Chapter 53: Damn Shendu, We Are Irreconcilable Enemies!
"That's your second misconception."
Kazama interrupted him.
"Do you think you still have a choice?"
He pointed at the Shadow Khan eyeing him menacingly.
"You're in my hands right now. With one word from me, you'll become a pile of unclaimed meat. Compared to that Shendu who's still sealed in stone and can only rage impotently, who's the one who can actually take your life right now?"
Valmont swallowed.
This really was a simple choice.
One side meant dying immediately if he didn't obey. The other meant temporarily not dying if he obeyed, but possibly being killed by Shendu in the future.
As a smart opportunist, as long as he could live one more second, there was a chance to turn things around.
"Besides, I'm not asking you to go die."
Kazama saw the timing was right and began coating the stick with honey.
"You just witnessed it yourself. My power is much stronger than that废物 dragon stuck in stone. How about this—to show my sincerity, I can assign two Shadow Khan to protect you personally. If Shendu tries to attack you or your life is in danger, they'll get you out immediately."
Valmont glanced at those terrifying ninja and swallowed.
Bodyguards were definitely good, but as a seasoned businessman—
He rubbed his fingers together somewhat embarrassedly, making that universally understood gesture.
"So... since this is an employment relationship, how does the compensation work?"
Though it was a bit embarrassing, Valmont really needed money. The Dark Hand could barely pay the electricity bill.
And without profit, it was hard for him to get motivated.
Kazama smiled.
He liked dealing with straightforward people like this.
"Snap."
Another finger snap.
From the shadows behind him, a Shadow Khan emerged holding a heavy black briefcase.
Then the case opened.
"Whoosh—"
Neatly stacked gold bars marked 9999 pure gold.
Valmont gasped dramatically, nearly hyperventilating himself into oxygen deprivation.
His eyes that had been full of fear were instantly replaced by greed.
Almost crawling on all fours, he grabbed a gold bar and bit down hard.
Real!
That solid texture, that enchanting color—absolutely not some gold-plated fake.
This was definitely high-purity gold!
"This... this is for me?"
Valmont's voice trembled.
"This is just the down payment."
Kazama's voice came at just the right time, sounding like heavenly music to Valmont's ears.
"As long as you help me get one talisman, I'll add several more cases. And I can settle in US dollars if you prefer."
On one side was a demon boss who only painted empty promises, threatened to burn you alive, and made you pay out of pocket.
On the other was this person who although also dangerous, paid generously, provided advance payment, and even sent bodyguards—a true sugar daddy.
Was there even a choice?
Only an idiot wouldn't know what to choose!
"Deal! Deal!"
Valmont clutched that case tightly, his expression instantly transforming from condemned prisoner to fawning sycophant seeing his real father.
In this moment, Shendu's threats and demon curses were all thrown to the winds.
"From today onwards, you are my most respected partner, Mr. Valmont! Screw Shendu! I've been sick of that old bastard for ages!"
His face-changing speed was astonishing.
"Excellent."
Kazama nodded with satisfaction.
Money makes ghosts push millstones—the ancients didn't deceive me.
As for where this gold came from...
Well, there was no need to tell this law-abiding citizen that the Shadow Khan had just made a side trip to a Japanese bank vault.
The Shadow Kingdom's transport capabilities were first-rate in the universe anyway.
"Very good."
Kazama walked before Valmont, looking at this gang leader who had completely switched sides.
"Happy cooperation, Mr. Valmont."
Valmont quickly set down the case, wiped his hands on his clothes, then respectfully grasped that hand.
"Happy cooperation, happy cooperation! Boss, how should I contact you after I find the talismans? I can't just break into your home every time, right? That would be too rude."
"No need for such trouble."
Kazama withdrew his hand, shaking it with distaste.
"From now on, whenever you find a talisman, find somewhere with no one around and shout to the air—'Genshin Impact activate!' twice."
"My Shadow Khan will appear, take the goods from you, and deliver your payment."
"Good good good! No problem! Genshin... Impact? Oh oh, I'll remember!"
Valmont nodded repeatedly. Though this code phrase sounded a bit strange, for the sake of gold, he'd be willing to shout "I'm an idiot."
Kazama continued: "Of course, once you've collected all twelve talismans, that so-called Qin Shi Huang treasure—if you still want it, I can give it to you."
Valmont's eyes instantly lit up like searchlights.
Though he knew this was also painting promises, looking at the solid gold bars in his arms, he felt the pie this girl was painting was much more appetizing than that fire-breathing dragon's.
At least she gave him a sample!
This was the difference between having a down payment or not!
"No problem! Boss, just watch! When I, Valmont, handle things, I'm famously reliable!"
Then Valmont worried slightly: "But what if Shendu notices? Although the Dark Hand is useless, we can't fail to get any talismans at all—"
Kazama thought for a moment. "You're right. How about this—first try to get me the Horse, Dog, and Dragon. I don't need the others for now. If Shendu asks where the talismans went, just say Jackie Chan took them."
Valmont no longer cared why she knew about Jackie Chan—didn't this just prove her strength?
Then he stood up, dusted off his knees, and resumed that elegant gentleman's demeanor.
Of course, if you ignored the case clutched tightly in his arms.
"Then I won't disturb your rest any longer."
Just as this dirty deal was concluded, the bedroom door was carefully pushed open a crack.
Yukino poked half her head out, looking at the foreigner in the living room hugging a case and grinning like an idiot, then at "herself" looking completely calm. She asked uncertainly:
"...Is it over?"
Though she didn't know what happened, judging by that foreigner's appearance, he seemed to have been... converted?
"Yeah, we reached an agreement."
Kazama nodded, then pointed at the boy and said to Valmont:
"By the way, Valmont, I need to clarify something."
"This boy is me—Kazama Chiba."
He pointed at his current body.
"And this body belongs to Miss Yukinoshita here. We switched bodies due to some irresistible magical force. We'll probably switch back tomorrow."
"So don't get us confused next time we meet."
Valmont's hands clutching the case froze.
His gaze swept back and forth between this boy and girl (or rather, girl and boy) several times.
As an experienced underworld boss, he thought he'd seen everything.
But soul swapping?
To experience life? Or some novel play?
Did modern magicians all play this wild?
"Ah... I understand, I understand."
Valmont showed a lecherous smile of someone who'd also been young once, winking at Kazama.
"Young people's interests, eh? This old fossil can't keep up with trends. But as long as the money's right, Boss, even if you turned into a cat I'd recognize you!"
Then he straightened that tattered suit, trying to maintain that last bit of dignity.
"Then I won't disturb you two's... private time."
Valmont bowed to both of them, then hugged that case full of heavy gold and left the apartment satisfied.
Only after the footsteps completely disappeared in the corridor did Kazama let out a long breath.
"Phew... finally dealt with that."
He rubbed his somewhat stiff cheeks.
To maintain that unfathomable big shot persona just now, his expression management had nearly cramped.
However, the gains were enormous.
This round—though he lost some furniture, he'd solved a big problem, gained a traitorous villain, a private army, and a radar.
Pure profit.
At this moment, Yukino stood in place gritting her teeth, using Kazama's voice to say:
"That look was disgusting. What exactly did you tell him?"
Kazama began tidying up.
"Nothing much."
"Just discussed a mutually beneficial business deal."
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