Chapter 121 - 121 104 The Power of Demons

121: Chapter 104: The Power of Demons 121: Chapter 104: The Power of Demons When is a bank most enthusiastic? When you owe it money. Before, to get a black iron user card and to open an account for someone, you’d pretty much have to burn through a week’s worth of investment quota with at least 30 credit-points. But now, when the “bank” realizes you owe it money, it immediately helps you register an account, gets you a card, and reminds you of your debt in one go. However, when Lu Ping’an saw this card, he saw something more profound. “What triggered the ability to activate on its own? Was it the defaulting on a debt…. No, that’s not it.” Previously, Meow had also skipped out on paying back its debt, but this wasn’t recognized by the banking system. The “15% annual interest rate” on the card gave Lu Ping’an the hint and the answer. “A 15% annual interest rate, doesn’t the contract I have with Hua senior sister also have a 15% annual default penalty rate?” Both are extra expenses of 15% per year, it’s almost blatantly obvious. “My Life Bank needs the support of the Contractor’s power. Only a lending relationship recognized by the rules can enter into the Life Bank’s accounting system.” “……I’m thankful I advanced to the Scholar profession. But I need to step up to Contractor as a 2-tier? Wasn’t that the legendary professional tool man who has no combat power whatsoever?” When in doubt, ask Meow. Lu Ping’an was increasingly convinced that perhaps the knowledge and experience of Meow were the most valuable part of the “legacy” he had inherited… Normally, high-level professionals consider their social relationships, the contracts they have signed, and the pollution taboo, but no matter how good their relationships, they wouldn’t share much. However, Meow has no such restrictions, and she has passed on. The real challenge lies in how to make her willing to speak. “Contractor? True, they possess no combat power, but that doesn’t mean they can’t kill people. Don’t you remember that Sophist? He is the advancement of the Contractor…” At this point, Lu Ping’an remembered the Sophist. His first-tier was Scholar; his second-tier, Contractor; and his third-tier, negotiator– all relying on conversation skills. His fourth-tier should also be an advancement of this kind of ability. “And in my view, your ability doesn’t demand a Contractor, but rather another advancement pathway, a Lawyer. The third-tier is ‘Lawyer’ or the even higher fourth-tier, ‘Judge’. Both of these are half-public, and the Lawyer basically has no attack power too, but the Judge…can be regarded as one of the most powerful in the fourth-tier.” Lu Ping’an understood immediately. The profession with the best and highest fit with banking and Financial Street is naturally the sophistry players, the litigation masters. Haven’t you seen all the law firms around or within Financial Street? In some sense, they’re basically a symbiotic relationship. The finance industry, as a civilian power, needs legal representation to legalize its financial behavior, cloaking all its actions under a “legal and compliant” guise. And indirectly gains the abilities of bankruptcy, liquidation, mortgaging, enforcement, and other compulsory or even violent methods to protect the orderly operation of finance. What? Lawyers serve to pursue legal fairness? Perhaps some lawyers genuinely believe and act on this principle. But most people, especially financiers and banks who pay lawyers for their service, aren’t trying to uphold the integrity and fairness of the law when they spend their money. They pay to make the operation of legal rules work in their favor. Tools or methods themselves might not be good or evil, but those who use them certainly have their intentions. “If I were the bank, I wouldn’t have the authority to directly establish a debt relationship or conduct financial activities. It must be through a Lawyer… or at least, the power of a Contractor, to have the debt and financial relationships legalized and rule-based, and incorporated into my bank’s credit system.” At this point, Lu Ping’an instinctively felt that the capability of the Lawyer series might just be what his talent was lacking. “Going further, the Contractor’s abilities can’t compel repayment of Life-points. He merely establishes a connection between the other party and me, while the collection is done by the bank. So, if the other party is unable to repay the debt, or unexpectedly dies before they can, can I declare bankruptcy and…” Lu Ping’an paused, a chilling possibility forming in his mind. “…liquidate their estate to make up for the losses. Just like bankrupt liquidation of Life Essence modules from failed investments of Magic Plants…” Lu Ping’an involuntarily shivered, this ability was not just wicked, it was downright cannibalistic. His abnormal ability instinctively told him that as long as the ability was developed to a certain extent, this should be achievable! “This ability is just too evil, so… it must be properly managed by me!” Lu Ping’an snapped his fingers, having let go of all his concerns, and started cheerfully contemplating the uses of this ability. The advancement of the Contractor must also be arranged soon. Relying on contracts provided by other Contractors is not only expensive but also unsafe. “Besides, it can’t be ‘tailored’ and does not allow for scheduled execution times or higher interest rates… well, that might be going overboard.” After thinking about it, Lu Ping’an shook his head. It wasn’t as horrifying as it seemed. After all, unlike purely profit-driven financial institutions in reality, all transactions on his end had to adhere to the principle of fairness and justice. “139 life-points, what does that mean? Is it a lot?” Senior sister Hua’s question broke Lu Ping’an’s contemplation. He looked at the girl’s expression, which was one of undisguised sympathy. It wasn’t about whether it was expensive or not, it could possibly mean selling oneself to pay for a father’s funeral… “This is the price calculation method of my Rule System ability, similar to the store currency of the Secret Realm…” Seeing the puzzled faces of the two senior sisters, Lu Ping’an realized that this was likely a secret and a special benefit enjoyed by only a few Rule System users. “You all know the Church’s credit-coins, right? Similar to that. I suspect that they modeled it on the store currency system of the Secret Realm of the Gods.” Now, the two understood, but still didn’t know its value. “Like most credit-coins, one point is roughly equivalent to 100 Yuan? Just over ten thousand?” “No, I don’t quite know how to describe its precise value, probably expensive? However, what I need now, apart from the Gardener’s profession information, is the Contractor series. Can you provide that?” Very quickly, the two from the “Venus Mutual Aid Society” found out how expensive “expensive” really was. Having provided all the prepared information about Gardening, and adding the basic data of the Contractor series, the -139 points hadn’t budged. It wasn’t until Xiao Lu called her mentor for some third-tier information that the 139 points finally dropped to 138. Hua Xueyi gasped in surprise, the cost of this was outrageous. “Hua senior sister, as a professional, you seem too conscientious. You overestimated the value of the information.” Immediately, the girl was fuming. You still have the nerve to say such things, and to shift the blame onto me. “Don’t worry, I won’t come after you for the debt. Even when the three years of forced contract execution are up, I won’t enforce it.” This was all that was left of Lu Ping’an’s sympathy. Lu Ping’an was also afraid of pushing the other party into a corner, leading to a murder and debt-clearing scenario. Well, even if she chose to deny the debt at the expense of a three-year deficit, he would be at a real loss… It seems that he needed to arrange for a Contractor as soon as possible. These weak penalty contracts should be avoided. “Also, I think you’ve made a profit. If I put these things up for sale first, would you not buy them?” With that, Hua Xueyi was once again left speechless. Are the things Lu Ping’an brought out worth it? Of course. As long as the development goes smoothly, she probably won’t have to worry about the lethal consequences of power loss of control for ten or even twenty or thirty years. At the same time, it opens up an elevator to a third-tier powerful battle profession. Third-tier information isn’t hard to get, but it’s impossible to find something so suitable for her, which perfectly suppresses the side effects of her abilities under normal circumstances. This information is equivalent to a shortcut to third or even fourth-tier combat power, and meant she is destined to be a promising high-ranker. But it seemed like she might have accidentally sold her life to him. “Let me remind you both of something an elder once told me: never voluntarily be the buyer in a Conscience Contract… well, don’t glare at me. The Conscience Contract was your idea. Would you like to see the new functions of this card? Do you want to ‘defer payment’ or ‘invest remotely’? ” Xiao Lu was tempted by the practicality of the card and wished she could have one too. “There is a limited amount, and it requires certain preconditions. It will be available later.” At this point, Lu Ping’an wasn’t foolish enough to tell the truth, not asking “why don’t you also sign a Conscience Contract.” But since there is a contract as a guarantee, more “cooperation opportunities” are bound to occur in the future. Lu Ping’an can start to reveal more details about his abilities. “Actually, you’re not at a loss. For each ‘investment’ I make to buff you, I use up one life-point. As long as you work for me for 139 days, Senior sister Hua, you will definitely make a profit!”