"...You agreed?"

"Why wouldn’t I?" Mike said, looking puzzled. "Kelly is beautiful, has a great figure, and she’s Boss Wick’s daughter. There’s no downside to marrying her, only upsides... Even though she’s two months pregnant, I still love her, and I love the baby in her belly."

’You’re only agreeing to be the fall guy because you love Wick’s money...’ Zhou Chen pinched the bridge of his nose, too tired to even comment.

’This is North Carolina, so I guess it’s normal... No, that’s not right. This kind of thing happens plenty of other places, too...’

"Kelly brought me to meet her family tonight, and they all seem to like me. Boss Wick even arranged a job for me. I’ll start as a manager at the factory, and once I’m familiar with the business, he’ll hand the whole factory over to me in a while. That’s what we were just talking about."

Mike hesitated for a moment. "I think this is really strange. Bosses like Wick have always looked down on people from the lower class, and Kelly hates them too. Why would she suddenly want me as her husband? And Boss Wick is even going to let me take over the factory. It’s like his whole family has been drugged or something... This has to be related to the deal that prostitute offered."

’This is the Merchant’s Extraordinary Ability, "Unequal Trade"...’

Zhou Chen had learned about this from Soron. Anyone who received a "gift" from the Merchant would experience an explosion of good luck and rise to the peak of their life, but they would also have to pay a hefty price.

The greater the benefits received, the steeper the price—sometimes costing even abstract concepts like destiny or life itself.

Zhou Chen thought for a moment, then called over Wick’s daughter, Kelly, who was waiting to transfer the money. He pointed at Mike. "What is it you see in him?"

"He looks tough, which makes me feel safe. Plus, I’m pregnant and need someone to take responsibility. He’s easy on the eyes, so I picked him at first sight," Kelly answered truthfully.

"But he’s from the lower class, a gang thug. Don’t you discriminate against people like that?" Zhou Chen asked with a frown.

Normally, someone like Kelly would never choose a man from the lower class to be her fall guy. Her kind’s discrimination against the lower class was bone-deep; they truly believed them to be inferior, no better than animals.

Kelly thought for a moment. "I just find him pleasing to the eye, so I decided he’d be my husband. I didn’t think about it any more than that... I did used to discriminate against the lower class, but now I’ve resolved to dedicate myself to the grand ideal of achieving equality for all. I will never discriminate against anyone again. I must atone for my past sins."

’Didn’t think about it... Her cognition has been interfered with?’ Zhou Chen instinctively glanced at the spinning Gold Coins above Mike’s head. ’This must be the effect of the "Unequal Trade," allowing the Trader to easily encounter all sorts of fortunate events and quickly fatten up like a prized hog, ready for the "Merchant" to harvest.’

’The Merchant wants to ascend to Tier Five. He must have more than one target for his trades. He might have even infiltrated the North Carolina Government. I wonder if the stability of the North Carolina Government will be affected when he makes his move...’

The thought flashed through Zhou Chen’s mind. If the Merchant’s "harvest" affected the North Carolina Government, it would be a golden opportunity for the Salvation Army... The only question was whether the Merchant had planted any of his "crops" within the Salvation Army itself.

"Sir, if we want to realize the grand ideals of the Poisonous Sore Gang and the Salvation Army, this amount of funding is far from enough. I know the addresses of several other tycoons in Rusted Iron City. I can take you to them," Wick’s eldest son said, running over.

’You’re getting addicted to being a collaborator, aren’t you...’ Zhou Chen actually had the same idea. Brainwash all the rich people in the center of Rusted Iron City. Not only would it help provide cover and support for the Poisonous Sore Gang, but they could also work for him and accumulate Wish Points.

The greatest wish of the sweatshop laborers in the factories was to earn more money. As long as these factory owners gave them a raise and provided meals, the workers would be eternally grateful, and the Wish Points would start rolling in.

·

Led by Wick’s eldest son, Zhou Chen knocked on the doors of fifteen tycoons in the city center, brainwashing them and all their household servants.

After a night’s work, the number of temporary workers under Zhou Chen’s control reached a total of 400. He was only 100 short of the small goal he had set for himself. He had underestimated his own speed. If he continued at this pace, breaking 3,000 temporary workers by the end of February wouldn’t be a problem.

His task complete, Zhou Chen returned to the municipal building and tossed Catherine the video recordings of the dozen or so brainwashed tycoons.

After watching the videos, Catherine’s expression was incredibly complex. She let out a sigh.

"I’m considered somewhat attractive, so right after I came of age, Wick’s eldest son took a liking to me and made me his slave. I was locked in a cellar for over a month, where he and his father ’trained’ me using all sorts of methods. Later, I pretended their ’training’ had worked and gained their trust, which is how I was finally let out of the cellar. I escaped when I found an opportunity, after they let their guard down.

After joining the Poisonous Sore Gang, I thought I’d be able to kill them for revenge, but unfortunately, the plan changed, and we can’t kill them for now. Still, seeing them like this... I think it’s much more satisfying than just killing them outright. Hahahaha."

Catherine grinned. "Thanks."

Zhou Chen gave a slight nod. "You’re welcome."

After watching, Catherine removed the memory card and crushed it, destroying the evidence of Wick and the other tycoons being brainwashed.

"You’ve worked hard. Go get some rest. There’s a lot more work to do tomorrow."

"Yeah."

After Zhou Chen left, Catherine stared blankly out the window at the dark night. At some point, the Plague Doctor had appeared behind her.

"Plague Doctor, will this long night ever see the dawn?" Catherine asked softly.

"It will," the Plague Doctor replied with certainty.

"The sky will brighten. Even the darkest night will pass. Everything will get better. I have always firmly believed this."

"I just hope we’re around to see that dawn," Catherine said with a smile.

·

「Jinzhu.」

Zhou Chen opened his computer, logged into the Star Association’s database, and searched for clues related to the Merchant.

He found nothing.

His clearance wasn’t high enough.

Even though he had performed meritorious service and was a gold-star Operator for the Golden Bamboo Star Association, he still couldn’t access files related to Fallen Paradise. It couldn’t be helped. The Star Association’s internal security protocols were just that much of a pain in the ass. He figured that even asking Jiang Che for help would require filing an application first.

BEEP BEEP BEEP.

Just then, Zhou Chen’s phone rang. He casually picked it up, but the screen didn’t immediately unlock with his fingerprint.

He tried a few more times, but the phone’s screen remained black.

BEEP.

Suddenly, the dark screen lit up, displaying a yellow emoji.

It was sleazy, yet with a hint of gentleness; mocking, yet with a trace of affection.

It was the "Funny" emoji.

Zhou Chen: "?"

’A Star Association employee’s phone can get hacked?’

The next second, the phone screen lit up, revealing a familiar face. His metallic-looking silver hair was especially eye-catching.

"Long time no see, my self-awareness awakener."

It was a long-overdue greeting from Godslaying Weapon: Tang Ling.

Zhou Chen’s eyes widened.

"You hacked my phone?"

"I did. And while I was at it, I helped you clean up your phone’s storage. I deleted over thirty gigs of porn and four malicious apps carrying viruses... Oh, and I also finished the daily quests for your anime mobile games."

As soon as Tang Ling finished speaking, Zhou Chen’s computer screen flickered, and Tang Ling’s image appeared there as well. "I also formatted your computer’s full hard drive for you."

’I should really thank you for that!’ Zhou Chen thought, grinding his teeth. "Hasn’t anyone ever told you not to mess with other people’s private things?"

"Just kidding. I’m actually conducting a human survey, observing the reactions of human males after losing their resources. Your reaction... is very boring. I can only give it a three out of ten."

"..."

Zhou Chen rubbed his temples. This was a super-weapon capable of threatening a Tier Five Crowned King, yet he couldn’t bring himself to feel an ounce of respect for it.

"What do you want?"