Chapter 261

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Chapter 261: Punishment
As soon as he stepped in, he saw the familiar stars and vast sea, with the beautiful Milky Way stretching across the sky, like connecting the end of the universe. Every time he entered, he saw a different magnificent scene.
Zhang Mu dropped the second in his hand on the ground, looking completely unaware of whether it was alive or dead. The dizziness caused by passing through the folded space seemed to worsen his injuries.
He didn’t care about the second anymore. In the Era Store, these injuries could only be considered minor problems. Even if it became severe, the Era Merchant could save him, but Zhang Mu wouldn’t pay the price for him.
The accepted currency in the Era Merchant’s place is mainly gold leaf.
Dark thoughts crossed Zhang Mu’s mind, but this was just the beginning. If someone opposed him, Zhang Mu wouldn’t make it easy for them, and his kindness to enemies was actually cruelty to himself.
Zhang Mu had empathy for strangers and the weak, but this was due to the fusion of his young soul with his own. However, he had no mercy for enemies, as the two fused souls had a common understanding.
If someone was an enemy, they would face consequences. If he could act, he wouldn’t have kept the second alive until now. He would have turned him into nourishment for the Blood Lotus long ago.
As for joining hands with Wang Liang to get rid of the second, Zhang Mu never considered it. While others might not know, how could he be unaware of the Era Merchant’s methods? Through the Era Merchant Ring, the truth of things could be easily revealed.
When the time comes, No. 37’s anger, he did not want to bear it.
However, this time, Zhang Mu had prepared everything for the second unknown present, enough to make him never recover in his life. For such a narcissistic person, this method may be more painful than killing him directly.
“After looking around, the scenery here at No. 37 is the most interesting. Shan Xi City, Xi An City, are too rough. The interior decoration of this Era Store that you have carved is really good.”
Zhang Mu subtly flattered No. 37, but as the owner of Era Store, he already knew about Zhang Mu and the second’s appearance, but he should still be deciding.
What Zhang Mu is doing now is pushing him to make a decision in his hesitation.
As soon as Zhang Mu finished speaking, No. 37 gracefully walked out from the gap among the stars, holding a goblet with half a glass of red wine, “You really don’t give me peace of mind. The Era Sub-merchant that I recruited so hard is now messed up by you.”
Zhang Mu looked at him calmly, not saying a word. Silence was the best language at the moment.
He knew that No. 37 had already understood everything through the Era Merchant Ring when they entered just now, although he could only access the memories of Zhang Mu and the second within the range of Luo Yang City Era Store. So he hesitated, surprised at Zhang Mu’s advancement speed and decisive attitude, but sacrificing another Era Sub-merchant of his own was too heavy a price.
He was just hesitating about following the rules or giving in a bit, since Zhang Mu didn’t know the specific rules at the moment. Even though Zhang Mu was his top Era Sub-merchant, relying solely on him to support the whole Luo Yang City Era Store was too risky. This time, he wanted to deceive Zhang Mu a bit, give Zhang Mu some compensation, and give a small punishment to his second-ranked Era Sub-merchant to bypass this issue.
However, Zhang Mu had already figured out what No. 37 was thinking. He wasn’t just a naive young person looking for an explanation. This time, he wanted to completely defeat his idol, the influential and mysterious top Era Sub-merchant of Luo Yang City.
Even before his full potential had blossomed, No. 37’s second-rate cunning and abilities were already showing. If left unchecked, fueled by his hatred for Zhang Mu, the animosity could grow and cause trouble, giving Zhang Mu a headache.
So, he wanted to eliminate any threats to his existence before they could grow stronger.
When the Era Merchant began to speak, Zhang Mu couldn’t let him have his way without revealing that he knew the rules. He interrupted No. 37 because he knew this was a critical moment of indecision for him. Once No. 37 made a decision, there would be no turning back.
He was willing to go to any lengths against the second-ranked individual.
“No. 37, this second-ranked Era Sub-merchant, in collaboration with the forces in Luo Yang City, has blocked the path to the Era Store.”
I, Zhang Mu, have no guilt in my heart. I have not wronged him. Yet he is trying to put me in a dangerous situation. If it weren’t for my lucky advancement to second-rank, and if it weren’t me, Zhang Mu, but another Era Sub-merchant, there might have been no way to enter the Era Store.
You said that if the Era Merchant’s proxy task is not completed within the time limit, it will cost you your life.
“If our strength is inferior to his, won’t we be blocked from the Era Store forever?”
Zhang Mu completely shut down any chance for explanation from No. 37, firmly stating, “He is not only refusing to help as a subordinate of Era Merchant, but also planning to take drastic measures right outside Era Store. I trust you, No. 37, to handle this individual with fairness and seriousness. It’s truly shameful to work with such scum.”
No. 37 remained silent for a long time, casting a complicated glance at the suffering second person on the ground, finishing the red wine in the cup in one gulp, tossing it into the vast sea of stars, and taking out a blue handkerchief to wipe the red-stained lips.
The voice echoed in the narrow Era Store.
“No. 023, suspected violation of Era Caravan rules, stripped of second-ranked status, deferred to the next in line.”