Rags to Riches: The Rise of a Dual-Talent Prodigy
Chapter 38 Fooled Another One

Chapter 38: Chapter 38 Fooled Another One

"Who told you that Magic Plant Fruit can’t be eaten directly?" She looked at Chen Tong with a playful glint in her eye, "It’s not that it can’t be eaten, it’s just that you haven’t found a Magic Plant Fruit that can be directly consumed, which doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist."

"Just because you can’t find it doesn’t mean I can’t find it, and just because you’re short-sighted doesn’t mean I am too." She pointed at the Defense Fruit, a gleam flashing in her eyes, "Dare to make a bet?"

"What bet?" Chen Tong looked down disdainfully at Qian Qi, curious to see what trick she wanted to play.

"You buy a Defense Fruit from me and eat it. If there are side effects, I’ll give you a million. If there are no side effects, you just pay the price of the Defense Fruit. How about it?"

Chen Tong immediately let out a cold laugh, "That’s unnecessary. I don’t want to risk eating a Magic Plant Fruit with side effects."

What if this is a trap Qian Qi set deliberately to get rid of him?

He’s no fool!

"Not willing..." Qian Qi was immensely disappointed, "How about this: I’ll eat a Defense Fruit. If there are side effects, I’ll give you a million. If there are no side effects, you just pay the price of the Defense Fruit?"

Chen Tong hesitated for a moment.

What’s happening, why am I a little tempted?

This "skylight effect" by Qian Qi is quite clever, first proposing a bet Chen Tong would never agree to, then offering a bet more favorable to him, naturally making Chen Tong interested.

Besides...

What if the Defense Fruit really has no side effects?

What if the Defense Fruit can indeed resist the damage of a D-level magical beast?

What if he can get not only Qian Qi’s Blood Stopping Magic Potion but also the Defense Fruit?

Chen Tong’s gaze fell on Qian Qi’s wrist, on that latest model of Light Brain.

In it... could there be a way to contact Qian Qi’s suppliers?

A perfect plan suddenly formed in Chen Tong’s mind like an inspiration.

"Only testing for side effects would be wasting such a great opportunity. Why not also test if it can withstand the damage from a D-level magical beast, how about it?" Chen Tong felt he was too clever.

How could there be such a smart villain, ah no, smart protagonist like him in this world?

"Coincidentally, I know a senior in the Beast Taming Department who has contracted a D-level magic beast. If you can hold out under the attack of a D-level Contracted Beast for 10 minutes, I’ll pay for the Defense Fruit!"

"I’m also doing this with the safety of the Skill Department’s students in mind, willing to be the scapegoat." Chen Tong didn’t forget to enhance his image in the eyes of the crowd.

Qian Qi looked at Chen Tong with her mouth agape.

See! She said Little Chen wasn’t a big fool — rather, he’s her little darling!

A little darling who even pays to advertise for her!

"But I have one more condition." Frugal Chen Tong looked at Qian Qi, a sinister smile faintly appearing on his face, "I’ll pay half the deposit first, and once you win the gamble, I’ll give you the remaining half."

If Qian Qi loses or dies in the magical beast battle, he can have the best of both worlds, saving himself some money.

And the school couldn’t punish him because, after all, this was all "voluntary" on Qian Qi’s part!

"Deal!" Qian Qi shook Chen Tong’s hands excitedly, moved, "Little Chen, here in our place, a Defense Fruit costs a hundred thousand coins, pay fifty thousand first~"

One moment, Chen Tong was immensely proud of himself, but the next his face darkened.

Wait, is the Defense Fruit this expensive!

She can’t be deliberately raising the price!!!

Seeing Chen Tong seeming to reconsider, Qian Qi immediately cried out passionately, "Everyone! Our Chen Tong is thinking of your safety! Such precious and lovely camaraderie, let’s applaud Chen Tong and praise his noble and beautiful spirit, shout long live for him!"

"Oh~ Long live Chen Tong!"

"Chen Tong is righteous! I love Chen Tong!"

"Let’s learn from the beautiful and precious qualities of Chen Tong!"

"Chen Tong, you! Are our God!"

Wanting to witness this gamble and see the effects of the Defense Fruit, the surrounding students began to cheer, praising Chen Tong with one compliment after another.

In the midst of this cheering, Chen Tong lost himself, opened his Light Brain, and transferred fifty thousand coins to Qian Qi, not forgetting to say, "I’m doing this for the good of fellow students..."

Anyway, spending a month’s allowance to buy Qian Qi’s death is quite worthwhile.

Chen Tong silently comforted himself this way.

Receiving the payment, Qian Qi’s face immediately showed a sinister grin: Ha! Fooled another one!

System: [...] You’re still the best.

"The day after tomorrow at 10 a.m., Beast Square arena, see you there!" Chen Tong finished the transaction amidst the cheering and finally came to his senses, saying to Qian Qi in a not so good mood.

"Beast Square?" Qian Qi raised an eyebrow.

Recalling her first day here, she had explored the whole school, and indeed the Beast Taming Department had a large square usually used for Contract Beast battles and Demon Beast foraging.

Hmm... she remembered there were many stands at Beast Square, right?

Touching her chin, Qian Qi revealed an unknown smile.

"Deal, see you there!"

"Everyone, remember to come and support, help me spread the word!" Qian Qi cupped her fists towards the Skill Department’s students, then packed up her small box and bench, swaggering away to prepare for the day after tomorrow’s match.

————

Beast Taming Department.

At the Awakener University, only the Beast Taming Department and Skill Department have a huge square.

Even the Magic Beast Department needs to borrow this space for viewing Magic Beasts or practicing team command.

But it’s said that this is to strengthen student interaction, especially for the Command Department, to engage more with Skill Department students for better teamwork in instance exams, thereby scoring higher marks.

Qian Qi carried a bag of oranges and a bag of apples, standing in front of the Beast Taming Department Square.

Don’t ask why she suddenly spent money, just call it an early investment.

She tidied her messy hair a bit, checked her black shorts and flip-flops, ensuring they perfectly matched the image of an old uncle.

"Ahem." Clearing her throat, she instantly put on a warm smile, knocking on the duty room of the gatekeeper at Beast Square.

"Good evening, Uncle!" Qian Qi placed the two bags of fruits on the desk in the duty room, smiling eagerly at the gatekeeper, "It’s late, and you haven’t gotten off work yet?"

The gatekeeper was surnamed Sun, having guarded the Beast Taming Square’s gates for over ten years, and it was the first time a student had shown concern for him.

After all, he was just a poor old man; how could these bright students with promising futures possibly notice an old gatekeeper like him?

He waved his hand, smiling, "Ah, I’m here till 8 p.m. What’s the matter, young lady, need anything?"

It must be said, this old man is something; it was the first time for Qian Qi someone had directly recognized her as a girl.

She immediately took out two oranges and handed them to Uncle Sun, "Uncle, you work hard, have some fruit."

"Thank you, child." The old man didn’t hold back, directly accepting and peeling them. Seeing Qian Qi looking hesitant to speak, he laughed, "Speak freely; it’s rare for us old folks to chat with young people like you."

"Hehe." Qian Qi chuckled immediately, winking, "Uncle, interested in making some extra cash?"

"Oh?" Uncle Sun’s interest was piqued, "What kind of extra cash?"

Recently having bought a C-level demon beast for his granddaughter and being short on money, maybe he could make some pocket money?

Qian Qi looked around, ensuring no one was nearby, then whispered in Uncle Sun’s ear for several minutes. He ended up laughing heartily.

"You little rascal, you’re quite the hustler!"

"Alright! I’ll help with this, let’s go with your profit-sharing plan!" Uncle Sun patted his chest, having not felt this happy in a long time. After Qian Qi left satisfied, he stroked his gray beard.

"Today’s kids, hahaha, are really interesting!"

"But... a duel with a D-level Contracted Beast? This sounds fun. Even this old man must go see the excitement..."