Chapter 47: Materialism, Divine Beings, and a Cute Puppy (3)

Karl, an ordinary office worker, had a thought.

This empire seemed to be a country full of empty-headed idiots.

'Why does everyone complain about how hard it is to make a living?'

There should be limits to stupidity.

How can they whine when making money is this easy?

Don't they understand the current situation?

'Professor Ryan is literally giving away money! He's now shoveling it out and delivering it to everyone!'

There's no need to work.

Faith is all you need.

That alone can guarantee a successful life.

"Hehehe."

Thinking about his wealth that must still be multiplying even now,

Karl let a sinister smile spread across his face.

Since he wasn't a mage, he had no idea how remarkable Runic deciphering was. Not being affiliated with the Academy or particularly interested in current affairs, he didn't know much about Ryan's achievements either.

He just figured Ryan must be someone important, given how often his name appeared in newspapers and how frequently it came up in conversation.

But now things were different.

A renowned professor, known as a genius in academic circles, had invested in it. Surely he must have spotted hidden value that ordinary people like us couldn't see.

Information that had seemed half-believable when he first heard it.

The money he'd invested as a "nothing to lose" gamble had multiplied insanely.

The dream of three wives and four concubines would become reality.

Beyond just frequenting brothels until he got sick of them, he'd buy one.

He'd quit his insufferable job and start his own company.

If stock prices kept rising at this rate, achieving those unrealistic wishes wouldn't be impossible at all.

He now felt a slight resentment toward the Primordial Dragon he'd always respected.

'If it weren't for that law, I'd already be sitting on a mountain of money.'

The Great Depression that happened decades ago.

The law that the dragon, devastated by witnessing that terrible event, had forced through using all her power to crush opposition.

Thanks to that, it was impossible to invest with borrowed money or put all of one's assets into stocks.

While he understood her intention to prevent the same disaster from repeating, that law needed to be abolished. Many economic experts were arguing the same, and moreover...

'I can't efficiently multiply my money.'

If I could gather up everything including my soul and invest it in the stocks Professor Ryan has blessed us with, my success in life would be guaranteed.

Knowing the sure path to victory but being unable to take it.

It was frustrating enough to bring tears to his eyes, but nothing would change no matter what Karl did.

When the great Primordial Dragon had decided something, what could someone like him possibly say that would make a difference? Besides, it would be presumptuous to even attempt such an outrageous act.

Better to be content with the current situation.

Even now, his luck had exceeded what he deserved.

Two months' salary.

Yesterday, that had tripled in just one day.

Just by visiting the stock exchange and signing some papers, he'd easily gained the equivalent of six months of effort.

Living life the easy way.

The thrill of surpassing ordinary office workers with just a few pen strokes. A devilish smile naturally formed on his lips.

This was the true normalization of labor structure.

As soon as work ended, Karl rushed to the exchange to feel His grace once again. Though the atmosphere seemed somewhat chaotic, he paid it no mind.

It must be the non-believers, dying of envy after seeing the rising stock prices, unable to accept Professor Ryan.

Karl's faith wasn't shallow enough to be shaken by such things.

Therefore, Karl paid no attention to the ongoing commotion and went to confirm His protection.

H.L. Corporation's current stock price.

With a pounding heart, Karl looked it up and...

"Huh?" A dumbfounded sound escaped his lips.

His skin turned pale instantly.

His expression was blank, as if his soul had left his body.

He stood there dazed, rubbing his eyes.

But no matter how much he struggled, the scene before him didn't change. The figure he saw made him seriously doubt if he was counting the digits wrong.

The stock had dropped to a quarter of its value in just one day.

His dream of three wives and four concubines was shattered as of this moment.

'W-why? The professor clearly said it would rise. Didn't he say it was a company that all citizens of the Empire should pay attention to?'

His hastily constructed faith vanished in an instant.

Though he still had enough money to get by, what meaning was there in a life without alcohol, women, and meat?

Karl desperately dove into the chaotic crowd to eavesdrop on their conversations. He peered over shoulders to scan the newspapers people were holding.

[Controversial New Professor Ryan Declares H.L. Corporation's Current Stock Price is Severely Overvalued]

[Blatant Stock Manipulation? Market Swayed by Ryan's Thoughtless Words. Isn't This the Moment for Active Imperial Intervention?]

[Is the New Professor Profiting Behind the Scenes? Conspiracy Theories Boil Over. Is Ryan Really as Incorruptible as Claimed?]

...The situation was taking a strange turn.

*****

Finally, the world is working properly.

That's what I thought as I smiled with satisfaction.

If it's difficult to target the Primordial Dragon and students, I can simply turn my attention elsewhere. The general public, unlike the Academy people, doesn't know me quite so well.

My plan to get fired by stirring up trouble and earning their hatred had finally succeeded splendidly this time.

Just look at the situation around me now.

On my way to a press conference for explanation.

Angry crowds gathered to criticize me harshly.

Some were even throwing raw eggs.

The guard detail that always follows uninvited.

Additionally, my magical power had improved somewhat, increasing the range of spells I could use, so I could move safely no matter what they tried.

People letting their anger take over and shouting something at me. Though my ears were starting to hurt...

Still, it was quite an exciting scene.

People are angry at me, people are rationally criticizing the major incident I caused.

A reaction anyone would consider normal. But for me, it held special meaning. After all the humiliation and hardship I'd endured.

Why was it so difficult to receive this natural response?

Just thinking about the past makes me choke up.

'But it's still too early to relax.'

I can't let my guard down until the very end.

Though I've succeeded in worsening public opinion beyond my target, celebrations should wait until all issues are truly resolved.

Getting arrested for stock price manipulation charges.

Though I barely avoid punishment by asking the Primordial Dragon, I become unable to show my face due to my crimes.

I, now broken, ask the Primordial Dragon to let me flee somewhere far where no one knows me, and thus I end up living a leisurely life after seeking asylum in a nice resort.

I can't let my guard down until that blueprint becomes reality.

With that resolve, I stood before the reporters.

Camera flashes bright enough to hurt my eyes.

Hundreds of eyes all focused on me.

The reporters throw out the most provocative questions possible. They detail my wrongdoings and ask if I feel any guilt about this situation, if I'm reflecting on my actions.

Their sharp questions pressing me.

But I wouldn't break down from just that. After all, I came here purely to cause trouble.

"I really don't understand. Why are you trying to make me take responsibility for your own mistakes?"

Putting on an iron mask of shamelessness.

Following it with the most irritating statement possible.

"I simply said H.L. Corporation needed attention. I swear I never once explicitly stated their stock would rise."

It was obvious that saying a company needed attention and saying its stock would rise meant essentially the same thing.

A word game of hiding behind technicalities.

While this alone would be enough to drive people mad, there was no harm in doing it perfectly since I was already at it.

"You're all disgustingly materialistic beyond reason. You're so corrupted by materialism that you try to judge everything by money alone, making your level too low for meaningful dialogue."

After doing wrong myself, launching a surprise attack of contempt. After fully displaying my sense of superiority, I delivered the final blow.

Preparing an absurd excuse that no one could accept.

A terrible explanation on par with "the goat ate my homework."

"Regardless of worldly values like stock prices, I purely meant to draw attention to the company itself."

I drove everyone to lose their minds by saying I just wanted everyone to know about their mascot because it was too cute.

People completely lost their minds at the sight of me spouting such nonsense after causing such a major incident.

That should have caused a riot...

Before I could finish speaking, the venue erupted into chaos.

Communication devices all ringing at once. The reporters who put them to their ears all changed expression and shouted.

"Is it true that H.L.'s president is a serial killer?"

"How did you discover that Hannibal Lecter was the cannibal who terrorized the Empire?"