Chapter 704: Scale Gold Gathering (Part 1)

"You're not wrong—those things that look like dolls are actually living beings, and those miniature estates are real estates too."

After picking up the fallen money bag and tossing it to Li Ang, the lazy youth explained:

"The true god of the Scale Gold Sect is a very practical deity. Though he enjoys human devotion, he prefers believers to live out his principles rather than kneel and bow—things like 'wealth,' 'exchange,' 'value,' and 'commercial activity.'"

So the Scale Gold Sect's gathering is less a gathering and more an unrestricted marketplace.

Believers and followers of that true god come here to trade whatever they can offer, which is a kind of alternative prayer; each invited attendee receives a temporary money bag filled with vast quantities of conceptual currency."

"Conceptual currency?"

"It's… uh… a bit complicated to explain. Why don't you open the bag? I'll show you an example."

"Ah, alright."

Following Tang Mu's instructions, Li Ang touched the cat-paw emblem on his chest, then touched the same mark on the bag's seal—immediately, the money bag opened, revealing a pile of colorful, strange coins inside.

"Whoa, you've got quite a fortune!"

After glancing at Li Ang's bulging money bag, the lazy youth raised an eyebrow in surprise, then pointed to the topmost gold coin:

"Look here—on the face of these conceptual coins are symbols like hearts, swords, chalices, crosses, and tarot cards, representing valuable things such as emotion, strength, health, faith, secrets, and so on.

For instance, this coin of yours—the staff motif on its face stands for power that can be traded; the lion on the reverse likely refers to the Lionheart crest of the Lyne family.

So if I'm not mistaken, this coin represents your identity as Lionheart Duke. If you wish, you can use it to buy goods in the gathering square.

And whoever receives this coin can replace you as the kingdom's Lionheart Duke… that's what I mean by 'conceptual currency.'"

What?!

After hearing the lazy youth's words, Li Ang was stunned, then asked in disbelief:

"Can the Scale Gold Sect really do something like this?"

"Of course they can."

The lazy youth raised an eyebrow:

"Don't underestimate the power of wealth. The concept of wealth isn't limited to humans—down to ant colonies, up to demons in the abyss, every social species finds wealth a vital concept.

So while the true god of the Scale Gold Sect isn't skilled in combat and couldn't beat our director in a direct fight, his rank is still very high—he's a truly powerful true god. Doing something like this is easy for him."

"But… this counts as using 'anomalies' to interfere with the kingdom. Doesn't our Clearance Bureau intervene?"

"Of course we intervene—but transactions involving dukes are strictly forbidden. For low-rank identity trades with minimal impact, and if the royal family doesn't file a complaint, most branch offices prefer to ignore them."

After glancing into his own money bag, the lazy youth pulled Li Ang toward the square's center as he continued:

"The Scale Gold Sect is relatively mild—even when they cause trouble, they rarely go too far. Their abilities are uniquely useful, letting Clearance Officers easily obtain helpful items or even restore lost lifespan or limbs after missions. So most branches turn a blind eye to them, only cracking down hard when they clearly cross the line, just to warn them not to overstep.

For example, if some fool took your coin and tried to use it himself to become Lionheart Duke without exchanging it back with the Scale Gold Sect, the sect would suffer a massive backlash…

Oh, by the way—do you want anything? If it's not too expensive, I can buy it for you."

Want something… wait! Didn't we come here to rescue someone? Why are you shopping?!

…

"Tang Mu senior!"

Worried about Emma's safety, Li Ang gently reminded the lazy youth:

"Emma senior's danger hasn't passed—we don't know how long she can hold out against the Serpent Spirit. Shouldn't we go find her first?"

"Relax—we're already looking for her."

Pointing toward a hollow, ring-shaped building at the square's center, the lazy youth kept browsing the shelves as he spoke without moving his lips:

"See that latticed circular building? We're only at the outer edge of the Scale Gold gathering. That's the core zone—and only there could Emma be held captive.

The emblems we received are basic believer badges. We must complete enough 'purchases' out here to upgrade them before we can enter the core zone. So buying things is how we find her."

After buying up most of the chaotic goods from a roadside stall, the lazy youth turned and smiled at Li Ang, then said calmly:

"I know you care deeply for Emma, and you're anxious—but don't rush.

I'm a Level One Clearance Officer too, but I'm not like Emma, who's a powerhouse. My anomalies are mostly utility-based—I have almost no direct combat ability, and I can't take on a crowd to kill a Holy Spirit.

So right now, we shouldn't act rashly. We should preserve this identity and sneak into the core zone without alerting the Scale Gold Sect's higher-ups first… Come on, pick something first, then I'll pay for it."

"Alright… but you pick the items—I'll pay!"

After considering the meaning of the coins in his bag, Li Ang suggested:

"This duke identity means nothing to me. If you need to buy things here using health or strength currency, let me pay—it'll avoid affecting your performance later."

"No need—I've got more than enough!"

The lazy youth glanced at Li Ang in surprise, then shook his head and opened his own money bag to show him.

Holy shit, how is there so much?!

"Before we entered, I already prepared."

Amid Li Ang's stunned gaze, the lazy youth, whose money bag overflowed with mountains of coins, said confidently:

"Remember the ritual I performed before entering? The one using copper weights, a small silver mirror, and two gold teeth—that's a wealth ritual called 'The Law of the Balance.'

Once the ritual fully activates, the next person who gives me money will have their wealth split equally with mine. And the next person to give me money? It was the cat spirit of the Scale Gold Sect, who made these badges.

So for the next three hours, I can draw on the cat spirit's entire wealth. If I weren't afraid of drawing attention, we could buy everything here!"

(End of Chapter)