Chapter 38: Another One Hoodwinked into Limping

"Who told you that magic plant fruits cannot be eaten directly?" She looked at Chen Tong with an amused glint in her eyes. "The reason they are considered inedible is simply because you haven't found the ones that can be consumed directly; that doesn't mean they don't exist."

"Just because you can't find them doesn't mean I can't. Your lack of experience doesn't mean I share it." She pointed to the Defense Fruit, a sharp light flashing in her eyes. "Dare to make a bet?"

"What kind of bet?" Chen Tong looked down at Qian Qi with contempt, curious to see what kind of scheme she was cooking up.

"You buy one of my Defense Fruits and eat it. If there are any side effects, I’ll give you one million. If there are no side effects, you just pay me the price of the fruit. How about that?"

Chen Tong sneered immediately. "That won't be necessary. I have no intention of risking my health by eating a magic plant fruit with potential side effects."

What if this was a trap set by Qian Qi to kill him? He wasn't stupid!

"It won't work, then..." Qian Qi looked deeply disappointed. "How about this: I eat a Defense Fruit. If there are side effects, I give you one million. If there are no side effects, you just pay me the price of the fruit?"

Chen Tong hesitated. Why was he suddenly tempted? Qian Qi’s "door-in-the-face" technique was truly masterful; by first proposing a bet Chen Tong would never accept, she made the second, relatively more favorable option seem enticing.

Besides... What if this Defense Fruit really had no side effects? What if it could truly resist the damage of a Grade D magical beast? What if he could get not only Qian Qi’s hemostatic magic potion but also the Defense Fruit?

Chen Tong’s gaze fell on the latest model of the personal terminal on Qian Qi's wrist. Could it contain information on how she sourced her goods? A perfect plan began to take shape in his mind.

"Testing only for side effects would be a waste of such a great opportunity. Why don't you also test if it can withstand the damage from a Grade D magical beast?" Chen Tong felt incredibly clever. How could there be such a brilliant villain—no, a brilliant protagonist—in this world?

"I happen to know a senior in the Beast Taming Department who has a contracted Grade D magical beast. If you can last 10 minutes under the attack of a Grade D beast, I’ll pay you for the Defense Fruit!"

"I am only doing this for the safety of the students in the Skills Department, which is why I am willing to play the fool," Chen Tong added, not forgetting to elevate his image in the eyes of the crowd.

Qian Qi stared at Chen Tong with her mouth agape. See! She knew it! Little Chen wasn't just some stinking idiot—he was her little treasure! A little treasure who was even paying to advertise for her!

"But I have one more condition." The frugal Chen Tong looked at Qian Qi with a sinister, cold smile. "I will pay half the deposit first. Once you win this duel, I will pay you the remaining half."

If Qian Qi lost or died in the beast duel, he would kill two birds with one stone and save a sum of money. The school wouldn't be able to punish him either, because after all, this was all Qian Qi’s "own free will"!

"It's a deal!" Qian Qi grabbed Chen Tong’s hands with great excitement, saying emotionally, "Little Chen, the price of a Defense Fruit is 100,000. Please pay 50,000 first!"

Chen Tong, who had been smugly congratulating himself a second ago, saw his face turn black in the next. Wait, this fruit was that expensive?! Was she intentionally price-gouging him?!

Seeing Chen Tong hesitate and seem ready to back out, Qian Qi immediately shouted passionately, "Classmates! Our classmate Chen Tong is doing this all for your safety! Let us applaud such a precious and beautiful display of camaraderie and shout 'long live' to Chen Tong for his noble and selfless spirit!"

"Whoo! Long live Chen Tong!"
"Chen Tong is so righteous! I love you, Chen Tong!"
"Let us learn from Chen Tong’s beautiful and precious character!"
"Chen Tong, you are our god!"

The surrounding students, eager to see this duel and witness the efficacy of the Defense Fruit, began to cheer and shower him with empty flattery. Chen Tong lost himself in the waves of cheering, opened his terminal, and transferred 50,000 to Qian Qi. He didn't forget to mutter, "I'm only doing this for the sake of my classmates..."

Anyway, spending a month's allowance to witness Qian Qi's demise was a bargain. Chen Tong comforted himself silently.

Upon receiving the payment, a sinister grin appeared on Qian Qi’s face: Ha! Another one successfully swindled!

System: [...] You're the best at this.

"Day after tomorrow, 10:00 AM, at the Beast Taming Plaza. Be there or be square!" Chen Tong, finally regaining some clarity amidst the cheers, said to Qian Qi with a huff.

"Beast Taming Plaza?" Qian Qi raised an eyebrow. She remembered wandering through the school on her first day; the Beast Taming Department did indeed have a large plaza, usually used for beast duels and training. Hmm... she remembered it had plenty of spectator stands, right?

Rubbing her chin, Qian Qi revealed an unknown smile. "It's a deal, see you then!"

"Everyone, remember to come and show your support the day after tomorrow. Help me spread the word!" Qian Qi cupped her hands to the students of the Skills Department, tucked away her small cardboard box and stool, and swaggered off to prepare for the upcoming match.

***

Beast Taming Department.

In the Awakening University, only the Beast Taming Department and the Skills Department possessed massive plazas. Even the Magical Beast Department, when observing beasts, and the Command Department, when practicing team drills, had to borrow the plazas from these two departments. It was said that this was to strengthen connections between students, especially for the Command Department, as frequent interaction with the Skills Department was essential for better coordination and high scores in dungeon exams.

Qian Qi, carrying a bag of oranges and a bag of apples, stood before the Beast Taming Plaza. Don't ask why she was suddenly willing to spend money; it was an investment.

She smoothed out her messy hair and checked her black baggy shorts and flip-flops, ensuring she perfectly resembled an elderly man.

"Ahem." After clearing her throat, she put on a warm, friendly smile and knocked on the duty room of the old man who guarded the plaza.

"Good evening, sir!" Qian Qi placed the two bags of fruit on the desk and smiled diligently at the old man. "Working late tonight?"

The old man, surnamed Sun, had been guarding the Beast Taming Plaza for over a decade. It was the first time a student had shown any concern for him. After all, he was just a poor old man; how could these bright, promising young students care about a lowly gatekeeper?

He waved his hand and smiled. "Aye, I have to stay until eight. What's the matter, young lady? Anything I can help you with?"

One had to admit, the old man was sharp; it was the first time Qian Qi had been identified as a girl by a stranger. She immediately took out two oranges and placed them in Old Sun’s hands. "Thank you for your hard work, sir. Here, have some fruit."

"Thanks, child." The old man didn't stand on ceremony, peeling one immediately. Seeing Qian Qi’s hesitant expression, he chuckled. "Speak your mind. It’s rare for a young person like you to chat with an old man like me."

"Hehe." Qian Qi chuckled and winked. "Sir, interested in making some extra cash?"

"Oh?" Old Sun became interested. "What kind of extra cash?" He had just bought a Grade C magical beast for his granddaughter and was short on money; maybe he could earn some pocket money?

Qian Qi looked around to make sure no one was near, leaned in, and whispered into the old man's ear. A few minutes later, Old Sun burst into laughter.

"You little girl, you really know how to make money!"

"Alright! I'll help you with this. We'll split the profits as you said!" Old Sun patted his chest. He hadn't been this happy in a long time. After Qian Qi left, satisfied, he stroked his white beard.

"Kids these days, hahaha, they're really something!"

"But... a duel against a Grade D contracted beast? Interesting. I'll have to go and see the show when the time comes..."