Reborn with Infinity Money System, I was Worshipped by All Universes!

At that thought, Velen casually put away all the precious items he had just laid out and turned to Karos with a solemn expression. "Brother Karos, I see how deeply you care about this rabbit pet of yours. As the saying goes, a gentleman does not covet what others treasure. I've decided not to buy it after all."

"Huh?"

Both Karos and the powerful soul residing within the rabbit were dumbfounded on the spot.

They had already prepared themselves for a tearful farewell. They had steeled their hearts for sacrifice. They had come to terms with the idea of handing over their dearest possession… and now this guy said he wasn't buying it?

After displaying all those dazzling treasures, making their hearts itch with desire, stirring up emotions of both greed and awe—he now just walked away?

Was this a prank? A joke? A calculated tease?

Were you ever serious about buying it, or were you just showing off your obscene wealth the entire time?

"Mentor, who the heck is this guy?" Karos quickly turned to consult the ancient soul dwelling inside the rabbit. "Where does he even come from? Why does he have so many treasures?"

"How would I know?" the soul snapped, its tone unusually serious. "The moment I laid eyes on him, I sensed a deep, instinctive sense of danger. He's definitely hiding some terrifying trump card that could kill me in an instant."

"Remember this—befriending him will only bring benefits. Don't let those shiny treasures blind your judgment."

Because of Velen's one casual remark about not buying the rabbit, the strained mentor-mentee relationship between Karos and the rabbit was instantly mended. It was as if nothing had happened just moments ago. The sudden reconciliation would surely have left Velen scratching his head if he had known. He would've thought: What kind of bizarre, plastic mentorship is this?

"Huh?"

"What's this—so many low-grade mana crystals?"

Karos's thoughts were interrupted as Velen suddenly handed him a spatial ring. Peeking inside, Karos was stunned to see an ocean of low-grade mana crystals.

He blinked in confusion. Why was Velen giving him such a massive fortune out of the blue?

Was this… a down payment for hiring him to hunt spellbeasts?

"Brother Karos, I do have a favor to ask," Velen said with a smile, his tone courteous. "Of course, I wouldn't ask you to help for nothing. These one million low-grade mana crystals are payment for your trouble. If it's not enough, I can add more."

One million.

As compensation.

Karos's eyes lit up like a child seeing candy.

"Brother Velen, this is too much! Come now, you're making me feel bad," he said, trying to sound modest. "Whatever it is, just say the word. I'll do it even without this payment!"

Despite his words, his hands betrayed him. With practiced skill, Karos slipped the ring into his robes without hesitation.

"Hey! Karos, you little punk! You're the mentee of an Ascended Rank Level 8 expert. Can't you have a little dignity?" the rabbit spirit roared in protest. "You better share half of those crystals with me!"

Velen couldn't help but laugh at the scene before him.

Karos was surprisingly entertaining. Perhaps he could even be recruited into his tycoon club. Of course, not as a student—he already had a dark-element Awakener under his wing. No way he'd take in another dark magic student. Karos could only join as a regular money-burning member.

"Help me burn these ten thousand shadowthorns, will you?"

"But you have to burn them one by one. Got it?"

Karos froze. "Wait, Brother Velen… You're not joking, are you?"

Shadowthorn?

That was what this was all about?

Ten thousand shadowthorns!

An unbelievably rare dark-type magical plant found only in small pockets throughout the Singularity Battlefield!

And he wanted to burn them?!

"Brother Velen, that was just me joking around earlier! You didn't take me seriously, did you?" Karos stammered in disbelief.

"Do you even understand the value of ten thousand shadowthorns?" he cried out. "If we sold them on the black market, they could fetch a price high enough to buy hundreds of planets! Just burning them is a crime against the arcane!"

"Used correctly, these could be refined into dark magic potions strong enough to cause even ten Ascended Rank powerhouses to collapse in battle. Do you know how many Ascended Knights exist in the entire Uno Kingdom? Only five!"

The very idea of such a massive trove being destroyed left Karos in utter panic. He stared at Velen as if looking at a madman, trying to talk him out of it.

Even the rabbit spirit looked dumbstruck, its little eyes filled with disbelief.

"Burn them," Velen said calmly.

His tone was so composed, it almost made the outrageousness of his request seem normal.

"I've made up my mind. I won't change it. Wealth is just a worldly possession. These shadowthorns are nothing more than resources I have no particular need for."

Damn.

Now that was next-level rich-guy arrogance.

"You're not even the least bit heartbroken?" Karos tried one last time.

"It's fine. Just burn them. I genuinely don't care," Velen shrugged, completely unfazed.

Karos felt like he'd been punched in the soul.

"Unforgivable! This filthy rich man's attitude is too infuriating!" the rabbit screamed. "Karos, I can't stand it anymore. Let's fight him together!"

Shadowthorns were treasures they'd worshipped—and this guy was ready to burn them like firewood?

Where was the justice for shadowthorns?

Karos's hand trembled slightly as he slowly returned the spatial ring containing the one million mana crystals. "Brother Velen… I can't do this. I love money, but I just can't bring myself to commit such an act of desecration."

"I'll add more," Velen said casually.

"That's not the point!" Karos's voice rose. "This isn't about money. Whether you're serious or not, I simply can't go through with it."

"Even if you don't care about the shadowthorns, I do! These plants are rare and powerful dark magic ingredients. If placed in the right hands, they could fuel incredible breakthroughs, enhance countless magic items… You can't just destroy them!"

Karos's words were heartfelt. He didn't even care about owning them anymore. He just couldn't allow such beautiful and rare plants to be incinerated under his hand.

The rabbit wept tears of emotion.

What a great mentee you are…

"Fine. Ten Enlightenment-grade mana crystals," Velen added.

"Brother Velen! This really isn't—"

"Twenty," Velen interrupted.

"It's not about the money, I swear—"

"Stop whining. Add in ten Fruits of the Saintess. Do it, or forget the whole thing."

Karos was stunned.

"Brother Velen!!!"

"Why go this far?! Just sit down, relax. I'll start the burning right away!"

Karos fell to a crouch, retrieved his fire-tempering stones, and got to work. One by one, he burned the precious shadowthorn plants. Every time the flames consumed one, he felt like he was losing a piece of his soul.

But when he thought about the rewards—he gritted his teeth and kept going.

"Senior Pulitzer, would you mind lending a hand?" Velen suddenly looked at the rabbit on Karos's back. "If you help, the million mana crystals are yours."

The moment the word "Pulitzer" left his mouth, both Karos and the rabbit shivered uncontrollably.

Their eyes widened in horror.

He knows!?

How could this kid possibly know that name?

It was a name they hadn't used in years. A name buried with their past.

This… was no ordinary young man.