Chapter 264: A Great Change
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
After farming the octopuses, Vigilante A continued to patrol the world without a break.
The Eastern Pharos’s light shone brightly on Earth, so he must be on the lookout for possible troubles.
In the System s.p.a.ce.
Fang Ning bragged to the System, “Sir, we’ve nabbed more than five hundred million experience points, and our total points is currently five-billion-odd, and an extra five hundred million US dollars as security funds for the Alliance… These are only managed by Vigilante A becoming the leader of the Alliance.
“Were it not for you becoming the leader, we would only have the experience points this time. It’s hard to ask the Australians for security funds. They are not the Truth Department, and we don’t have anyone we know in there, so they definitely wouldn’t give us the money that easily. You should be satisfied right now!”
The System said, “I am not…”
Fang Ning replied after a moment of speechlessness, “How much more do you want?”
The System complained, “Didn’t the Australians cough up ten billion dollars? Why do I only get five hundred million? That’s only a measly five percent!”
Fang Ning rolled his eyes. “Did you think the Alliance can run without money? Firstly, the price was set by Duke Yun with the intention of overcharging the Australians, the actual operating cost is not that high. Secondly, the bigger part of the money needs to be saved for future operating costs. In the future, if you were required to join a fight, they would take a cut from that fee, so they can’t give you the full amount now.”
The System said, “I don’t understand… but I know if you spout so much self-important nonsense, something must be up. Use a simpler explanation.”
Fang Ning said straightforwardly, “Simply put, it’s because I have contributed a lot to this operation, so give me a two-day break…”
The System said, “So play inside the System s.p.a.ce for two days, I promise I won’t bother you. There’s no need for a two-day break specifically for this reason.”
Fang Ning was slightly taken aback. ‘Dammit, the idiot’s EQ had never been great, but it has come to understand me so much that it’s hard to fool… Looks like I need to use tactical hoodwinking tool.’
He said with a straight face and a serious tone, “Didn’t I say it while you were farming those octopus demons? Their potential is really great, far greater than humans. I have to use my own ident.i.ty to do an in-depth market research and look at the big picture based on the advancement of the current human society…”
The System interrupted, “Rich Man, you don’t need to care about the big picture so much. I don’t think we need to care about the big picture at all. Ren Ruofeng and the others were far more intelligent than you are, so let them do the caring, we can continue to farm money and experience points and focus purely on strengthening ourselves…”
Fang Ning almost spat blood. ‘After dealing with me for so long, not even tactical hoodwinking tool could manipulate this idiot…
‘However, will this stump me?
‘No matter how smart Ren Ruofeng and the others are, there’s one point that they will never be able to compare to me, and that’s only I was living in the same s.p.a.ce as Sir System, the position we take are definitely identical.’
He immediately chided the System, “You ignorant, naive, puny System. You knew nothing of the big picture… To Ren Ruofeng, the big picture was the safety of the entire group of people. In desperate situations, they could sacrifice anyone like they are chess pieces… That was why our relations.h.i.+p was good, but they were still not an ally of the System. The big picture, to me, is my safety and yours before the entire organization.”
The System immediately turned around. “Oh, oh, I understand now. Sir Rich Billionaire, you’re a genius, you should definitely think of the bigger picture yourself so we don’t get thrown under the bus. Two days of break, is that enough? I could give you three…”
Fang Ning took the opportunity. “Mm, that’d be nice. I won’t take much, only three days.”
He knew the importance of moderation, he could not delay the System farming time too much. After all, the core of that bigger picture still depended on the strength of the System.
With enough strength, they would be the priority.
Without considerable strength, anyone could be a replaceable chess piece, that was easily demonstrated in Chinese chess.
…
In a high-cla.s.s residential area of Qi City where Fang Ning’s real ident.i.ty stayed.
He regained his control happily. At his current state, his spiritual sense had already reached Bucket-level, let alone putting into consideration his half-dragon body.
“Precious, precious game book. Show me my current strength. I need to take that into account for my plan.”
[Fang Ning, Power Level: Pond-level Powerhouse. Description: Water has declined… try not to go onto a battlefield.]
Fang Ning was moved. His precious had always been so caring of him, and would always add a reminder in the end…
Having finished reading his power level, Fang Ning searched for an ensemble of fine quality in his closet and started putting them on in front of his mirror.
His gaze darted about, checking himself out, and noticed he was slightly taller than before.
Visually, he looked to have grown from 1.72m tall to 1.75m tall…
‘Mm, I’m tall, handsome, and rich. I even have a long life expectancy…’
He had asked the System before. After turning into a dragon’s physique, his life expectancy had lengthened as his aging process slowed dramatically. He could not guess how long exactly he had to live, but it would probably be more than five hundred years…
He did not have to worry about his health and cleanliness, Vigilante A was already untainted by dust despite touching them.
The System said suddenly, “Billionaire Host, you said you were going to conduct a social survey to look at the big picture, but why do I feel like you were going for a date? Don’t do anything bad.”
Fang Ning responded in speechlessness, “Don’t mother me, my mental health is one of the facets of the big picture. Besides, I will definitely have the survey done in depth.”
The System said, “I keep feeling like I was conned again… Ah well, I keep my promises. I’m going to cultivate in seclusion, don’t call me unless necessary.”
Fang Ning finished freshening up and called his driver from his restaurant to send him to President Zhao’s house.
Within half a year, he had already fortified his relations.h.i.+p with President Zhao’s family. He no longer needed to make an appointment to visit, the only thing he needed was to show up.
Were it any other people of considerable background, they might still call for the sake of etiquette, but Fang Ning had never been a person with a high society background. Coupled with his laziness, he would do as President Zhao said when he was asked not to worry about the formalities.
His driver drove steadily and sent his boss to the Zhao’s mansion in the countryside.
He pressed on the bell. As soon as the servants saw him, they opened the door and informed President Zhao and his family.
With the servants leading the way, Fang Ning traversed a long path to a white, three-storied building.
At that point, President Zhao, Madam Zhao, and their daughter, Liu Yao were already waiting to greet him in front of the building.
The four entered the living hall and began their pleasantries.
It was the same, familiar decoration in the living hall. Fang Ning glanced around and noticed a huge new fish tank on a side table. Something was swimming in it.
As he had just seen a huge operation with octopuses fighting over cans and pots, he started taking notice of other containers like that.
However, he did not look at it too much as Madam Zhao pulled him aside to chat.
“Xiao Fang, how long ago was it that we last met? You’ve become so much more handsome! And you look so much younger. You definitely don’t look like someone who’s about to turn thirty, I bet people would even believe you to be in your early twenties.” Madam Zhao grabbed Fang Ning and turned him left and right while checking him out, her face in disbelief.
She was thinking, ‘Four-legged Dragonization Ability is able to improve a person’s const.i.tution, elongate their life expectancy, and slow down aging, but it doesn’t have any skincare effects.
‘It’s normal that Xiao Fang becomes younger, but becoming more handsome? Could it be that he consumed the newly marketed Dragon G.o.d Brand Face Rejuvenating Pill? It’s difficult to buy that though, most people wouldn’t be able to get it.’
Fang Ning was overjoyed. His body had been evolved into a dragon’s body by the System, and he kept stealing the pills the System synthesized.
It definitely worked. Even if he dispelled the disguise, he looked much better than before due to his skin complexion improving.
He scratched his head and pretended to be embarra.s.sed as he said, “The method you gave me must have been really good. You look so much younger yourself.”
Madam Zhao was ecstatic hearing that. She maintained her calm expression and said, “Oh you, this was all because old Zhao looks old…”
After she had received Bodhisattva Spirit King’s power, she had gotten a really huge improvement in her cultivation in the past six months.
Her Four-legged Dragonization Ability had been improved into intermediate-level, her life had been extended by fifty years, her const.i.tution had strengthened, so naturally, she would look much younger.
President Zhao looked at her wistfully. ‘Do I really have to be involved in this?’
“Uncle Zhao, Aunt Zhao, this is the Dragon G.o.d Brand Face Rejuvenation Pill I’d gotten from the Dragon G.o.d himself, made by the true dragon himself with extraordinary effects like skincare and beautification. If you take it long enough, it can even flush away the toxic in your body and increase your const.i.tution…”
After the pleasantries, Fang Ning retrieved three jade bottles from his bag and gave it to the three Zhao family members. He knew the basic etiquette and would not have visited them empty-handedly.
“Oh, wow, Xiao Fang, you’re really thoughtful.” Madam Zhao took the gift without hesitation.
She had wanted to see the effects of the pill. If it really was effective, she would not have minded to buy it through her son-in-law. She was not worried about the money at all.
“Thank you, Brother Fang,” thanked Liu Yao politely as she received the gift.
“You’re welcome,” replied Fang Ning.
President Zhao asked, “This should be difficult to buy, isn’t it? I’d heard about it before, but I could never find the proper channel to make a purchase.”
Fang Ning answered courteously, “It is hard to buy. As the Eastern Pharos, the Venerable Dragon G.o.d would need to uphold justice daily without much time to actually produce pills. Only Pond-level and above can go to the webshop opened by his butler and register as a member. Only after that can they put in the booking with their own ingredients and pay the processing fees.”
The three nodded, that was normal.
Without the hero’s hard work, they would not have been able to live comfortably. Just by the appreciation of Qi City’s land, they had made a huge profit.
Under that circ.u.mstance, the hero would definitely not be able to spend too much time synthesizing.
At this point, Fang Ning switched topic and said in embarra.s.sment, “That being said, the Venerable One only eats my food, so it was easy for me to ask him to do a little for me.”
President Zhao praised him, “Xiao Fang, you’re amazing. Our house would depend on you in the future.”
Madam Zhao was smug as she shot her husband a glance, saying, ‘What do you think, I didn’t choose a wrong son-in-law, did I?’
President Zhao returned a glance, ‘Honey, you’re wise.’
Liu Yao sat beside quietly and glanced at Fang Ning admiringly, ‘Brother Fang is incredible.’
Vigilante A had been so powerful, all the people he kept in touch were other powerful people, while Fang Ning was just a normal person with Superpower.
After the half-year as the situation eased up, the Truth Department started to release its limits. Under the supervision of the local Special Affairs Department, methods of cultivating vitality slowly become a commonplace.
Even normal people could start to cultivate, and those were compet.i.tive. If it were not for certain unique or extra-mighty Superpowers, most Superpowered individuals had already become like any other normal people, and some of them were even weaker than normal people with a good knack for cultivation.
To them, it was really difficult to gain affirmation from Vigilante A in that circ.u.mstances.
Fang Ning smiled, truly abashed this time around…
Humans needed to be invalidated and needed by someone else. It would be really tough to stay alive otherwise…
Fang Ning’s alter ego, Vigilante A, was unbeatable and invincible. Most of the time, he was expressionless and alone, as if he had no need to communicate with other people.
However, his civilian side was still a normal person, he still needed this emotional fulfillment.
These were difficult to be replaced by games or novels, or he would not have been so insistent on having a good relations.h.i.+p with the Zhao’s.
After all, the Zhao family had been the only people who could care for his real ident.i.ty truthfully.
In that period of time, the living hall was filled with an air of familial warmth.
Soon after, an overbearing voice appeared, breaking the cheerful ambiance.
“Hmph, all of you were still faking it. I say, you normal people, release me right now and treat me like properly with good food and sleeping place. Not this broken G.o.dd.a.m.ned fishbowl. Transfer me immediately to your swimming pool, at least that was wide enough…”
Curious, Fang Ning looked over from where the sound came. It was the fish tank.
In the fish tank lived a golden koi. It was staring at them with its large, black, bubbly eyes. It was the one who talked to them.
Madam Zhao furrowed her brows as she flicked her finger toward the fish tank.
The koi behaved as if something hit it through the air and did a somersault in the water as it released bubbles.
“Dammit, you demoness. You’d been bullying me plenty. When I regained my original shape, I must scare you to death.”
Madam Zhao ignored the golden koi and explained to Fang Ning, “Just ignore the stupid fish. It was caught by one of old Zhao’s employees in a pond they were contracted to. It spoke, so they moved it over to us. It kept spouting big claims and say that it was a dragon from the Upper Realm…”
President Zhao laughed. “How could that be? The Venerable Dragon G.o.d was the real dragon from the Upper Realm. His dragon aura was mighty and wide-spread, his abilities are magnificent, and he had a rich magical energy. Aside from spouting big claims, this koi couldn’t even escape a fis.h.i.+ng net… Your Aunt Zhao even looked at it with her bloodline ability. It doesn’t even have any dragon blood or aura in it. Seeing it could talk, we kept it as a pet like a parrot.”
“You b.a.s.t.a.r.d, you dare treat a true dragon as a parrot? It’s such a bad luck for me to meet you people who don’t know Mount Tai.” The golden koi was visibly upset and began to nag.
Liu Yao walked over and threw some food pellets into the water, whispering, “Xiao Jin, be inconspicuous. Brother Fang is the world’s best chef, if you upset mum, she might ask Brother Fang to cook you into a soup today…”
“Dammit…” the golden koi looked scared as its voice lowered. It flailed its tail and said, “Hmph, kiddo, you look like you still have a good heart. Can you help me?”
“Help with what?” Liu Yao asked curiously.
“They keep saying the Venerable Dragon G.o.d is a true dragon. Since Chef Fang has such a good relations.h.i.+p with him, please ask him to ask the Venerable Dragon G.o.d for a visit. The Venerable Dragon G.o.d must be able to recognize me,” said the golden koi by blowing bubbles in the water.
Liu Yao was really trepidant. Anyone would know the Venerable Dragon G.o.d was busy. Even though Brother Fang’s relations.h.i.+p with him was good, and they had also met with him a few times, they still should not ask him for favors so casually.
Both her parents had asked her not to bother the Venerable Dragon G.o.d so readily. Only when her family was in dire trouble should she ask for favors.
“Hmph, forget about it if you’re not willing to help. In the future, you will regret not recognizing a true dragon earlier.” The dragon koi hid inside the man-made mountain.
Fang Ning had already seen through it with his trusty game book while he sat at the side.
His brows were tightly knitted together. ‘I came out at the right time, something huge is about to happen.’