Chapter 114: Business Mindset

Words : 1316 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

Chapter 114: Business Mindset Xaver decided to lug Luca off to ask about his reasons. It was still difficult for him to understand this little guy’s thoughts, but by now, he was sure that his little actions were typically related to much bigger things. Xavier couldn’t help but wonder what it was this time, but when he sat Luca down, he was just staring at him with a mouth shut as tight as possible. Luca didn’t know how to reason with Xavier and decided to go with a staring competition. While he had shared more than he ever expected, he still wasn’t sure how the mountain giant would react to his little quirk. Quirks, actually. There’s more from where it came from, but Luca was afraid he’d eventually push his new buddies to the limit. Xavier noticed his hesitance and couldn’t really force him because even he kept secrets that would definitely affect the little Chipmunk. However, this was his personal duty, and in the worst-case scenario, he could abdicate in favor of his little sister. But that was a problem for another time. Right now, the problem was this guy who wanted to come to the port with them. "I understand your hesitance, and I’m not forcing you to tell me all about it. But you have to understand that I can’t just do it without a valid reason. You’re going to have to work with me here." While he could, on his authority, drag someone over, that was going to blow his cover for those who weren’t in the know. And he couldn’t do that unless there was a compelling reason. Well, Luca definitely had a justifiable cause; he just didn’t know how to explain it. "I... I’m hoping to clean them up for you. I am an excellent cleaner." said Luca hesitantly. That was really the gist of it, but of course, Xavier’s eyes narrowed at his vague words. He planned to ask for clarification when the Chipmunk decided to do it for him. "Just like I cleaned you up, I think I could help with the port clean up." Eh??? He had an inkling and was sure something was up with this guy’s movements, but Xavier didn’t expect the shorty to come clean about it. As clean as he could right now, anyway. He didn’t clarify that, technically, the dungeon would clean up the corruption this time around, but the space was integrated with him anyway, so semantics. Xavier had to collect his scattered thoughts and realized that this somehow felt familiar. But it wouldn’t be until he saw it in person that Xavier would be able to connect the little Chipmunk to the market incident. It wasn’t surprising because what Luca was about to do would really be beyond people’s imagination. Xavier decided to sneak the little Chipmunk in. He mused that it was better this way in case something groundbreaking happened again. If anything, Xavier hoped that Luca would be able to deal with the least contaminated items so that they could salvage some. He figured that it took some time for Luca to fix him up, so it may take the little Chipmunk several rounds before he could ’clean’ some of the materials. But things didn’t go as expected. Luca had to squeeze in again with Xavier, this time in a manual mecha, which was rather cramped. The port had been cryogenically frozen to hold off the contamination for as long as possible while they attempted to salvage some of the items. D-29 now agrees with its Host that this would cost too much! Stealing would really be the best solution! On the other hand, Sid felt melancholic throughout the conversation as the guardian mecha wondered how many people would suffer significant financial losses. But the tremendous financial losses didn’t come. Instead, Xavier was treated to what was probably the century’s greatest miracle. However, said greatest miracle was actually in a different headspace that should probably remain private forever. The little money grubber didn’t feel so little after seeing the frozen port. KA-CHING! KA-CHING! There was so much CP just waiting to be harvested, and Luca felt like he was in corruption heaven! And what was more: IT WAS FREE. FREE! Xavier was such a blessing to Luca that he could only bow in thanks before murmuring his desire to serve the white wolf to the best of his abilities! "???" Xavier had no idea what was happening, but could he not repeat such scary words in public? And it didn’t help that they were so cramped he couldn’t avoid the wiggling Chipmunk. But before he could tell the wayward money-grubber to behave himself, he saw how the items before him were being cleansed of the apparent contamination marks. While some materials were obviously corroded from the exposure to corruption, many of the items, especially those with another layer of packaging, were surprisingly being cleansed before his eyes. Xavier had to look at the bright-eyed Chipmunk who occupied his lap. It was clear that he was elated beyond belief and looked like a kid opening birthday presents. But Xavier couldn’t sort out his emotions. Before meeting this shorty, he thought they had already overturned every rock trying to find a solution to the Empire’s crisis. Frankly, everything looked hopeless, and to everyone who knew, it felt like they were just buying time before facing the apocalypse. However, this Chipmunk came bulldozing all their assumptions about the world and didn’t ask for anything save for a few Star coins. And even when the money-grubber could extort more, he’d be content with whatever amount was there. Xavier looked up, trying to figure out what to do and how to respond to the situation, before laying his head on Luca’s shoulder. This startled the Chipmunk, who was very busy cleaning (making money). "Xavier?" "Are you okay? Did you get sick?" Luca was alarmed and wondered if it was that or if he was taking too much corruption without paying. So the little money grubber panicked and tried to offer some sort of compensation: "I’m sorry. Should I stop? Or would you accept Star coins for this?" It hurt to offer such a trade, but Luca needed the lab equipment for his brother and Sid! Xavier could only laugh; it was one that he felt like he had been holding in since meeting this golden-eyed conundrum. "You want to pay for this?" Xavier asked after chuckling at his plight. "Not really," Luca said, biting his lip. He was honest about not wanting to pay, as his original plan was to come and steal. But his conscience would eat him up, so he decided to offer against his better judgment. "But I will pay if needed. Can it be done in installments?" Luca’s shoulders drooped, and the new, budding debt suddenly zapped his excitement. Xavier couldn’t take it anymore and just gave up on teasing him. Luca would win. Given all this, he should win every time. "Luca, do you want to ’clean’ everything?" Xavier asked, his eyes watching for the not-so-subtle changes in the Chipmunk’s face. Luca nodded earnestly, his heart pounding at the question. "Okay. Then let me protect you for as long as I’m alive, and you’ll get to have this and more. What do you say?" Luca was surprised at the bargain and couldn’t understand how Xavier would get anything from that. "Host, maybe we miscalculated? Is this guy actually bad at business?" D-29 was similarly confused, and Luca agreed with the sentiment. But he agreed because nothing about that was bad for him. "Okay!" He offered a small smile as he thought about staying with Xavier because he seemed more gullible than him! It seemed like it was actually him who needed to protect the kind yet gullible mountain giant. What if he gets sold off without him knowing?!

Chapter 114: Business Mindset

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