Chapitre 43: Being forced is infuriating , but being voluntary is pathetic
"Mr. Bai Yi, we've arrived. Would you like me to escort you inside?" the elf driver asked in a refined tone.
Bai Yi considered this for a moment, then nodded. With a flick of his wrist, two gold coins appeared in his hand and landed on the passenger seat. "Just bring me to the door of my shop."
"Of course. Please hold on." The elf, seeing the coins, grew even more respectful. He pressed lightly on the accelerator, flashed the Apocalypse Legion badge, and smoothly navigated into the inner city.
Inside the inner city, the atmosphere was markedly different. Unlike the panicked residents of the outer city, the inner city showed little trace of the recent explosions or deaths. Here, in the entertainment district, decadence held firm against the chaos.
Above the taverns, karaoke bars, casinos, and brothels, powerful silver-ranked beings cast protective auras around their establishments, signaling to their clientele—drunkards, gamblers, and wanderers alike—that they were in safe zones.
The colorful lights flooded the night, banishing the darkness. Luxury cars streamed in from every direction, seeking the sanctuary of these guarded spaces. Ironically, the turmoil outside only fueled business, especially for brothels, where wealthy patrons sought solace amidst the disorder.
The brothel's silver-ranked guard had even placed a screen at the entrance, displaying images of enchantingly dressed girls that enticed people to linger. Even the elves, known for their loyalty and purity, seemed drawn by the allure of the inner city, a world apart from their natural instincts.
The driver's sudden acceleration caught Bai Yi's attention. Glancing over, he noticed the elf's eyes glinting with anger, and a hint of sadness in the rearview mirror. Bai Yi understood: for some, the enticement of this life wasn't just infuriating but also pathetic.
With a shrug, Bai Yi brought out three bottles of enchanted milk, casually packaged from the fusion of a supernatural herbivore species and an ordinary cow. He inserted a straw, took a sip, and smiled. In this harsh, unforgiving world, even the pure and idealized elves couldn't entirely escape the pull of reality.
As the car stopped, Bai Yi stepped out without a word of comfort. He understood that anyone who hadn't surrendered to corruption in the civilian area already knew how to manage their emotions.
After a final sip, he looked up to see the familiar Dawn Pharmacy, shrouded in a chilling aura. Sensing his arrival, Or—an imposing level 50 lich—subtly retracted his magic, concealing his presence completely.
Inside, the pharmacy gleamed with light. Only two staff members remained behind the counter, and their eyes lit up when they saw Bai Yi.
"Welcome back, Boss," they chimed in unison.
Bai Yi paused, his gaze lingering on them. One was an elf in an office uniform, the other a young girl in a maid's dress. An unexpected sense of satisfaction flickered in his mind.
"Luoning, please change out of that outfit. You're an employee, not a servant," he said, nodding to Irene. With a slight smirk, he placed two bottles of milk on the counter and headed for the workshop.
Or's voice echoed through his mind. Now, with his growing influence, Bai Yi could restrict Or's actions, which would be essential in their future dealings.
As soon as Bai Yi left, Irene's eyes sparkled. She eagerly snatched up the milk, handing one bottle to Luoning. But just as she took a sip, her expression froze.
She glanced down, then at Luoning, muttering in frustration, "Is he looking down on us? We're not even adults yet!"
"Is something wrong, Sister Irene?" Luoning asked, blinking in confusion.
Irene eyed the workshop door, her face sour. "That miserly, smug boss—he's mocking us!"
"Mocking? But… he brought us gifts," Luoning replied, looking fondly at the milk in her hand. "Didn't you notice? The boss has gotten even more handsome. I like him more and more!"
Irene sighed, waving her hand dismissively. "Sure, sure, the boss is the best. Just take care of yourself."
But Irene couldn't shake the memory of Bai Yi's gaze from her mind. It seemed he'd been looking at her specifically, as if his earlier comments had been aimed only at her.
In Or's private chamber, Bai Yi surveyed the nearly twenty boxes stacked on the floor, then asked in an oddly skeptical tone, "Is this everything?"
Or nodded. "Yes, but this is more than enough."
The lich summoned more than forty Dawn Badges, each pulsing with the chilling aura of the undead. Bai Yi's mental power flickered as he carefully checked the gold count within the badges. Satisfied, he nodded.
"Here's how it breaks down: about 350,000 gold coins are in the badges, and the equipment and materials in these boxes are worth around 50,000. According to our agreement, your share is 80,000 gold coins. However…"
Or, who'd just started to relax, suddenly flared with anger. He knew Bai Yi well enough to understand that when things went wrong, this alchemist was ruthless.
Ignoring Or's resentment, Bai Yi's tone remained cold. "You used death energy to restore your magic in a single night. That means no witnesses were left among the wealthy merchants you robbed. I warned you about keeping things discreet."
"The dead can't expose me, so I didn't break any rule!" Or snapped defensively. In his mind, he'd perfectly covered his tracks. No souls remained, all witnesses were erased, and he had adhered to Bai Yi's instructions.
But Bai Yi remained unmoved. "For this incident, you'll receive 50,000 coins, not 80,000. The other 30,000 is the cost of putting me at risk."
Without waiting for a rebuttal, Bai Yi turned to leave. "Tomorrow, I'll provide a list of treasures worth 50,000 coins. Choose one for your collection. Until I say otherwise, remain in the pharmacy and keep working."
Or seethed as Bai Yi's footsteps receded, his fiery gaze narrowing. Finally, he bellowed in frustration:
"Damn you, alchemist! Miserly capitalist! I curse you to the depths of hell!"
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone