Chapter 57: The Price Must Increase
Inside the inn on Gem Street.
Su Xiao glanced at the pocket watch hanging by the bed, calculating the time. Archbishop Noah should be arriving soon.
"Boss, Archbishop Noah is here. Do you want to see him?"
Baha flew in, grinning mischievously. The Kodo School's recent string of shady moves had left them taking everything and leaving nothing for Su Xiao's group, as if they had forgotten who had temporarily suppressed the Ancient God and sealed the spread of corruption.
Su Xiao tapped his finger on the "Death Duel Terminal," pausing the puzzle game. This device could play any game except death duels. The game company had really gone under, even posting a shutdown notice.
The company's headquarters had been blown flat, and the shutdown notice even included a photo. This was the most hardcore shutdown notice Su Xiao had ever seen, and the reason was solid enough.
"Archbishop Noah? That title sounds familiar."
Su Xiao put away the Death Duel Terminal, knowing a large batch of resources was about to come his way.
"Uh~, Boss, they're listening over there. That's not good."
Baha's grin grew even more mischievous. Meanwhile, outside the inn, Archbishop Noah, standing on the street, twitched his aged face. Their previous behavior had indeed been unsightly.
"Noah, I know you can hear me. Stop pretending. Come upstairs and see me."
Not long after Su Xiao spoke, Archbishop Noah entered the room, his old face beaming with a warm smile.
"White Night, there's a problem with the castle's formation diagram. This is serious. Oh, by the way, your two old friends have returned. Merlos, Marcia, don't just stand at the door."
As Archbishop Noah finished speaking, the couple Merlos and Marcia walked into the room. A faint smell of blood wafted in. Their faces were pale, and both bore injuries. It had to be said, the fact that they were still alive proved they were capable people.
"Both of them were originally members of the Kodo School. A 'misunderstanding' decades ago led to their unfair treatment."
Archbishop Noah glanced sideways at Merlos. Merlos closed his eyes, avoiding Noah's gaze. Their cooperation with the Grand Sage back then had made their expulsion from the Kodo School well-deserved. Moreover, Archbishop Noah was the one who had introduced them to the school. Meeting now was emotionally complicated.
"The position of Gem Street administrator has been vacant. Merlos, Marcia, if you're willing, come back and manage Gem Street."
"I refu—"
Before Merlos could finish, Marcia punched him in the lower back. She said, "We agree."
"Very well. From now on, this place is yours. The Grand Sage's beasts won't dare come to Gem Street to trouble you. Merlos, you're only a few years younger than me. It's time to enjoy your retirement."
Archbishop Noah waved his hand, signaling the couple could leave.
"White Night, I'm not sure if they count as your friends, but... you've cooperated before, right?"
Archbishop Noah's meaning was clear. Settling the Merlos couple was a gesture of goodwill, the most insignificant appetizer among all his offerings.
"So?"
Su Xiao smiled. The advantage of working with an old schemer was that he didn't need to say much; the other party knew what to offer.
"So, shall we talk?"
"Fine."
Su Xiao took out a black stone and tossed it in his hand. Seeing this black stone, Archbishop Noah understood why the castle's formation diagram had failed. The diagram was embedded with many such stones, and now one was missing.
"I've seen your sincerity. Take it."
Su Xiao tossed the black stone in his hand. Archbishop Noah caught it, his expression slightly surprised. He looked at the stone in his hand, then back at Su Xiao. This was... too easy.
Archbishop Noah tentatively asked, "Just putting this black stone back in place will do?"
"Of course."
"Heh, White Night, we both know what kind of people we are. Don't play games. Just say it. What do you want?"
Archbishop Noah tossed the black stone back to Su Xiao. Would this matter be that simple? He didn't believe it.
"Since you insist on giving, I won't be polite. Transcendent resources."
"Fine. Follow me."
Archbishop Noah stood up and left. He had even brought the key to the resource vault.
Under Archbishop Noah's guidance, Su Xiao, along with Bubu Wang, Amu, and Baha, left Gem Street and arrived at the Kodo School headquarters.
Taking an elevator, Su Xiao reached the fourth underground floor of the Kodo School headquarters. This was the resource vault.
"White Night, whatever you want, just say it."
Archbishop Noah was very generous. At this point, being generous was always the right move.
"You said that?"
"Yes, I said it."
"Then I want it all."
"The moon is really round tonight."
As an old schemer, Archbishop Noah suddenly gave up thinking. It was too painful. He would rather have his brain removed right now.
Su Xiao wasn't joking. He really intended to take everything. Since he had spoken, he couldn't let the Kodo School be "disappointed."
Amu stepped forward carrying two large bags. Seeing these bags, Archbishop Noah found them very familiar. Then it struck him—these were the same bags that had once held him.
Ten minutes later, Bubu Wang was carrying two leather bags on its back, Baha was gripping two, and Amu had one on each shoulder and one in each hand.
Under Archbishop Noah's numb expression, the group entered the elevator. With a clang, the elevator jolted. It was overloaded.
"Archbishop Noah, you should get off. It's overloaded."
Baha's words made Archbishop Noah chuckle.
"Yeah, it's overloaded."
Archbishop Noah stepped out of the elevator, watching Su Xiao and the others leave.
Carrying a large amount of transcendent resources, Su Xiao was stopped at the entrance. Several followers eyed him warily, suspecting he had come to rob the Kodo School.
"What are you doing! Let my guest pass!"
Archbishop Noah emerged from the elevator. He wanted to shout, "Stop those bandits!" but he couldn't.
Hurrying along, Su Xiao returned to Gem Street. He placed the large leather bags in the inn, then headed out of town with Archbishop Noah.
When Su Xiao arrived at the castle, he found several hundred Kodo School members guarding the area. The surrounding dozen kilometers were sealed off, and detection stones were buried underground.
Accompanied by Archbishop Noah, Su Xiao entered the second floor of the castle. The "little monster wood carving" at the center of the formation diagram was still in its original state.
Su Xiao took out the black stone and pressed it into node 029 of the diagram. With a click, the diagram was restored, and the surrounding corruption energy quickly dissipated.
"That's... it?"
Archbishop Noah suddenly remembered that Su Xiao had tossed him the black stone earlier. That meant if he had taken it, he could have restored the diagram himself?
Seeing Archbishop Noah's almost twisted expression, Su Xiao frowned. In truth, this was enough, but he could add a few more steps, considering he had taken quite a few resources.
"Of course not. The diagram isn't stable enough."
Su Xiao had pressed the black stone just now. It seemed simple, but it was based on his understanding of alchemy. Anyone else would have had half their body blown apart by the Ancient God's energy instantly.
"I knew it wasn't that simple."
Archbishop Noah felt much more at ease. However, Su Xiao simply sat cross-legged on the ground and began to meditate.
Half an hour later, Su Xiao opened his eyes and said, "It's fine now."
"You..."
Archbishop Noah wasn't stupid. He knew exactly what Su Xiao had just done. If he weren't a transcendent, he would have had a stroke by now.
"Good... such a perfunctory job."
A female follower muttered under her breath. Archbishop Noah turned and glared at her, making her shrink back in fear.
Su Xiao stood up and walked out. He needed to go back and tally up the gains from this haul.
"Oh, Noah, one more thing to remind you."
"Go ahead."
Archbishop Noah had already calmed down. He had been through many storms. This was just a minor setback. Aside from the intense heartache, he felt nothing else. But his old ailment was acting up.
"This formation diagram needs regular maintenance. The cost is high."
"How often does it need maintenance?"
As he spoke, Archbishop Noah took a small porcelain bottle from his pocket, poured out a pill, and tossed it into his mouth.
"Once an hour."
"?"
Archbishop Noah poured out a few more pills from the bottle and tossed them into his mouth.
"Or once a day."
"Then... once a day it is."
As he spoke, Archbishop Noah raised the small bottle to his lips and poured all the pills inside into his mouth. His heart had been shattered when he was young, and now, under this stimulation, he needed to increase the dosage.