Chapter 200: Fate Pocket Watch

Chapter 200: Chapter 200: Fate Pocket Watch

"If your debt was just a few tens of millions, I could grit my teeth and lend you ten million. But it’s five hundred million, and with compounding interest... now you have to pay back 690 million. By the end of the year, it’ll be 700 million."

"This debt is just too much. I can’t help you!"

Andre looked at Qiu Ze’Er and shook his head helplessly.

If the debt had been only a few tens of millions, Andre could have lent him a portion. Then Qiu Ze’Er could have tried to scrape together the rest from others to stop the academy’s high-interest payments.

But now, Qiu Ze’Er’s debt was 700 million.

A debt of 700 million... Andre would have to sell off everything he owned to have a chance of paying it off for Qiu Ze’Er, and their relationship wasn’t nearly that close.

In fact, Andre couldn’t even imagine what kind of relationship would compel someone to pay off a 700-million debt for another person.

"Yeah, I know it’s impossible. That’s why I came on this expedition—to try my luck."

Qiu Ze’Er said, looking at Andre, his words full of longing.

"’Try your luck on an expedition?’"

"It’s true that on every expedition, plenty of lucky people strike it rich, find their big break, and shoot to the top."

"But something worth 700 million? How many worlds would you have to journey through to scrape that together?"

"Most Morning Star Great Wizards aren’t even worth that much. Unless you manage to capture a few living powerhouses at the Morning Star Great Wizard Level, enslave them, and then sell them back at the Main Institute, you might have a chance of paying off that debt."

"Otherwise, you’d have to hope you stumble upon a treasure left behind by a powerhouse at the Moonlight Great Wizard Level. There’s no other way you’re paying off a 700-million debt."

Andre kept shaking his head as he looked at Qiu Ze’Er, but he also knew that this was Qiu Ze’Er’s only hope under such a crushing debt.

If Qiu Ze’Er could find a few treasures left behind by powerful experts, he might actually be able to turn his fortunes around, pay off his debt, and even rise to prominence.

But the odds of that? They were lower than winning the lottery after buying 100 tickets in his past life.

"Well, I hope I can find something. As a friend, wish me luck."

A helpless smile appeared on Qiu Ze’Er’s face as he looked at Derek, but beneath that smile was a hint of cunning.

’Come on, agree! Just agree!’

At this moment, Qiu Ze’Er was frantic. He stared at Andre, screaming inwardly.

’Just agree! If you agree, I can survive!’

’Hurry up and agree! Lend me your luck so I can pay off my debt!’

’I know this is unfair to you, but it’s the only way.’

’Andre, you have your grandmaster protecting you, so nothing will happen to you. But it’s different for me! If I can’t pay back my debt, I’ll be forced into slavery and worked to death!’

Qiu Ze’Er’s eyes were bloodshot as he stared fixedly at Andre.

At the same time, he was holding a pocket watch.

This was his family heirloom, the Fate Pocket Watch. Its function was to detect who, within a certain range, would have the best luck over the next month.

Once a target was detected, he could use the Fate Pocket Watch’s Witchcraft to make them agree to a condition, causing their luck to be swapped with his.

And right now, within the Fate Pocket Watch’s detection range, Andre’s luck was several times greater than anyone else’s.

To put it another way, if Andre’s luck was the sun, everyone else’s was a shooting star.

That was why Qiu Ze’Er had taken the initiative to find Andre. He planned to help Andre conquer the Multi-Body Race’s city to get closer to him, then play the sympathy card to make Andre feel sorry for him.

And at that moment, he would smoothly ask for a blessing.

Under such circumstances, anyone with a shred of compassion would surely offer words of encouragement.

And once those words were spoken, his luck would be swapped with the person who blessed him.

It was based on this—based on Andre’s luck—that he was confident he could pay off his massive debt.

In his eyes, with such immense luck, Andre was bound to find many treasures. Perhaps Andre would even be the person who gained the most from this expedition.

If he didn’t swap their luck now, when would be a better time?

Andre looked at Qiu Ze’Er’s projection, about to open his mouth and offer a blessing.

But suddenly, Seven Rings sent him a message through their Master-Servant Contract.

Andre’s mouth, which had just started to open, snapped shut.

"Hold on, I have something to take care of."

With that, Andre closed the projection and vanished into his Secret Realm.

The moment Andre closed the projection, Qiu Ze’Er’s eyes flew wide open. He stared at the screen in the Central Control Room in disbelief, which quickly turned to rage.

"Why? Why now of all times?! He was one step away from agreeing!"

"As soon as he agreed, our luck would have been swapped, and I could have paid off my debt!"

In his Star Realm Battleship, Qiu Ze’Er began smashing things, roaring and venting the furious rage born from his failure.

Meanwhile, after entering the Secret Realm, Andre passed through the Demon Plant Jungle he had planted and arrived at its center.

Only a few select Magic Plants were planted here: the Azure Sky Fruit Tree, the Destiny Flower, the Dragon Transformation Fruit Tree, and the giant tree he had found at the very heart of the jungle.

Drawing on the Power of this giant tree, the life force within the Demon Plant Jungle was exceptionally rich, and all the Magic Plants were growing with extraordinary vigor.

"What is it?" Andre asked, looking at Seven Rings, who had sent him the message.

Seven Rings was currently standing guard by the Dragon Transformation Fruit Tree.

When Seven Rings saw Andre arrive, it immediately stood up, then lifted its left front paw and pointed to the other side of the unknown giant tree.

Andre walked over to take a look.

A single glance was all it took for Andre’s pupils to shrink to pinpricks.

"What’s going on?" Andre asked, staring at the Destiny Flower before him.

Nourished by the Power of Life emanating from the giant tree, the Destiny Flower had been growing vigorously and was even nearing maturity.

But now, a leaf had suddenly fallen to the ground.

Andre picked up the leaf and examined it over and over.

But no matter how he looked, he couldn’t figure out why a leaf would fall from the Destiny Flower.

’What in the world is happening?’

Andre took the leaf out of the Secret Realm, preparing to consult the books in his Storage Ring to find out what this situation meant.

But the moment he brought the leaf out of the Secret Realm, it began to tremble and then pointed off to the side.