Extortion

“Mr. Sui Ming… this… this really won’t do. That stuff isn’t cheap… just one drop of it costs tens of thousands of Fals… And I’m just a humble wage s*ave…”

“One bottle. Non-negotiable.”

Sui Ming stated firmly, utterly unashamed.

Judging by how pitifully this guy was acting, there was obviously room to haggle.

Since the crow had said this elixir was good for him, he’d just take it.

Not like he was losing anything, so what was there to stress about?

“Seriously… who the hell taught you to negotiate like this?”

Heikale muttered, sighing as he reached for a small bottle of pale golden liquid on his belt.

From the look on his face, it was clearly something he’d prepared in advance.

“This is something she told me to give you. She said that if you refused it, I could dispose of it myself…”

“…Ugh—my year-end bonus…”

“Was it… Bai Luoxia?” Ai’s expression suddenly shifted.

He remembered that aquamarine figure, and those cold, emotionless eyes.

Heikale didn’t deny it.

He simply replied, “She said… she wants to see you.”

“Bull-f***ing-shit!” Ai snapped.

“After everything that woman did, you think I’d let her hurt Young Master again?”

“Not a damn chance! Screw that!”

But at that moment, Sui Ming calmly raised his hand, gesturing for Ai to cool down.

“I don’t remember much about the past.

If she really wanted to meet me… she would’ve come in person, not sent you.”

“That said, I’ll still accept this gift.

Consider it… a friendship fee.”

“…Huh.”

Heikale had never seen someone extort a bottle of premium elixir with such shameless grace before.

“Ugh… fine. Take it.”

“Hehe—thanks!”

“My year-end bonus just grew wings and flew away… no—got carried off by someone who strapped engines to it…”

“Well, I’m off.

Don’t forget your end of the deal. Since you took the goods, you’re bound to attend.”

“Otherwise…”

Heikale narrowed his eyes and grinned.

“I wouldn’t mind cashing in that bounty of yours—over 100 million Fals.”

That last line sent a chill down Sui Ming’s spine.

He really believed the guy might actually do it.

He probably wouldn’t even last a single move against this man right now…

“The Imperial Inspector General isn’t someone to cross,” the crow echoed in his ear.

“If you don’t go, he just might make you go.”

“…By the way, how are you even speaking directly into my ear like this?” Sui Ming frowned.

“You sound like a damn portable voice assistant nagging me like Xu You in a Three Kingdoms sim.”

“Eh? You didn’t know?

Starting today, I’m your master now~

Excited? Surprised? Touched?”

CLANG.

The door to freedom slammed shut.

“…So, just checking—this world doesn’t have any sort of ‘killing-your-master’ taboo, right?

Like divine retribution or some heavenly thunderbolt?”

“Uhh… technically no. Wait, wait! What are you doing?! Aaaaah—this is animal abuse! Somebody call wildlife protection!”

For some reason, Sui Ming suddenly had a strong urge to strangle the crow.

Even he didn’t know why.

“…Meh. Not in the mood for crow stew today.”

“That’s the spirit—besides, crow meat is gamey.”

“Next time, maybe. I’m just not feeling it right now.”

“HEY! Is this how you treat your lifesaver?!”

“If by lifesaver, you mean the one who dragged me into some unknown danger and goaded me into extorting a high-ranking official…

…Then yes, I’m so grateful.”

“My retirement plans! Give them back!”

Sui Ming seized the crow by the neck again and shook it violently.

“Dying! Dying! My soul is leaving—!”

“Bleeergh—!”

“…Fine, I’ll stop.”

Sui Ming flung open the door and strolled out feeling refreshed, leaving behind a foaming crow collapsed on the floor.

To anyone passing by, it might’ve looked like… well, a string of censored remarks.

On the open lawn, blades of verdant grass brushed against Sui Ming’s legs.

The gentle wind of nature swept across his body.

Though the Xi family had fallen into ruin, at least the creditor was now burned so thoroughly not even bones were left.

For now, the old debts were off his back.

Though… Sui Ming had a strong hunch.

Within a week, [Gude Bank] would probably swoop in to take over the debt,

then “suddenly remember” that the Aorah family had once borrowed money from them.

Classic move.

In his past life, Sui Ming had seen this kind of legal judo too many times.

It was textbook banking trickery.

Still, this chaos had bought him and the others some breathing room—

No longer shackled by fear of debts.

So, Sui Ming used what little money he had left…

To rent a plot of land with a high mana concentration.

Yes, in this world, even ambient magical energy was pay-to-win.

And expensive.

Roughly 10,000 Fals per hour.

His wallet wept.

His savings shrank.

And he was currently choking the crow that suggested this idea.

“Relax, relax~ You’re not gonna die from spending a little cash~”

The crow instantly turned into black mist and slipped free from his grip.

“Here. Take this. Drink it while standing inside that circle.”

Sui Ming stared suspiciously at the glowing golden bottle, its light pulsating like a heartbeat.

“…You sure this thing is drinkable?”

“Blah blah blah! Quit whining like a twink! Drink it already!”

Before he could react, the bottle leapt from his hand and poured straight into his mouth.

BOOM.

A surge of immense magical energy exploded inside him.

Sui Ming clenched his eyes shut, trying to calm the raging storm within.

But it was like a hidden dragon in a subterranean river—

Wild, violent, completely out of his control.

Suddenly, wounds ripped open across his body.

Blood gushed from his limbs, his eyes, his nose—

At this rate, he was going to bleed out.

“You damn bird! I’m gonna die! Do something already!”

“Alright, alright, calm down…

On the bright side, at least she didn’t give you a fake. This stuff is working.”

The crow casually waved a wing, flicking through the air.

“If I don’t act now, your Wish Resonance might crush your entire body…”

It raised its wing again—

And a complex magical array materialized midair,

Then slammed into Sui Ming’s chest.

“Only power of the same rank can suppress power of this level.

Tch… what a spoiled brat. I save your life, and you try to boil me.

What do you think you are, a Guangdong chef?”

Suddenly, all the chaotic energy within Sui Ming’s body…

Stabilized.

As if nothing had happened at all.