Money Can Buy Everything

008: Sword Art Online

"By the way, Doctor. I'm tired today. If I can see you a bit earlier tomorrow, maybe I'll share a little secret with you."

The gleam in the chubby doctor's eyes almost popped out, and he quickly said, "Yes! Yes! I'll definitely be the first one to check on Mr. Masayoshi's condition tomorrow. I won't disturb you any longer, Mr. Masayoshi."

Yuyuko couldn't help but smile as she watched the chubby doctor retreat respectfully.

"What's so funny? Tell me," Momo asked.

Yuyuko blushed slightly and leaned closer to Momo's ear, saying, "I felt like his movements just now resembled a crouching Shiba Inu retreating."

"Hahaha!"

Momo burst into laughter and patted Yuyuko's head, saying, "You have a sense of humor too. Just remember, obedient children are more easily taken advantage of."

Yuyuko smiled and nodded. Throughout the afternoon, whenever Yuyuko had no work to do, she would chat with Momo. In the evening, she even personally fed him dinner, and Momo welcomed her presence.

Meanwhile, Reimu, on the other side, watched the two with a puffed-up face. It seemed that Momo completely ignored her existence, although she was already invisible to ordinary people.

"Finally free!"

Even after finishing work, Yuyuko stayed with Momo until it was dark before leaving, just to catch the last subway train.

"What's wrong, feeling jealous?"

"Come on, Reimu, you're my favorite person in all of Gensokyo. Want to take this opportunity to be embraced by me?"

Reimu's face turned slightly red. Although she held a high position and had strong abilities, it was the first time someone openly confessed their feelings to her.

"Stop talking nonsense, or I might give you a whack on the head. You don't have a helmet on this time, hmph."

Momo's expression suddenly turned serious, and he said, "I'm not joking. I can initiate a trade: my eternal and everlasting love in exchange for yours. How about it?"

Reimu's eyes widened, and her heart couldn't help but race.

While Momo's previous words could be taken as a joke, once he invoked the power of the trade, the contract between them would be protected by the highest deity, Amaterasu, and it would be absolutely unbreakable.

Momo was serious.

Reimu's face blushed, and she couldn't meet Momo's gaze. She said, "Don't joke around. We've only met for less than a day. Besides, I'm just accompanying you in one world, and afterward, I'll return to Gensokyo."

"Although you've only seen me for a day, I saw you for the first time when I was ten years old. I've been longing for you for ninety years in my previous life."

Momo's words once again shook Reimu's heart.

"Well, if you don't agree, it doesn't matter. But you will eventually agree. Although one world is short, I will visit Gensokyo sooner or later."

"Hmph, Gensokyo doesn't welcome outsiders like you. Watch out for Yukari throwing you into hell!"

The conversation between the two gradually returned to normal, and Momo didn't bring up the matter of the trade again. Even if he did, they had already exhausted their trade count for the day.

Currently, the Trade Ability Level is LV2, with the additional skills of [Trust] and [Confidentiality].

Momo carefully selected both skills. The former allowed him to trade anything he desired, whether it was tangible or conceptual. The latter ensured the safety and secrecy of Momo himself and the trade ability.

For example, Mifune Masayoshi, although he completed a trade with Momo, he couldn't directly or indirectly reveal the content of the trade to anyone. The most Masayoshi could do was tell others that Momo was a mysterious person with mysterious powers, nothing more.

"Huh?"

As Momo and Reimu's relationship gradually warmed up, they talked about everything related to Gensokyo. Momo's knowledge of Gensokyo came from literary works, while Reimu came from the actual Gensokyo. They found common topics to discuss, and occasionally, Momo's different understanding would elicit laughter or astonishment from Reimu.

Just then, Momo noticed a TV advertisement playing in the distance.

"...Only one week left until the launch of Sword Art Online. Today, lucky players who have obtained NERvGear are celebrating. Let's experience their excitement..."

"So, it's the Sword Art Online universe!"

Momo exclaimed.

"So you didn't know about what the first world is after all!"

Reimu exclaimed.

"You didn't tell me."

"You didn't ask! Besides, you started buying and selling your life force like crazy without knowing anything. I don't know what to say to you."

"Isn't that natural? In a modern civilized society, besides the military, the power of money is the strongest. If there's an opportunity to wield power, why give it up?"

Reimu looked at Momo disdainfully and said, "I don't feel like arguing with you about theories. Now that you've seen it, the game is starting in a week, and you don't even have NERvGear. You better start figuring out a way to prepare."

"Now that we're in Sword Art Online and you want to experience a second life in the world of anime, how can you not participate in Sword Art Online?"

"No need to rush!"

Momo pointed to the black card in his pocket and said, "I still have 8 billion dollars, and who knows, tomorrow I might be able to earn even more. What's there to rush about?"

"Everything is under control."