Lord of Prayer - Chapter 60 - 53: Then, Speak Your Wish
Chapter 60: Chapter 53: Then, Speak Your Wish
“Legend has it that before my great-great-grandfather made his fortune, he was just a poor boy. One day, he happened to save a mysterious person. To repay his kindness, this person bestowed great benefits upon him and even helped him become an Ascender.”
“After becoming an Ascender, my great-great-grandfather quickly amassed a large amount of start-up capital and founded his own company. With the mysterious person’s help, his business flourished smoothly.”
“Later, after a banquet, the mysterious person found him, drunk as a skunk. The man asked how my great-great-grandfather intended to repay him for all his help over the years. Fueled by alcohol, my great-great-grandfather magnanimously told him to take whatever he wanted. The mysterious person then flashed a triumphant, mischievous smile that instantly scared my great-great-grandfather sober.”
“After that, the mysterious person vanished. My great-great-grandfather searched for a long time but couldn’t find him. Then one day, the Star Association came to his door and told him the mysterious person had never truly existed—he was merely a Clone, an illusion created through Alchemy.”
’Interesting…’ Zhou Chen tapped his fingers on the armrest, listening intently.
“The Star Association told my great-great-grandfather that the mastermind was a member of a secretive organization and a Tier Four Ascender. Everything he did was for the sake of his own Advancement.”
“His Extraordinary Ability is ’Unequal Trade.’ The Clone he creates randomly seeks out targets, bestows gifts upon them, and in return, collects an exorbitant price.”
“The greater the benefits received, the higher the price one must pay. It’s more terrifying than any loan shark, because what he ultimately takes isn’t money, but something far more important.”
Soron’s voice rose unconsciously as he said resentfully,
“For example, when our family reached the height of its prosperity, he took our entire family’s luck!”
That was why his family had declined so rapidly, right up to its ruin.
CLAP, CLAP, CLAP… Zhou Chen clapped slowly, remarking with admiration, “An excellent story.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it,” Soron said with a humble smile.
Maintaining his profound and mysterious persona, Zhou Chen spoke in a relaxed, natural, and nonchalant tone.
“—Then, state your wish.”
’My wish… Is he really going to grant my wish?’
Soron froze. After a moment of hesitation, he said tentatively, “I want to restore the luck I was meant to have.”
Zhou Chen tapped the armrest, reminding him, “Equal value.”
’Equal value… Does he think my story isn’t worth that price? Or is he incapable of it?’
Soron reconsidered. “I want a Screaming Grey Tree Core.”
“Based on the value of your story, I can only give you an opportunity.”
“An opportunity… That works.”
Soron nodded in agreement. He was in desperate need of a Screaming Grey Tree Core, and he was also incredibly curious as to how this person would give him that opportunity.
“Then that will be all for today.”
Zhou Chen severed the connection. Watching Soron’s figure slowly fade away, he smiled warmly.
“If you have another wish, remember to prepare a story of equal value.”
“…”
Soron did not reply. In the silence, his consciousness sank into darkness.
After the other man left, Zhou Chen didn’t bother exploring further. He hurriedly returned to the real World via Meditation.
After opening his eyes, he picked up his phone, took a screenshot of the Alchemy Items on the reward list, opened a shopping app, and found the user “Miss Kalina I Really, Really Like You.” He sent the screenshot over.
He added a message: [Are any of these Alchemy Materials something you need? If not, I’ll trade them for something else.]
「Meanwhile.」
「In a rented room in Old Paris.」
Soron woke up at his desk, subconsciously wiping drool from the corner of his mouth. He hadn’t even had a chance to process what had just happened when he heard his phone vibrate.
He took one look, and his pupils contracted. A bone-chilling cold shot from the soles of his feet straight up his spine.
’How is this possible? How can this be!’
On the screen was a message from Zhou Chen. In the attached screenshot, he saw the one thing he needed most right now: the Screaming Grey Tree Core!
“This is insane, it’s impossible… This is utterly impossible…”
Soron bit his fingernails in disbelief. It was too much to be a coincidence. How could such a thing possibly happen by chance!
’Could this be the “opportunity” the Lamp God was talking about?’
With trembling hands, he typed: [Why are you asking me of all people? Where did you get these things?]
AFK_Fisher: [I always offer to my regulars first. Too lazy to haggle with strangers. Since you’re an Alchemist, I figured I’d ask you first. They’re mission rewards.]
[What mission?]
AFK_Fisher: [Classified.]
He pressed on. [Then when did you complete the mission?]
AFK_Fisher: [Uhh… last night. Why, is something wrong?]
’Last night…’ A profound sense of dread washed over Soron. By the time he snapped out of it, he was drenched in a cold sweat.
’He finished the mission last night, got the rewards a short while ago, and then asked me, his regular customer, if I wanted to buy Alchemy Materials… The timing is perfect, just a few minutes after my contact with the Lamp God ended…’
Soron’s mind was in turmoil. He was certain this was the opportunity the Lamp God had mentioned.
’But this is just too absurd. Based on the shipping time from our last transaction, he’s most likely on another continent thousands of miles away. If the Lamp God can influence things from that great a distance, wouldn’t that make him a true God?’
’And how could it be so coincidental? Is this a manipulation of luck? Or of fate itself?’
’Or is it the real, no-questions-asked granting of a wish?’
“There are only a few true Gods in the World. The Lamp God might be a Demigod, or possibly even a Tier Five…”
Soron wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and took a deep breath to calm himself. For now, he pushed aside the thought of reporting this to the Star Association.
The Lamp God was too mysterious, too powerful. Soron didn’t dare to make a reckless move.
’For all I know, he could be watching me right now.’
The very thought sent a shiver down Soron’s spine.
·
·
’If I can’t keep him intimidated and he reports me to the Star Association, I’ll have to lay low for a bit to avoid them knocking on my door.’
Zhou Chen sighed internally. He hadn’t expected such a simple, subconscious act to cause such a commotion.
He recalled the recent chain of events.
After extending his consciousness through the bubble, a blinding white light had transported him to a place filled with white mist. The only thing there was an exquisitely crafted fountain, but its basin was dry. Other than that, there was nothing.
When he sensed someone was about to be brought there, he had hastily willed a parasol, a table, chairs, and a teacup into existence…
’I wonder what that place really is. The waterless fountain looks like a Wishing Pool, but it’s missing the water… What on earth is the deal with this Wish Bottle?’
Just then, his phone vibrated with a message from “Miss Kalina I Really, Really Like You.”
Now that Zhou Chen knew “Kalina” was a real person, seeing the username always felt a little weird. ’So he’s not a simp or some unhinged anime fan,’ he thought, ’he’s just publicly declaring his love!’
[I need that Screaming Grey Tree Core! It’s urgent! It determines whether or not I can become an Alchemist!]
[Flat price, six hundred thousand. That’s the standard market rate,] Zhou Chen typed.
[Okay! Don’t sell it to anyone else! I’m going to borrow the money. Wait for me!]
Zhou Chen then opened his chat with Jiang Che to confirm the rewards he wanted to claim.
“I’m requesting the Flintlock Pistol and the Screaming Grey Tree Core.”
·
·
「Evening.」
Zhou Chen returned to his dorm room carrying two boxes, which contained the Flintlock Pistol and the Screaming Grey Tree Core.
The pistol was ornately decorated, looking more like a collector’s piece. It was loaded with special Alchemy Bullets that had immense stopping power, and it was inscribed with an Alchemy Matrix designed to inflict double damage against evil creatures.
The core was a simple grey pit, with nothing outwardly unusual about it. But as soon as you held it, an unsettling scream would echo in your ears.
Soren Berg had said he was going to borrow money, but he still hadn’t replied. Zhou Chen wasn’t sure if the man would report him to the Star Association. Considering the mysterious and unique nature of the Wish Bottle, he figured there wouldn’t be a major issue—as long as he didn’t push his luck and draw too much attention from the Star Association.
Before long, his phone vibrated with a message from the dark web.
’Birdman finally got in touch…’ Zhou Chen opened the message. He could feel Birdman’s delight radiating from the text.
“Holy shit, you pulled that off beautifully! Iron Python is about to lose his mind! I knew I picked the right guy!”
“I’ve got a big gift for you. Come pick it up tomorrow. And by the way, I’ve got a new mission for you, too.”
