Money Can Buy Everything

003: Trading with the Gods

Momo's voice spread far and wide, attracting the attention of passersby. When they saw Momo, with blood on his head, spreading his arms and embracing the sky while uttering incomprehensible chuunibyou phrases, they shook their heads and sighed.

Another chuunibyou kid. Such a waste of his decent appearance.

"Are you out of your mind?"

Reimu grabbed Momo by the hair, trying to make him lower his head, and said, "That's a god, the greatest deity! She controls all worlds. How dare you trade with her? Are you challenging the authority of a god?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Momo, holding the mischievous Reimu, placed her on his own head and said, "Why can't gods trade? The power of my Trading Authority is also bestowed by the gods. Why can't it be used on the gods themselves?"

Reimu couldn't comprehend Momo's thinking and said, "Gods are all-knowing, all-powerful, and desireless. How can you trade with a god?"

Momo raised three fingers and said, "Equivalence, voluntary participation, and fairness."

"Gods have no desires, which means they neither oppose nor agree. Isn't that equivalent to consent? That's voluntary."

"I cannot interfere with the gods, and the gods will not interfere with my thoughts and will. That's fairness."

"Lastly, the authority of the gods extends to all worlds, and their determination of value must be correct. That's equivalence."

Momo looked up at the sky again and smiled, "By following the rules of Trading Authority, I propose a fair, equivalent, and voluntary trade to the gods. It is a display of respect for their divine authority. So how can it be seen as challenging their authority?"

Reimu was stunned, finding herself unable to respond.

"That's impossible. Even if you forcefully argue, the gods won't agree to your trade..."

As Reimu's words fell, the voice of Alaya Zanmai echoed in their ears.

"I accept your trade. As you said, the power of trade is my power, the embodiment of supreme divine authority. I, myself, will not violate the power of the Trading Authority."

"Thank you, oh great god! In that case, I offer fifty years of my lifespan in exchange for the right to choose the specific additional skill for LV1 Trading Authority."

"Hey, your lifespan is only a hundred years. Are you crazy to give away fifty years just like that?"

Reimu whispered in Momo's ear, making one final effort to dissuade him. How could he casually trade away such a precious thing as lifespan?

"I've said it before. Everything in the world has its value, and value has its price. Since lifespan exists, it can be traded. Besides, now my lifespan is the only valuable thing I have."

Reimu looked up at the sky, hoping that the gods would reject Momo's proposal.

"I can grant you the right to choose the additional skill for LV1 Trading Authority with the cost of thirty years of lifespan instead of fifty, Would you agree to this trade?"

"No problem at all!"

Momo gave a thumbs-up and a brilliant smile.

Instantly, a force drifted away from his body, and Momo's face turned pale as he collapsed to the ground.

"Serves you right. Now choose your additional skill. What do you want?"

"In that case, I'll choose this one!"

Momo tapped the screen in front of him and selected the passive skill "[Trust]."

[Trust]: Regardless of how absurd a trade request the user of Trading Authority proposes, the recipient of the trade will not reject the trade based on the content and form that violates common sense.

"This skill..."

Reimu pondered.

After selecting the additional skill and using the skill once, Momo's Trading Authority also leveled up to LV2, which could be considered a benefit for beginners.

"Ah, bothersome!"

Reimu finally reacted and said, "Hey, it's not over yet! You've reached LV2, so can you honestly choose the additional skill this time?"

Momo rolled his eyes and said, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Then, Momo sat on the ground again, spread his arms, and said, "Oh great divine being, I offer sixty years of my life in exchange for the right to choose the additional skill for LV2 Trading Authority. Do you accept this trade?"

Reimu stared in disbelief and murmured, "You're crazy! You're throwing away ninety years of life. You'll only have ten years of life left!"

"This trade is acceptable. Are you sure you want to proceed?"

"Absolutely"

In an instant, twice the lifespan as before was drained, leaving Momo with a deathly pale complexion and no strength to sit up, slumped against the wall.

"You really are crazy!"

"For the LV2 skill... Let's see. I'll choose this one."

LV2 Trading Authority additional passive skill: [Confidentiality]. The confidentiality of the trade is unconditionally protected by both parties. No third party, by any means, can obtain information about the trade from either trading party. Protected by the power of the supreme god.

Reimu's gaze became complex, and she said, "You've thrown away ninety years of lifespan in an instant. Now you only have ten years left. Even if you choose two skills you think are perfect, what can you accomplish in your remaining ten years?