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Chapter 89: Experiencing the Thrill of Wealth
Chen Luo contemplated the three methods proposed by the system. With over 30 billion in assets, he certainly had the resources to overpower Ye Chen completely. By investing all this wealth in trading for power with the system, he could potentially gain enough strength to decisively crush Ye Chen, despite the increasing cost of enhancing abilities.
“System, which should do first, upgrading my strength or buying the Destiny Antagonist Aura? I need a recommendation.”
Chen Luo was undecided whether to reserve his wealth for trading the Destiny Antagonist Aura with the system or to directly invest in boosting his power.
“Provide an answer and directly deduct the cost from my bank account,” he instructed.
The system responded after automatically processing the transaction:
【The system suggests prioritizing the Destiny Antagonist Aura. The world has more than one protagonist. Even if you eliminate Ye Chen, others will arise. The Destiny Antagonist Aura is crucial for such scenarios.】
【Even a basic Destiny Antagonist Aura can offer a degree of protection, preventing the emergence of an unexpectedly powerful protagonist.】
【While augmenting your power might render you temporarily invincible, facing a more formidable protagonist could turn you into mere cannon fodder.】
【Moreover, acquiring the Destiny Antagonist Aura enhances your luck, significantly increasing the likelihood of encountering more valuable assets. While monetary transactions with the system are possible, reliance solely on money will not yield substantial influence.】
【This is merely advice from the system. The final decision rests with the host, as the system is a mere tool and does not interfere with the host’s choices.】
“More protagonists?” Chen Luo furrowed his brow, realizing that defeating Ye Chen would not signify the end.
“However, that’s what adds to the excitement,” he suddenly smiled. Had he known upon his initial transgression that eliminating one protagonist could lead to others, he might have perceived it as unwelcome news.
Now more than ever, Chen Luo felt invigorated by the thought of a future filled with challenges. He found the idea of a life brimming with such trials more intriguing.
“As it stands, Ye Chen is no real threat to me. It’s best to save the money for now. Looking at the bigger picture, the Destiny Antagonist Aura seems more beneficial, even at its most basic level, its potential is immense. Renting it, however, is exorbitantly expensive. A week’s rental of the basic, scaled-down version costs a hundred million, and that’s just the incomplete version. The full basic version costs a billion per day. Who can afford such rates?”
Chen Luo’s immediate goal was amassing wealth – aiming to gather a hundred billion in the short term. He had 33.2 billion at his disposal, but it was still far from sufficient. Even if he combined all the funds from Zhao Yingxuan and Bai Meixiang, it likely wouldn’t total fifty billion.
It was unfortunate that Ye Chen’s protagonist narrative didn’t involve ancient martial arts or cultivation. Such manuals would have likely fetched a high price. Maybe a top-tier cultivation technique could be exchanged for a basic Destiny Antagonist Aura.
“It seems the only viable strategy to handle the protagonist is the system’s third suggested method – diminishing the protagonist’s aura. Without the funds for the Destiny Antagonist Aura or strength enhancement, there’s no alternative but this third option.
“Let’s proceed with the prior plan. Sending a ‘dinosaur’ sister to Ye Chen should undermine his protagonist’s luck. My primary objective is to pit Ye Chen against the Li family. Offending a major family like the Li family will surely diminish Ye Chen’s luck and harm his protagonist aura.
“Ye Chen, oh Ye Chen, I’ll make sure you experience the thrill of being with a rich woman. You and Li Ting are an ideal match. This ‘dinosaur’ sister will be yours, whether you like it or not.”
Chen Luo had extensively researched Li Ting. She was indeed an oddity. Regardless of whether his scheme succeeded or failed, he was poised to trap Ye Chen.
Even if Ye Chen, facing Li Ting, forcibly suppressed his disgust and compromised, Chen Luo had plans to trap him to death. He was well-prepared with multiple strategies, ensuring a tight grip on Ye Chen.
Instructing Bai Meixiang to continue monitoring the Wang family, Chen Luo already knew that Ye Chen had been taken to the Wang family for aid. Monitoring the Wang family was not just about keeping an eye on Ye Chen but also on the family itself. Having just severed one of the Wang family’s arms, Chen Luo couldn’t predict whether they would seek revenge, so he needed to be prepared.
Moreover, Chen Luo’s surveillance of the Wang family wasn’t just precautionary, he also wanted to find their weaknesses and consume them. As one of the four major families in Magic City, if he could swallow one, the money for purchasing ten basic Destiny Antagonist Auras would likely be covered. Though swallowing one of the major families of Magic City seemed like biting off more than he could chew, Chen Luo felt it was worth a try if the opportunity arose. A huge gain if successful, and even in failure, Chen Luo was prepared to accept the outcome.
“The Yongqiang Group seems easier to swallow than the Wang family.”
Chen Luo’s gaze briefly swept over Xiao Qingxue. Sensing Chen Luo’s eyes on her, Xiao Qingxue sharply turned to look at him. Seeing the warm smile on Chen Luo’s face, she coldly snorted. She knew very well what kind of person Chen Luo was.
“Ah, I’ve already taken her innocence, and now I’m even thinking about seizing her family’s wealth. Am I too evil?” Chen Luo mused.
Despite his reflections, Chen Luo’s intentions would not change. Xiao Qingxue was already in his grasp, and he was confident she couldn’t escape. In the future, she would be another tool for his wealth accumulation.
The only obstacle to taking over the Yongqiang Group was Xiao Yongqiang. If he killed Xiao Yongqiang, Xiao Qingxue might fight him to the death.
“Ah, it really is troublesome,” Chen Luo thought, considering whether to plan Xiao Yongqiang’s demise or simply wait for his natural death.
Zhao Yingxuan had poisoned Xiao Yongqiang, and his health had completely deteriorated. Even if Chen Luo didn’t kill him, he only had a few months to live at most.
…
“It’s better to plot his demise and throw the blame on Ye Chen,” Chen Luo pondered.
Killing Xiao Yongqiang and then framing Ye Chen for it, causing Xiao Qingxue, the main female heroine, to hate Ye Chen, seemed like a good plan. Instigating hatred in Xiao Qingxue towards Ye Chen would definitely damage and weaken his protagonist’s aura. It was a strategy that could kill two birds with one stone. However, this plan had to be executed flawlessly.
If the truth were to be exposed, Xiao Qingxue’s hatred would turn towards him instead.
“Master, dinner is ready. It’s time to eat,” Elsa respectfully called out to Chen Luo.
Zhao Yingxuan’s skill was indeed formidable. Elsa was now extremely deferential. She seemed more like a servant than ever, hardly resembling her former assassin self.
“System, is Elsa genuinely submissive or just pretending?” Chen Luo still didn’t fully trust Elsa, even though Zhao Yingxuan seemed to trust her enough to release her from the secret chamber.
Perhaps Zhao Yingxuan’s trust was not so much in Elsa, but in her own skills. Now, Zhao Yingxuan wasn’t afraid of Elsa, confident she could handle her if she tried anything, especially since Chen Luo had recently enhanced Zhao Yingxuan’s abilities. The intention was not to make Zhao Yingxuan combat-ready but to ensure she had some self-protective strength. Her current capabilities were not inferior to Bai Meixiang’s. Handling Elsa was like child’s play to her now.
【Ding, response to the host, she is genuinely submissive, not pretending】
The system’s response came quickly after the payment. Though Elsa was coerced into submission, she was now truly loyal, with a loyalty value of at least ninety.]
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The translation accurately conveys the content of the original text, but it can be enhanced for smoother English readability. Here’s a refined version:
Zhao Yingxuan had effectively poisoned Xiao Yongqiang, causing his health to collapse entirely. Even without Chen Luo’s intervention, Xiao Yongqiang wouldn’t survive more than a few months.
***
“It’s best to cunningly eliminate him and pin the blame on Ye Chen,” Chen Luo mused. Killing Xiao Yongqiang and framing Ye Chen for it, thereby turning Xiao Qingxue, the primary female lead, against Ye Chen, seemed a sound strategy. Turning Xiao Qingxue against Ye Chen would surely impair and weaken his protagonist aura. It was a plan with multiple benefits, but it had to be executed without a flaw. Any slip-up, and Xiao Qingxue’s animosity would be redirected towards him.
“Dinner is ready, Master. It’s time to eat,” Elsa announced respectfully. Zhao Yingxuan’s effectiveness was remarkable. Elsa now behaved with extreme deference, her demeanor far removed from her past as an assassin.
“System, is Elsa genuinely submissive, or is she pretending?” Chen Luo was still skeptical of Elsa’s loyalty, despite Zhao Yingxuan’s apparent trust in her, enough to release her from the secret chamber. Perhaps Zhao Yingxuan’s confidence lay more in her own abilities than in Elsa herself. Zhao Yingxuan no longer feared Elsa; confident in her capability to handle any rebellion, especially after Chen Luo had recently bolstered her strength. The goal wasn’t to prepare Zhao Yingxuan for combat but to ensure she had the means to defend herself. Now, Zhao Yingxuan’s strength was comparable to Bai Meixiang’s, making handling Elsa almost effortless.
【Ding, response to the host: she is genuinely submissive and not pretending.】
The system’s reply came swiftly following the payment. Though Elsa’s submission was initially forced, her loyalty was now authentic, with a loyalty score of at least ninety.