Foreign Land Reclamation By a Vegetable-growing Skeleton
Chapter 1527 - 1088: The Only Thing You Can Buy Is Happiness

Chapter 1527: Chapter 1088: The Only Thing You Can Buy Is Happiness

Originally, Anthony guessed this guy was just a marginalized royal, duped by others into coming to collect taxes with his men. However, upon meeting him in person, Anthony realized this guy was genuinely stupid.

Even if he had been duped, why was his demeanor so high-and-mighty and completely careless? Did he really believe the power of the Sword of Truth was enough to handle any unforeseen situation?

Child, you’re nothing more than the Sword of Truth. Boasting as a Sword God while you’re not even an actual god!

And even among gods, the Divine Tiers are ranked. Without a doubt, Silver Coin is one of the top-tier deities.

Commerce is the most frequent social activity of intelligent beings, even more so than eating or defecating. Some people visit the market and purchase dozens or even hundreds of items at once. Their devout bargaining to save a few copper coins often involves exclaiming "Oh God" at every turn.

In terms of sheer Faith Elemental Force, it may even rival the Goddess of Beauty since her followers frequently also worship the God of Business.

For such a high-ranking god to let someone like Gulalata approach without any precautions—stupid is the only word Anthony could think of. Or perhaps... arrogance?

A stupid and arrogant fringe royal—Anthony really had no interest in working with him. Even if cooperation were necessary, Anthony would only do it in a way he could control. After all, dealing with gods as enemies was one thing; dealing with teammates like idiots was worse.

Anthony himself possessed God Status, but he rarely used his Divine Power because he had an even stronger identity—a spokesperson of the Origin.

A showdown between a God of Business and an Origin Spokesperson? With just a little effort, the so-called Sword of Truth would be rendered ineffective. At ten paces, Silver Coin was invincible in speed; at close range, Silver Coin was both fast and steady.

"Let go of the prince! Damn you, do you wish to die?"

"Let go, you bastard! Do you even know who he is? If you harm a single hair on his head, the entire Sea of Omniscience will be buried alongside him!" Several Mourning Undead Soldiers rushed forward, shouting furious threats.

Anthony reached into his bag and plucked out several strands of hair, holding them gently aloft. The hair bathed in a holy glow, dazzling and unmistakable.

The Mourning Undead Soldier, who had threatened the Sea of Omniscience, suddenly looked as though his throat had been clamped shut. His cheeks puffed in silent anger.

"Stand here and don’t move. If you move, I’ll pluck the rest of his hair. Move again, and I’ll twist his head off," Anthony said with a smile.

The Mourning Undead Soldiers were so enraged they instinctively began breathing heavily. Clearly, they were humans in their past lives, and when angered, their habits reverted.

If Anthony hadn’t displayed such an exquisite mastery of martial techniques to hold them at bay, they probably would’ve already attacked him to snatch him away. But now, all they could do was freeze in place, helplessly watching as Anthony and Silver Coin dragged Gulalata onto a small island above the water’s surface.

Silver Coin opened his money bag, and everyone gathered curiously around to see what was inside. Silver Coin’s bag had appeared in several previous Chapters, but no one had ever seen what it held. No one expected it could hold a person! And the victim inside remained silent, leaving them unsure if he had fainted or been restrained.

When the bag was opened, among a pile of gold coins was a head, flushed crimson, veins bulging, yet utterly immobile. His mouth opened wide, seemingly trying to scream, but no sound came out.

"Huh? These aren’t ordinary gold coins. Why do they have imprints of ’Health,’ ’Time,’ ’Youth,’ ’Lifespan,’ and ’Happiness’ on them? What the hell are these things?" Negris asked in astonishment after glancing at the coins.

"Equivalent Gold Coins. When someone wants to use money to purchase these things, their money turns into Equivalent Gold Coins," Silver Coin explained.

"So, you actually sold them these things?" Anthony asked curiously.

"As if!" Silver Coin couldn’t help but exclaim, "Can money really buy things like that? Health is one thing—cure the sick, strengthen the healthy. But Time, Youth, Lifespan—how would you even sell those? Unless you approach the higher-ups, I’m just a businessman. I don’t do unprofitable deals."

"Then?" Negris asked in confusion. "You don’t do unprofitable deals, so what about these coins...?"

"I took their money and sold them some Essence Liquid and certain medicines. After consuming them, they feel rejuvenated for the night," Silver Coin replied.

"Which kind of medicine? Sava’s type?" Negris asked.

Seeing Silver Coin nod, Negris couldn’t help but curse, "Swindler!"

Though he cursed, Negris found it quite reasonable. After all, these things couldn’t be bought with gold coins—they weren’t equivalent exchanges.

Things like Youth, Lifespan, and Health were understandable; Ange could grant them. But that skeleton wouldn’t reward such gifts for money, so Silver Coin obviously hadn’t sought Ange’s help.

As for Time, that was beyond even Ange. At most, he could slow it down.

The only purchasable item with gold coins might be Happiness, as gold coins could solve 98% of unhappiness.

Using Essence Liquid and Sava’s medicine to replace those desires? A perfectly proper solution. First, the values matched. Second, they indeed provided a brief sense of Youth and vitality.

"Then why can’t he move? Did you restrain him?" Anthony inquired.

"Money has weight. This is the weight of money," Silver Coin explained while pulling Gulalata out of the bag.

Freed at last, the furious Gulalata immediately roared, "I’ll—curse—you...!"

With each shout, he lunged at Silver Coin, Battle Qi radiating from his palm and solidifying into an Energy Sword.

Anthony was faster. He struck Gulalata’s hand with a palm, deflecting his attack, then stepped forward, positioning himself between Gulalata and Silver Coin.

Silver Coin tactically retreated. Although the Sword of Truth could hurt him, close combat wasn’t his forte, and resorting to Divine Power felt wasteful. He’d rather leave this to the Dark Knight Emperor.

Gulalata’s eyes widened in fury. He reversed his slash, his entire arm enveloped in Battle Qi, forming a razor-sharp blade.

Anthony pressed forward, driving a single punch into Gulalata’s shoulder, pushing his arm back again.

Shocked, Gulalata took a step back and struck again in reversal.

Anthony, like a shadow, advanced as the enemy retreated, jabbing another punch into Gulalata’s shoulder in the same spot.

Gulalata felt humiliated, as if he were being played with. Anthony’s punches disrupted his slashes without ever trying to penetrate his Protective Battle Aura or seriously harm his shoulder. It was clearly mockery.

It was maddening. Gulalata, a Rio Royal Family member, the most talented swordsman of his lineage, and the youngest Sword of Truth in the Court of Rio’s history, was being thoroughly humiliated.

First, they’d bagged him. Now, a mere "Priest" was forcing him back step-by-step. What kind of warped world was this?

"Aaaaaaah!" Gulalata channeled his Battle Qi with all his might, bursting from his shoulders and stabbing toward his opponent.

Battle Qi, to some extent, was an extension of the body. The Sword of Truth symbolized mastery over Battle Qi, harnessing its full potential to harm enemies with every movement.

Unfortunately, his opponent understood even more truths. Holy light radiated from Anthony, Holy Seals shimmering one after another, shattering Gulalata’s shoulder-length Battle Qi spike. Once again, a punch landed on the same spot.

Anthony’s close-quarters suppression left Gulalata unable to execute a full move; every attack was interrupted midway. In the end, Gulalata was left panting and defeated, dragged back by Anthony as he clutched his neck.

"Swear loyalty or die—your choice," Anthony said.

Collapsing in disbelief, the utterly defeated Gulalata still managed to prop himself up and rasped, "What did you say? I’m Prince Leo—what do you want me to do?!"