Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Chapter 1006: Chapter 1005: The Land of Money

When Fang Zheng and the others finally stepped onto solid ground again, it felt almost like a lifetime had passed, as if they’d narrowly escaped a mortal end.

”I thought I was going to die...”

Walnut shook her head; she hadn’t done much during the journey, but she was nearly paralyzed with exhaustion.

”To be honest, I really considered how I would escape if we sank into the sea...”

Hearing Walnut’s words, Fang Zheng didn’t say much, just turned her head and silently looked at the battered ship behind them.

Indeed, battered.

The ship now was almost nothing like it was at departure, with a hull above the waterline completely tattered and even below the waterline nailed shut with planks. Two masts were broken, and a large hole had been blasted into the stern by a cannonball, making people at the dock think it was a Ghost Ship!

”I never expected that a sea voyage could bring so much trouble.”

Even Kurumi, who was usually calm and composed, was filled with disbelief.

”Storms, pirates, whirlpools, sea tornadoes, Fishman colonies... What didn’t we encounter?”

”Sea monsters, maybe; not running into sea monsters is probably our good luck.”

Fang Zheng wasn’t sure if their luck was really that good; after all they’ve been through, his understanding of ”good luck” had significantly lowered.

”How do you think... she managed to stay alive until now?”

Looking at Katie, who still appeared as if she just woke up from a nightmare, Kurumi uncharacteristically considered this seriously.

”Honestly, with everything we faced at sea before, she should have died ten times over.”

”It’s because we were there.”

Fang Zheng wasn’t surprised, understanding full well what was happening.

”Look, Katie has had several bouts of bad luck on this journey, but each time she escaped because we were there. Due to the constant escapes, her ’Misfortune’ accumulated and grew stronger...”

Saying this, Fang Zheng extended his hand and pressed it down, gesturing.

”Like a spring, the more we compress it, the stronger the rebound... Kurumi, you better stay by Katie’s side during this period; I can foresee that...”

But before Fang Zheng finished speaking, there was a ”crack” sound. The wooden plank beneath Katie’s feet suddenly gave way, and she only managed a scream before falling. Luckily, Walnut reacted quickly and caught Katie. Otherwise... who knows what might have happened.

A real-life reenactment of Death Has Arrived...

”Mr. Fang Zheng, can I knock her out and hide her in my shadow?”

Kurumi quietly watched as Walnut pulled Katie up, then wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and proposed her idea. In Kurumi’s view, allowing Katie to walk the streets alone was just too perilous.

”Let’s take it as it comes.”

Fang Zheng couldn’t answer directly, opting to let Kurumi decide for herself.

Ultimately, Kurumi didn’t go through with it, as she couldn’t risk the chance of accidentally killing Katie. In principle, Kurumi had abundant combat experience, unlikely to make such mistakes. However, with Katie’s Misfortune looming, as Fang Zheng put it, Katie was in a state where choking from drinking water, suffocating from eating, or dying from a simple fall wouldn’t be surprising. Watching over her was sensible; throwing her into Kurumi’s shadow, who knows what might happen.

So Kurumi abandoned the thought and instead helped Katie with the paperwork for transporting the cargo.

Although the pirates’ cannonballs ”conveniently” hit the cargo hold, destroying most of the goods inside, fortunately, Katie’s cargo was stashed in Kurumi’s shadow for safety and was unharmed, a small mercy amid Misfortune.

Following this, despite the numerous familiar troubles, like procedural delays, unavailable trucks, and absent customs officers for stamping signatures, the group finally left the dock and ”successfully” entered Silver City.

To be honest, the first impression of Silver City was not good.

Honestly, it resembled an enlarged version of a neon district filled with alluring lights; colorful lanterns blinked everywhere, and various ornate doors shone with gold leaf. Though the streets were wide, everyone looked like nouveau riche wearing over-the-top clothing, many adorned with large gold bracelets, chains, and rings, radiating dazzling golden light.

In eight words: ”Amidst lights and wine, entranced by riches.”

This was a world where status was entirely measured by wealth.

Amidst the pungent aroma filling the air and the surrounding clamor, everyone frowned; this was not an environment they favored.

”Up next, we just need to deliver these goods to the Merchant Association, and the commission will be complete.”

After loading the goods onto a cart, Katie breathed a sigh of relief and spoke softly to Fang Zheng, Walnut, and the others.

”Thank you all...”

”No thanks needed... Let’s deliver the goods first.”

Hearing Katie’s gratitude, Fang Zheng opened his mouth to say something but decided against it. Considering Katie’s luck, lasting this long was already incredible, and he doubted that sunny days were ahead; more mishaps were likely to follow.

As it turns out, Fang Zheng’s guess was correct.

On their way from the dock to the destination, they first encountered a runaway carriage that almost crashed into their wagon. Then, for some unknown reason, the wagon itself fell apart. Helpless, Fang Zheng had Kurumi put all the goods into the shadows, and when they reached their destination...

”The manager has gone home.”

Standing outside the gate, the burly-faced bodyguard looked at Katie and Fang Zheng and the others with disdain.

”We’re not accepting goods these days!”

”But, but we’ve brought the goods, you should sign for them...”

”That’s none of my concern...”

Listening to the argument between Katie and the bodyguard, Fang Zheng silently shook his head, then turned to wink at Kurumi.

Kurumi understood immediately.

Five minutes later, the merchant association’s boss, manipulated by the ”Break Army Songstress,” obediently came down to sign the delivery note and settled the remaining payment.

It wasn’t until then that for everyone, this journey filled with hardships and difficulties finally came to an end.

”Thank you so much.”

Getting the payment, Katie also breathed a sigh of relief. While handing over the agreed reward to Walnut, she softly expressed her gratitude. As for Walnut, she cheerfully took the reward and waved her hand at Katie.

”It’s nothing, just a simple matter...”

”No, I really thank you all!”

But this time, Walnut hadn’t finished her words before Katie interrupted her. She reached out, tightly holding Walnut’s hand, and stared at her.

”In fact, this isn’t the first time. Whatever I do, it doesn’t go well, and I fail every time... Everyone... Nobody wants to work with me...”

Saying this, Katie looked dejectedly down, while Fang Zheng, Walnut, and Kurumi exchanged glances, not knowing what to say.

To comfort her with ”You’re not that unlucky”... They couldn’t in good conscience say such words.

Because the journey was indeed quite unlucky.

If Fang Zheng was previously puzzled why Katie, as the merchant association’s young lady, had no guards around her, now he understood the reason—obviously, Katie’s guards were probably scared away by the young lady’s misfortune.

Frankly speaking, without Fang Zheng and Kurumi’s kind of strength, they probably wouldn’t have survived the trip!

”Let’s take you home. Don’t be so dejected. You finally accomplished it, you should be happy!”

If Fang Zheng and Kurumi were battling misfortune throughout the journey, then Walnut was providing psychological support to Katie all along. Sensing the wrong atmosphere, she promptly clapped her hands to change the subject. Hearing Walnut’s words, Katie also raised her head and smiled.

”That’s right, I finally succeeded. I should show Father... I’ve done it!”

After this, Katie hired a carriage and drove towards the Holy Silver Merchant Association.

To everyone’s surprise, as they boarded the carriage, they prepared for more trouble, yet nothing happened until the carriage parked in front of the Holy Silver Merchant Association.

The smoothness of the journey made one doubt life.

”Father, Father!!”

As soon as they reached the entrance of the association and before the carriage came to a halt, Katie happily jumped off the carriage and ran into the association. Fang Zheng and the others followed Katie into the Holy Silver Merchant Association.

The scale of the Holy Silver Merchant Association wasn’t small; it was rather large. At this moment, many merchants and counter clerks were settling accounts and discussing transactions at the counter. As Fang Zheng and the others entered the association, they saw Katie running to the counter, in front of a tall, thin man with a serious expression, wearing a monocle with golden wire.

”Katie?”

Seeing Katie, the man with the golden monocle frowned.

”You’re back? How did this transaction go?”

”Yes, Father, I completed the transaction. You see, the other party has already signed the delivery note!”

As she spoke, Katie happily took out the delivery note from her bosom and handed it over.

But unexpectedly, upon hearing Katie’s words, her father’s face suddenly turned pale.

”What? You completed it smoothly?!”

With these words, suddenly, Fang Zheng noticed that the previously bustling hall instantly turned deathly silent.