder Dharma King was one of them.

This was a dog that hadn't turned into a zombie-fresh dog meat on the hoof. Plenty of people had their eyes on him.

But not one had succeeded except Chen Luo. Everyone else had been mercilessly put in their place.

That was how he had earned the title Thunder Dharma King.

Wild Thunder, the second-ranked lightning user, had been furious. What was the point of including a dog?

Fuck, I'm not even as good as a dog.

Later, the facts proved that he really wasn't.

Thunder Dharma King was a stray. Chen Luo had heard that someone had seen a black dog missing an ear at a dog meat restaurant in Demon City before the apocalypse. Apparently, it had been Thunder Dharma King.

After his rebirth, Chen Luo had immediately taken the matter to heart. He hired someone to search for the dog and offered a million if they found him.

That was no less than the reward a certain principal had offered for his beloved dog.

Chen Luo immediately checked his phone. Sure enough, they had sent a photo of a black Chinese Rural Dog who looked somewhat listless, with sorrow in his eyes.

Chen Luo's pupils contracted. As the man who had ambushed Thunder Dharma King repeatedly before finally succeeding and eating him, Chen Luo knew him all too well.

He couldn't help it. He had wanted dog meat that badly.

After eating him, Chen Luo had regretted it. Without seasonings or cooking skills, he had only been able to boil the meat in water and add a little salt...

It had tasted so fucking good...

The black dog in the photo looked exactly like Thunder Dharma King. His missing left ear was conclusive proof.

Chen Luo couldn't help smiling. Dharma King, oh Dharma King. I won't be short of food in this life. How about we keep each other company?

I promise I'll treat you well and keep you supplied with good food and drink.

Hang on. I'm coming to save you. Hopefully, you'll accept me as your owner.