No matter how powerful that demon is, as long as I can escape far away and find a crowd of people in the city of Calderra to protect me, can it really chase me down and kill me?
Five thousand gold coins, just thinking about it makes me feel pain.
I would have to empty my entire trading caravan to fill this huge hole.
Moreover… he touched his chest; his magic core was completely shattered. He could only rely on his noble status and his gold coins now.
If he really had to pay those five thousand gold coins and lost his magic core, he would be utterly finished.
Absolutely not!
Having made up his mind, he let out a sigh of relief, planning to head back to Vista City for a good night’s sleep, and then take a carriage back to Calderra the next day.
However, after a day passed, Hoson woke up in terror, only to discover a pea-sized dark void in the palm of his hand, hollow and black, as if…
As if it were the black eye of a demon!
A chill ran down his back, and he couldn’t help but shudder, his mind going blank.
The terror of the unknown is the most maddening. Unable to sit still, Hoson bolted out of his room, just as he was about to find his subordinates, he opened the door and almost crashed into them.
Everyone looked terrified, their eyes filled with panic. As soon as they saw Hoson come out, they immediately crowded around him.
Hoson glared at the mark on his palm for a long time, refusing to believe it. It was just a demon; once he returned to find the priest to purify it, everything would be fine. He shouted, “Quick, call for a carriage! Get to Calderra as fast as you can!”
With horses galloping, they soon arrived in Calderra. Hoson didn’t even dare take a moment to rest; he staggered and crawled to the church.
“Quick, purify this for me!” he grabbed a priest, and as time passed, the black void on his hand grew larger and more menacing.
The priest frowned and cautiously cast a healing spell toward the void.
To his surprise, it seemed to trigger something. As the magical energy entered the void, a sharp burning pain suddenly erupted, relentlessly attacking Hoson’s nerves. The void suddenly expanded, quickly engulfing his palm.
Hoson couldn’t hold back his screams, trembling as he wailed, “Help me, quick! Don’t stop, I’m dying of pain! My hand, my hand!”
The priest trembled and quickly cut off the magical energy input, but even then, the void didn’t stop its consumption. Gradually, half of Hoson’s arm disappeared, leaving behind an empty hollow.
He clutched his arm, hopping around, “No, stop it! Just stop!”
Suddenly, he remembered something and turned to a subordinate, saying, “Go gather money! Get gold coins! Bring them to me!”
His bodyguard was stunned by the scene before him. Unable to resist, he looked at the small black hole in his hand, swallowed hard, and immediately rushed to the viscount’s mansion to fetch the gold coins.
*
Five days later, Hoson looked up at the Beast Forest before him. Although he had come here again after just a few days, his mindset was entirely different from last time.
After the black void completely consumed his right arm, its speed gradually slowed. Hoson had hastily sold off his assets to gather the five thousand gold coins.
Someone behind him was carrying a large chest, the entirety of his possessions.
“Ding dong.”
The mysterious teleportation device slowly descended, and the door opened.
Hoson had a deep psychological trauma from this place. He stepped forward, trembling, not daring to look at the person inside the shop.
The attendant put down the chest.
“M-milord, the gold coins are all here. P-please, check them.”
He fixed his gaze on his toes, only hearing a light sound as footsteps gently approached him.
A demon’s voice resonated, each word echoing deeply in his ears—eerily peculiar.
“Hmm… this is enough. The rest is extra.”
A pale, slender hand reached out before Hoson, gently holding a few gold coins.
The man was startled, nearly jumping up. After realizing it, he shakily accepted the coins.
He cautiously asked, “Then… what about my arm? Can you see?”
Lusnian had already noticed Hoson’s hollow arm the moment he entered. After silently inquiring with Yongqing, he received a clear answer, smiling as he replied, “Of course, it will dissipate within a day.”
The tension Hoson had been holding in finally released. He relaxed suddenly and no longer wanted to stay there; he tugged at the attendant and took the elevator to leave.
Lusnian watched him leave, feeling a sense of melancholy. It was rare to find such a gullible target; with more troublemakers like him, he could make a fortune in no time.
Now armed with five thousand gold coins, along with the coins he had earned previously, his system account reached a staggering one hundred eighty thousand energy coins.
Lusnian no longer planned to purchase new goods. With the growing customer base, he intended to invest half of the funds back into the business, focusing on expanding the market first.
Although the store’s location wasn’t prime, he was fortunate to have Eble and others promoting it effectively.
Speaking of this, Lusnian couldn’t help but laugh. Eble seemed to regard him as some high-ranking individual, treating him with utmost respect every time he visited, practically wanting to perform rituals on the spot.
At that moment, someone else arrived.
Lusnian habitually asked, “Welcome! What would you like to buy?”
But as soon as he looked up, he was stunned; the person in front of him looked familiar—dressed in white robes with golden threads, resembling a bright bishop.
It was indeed the bishop who had visited him earlier and even brought him some water.
The bishop’s face was clouded with worry; he didn’t step inside, seemingly lost for words outside.
Since the last time he tried to eliminate this “demon” and got slapped back, he had secretly been purchasing many items these days, taking some back for study while also using them himself.
In the end, the Church discovered nothing, but people’s minds shifted. Some devout followers of the Light God found themselves inexplicably drawn to the items of the demon.
As for other products, what excited them the most was a snack called chips. It was crisp, delicious, and could replenish magical energy.