Chapter 503 – Greed & Shamelessness
They didn't really give a shit about Monk Tao's reputation, story, or background. All they cared about was that he was an opportunity to track Eric, an opportunity that they couldn't afford to pass out.
As for the poor bastard who got pulled into this ordeal, well it was his own bad luck and idiocy that brought him there. None of them was responsible for that.
In fact, if anything it was a good spectacle to witness as it felt like some sort of real-life drama. But for sure they wouldn't want that slight drama to affect their biggest goal.
A goal, a target that was worth more than 500 million dollars was for sure something that they couldn't afford to lose no matter what.
For that reason, every single expert's and fighter's eyes at the moment that Mont Tao was leaving was full of icy cold anger and rage towards that Boss guy.
A few of the people in the crowd were even looking at him with killing intent, ready to move and give him a clean swipe to score some points with Monk Tao and try to get him back.
Seeing the situation around him and understanding what everyone was thinking that boss guy didn't dare to tarry any longer, as he swam in front of Monk Tao and bowed in front of him.
"Merciful Monk, please forgive me for my insolent and stupid behavior as it wasn't my intention to frame you.
I was still extremely angry by what I heard that I lost myself for a moment! I am truly sorry about what happened and extremely thankful for exposing the snake by my side!
Please accept this as a form of my apology!"
With that said, he took out a check where everyone could see one 1 followed by six zeroes. It was clear that he was giving 1 million dollars as an apology to Monk Tao.
Monk Tao was looking at him with some sharp eyes as if trying to determine whether this guy was sincere with his words or not before he said,
"I truly believe that you are sorry and thankful, Amitabha! It's just that your actions don't match with your words.
You clearly said that you are not only apologetic about the situation but also thankful to me for helping you reveal a snake.
Yet your actions seem to show only half of the feelings you just mentioned! So which part is the truth, and which part is a lie?"
"What!?"
The poor boss had never thought that this Monk would be so greedy that he would ask for more even after he had lowered himself that much.
Still, understanding where he was, and what was going on, he couldn't allow his emotions to get the better of him, as he just looked at the Monk with a difficult expression, and then said,
"Your Merciful Excellency surely jests, this little would never lie to someone like you! I just seemed to have wrongly written the first number, let me give you this as well!"
With that said he took out another check of 1 million dollars to hand it over to Monk Tao, but it looked like the Monk had different plans as he said,
"No, no, no! How could I accept that? People would say that I am pressuring and pushing you too far!
Why don't we do it like this, let us exchange gifts of friendship and become friends from today forth!"
The boos could feel that something was wrong with those words and this situation, but before he could give an answer Monk Tao immediately pressed forward,
"In order to show his benevolence and heart, this poor Monk is willing to part with one of his dearest treasures for you!"
With that said, he took out something looking like a piece of a wood tablet, and handed it over to the boss guy, while saying,
"This monk was able to chance upon this little thing in an abandoned and mysterious cave belonging to some expert in Huaxia.
I don't know what it's used for, and what it really is, but I know that it's a priceless treasure!"
The more he heard, the more useless did the boss guy found the wood tablet, and bigger did his bad premonition becomes, as he tried to politely refuse,
"Hearing that description from you Monk Tao I truly feel unworthy of this treasure. Furthermore, it would make me feel extremely uncomfortable to take something like this when I am unable to give you something of similar value."
"Hahahahaha~! This little brother surely is funny, I didn't give that to you expecting something of similar value. I am willing even if you give me the soft sword on your waist.
So this was what it was, finally, the boss guy understood the bad feeling he had been having for a few moments now. This bastard seemed to have been focused on the soft sword he had.
Despite the soft sword being only a 3-star artifact, due to its material composition and the difficulties in procuring and refining them, their price wasn't lower than 4-star artifacts.
Comparing an expensive soft sword to a wooden tablet that no one knew the value of didn't leave much of a doubt who was coming on top, and by a large margin at that.
Each and everyone in the crowd could only feel pity for the guy who was being forced to change a Ferrari with a Fiat car.
The worse part was that no matter how much the guy would want to scream out loud at that moment, he wasn't able to, in fear that the Monk would find more trouble with him and force him to pay more.
He had to scream a few times inside his head in order to keep his storming emotions in check before he actually took his soft sword with great pain in his heart and handed it over to the Monk.
"Then let us turn big things into small, and small things into nothing, and nothing into friendship and brotherhood Monk Tao!"
His attitude and disposition seemed to have surprised and startled even Monk Tao for a moment, but he managed to quickly recollect himself as he said with a smiley face,
"That is the right way, Amitabha! This old Monk is truly happy with this as well!"
Saying that he in turn handed the wooden tablet to the pitiful boss, as he even slightly bowed in front of him.
Seeing this the pitiful boss's face seemed to spark a bit as if his scheme was going to work, but he didn't show much on his face and acted in goodwill as well.
On the other hand, a Realm 4 Master suddenly appeared from among the crowd and asked Monk Tao in a neither arrogant nor humble tone,
"Your Excellency, now that you have patched up things with your 'new' friend and brother, isn't it time for you to try if you can truly trace that little monster's tracks?"
Hearing that, the eyes of all the experts in the crowd shined a bit in expectations, as they were all interested in the bounty on Eric's head.
Monk Tao looked at him with a slightly smiling expression, as he then continued,
"What's the rush Tenge, that brat can't escape from my treasure even if he buries himself in the deepest parts of Earth!
But before that, I would like to voice a slight worry of mine! If I do use my treasure, and I do track that little bastard, what will my share be?"
"Your what!?"
"Come on, don't tell me that you expect this old Monk to work for free, right? No one can survive on an empty stomach, isn't that so everyone?"
Until now since none of them had been affected by the Monk's greed, no one in the crowd really cared what happened, but now that their own interests were being touched they looked like wolves ready to fight.
Different from the idiots of the crowd, that would only end up screaming in provocation, Tenge walked forward with a cool expression as he said,
"But of course your Excellency, we never had any intention of using your artifact for free! We are willing to pay you 10 million dollars now, even if you don't find him you keep the money.
Or 5% of the amount when you find him, and we capture him! Which one would you like?"
It was clear that Tenge wasn't an easy figure as well, as he not only diffused the atmosphere but even placed Monk Tao in a difficult position.
His answer would depend on whether he truly believed he would find Eric or not, depending on that the situation could take different results.
"Of course the extra 5% after, if this Monk didn't believe he would find that little monster whose existence isn't accepted even by heaven itself, I wouldn't have been here!"
His confidence and words surprised and startled quite a few people, as they didn't think this guy would react like this, but it didn't really make a big change.
Tenge just looked at the guy with a bit of extra caution for a moment or two, before he laughed and said,
"Hahahah~! Well said your excellency, well said! Then, shall we continue!?"
"But of course!"
Immediately after Monk Tao took out his golden eyeball once again, and then started whispering some weird words, and sounds as the eyeball started glowing and growing a bit bigger.
It took him around 10 to 15 minutes to finally show another change, as the eyeball started swimming in a specific direction…
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