His mind was so thoroughly seized by the Surplus Value Detector that not a shred of joy remained in Master Russell.
As a result, after entering the chat group, he hadn’t typed a single word.
“…Why isn’t the newbie saying anything?” Megumin stared at the chat, puzzled by the new member’s complete silence.
“He is, of course, captivated by my charm.”
“Am I right, my friend?”
Los Angeles, USA.
A mafioso dressed in a green suit eyed the newest group member with eager anticipation.
Valmont.
A villain who never forgot his true calling.
Gathering all twelve talismans would allow him to rule the world, but the first thing he did upon getting his hands on some was to give his four underlings three each so they could rob a bank vault as a team.
The Khan Turban could summon the Tarakudo’s Claw Shadowkhan, a relatively strong tribe.
His first thought upon acquiring this Oni Mask was to plunder all the dollars in the city, and his second thought, after taking it off, was to sell it to Jackie Chan at a high price.
His entire existence was dedicated to making money, his deep cultivation of the robbery industry so professional he could be called a Robbery Immortal.
“Listen here, you stick with me, and you’ll have the finest house in Manhattan,” the mafioso promised with grave sincerity.
Valmont had high hopes for the members of this group.
In fact, he had tried to recruit them before.
However, Raiden Mei and Uzumaki Naruto were good kids, Skadi had ignored him, and the only one who answered his call was Megumin.
After watching her use one Explosion spell to vaporize the bank vault’s door along with the vault itself, he had promptly told her to get lost.
Although he despised that indiscriminate destructive power, the incident gave Valmont a certain understanding of his fellow group members.
—These people are all capable.
And Valmont never skimped when it came to capable people.
Only—it seemed he had tried to recruit the wrong person this time.
Russell, intent on becoming a tycoon once more, looked at Valmont, a slight change in his eyes.
Are you fucking telling me, Russell, to be your goddamn worker?
This is an outrage!
An absolute insult!
This will not stand!
Valmont, I’m the boss in this group!
“And then what?
End up as the driver of the bus that the J-Team saves during the War of the Apocalypse?” the young man declared, announcing a certain someone’s future.
Hearing this, Valmont, all the way in Los Angeles, frowned.
Wait, how does the newbie know about the “J-Team”?
Could it be…
he’s one of Jackie Chan’s people?
At this thought, Valmont’s expression turned grim.
“How do you know about the J-Team?” Valmont’s tone was practically an interrogation.
Then, his expression went completely blank.
“It’s common knowledge that chat groups like this usually have one member who knows the ‘plot’ of all the other members, isn’t it?” the young man stated in a matter-of-fact tone.
“The hell?!” That was Valmont.
“Huh?” That was Megumin.
“Big Bro Russell, what are you talking about?
I don’t really get it.” That was a confused Uzumaki Naruto.
“…” That was Raiden Mei.
“…” That was Skadi, echoing her.
A single sentence silenced the entire group.
The transmigrator, an expert in human nature, looked at his clearly stunned group mates and shook his head.
They’re this shocked by such a small revelation?
This generation of netizens is weak.
“Wait, are you saying my destiny is to become a bus driver?” Valmont’s expression turned horrified.
The amount of information in Russell’s last sentence was massive.
So-called chat groups often came equipped with a prophet, and in this group, that prophet was Russell.
And in the future he had observed, Valmont’s fate was to be partners with a shabby old bus.
Valmont could feel his heart tremble.
He feared neither heaven nor earth, but he was terrified of becoming a dead-broke mutt.
No!
Not that!
Anything but that!!
Ending up as a bus driver…
that sort of thing…
that sort of thing shouldn’t happen for at least another eighteen reincarnations!!
[Ding— Group member Valmont has sent you a Red Packet.]
Russell stared at the private message from Valmont, momentarily stunned.
His greatest hope for the group members was that they would work for him and help him make money.
Valmont sending a red packet was something he hadn’t seen coming.
Russell opened the packet.
Inside was a talisman engraved with a red dragon’s head.
The Dragon Talisman?
Russell’s expression instantly became intrigued.
It was the talisman with the most ferocious power among the twelve, possessing magic that could grant its holder the power of combustion and explosion.
“You’re willing to give me the Dragon Talisman, which represents explosive power?”
“This talisman isn’t the strongest, but it’s that old dragon Shendu’s favorite.
You won’t be able to explain yourself if you give this to me.”
“If you want it back, now’s your chance.” Russell gave Valmont an opportunity to take it back.
“Heh, my friend, it seems you really do know about my—ah, no, our story.” Valmont’s expression was incredibly nonchalant.
In fact, it was the opposite.
Russell’s ability to articulate the talisman’s value actually made him happy.
—This guy isn’t just talking big; he really knows my story.
“Since you know so much, you should also understand that I don’t want to work for Shendu anymore.”
The reason Valmont had been so obedient to the great villain Shendu was because Shendu had promised him the legendary treasure of the Golden Chicken King.
However, Shendu treated Valmont like a slave, an attitude that had bred deep dissatisfaction.
Valmont shrugged.
“If worst comes to worst, I can just say Jackie Chan stole it.”
That made sense.
For Shendu, any unfortunate development could be explained away with a “Damn it!
It must have been Jackie Chan!”
“So, my friend, can you tell me why I end up as a bus driver?” Valmont paced around his villa, inquiring.
The Dragon Talisman was a good item.
But it was definitely not more important than his own life of wealth and luxury.
If sacrificing one Dragon Talisman could help him avoid future bankruptcy, it was undoubtedly worth it.
Besides, the talisman wasn’t his property anyway.
(Courtesy of Young Master Shendu.jpg)
“Because even among demons, Shendu is notoriously untrustworthy.” Russell thought for a moment, then began to diss Valmont’s boss.
?!!
“Shendu…
has no credibility?”
“That’s right.
In a world where every demon is a bastard, Shendu is the most untrustworthy of them all.
He never intended to give you the treasure of the Golden Chicken King.
Later on, he even poaches your underlings.
With your fortune depleted and your men gone, it’d be stranger if you could maintain your current lifestyle.”
This prophecy from the Seer made Valmont’s face turn ashen.
He exploits my labor for free and then steals my men?!
What the hell, is that something a dragon should do?
“I’m going to kill that damned lizard!!”
As his three underlings watched in confusion, Valmont whipped out a laser sword, ready to go fight Shendu to the death.
But after rushing forward just a few meters, he saw the Shadowkhan patrol up ahead.
Valmont instantly calmed down.
“Oh, my friend, do you know how to deal with Shendu?”
The money-grubbing mafioso looked towards Russell, his voice turning slick and pleading.
Information.
The sharpest of blades.
If there was anyone he knew who could handle that old dragon Shendu, it would have to be this prophet.
“Hmm, theoretically, one blast from the Dragon Talisman should be enough to send him back to the Netherworld.
But there are still seven other demons there.
In the script, the head dragon gets released twice with the help of the other demons, and both times he uses your body to do it…
From that perspective, you and Shendu are truly bound by a wretched fate.”
“That old scoundrel Shendu is incredibly hard to deal with,” Russell said after some thought.
That bastard Shendu is just too damn slippery!
Valmont was utterly dumbfounded.
Also, what the hell was this about a “wretched fate”?!!
Don’t tell me he’s going to be leeching off me for the rest of my life?
Misery.
Valmont collapsed onto the sofa, completely dejected.
Ah…
looks like Valmont is completely demoralized.
Russell scratched his cheek.
He had, after all, accepted a Dragon Talisman from the man.
Just telling his client that he was cosmically screwed by Shendu seemed a bit inappropriate.
So, what were Shendu’s weaknesses?
“Well, don’t be so sad.
It’s not like there isn’t a solution.”
Russell’s words were like a resurrection spell.
Valmont shot up from the sofa.
As if possessed, he exclaimed in a booming voice, “I beg you, sir, teach me!”