Chapter 403

"You don't know how many people wish you would never open your eyes. As a slave, you shouldn't have rebelled against your master… but you killed that man." Feicui lightly sighed, "No lawyer dares to defend you; perhaps you should try to claim innocence for yourself?"

"It's not difficult, but it's meaningless."

Feicui lightly smiled: "You're quite confident in your eloquence. When you were deceiving the Learned Society, you thought the same way, didn't you?"

"Seeking benevolence yields benevolence. You wanted perfect building materials; I merely offered a possibility, a small gamble. If luck is good, the company could salvage anything from Aiji Hasuo's yellow sands, even the remains of the Sand King (Tayiz Yuros). Too bad your luck isn't good."

"I don't deny this. But I'm curious: why did such a massive deceit, in the end, profit no one—not even the culprit himself?"

Kaka Wa Xia's lips curled into a faint smile: "Ma'am, I've gotten what I wanted—being brought before you to open the next grand wager."

——

Teyvat.

Inside a tavern on Grey River.

"He, he actually dared to swindle the company?"

Funina widened her eyes, somewhat incredulously gazing at the ragged youth in the heavens: "A slave…… deceiving the galaxy's biggest company and the Learned Society! One person offending two fates' forces, then causing immeasurable loss—how did he pull it off? Doesn't he fear the company will grind his bones to ashes?"

"Those who can become one of the Stoneheart Ten undoubtedly possess some inconceivable abilities, to some degree."

Naviya, while gently stirring her tea with a silver spoon, smiled at Funina's exaggerated reaction: "Oh, Funina, don't get worked up. Put yourself in their shoes—if you were a high-ranking company official, say this elegant lady, faced with such a bold fool, what would you do?"

"What need to say?" Funina slammed the table, righteous: "How dare you swindle me! Directly send him to the Obekrael Opera House, let Nabirete harshly judge him! Then lock him up in Melopeter Fortress, to spend his remaining life in repentance!"

"Uh……" Naviya held her forehead, momentarily at a loss for words.

The two were chatting when Aikefei walked over carrying two plates of delicate desserts. Though both cakes were tempting, Funina's was adorned with crystalline frosting and rare berries, its aroma so rich it could almost be smelled across half of Grey River.

"Aikefei, I also want a slice of Funina's same small cake!" Naviya winked at the blonde girl not far away and gestured.

"Sorry, Miss Naviya." Aikefei regretfully shook her head: "This is a special edition I prepared for Lady Funina, as some special ingredients were made ahead yesterday, so there's only one."

"Eh——" Naviya drew out the sound, eyes pleading as she looked at Funina's cake; compared to Aikefei's baking, her just‑made macarons paled in comparison.

Seeing Naviya's pitiful gaze, Funina couldn't help but smile; she picked up knife and fork, cleanly splitting the cake in two: "Here, take half."

"Funina, I knew you were the best!" Naviya happily took the plate, speared a piece and put it in her mouth, eyes crinkling with joy.

"But speaking of that…" she swallowed the cake, turned her gaze back to the heavens, "I think the company won't judge him lightly—at least they won't execute him or send him to prison."

"Huh? Why?"

"People like Shajin, bold and meticulous enough to dance on a knife's edge, are exactly what the company lacks. Rather than destroy him, it'd be better to turn him into a swift blade in the company's hand, forever pointing its sharp edge at the company's enemies."

——

"Well then, let's talk about this second grand wager. Tell me, what are you planning to bet this time?" Feicui asked leisurely.

"I'll bet my life. I'm betting you won't send me to the execution ground."

"Hmm… then what do you want to gain?"

"I want your chief to come see me. I have something to say."

Feicui's smile deepened: "And then?"

"I want money."

"That can't be that simple, right?" Feicui thought she had misheard.

"Just that simple: thirty Tananba, the price of half my life, neither more nor less." Shajin said firmly, "With that money I could climb higher than you, hold greater wealth… I'm betting you won't give it to me, so—call him over."

"Interesting." Feicui said meaningfully, "Too bad the Diamond won't see you, no one can see him. So right now, I am the Diamond's agent, making the decision in his stead."

Feicui's gaze locked onto the boy's violet‑like beautiful eyes: "You're wrong. Thirty Tananba, I'll give you, and far more than that. Wealth, status, power… the company will give you everything you want and don't want."

"Kaka Wa Xia… is a good name, a shame it's destined to be buried in the earth. But 'you' deserve to live, to create more wealth for us. Go on, pick clothes you like, choose an identity you favor… then put them to use, child."

"May your schemes never be exposed."

——

Absolute Zone Zero.

"Wuwuwu aah he really did it! He really did it ah ah ah!!"

"He really climbed to a higher position than that lady… wuwuwu…… wait, should be higher than her? Anyway, he's just awesome ah ah wuwuwu!!"

Inside Sui Bian Guan, Ju Fu Fu cried so hard her nose twitched, tears like broken beads pattering down, even her usual perked ears drooped.

"Senior sister, you don't have to cry so bitterly, do you?"

Pan Yin hu, practicing nearby, was so startled his stance wobbled, his round body shuffling over: "Want me to stir‑fry a plate of pork intestines for you, junior brother? Or I could steam you a basket of buns?"

"Pan junior, I, I……" Ju Fu Fu sobbed so hard she could barely speak, even the distant Master Yixuan felt his heart soften.

"I… I want beef‑filled…… wuwuwu……"

"All right!" Pan Yin hu broke into a quick jog, vanished into the courtyard, and soon the sound of him puffing and panting while stoking the stove came from the kitchen.

Yixuan leaned by the door, smiling: "Fu Fu, Master has never seen anyone cry so bitterly and still remember to remind about the bun flavor."

"No way! Master……" Ju Fu Fu rubbed her face wildly with her hands, "I, I this beggar turns grief into appetite! Father, don't ask where the grief comes from—anyway, it's all Shajin's fault! Every time I see him I can't help but burst into tears……"