Chapter 399: Upgrading Our Lifestyle
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 399: Upgrading Our Lifestyle
Looking at the three corpses lying on the ground and the two Luck Threads in my hand, I felt a complicated swirl of emotions.
It was as if something monumental had just happened, yet my heart felt hollow, and my head was filled with nothing but riddles.
It wasn't a pleasant feeling.
So... I turned toward that mountain of moolah. In this godforsaken world, only these cold, hard assets could provide a bit of solace for my empty heart...
After basking in the sight for a while, I finally stood up, satisfied.
With a wave of my hand, the mountain of Hard Wood Coins, banknotes, precious metals, and luxury goods vanished into my storage equipment. I didn't leave a single coin behind.
Once the wealth was tucked away, I glanced back at the two Secret Diggers.
The one from before had modestly claimed they hadn't done much looting, yet they had this much wealth on them—not to mention their bank reserves. It was hard to imagine just how much money these two actually had. What a shame... I hadn't been able to squeeze a single drop of extra profit out of them.
After a quick search, I found nothing else of value. Their combat gear and weapons had completely vanished, leaving me without even a chance to sell them for scrap.
As for how to bring these guys in for the bounty... that was a bit of a problem.
I really didn't want to use the storage equipment Sister Bai gave me to haul these guys around. It was too gross.
After some thought, I looked around the deserted area. Ultimately, I placed Teleportation Marks on them, leaving them lying there for now. I could just summon them when the time came.
The Teleportation Summoning Spell—the one that could summon an entire giant sword back during the exchange competition—had finally proven its worth here.
Since there were no residents around, leaving them here for a few days wouldn't hurt. After all, they were just tools to claim a bounty.
With the plan set, I let out a long sigh.
Who would have thought that my simple desire to learn about Secret Diggers and have a little chat would end with me presiding over their funerals?
I suppose I should blame the guy who forced me into the fray, and the one who tried to shoot me.
Still, at least one of them provided "burial fees," so it wasn't a total loss. I guess there really are good people in this world after all.
Now, it was time to find Qiu Ruxin. Since I was flush with cash, there was no need to waste energy planning how to "rob the rich to help the poor" anymore.
* * *
"Heh~ What’s a little girl like you doing wandering around outside in broad daylight? It’s dangerous out here."
"Don't have a home to go back to? How about coming with us uncles instead?"
"Tch..." The sudden voices made Qiu Ruxin’s heart skip a beat. Seeing the thugs, she clicked her tongue instinctively. her hands clenched tight, the sting of her nails digging into her palms reminding her to stay calm. Again...
But now, she didn't need to be as afraid as before.
She had already tested just how sturdy the protection on her body was.
Even though Sister Xiao Han hadn't given her a weapon, these protective spells were incredibly effective.
She just had to wait for Sister Xiao Han to find her...
Still, she blamed herself for not finding a better hiding spot and running into these types.
But then she thought of her own luck... it seemed like this sort of thing was only to be expected.
"Not running? Smart girl~ Why don't you come play with us?"
The three men closed in on Qiu Ruxin, blocking her escape routes. But just as they reached out to grab her, they found their hands blocked by something invisible.
Generally speaking, a protection shield was an energy shield. Under normal circumstances, transcendent energy couldn't be seen by the naked eye unless it dissipated into light and heat, or if the caster intentionally made it visible. Otherwise, a protection spell would only flicker into a faint shape when struck, as the impact caused the energy to bleed light.
"What the hell is this?"
This time, it was the thugs' turn to be bewildered. They hadn't expected this, but they didn't immediately think of spells or magic. They assumed it was some high-tech self-defense gadget cooked up by the rich families on Lanas Island.
As for suspecting the girl was a Secret Digger?
Please. They had never seen a Secret Digger this pathetic. If those types saw thugs like them, they’d likely pull out a gun and mow them down just for being in the way.
"Dammit! What is this crap!"
After confirming he couldn't punch through it, the leader grew frustrated. He lashed out with a kick, but the recoil sent him stumbling backward while the shield remained rock-solid.
This display made his two lackeys burst out laughing.
"What are you laughing at! Get me the hell up! I don't believe this." He cursed, grabbing a nearby rock and hurling it at Qiu Ruxin.
Seeing this, Qiu Ruxin instinctively raised her arm to block. It wasn't that she didn't trust Sister Xiao Han's methods; it was just a reflex.
But the rock hit nothing but air—or rather, the invisible barrier.
"What are you standing there for? Help me! Anyone with a toy this good... if we snatch it, we can fetch a hell of a price on the black market!" Following his roar, the other two joined in.
Such is human greed. Even when they see nothing, they convince themselves their efforts are worthwhile. How could they believe the girl before them was actually a penniless, homeless orphan?
"Are you having fun throwing those?"
Just as the three of them were starting to get sore from hurling rocks, a woman's voice rang out from behind them.
"Who's there?" The leader spun around alertly, but he was greeted by my foot.
I kicked him square in the side. Since he hadn't fully turned around, the blow landed right on his kidney.
A massive force sent him flying, helpless, straight into a flickering teleportation channel that vanished an instant later. A man that large simply disappeared before Qiu Ruxin’s eyes.
I didn't waste words on the other two, kicking them into the teleportation channel as well.
The entire sequence took only a few seconds before the channel snapped shut.
Spells really do get easier to use the more you practice. This teleportation spell was no exception.
"Sister Xiao Han!" Seeing me arrive, Qiu Ruxin immediately snapped out of her cold, self-reproaching mood. However, she was equally curious about my methods.
"Those guys..."
Just as Qiu Ruxin was about to ask, a series of blood-curdling screams and wails echoed from high up in the distant sky.
The screaming only stopped when several silhouettes slammed into the ground at terminal velocity.
Qiu Ruxin watched the whole thing. After the screams abruptly ended, she stood dazed for a few seconds. Then, a cold sweat broke out down her back. This method!
It was terrifying...
"I'm sorry. I should have prepared some self-defense trinkets for you," I said, breaking the silence. I really hadn't expected thugs to find her in such a short amount of time.
"It's okay. Sister Xiao Han's shield was enough to protect me."
"In this world, just seeking self-preservation isn't enough. However, I don't have any alchemy items on me right now. You'll have to wait a bit."
I gave her a few words of comfort. When it came to crafting alchemy items, I didn't have much experience. But by combining my understanding of runes, spells, and my inscription skills, I could probably solidify a spell onto a small object. Even if it was a one-time use, it would serve as a means of self-defense.
I instinctively scanned Qiu Ruxin’s accessories, looking for a suitable medium.
But after looking for a while, there wasn't much. The only thing was a pendant around her neck, tucked inside her collar—likely to avoid drawing unwanted attention.
"Um... Sister Xiao Han, you said you were going to contact those Secret Diggers... how did it go?" Qiu Ruxin asked softly as she followed me.
"Oh, they've been 'dealt with,'" I said with a shrug and a smile, as if I had done something trivial. "By the way, you mentioned that most Secret Diggers have wanted orders and bounties on them, right?"
"Yes... if I remember correctly, that's how it works," Qiu Ruxin nodded.
"Do you know where to collect them? Is it with those Detective Teams you mentioned, or somewhere else?" I asked curiously. I wasn't short on cash for the moment, but no one ever complains about having too much, right?
"That... I'm not really sure. Successful bounty claims are actually very rare."
"Forget it then. Anyway, let's go get a change of clothes." I mainly wanted to get some local attire and buy some phones and computers.
Though they might not be called that in this world, the concepts I gathered from Qiu Ruxin via the consciousness communication spell translated to "phones" and "computers."
Once I had a phone, I could just use a search engine on the Plant Network to look things up, couldn't I?
Even if this world didn't have search engines, there had to be some kind of forum or platform. I could just post a thread and ask.
"A change of clothes? But we don't seem to have that much money... oh, those thugs..."
"No, we have money. It was 'generously donated' by those Secret Diggers. And they were kind enough to leave their corpses for us to turn in for bounties, too," I explained with a smile.
"What?" Qiu Ruxin looked at me in shock. She didn't believe the "generous donation" part at first, but once she heard "corpses," she quickly realized what had happened.
No wonder Sister Xiao Han was asking about bounties. She had already finished them off?
But... where were the bodies?
"As long as you understand. No need to spell everything out. Let's go. Tonight, we're having a feast and staying at the best hotel. And we're definitely getting you out of those clothes."
A bit of luxury was necessary tonight. I needed to gauge the purchasing power of this world's currency. Although I had bought food and water at a convenience store and stayed in a hostel before, low-end spending is very different from high-end spending.
I needed to estimate how long the money I’d acquired would last.
That way, I could plan whether I had enough time or if I needed to "go to work" again every once in a while.
With the plan made, we moved quickly. First, we went to buy new clothes. There was no need to be overly flashy, but I realized that even with new clothes, the inherent temperament of both Qiu Ruxin and myself was impossible to hide.
Even I was surprised by the fashion in this world. It had an exotic beauty to it, though it leaned toward the conservative side due to the general environment. But there was beauty in that modesty as well.
After trying on several different styles of dresses and outfits, I waved my hand and bought them all. Payment was a bit of a hassle; this world didn't have mobile or electronic payments, but they did accept cards.
However... I remembered what that nameless Secret Digger had said. His words gave me a significant aversion to putting money in a bank.
The "hassle" I felt was simply because it was hard to explain where that much cash came from for a large payment.
This world didn't have the concept of storage equipment.
In the end, I decided to deposit some of the more cumbersome coins. For instance, the Hard Wood Coins. Even though they came in large denominations, they weren't as convenient as banknotes. Even so, I only deposited a portion.
"An anonymous card... how interesting." After leaving the bank, I toyed with the card. Its material felt similar to the Hard Wood Coins, with good durability.
I have to say, money really does talk. When I first said I couldn't provide ID verification, the staff's attitude shifted. But when I pulled out an amount of cash that left them speechless, they suddenly didn't care about ID. They gave me an anonymous card on the spot and even made me a member.
"Sister Xiao Han, what are we doing next?"
"Buying a phone so we can stay in touch, and then assembling a computer. I want to get on the Plant Network to learn more about this world, and study your language and writing."
"I know a place that's quite affordable. Should I lead the way?"
"Please. I'm completely clueless about this stuff, so I'm counting on you. For both the phone and the computer, my only requirement is that they work."
"I'm not an expert either, but if you just need them to work, it shouldn't be a problem," Qiu Ruxin said after a moment's thought.
As I followed Qiu Ruxin to buy the equipment, I realized she wasn't exactly a pro.
Usually, boys were more into electronic gadgets. Qiu Ruxin probably hadn't had much contact with them, so she was quite inexperienced, but she did her absolute best to help me.
Because my requirements were simple, the actual purchasing was quick and efficient. However, dealing with the service plans, data packages, and networking took up a lot of time. By the time we were finished, the sun had already set.
"That's enough for today. Come on, let's go get that feast I promised~"