Chapter 20 - Paying for Knowledge

Chapter 20 Paying for Knowledge

Perhaps because she saw that Fang Ze was a little confused, Bai Ling even sat up straight. Then, she counted with her fingers and patiently explained to Fang Ze.

“Agent Fang Ze, you have to understand. Material goods aren’t the only thing of value in this world. Knowledge is just as valuable.”

“In fact, to some extent, knowledge is worth more than material goods.” “After all, material goods may only give you enjoyment for a short time, but knowledge can change your life.” “So, I think that when a person wants their questions to be answered and gain knowledge, they need to pay as much as they need to pay for goods.”

“I call this pattern, paying for knowledge.”

Fang Ze was silent.

Fang Ze wanted nothing more than to clap his hands.

Good lord. Even the phrase “paying for knowledge” had emerged. Was this lady a transmigrator too?

Muttering to himself, he looked at Bai Ling and threw up his hands. “I don’t have any money.”

Initially, when Fang Ze asked Bai Ling a question, she was only a little happy. But now, when she heard Fang Ze say that he had no money, she was excited!

She grinned and said, “You don’t! I do!”

“I can lend you money. Then, you can pay me for knowledge.”

“When you have the money, pay me back with interest!”

Fang Ze was speechless.

This routine… Why was it so familiar? Had he seen it in his previous life?

Was this… Ant Check Later[1]?

Fang Ze was a little confused for a moment.

Was this girl a transmigrator or a business genius?

Thinking of this, Fang Ze said casually, “Odd changes, while even doesn’t change.”

Bai Ling was confused.

The girl looked at Fang Ze with a puzzled expression. “What are you talking about?”

“Oh,” said Fang Ze. “It’s fine. I mean, how much is the interest?”

The girl was indeed distracted.

She counted silently on her fingers, then stretched out her palm. “Twenty percent!”

“Each question costs 200 Rini.”

“You’ll owe me 240 Rini!”

“Rini” was the currency of this world. Its purchasing power was about half that of Fang Ze’s previous life.

This meant that 200 Rini had the purchasing power of about 100 dollars.

Thus, the price of the girl’s answer was not expensive, but the interest was quite high.

But… Interest?

Fang Ze rubbed his chin and suddenly remembered that he was a criminal who was controlled by the task force. How could he earn money and pay the interest?

He could barely pay back his capital, right?

Thus… Why was he afraid of owing money?

Perhaps… He would run away in a few days!

At the thought of this, Fang Ze nodded without hesitation. “Sure!”

Seeing that Fang Ze had agreed, the girl’s eyes lit up, and she looked like a money-grubber.

Then, she opened her lotus flower purse and pulled out a dozen 200 Rini notes. She handed half of them to Fang Ze. “Sure. Ask away.”

Fang Ze raised his hand reflexively to take the money.

However, when he gripped the side of the note, he realized that he could not pull it away.

Involuntarily, he glanced up at the girl.

Tears glistened in the girl’s eyes. She didn’t look like she was lending Fang Ze money. Instead, it looked like Fang Ze was trying to steal her money.

Fang Ze didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but he let go.

After that, he began to ponder what questions to ask.

After thinking for a long time, he suddenly remembered the “Spiritual Awakening Technique” he had obtained last night…

He remembered the description on the note at the time. It said, “One of the paths to Awakening: Spiritual awakening technique.”

Since it was “one of the paths,” there had to be other ways, right? What were the pros and cons of each path?

Thinking of this, Fang Ze couldn’t help but ask, “Officer Bai Ling, I want to ask, what are the methods to become an Awakened?”

Upon hearing Fang Ze’s question, Bai Ling couldn’t help but glance at him and asked curiously, “Do you want to become an Awakened?”

Fang Ze asked, “Is that a question? I can charge you only 100 Rini.”

Bai Ling was silent.

Sure enough, at the mention of money, Bai Ling instantly stopped talking for a moment. She withdrew the 200 Rini from her hand and stuffed it into her purse. Then, she muttered under her breath, “Hmph. So petty. No questions, no questions.”

However, as she muttered, she explained the answer to Fang Ze. “There are three ways to become an Awakened.”

“They are the Spirit Awakening Technique, Bloodline Awakening Technique, and Special Awakening Technique respectively.”

“There’s no difference between the three methods. It just depends on whether it suits the individual.”

Although the girl was a money-grubber, she was also very serious and careful when explaining the answer.

“To explain these Awakening methods, you have to first understand what Awakened abilities are.”

“Awakened abilities don’t appear out of thin air. They are the realization of the use of ‘World Laws’ by living creatures.”

“Some creatures are sensitive to the World Laws. Then, through special means, they can establish a connection with the world and condense part of the laws they can use. They will have their own Awakened abilities.”

“This method of connecting creatures to the world is called the Spiritual Awakening Technique.”

“Meanwhile, the ancestors of some creatures were Awakened or disaster creatures. Their bloodlines carry the ‘traces’ of their ancestors using the World Laws. Through special methods, they can follow those traces and regain control of the laws their ancestors once used.”

“This special method to stimulate the bloodline of creatures is called the Bloodline Awakening Technique.”

“Furthermore, apart from these two, all the other methods of Awakening…”

“For example, some families have potions and rituals that can awaken certain abilities.”

“For example, they might deprive the extraordinary power of a precious artifact and integrate it into their bodies.”

“Another example is beliving in disaster creatures or high-leveled Awakened beings to obtain Awakened abilities.”

“These belong to the Special Awakening Techniques.”

“This is because the essence of these techniques is to seize, or borrow, the power of other extraordinary creatures or objects.”

Fang Ze tried to remember what Bai Ling had told him.

As he noted the content down, he lamented in his heart, “This 200 Rini was really worth

it…”

He did not expect this girl to be so honest!

After she finished speaking, Bai Ling looked at Fang Ze and counted with her fingers. “I just answered a total of one, two, three… Well, a total of five questions.”

“In that case, I’ll charge you a total of 1,000 Rini!”

At this point, she reached into her hand and pulled out four more bills. Then, she put them back in her purse.

Fang Ze was confused.

“Wait a minute!” He asked, “Why five questions? Wasn’t it one question?”

The girl looked at him with big cute eyes and said innocently, “I answered five questions. Look, I answered your question first by saying that there are three ways to Awaken.”

“After that, I explained what Awakened abilities mean. Finally, I explained three different Awakening methods.”

“Adding up one, one , and three, isn’t it equal to five?”

Fang Ze was silent.

Fang Ze was impressed. This girl was simply a profiteer! As expected of someone who could think of those business strategies from his previous life.

She had mastered the art of buying and selling by force!

However…

In any case, he was a criminal. He had no intention of paying her back.

Thus, Fang Ze couldn’t be bothered to argue with her.

Therefore, while the girl was in a good mood, he asked, “Then, let me ask the second question. Will using these methods to Awaken definitely result in success?”

[1] a buy-now-pay-later service in China