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When Jade heard the effect of this Curio, the shock surged straight into her mind, as if a thunderous roar had exploded beside her ears.
As the owner of the Curio, the impact she felt was far more intense than anyone else's.
After freezing for a brief moment, she hurriedly took out the small mirror she used for touch-ups—an item she carried at all times to ensure she remained in peak condition when dealing with clients.
She opened the round mirror. Her own reflection stared back at her.
Jade looked at her small mouth in disbelief.
Did she really… possess such an ability now?
Didn't this mean that she had effectively become a god of wealth—one who could step outside market laws altogether and directly control the distribution of Credits?
This wasn't delusion. It was entirely achievable.
To date, every civilization capable of breaking free from planetary gravity and venturing into space—even one like Belobog, a tiny frozen world that had only just entered the electrical age—used Credits.
After all, Credits were the Interastral Peace Corporation's sole currency, and they were also adopted by renowned powers such as the Xianzhou Alliance and Penacony.
To abandon them meant abandoning the chance to trade with the entire universal market.
No civilization would ever make such a choice.
Because products from powerful industrial departments like the IPC's Equipment Division or the Xianzhou Artisanship Commission were things that countless minor civilizations could pour their entire planet's strength into for centuries and still fail to produce.
Yet on the Credits market, those same products might only cost a few years' worth of their tax revenue.
This was the foundation of top-tier powers—an insurmountable technological chasm separating them from lesser civilizations. Even placing the two side by side for comparison, regardless of the outcome, was itself a form of disrespect to the great powers.
And now, with [Word Magic (Show me the money)], she could forcibly collect Credits—and naturally, she could also return them through transfers.
Though cumbersome, there was no doubt she had gained indirect control over the circulation of Credits.
With this ability, she could precisely plunder the wealth of any faction she wished.
And the only way to escape such control would be to abandon Credits entirely, severing oneself from the universal market and becoming a discarded remnant of the cosmos.
Once cut off from trade with major powers, all the high-tech goods that small and medium factions had once purchased would instantly turn into worthless scrap. The resulting losses would be enough to halt their civilizational progress midway and send them regressing by hundreds of years.
Even great powers could not fully evade this fate.
Though they possessed advanced technology, the massive resources they required were equally dependent on the universal market. Detached from the Credits system, even the most cutting-edge technology would amount to nothing more than blueprints in a scholar's notebook.
This applied even to the Xianzhou.
The difference was that the Xianzhou also possessed top-tier military force.
To treat the Xianzhou this way meant facing the wrath of the seven Arbiter-Generals under the Reignbow Arbiter.
Thus, against major powers, this Word Magic would most likely serve as deterrence.
But against minor factions, calling it a world-ending calamity would not be an exaggeration.
Having thought it all through, Jade was trembling with excitement.
This was scarcely different from divine authority—though what she controlled was still a currency invented by mortals.
She lowered the mirror, tilted her head back, and closed her eyes, suppressing the rushing blood in her veins. Her hands clenched tightly, and the steel casing of the mirror dented inward under her grip, leaving clear fingerprints.
"Good!"
Aventurine slammed his right fist into his left palm and burst into hearty laughter, his face vividly embodying the phrase "finally venting one's long-held frustration."
Even if he hadn't been the one to open it, their group had finally obtained a Curio that was genuinely useful even to top-tier powers.
Topaz was already sorting through the potential ramifications of this Curio, while Numby beside her excitedly explained its might to Pikachu. Pikachu blinked blankly, as though the entire universe had flashed through its mind.
Feixiao and Jingliu exchanged a silent glance, each seeing the shock reflected in the other's eyes.
Another targeted joint conference would have to be convened.
Annoying—but the current situation left them no choice but to prepare a contingency plan.
"What Shopkeeper Sylvester said was absolutely right. There truly is no Curio more suited to me than this one."
After a long moment, Jade regained her composed elegance and smiled as she spoke. "I owe today's gain to Shopkeeper Sylvester's guidance. On another day, I will surely present a generous gift in thanks."
After all, even promotions warranted gratitude toward one's superior—how could she miss such a perfect chance to draw closer?
"Obtaining this Curio was your own fortune. Once the Credits were paid, it had nothing more to do with me."
Sylvester waved his hand dismissively, rejecting the offer.
Then his expression turned solemn.
"Lady Jade, while no one can truly be without a stance, I still hope that those who obtain Curios from my shop will treat them more as personal property."
As he spoke, Sylvester met Jade's eyes directly, giving her a deeply meaningful look.
"One must understand—if you wish to wear the crown, you must bear its weight. And whose head the crown rests upon, and who truly bears that weight… must be carefully distinguished."
Then, as if nothing serious had ever been said, his face broke into a roguish grin.
"Hah. Of course, I also wouldn't want to wake up one morning and find one Credit missing from my account. I'm very stingy, you see—my family motto says that if you don't pick anything up when you go out, you'll lose something instead."
Jade laughed softly. "Then I finally understand why Shopkeeper Sylvester dislikes going out."
She understood his warning well.
Once such a terrifying weapon was used, it would inevitably draw immense hatred toward herself, while most of the benefits would flow to the IPC.
The crown's glory would scarcely shine on her, yet its weight would largely fall on her shoulders.
The Ten Stonehearts merely served Diamond temporarily. Her time in the IPC was nothing more than one chapter of her life.
But if this ability were overused, her position would undoubtedly grow more dangerous, eventually forcing her to rely on the IPC's protection at all times—forever losing the chance to stand on her own.
Worse still, if things ever went disastrously wrong, the board would not hesitate to push her out as a scapegoat.
To those people, humans were nothing more than chess pieces or components. Once worn out, they could simply be replaced.
After the joke passed, she spoke with renewed seriousness.
"Thank you for your guidance, Shopkeeper Sylvester. I have long seen through the desires of this universe. I will keep your words firmly in mind."
…
Alchemy Commission, Lingsha's office.
A stream of scolding rang out from inside—phrases like "Did you choke on seawater too much at the shore and turn your brain into tofu?" and "Did you gnaw on the Abundant Ebon Deer's antlers when the Ambrosial Arbor revived and supplement yourself into stupidity?" echoed one after another, filled with lethal verbal force.
At least, Lingsha thought they were extremely cutting.
The guards outside stood stiff as statues, not daring to breathe.
The medical officers delivering reports placed the documents outside the door and slipped away on tiptoe, not daring to disturb the enraged Director.
The reason, it was said, was that the colleagues assigned to watch over the Healer Lady had made a mistake—Lady Bailu had vanished for an entire day and night without a trace. Only recently had they managed to bring her back.
Although she was completely unharmed, Director Lingsha was still furious beyond measure. Those responsible had already been scolded for half a system cycle. It was estimated that during this entire Amber Era, promotions would be out of the question for them.
At last, the scolding stopped. With a creak, four medical officers fled with their heads down.
Inside the room, Lingsha stood with brows raised, arms crossed, glaring angrily at Bailu, who stood before her with head lowered, eyes darting about.
She spoke coldly. "Explain. How did you vanish without a trace in front of everyone?"
"Uh…" Bailu hesitated, rubbing her fingers together. "If I say it… Sister Lingsha, don't get mad, okay?"
Lingsha looked as if she were already at the limit of her fury and barked sharply, "Speak! I'm already done being angry!"
Despite her harsh tone, there was undeniably an element of deliberate exaggeration.
But it was necessary. Under normal circumstances it might have been overlooked, but this was a critical period while Jing Yuan was purging corruption and restoring order. Countless Borisin spies were roaming the Luofu—one misstep, and something truly irreversible could have happened.
Completely cowed by Lingsha's anger, Bailu lowered her head obediently.
"I-I used that [Doctors of Chaos' Prescription Machine] you brought back a few days ago and made a [Breath-Hiding Pill]. It can turn you invisible and conceal your aura too—even Emanators can't detect it. That's how I managed to run away."
"That prescription machine requires my biological data to activate, doesn't it?" Lingsha frowned.
"Yeah." Bailu nodded. "But after you activated it once, Sister Lingsha, you didn't shut it down. So now anyone can use it."
"Uh…"
This time, it was Lingsha's turn to falter.
So, the root cause of this whole fiasco… was her own work mistake?
How is this little brat better with electronics than I am, an adult…?
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