Just call me Thor

After breakfast, Mike took some time to visit the Trade Secret Realm. Foreskin had sent him a message, requesting a face-to-face meeting.

Foreskin had arrived early at the Trade Secret Realm.

"Fourth Bro, what's up."

"What's up."

Mike was in a good mood today. After exchanging greetings, he asked, "Got another money-making opportunity for me?"

"My boss wants to make a deal with you." Foreskin dropped a bombshell right off the bat.

Apollo?

Mike was taken aback and frowned. "That's strange, I just came back from your boss's place."

If he really wanted to make a deal, he could have just told him directly, why bother going through all this trouble?

Besides, Mike didn't have anything that Apollo would be interested in.

Even SSS-level equipment was dispensable to Apollo.

"Hold on, it's like this..." Foreskin patiently explained, "My boss is worried that you might feel obligated to accept if he asked you directly, so he asked me to come instead."

I see.

Mike suddenly understood and nodded repeatedly.

"Alright, what's the deal?"

Foreskin opened his palm, and a ball of lightning appeared in front of Mike.

"My boss wants to trade [Lightning Source] for the [Shadow Source] in your possession."

Mike fell silent upon hearing Foreskin's words.

Lightning Source had the same effects as Shadow Source, just for the lightning element.

For Mike, his strongest ability was lightning.

In other words, [Lightning Source] was more suitable for him than [Shadow Source].

As for fusing [Shadow Source] with the Force of Nature, it would be a tricky problem for Pecker, something that could only be solved when Mike reached level 900.

This deal was completely beneficial for Mike.

Foreskin couldn't think of any reason why Thor would refuse this trade.

"Sounds tempting."

Mike sighed and said helplessly, "But, I refuse."

Afraid that Foreskin might misunderstand, Mike continued to explain, "If it were before yesterday, I would have agreed to this deal. However... I've already promised to give the Shadow Source to someone else. In business, it's all about first come, first served."

Foreskin nodded repeatedly. "I understand, I understand."

Mike asked tentatively, "How about... after I sell the Shadow Source, I snatch it back and trade it with your boss?"

Foreskin shook his head, not continuing the topic.

Both of them knew one thing.

Apollo wanted the Shadow Source not for cultivation purposes.

If the Shadow Source could help Apollo become stronger, Mike would be willing to sell it to him, even at a lower price.

But in reality, the Shadow Source was dispensable to Apollo.

Once he got it, he could most likely use it to track down Shadow Nine!

Mike was certainly willing to bring Shadow Nine back.

But not now.

Mike was only level 300, too weak.

He needed to give himself more time to become stronger.

The next time the Supreme Abyssal opened, it wouldn't just be the return of Shadow Nine and Calderon.

More importantly, it would be the battle between Apollo and the Supreme Demon God, the handover of the Supreme Mark!

Acting rashly would not only harm Apollo and Shadow Nine, but also put Mike himself in extreme danger.

Anyway, Shadow Nine was in the Supreme Abyssal and wouldn't die for the time being.

No need to worry about him.

"There's one more thing."

Foreskin looked at Mike and organized his words. "Actually, I have a friend named Afterskin. Our relationship is a bit special. In fact, it's Afterskin who wants to go to the 29th floor of the Tower of Truth, not me."

Mike nodded nonchalantly.

"No problem, since he's your good friend, I should help him!"

"Ahem..."

Foreskin cleared his throat.

"Well, Maxen might not have explained it clearly to you. Afterskin's... talent is a bit problematic. Afterskin became a follower of three deities during his fourth class change."

"That's amazing?!"

Mike raised his eyebrows slightly, finding the situation interesting.

"Even I only received the favor of two deities. Which three deities is Afterskin a follower of?"

Foreskin didn't hide anything. "The God of Poverty, the God of Sickness, and the God of Misfortune."

Mike: ...

Was Afterskin a disaster magnet?

How did he manage to stack up all the negative buffs?

Was it still too late to refuse Afterskin?

Since Foreskin had been so frank, he might as well spill all the beans about Afterskin's peculiarities.

"His talent is SS-level [Reverse Polarity], very strong. F-level equipment in his hands can perform like SS-level equipment, and negative effects are converted into positive effects..."

Listening to Foreskin's introduction, Mike suddenly felt that Afterskin was pretty good!

Wasn't that very strong?

"There's just one small problem."

Foreskin couldn't help but laugh as he said this.

"Afterskin has a buff that makes his talent ineffective on floors of the Tower of Truth with a 9 in the number."

Damn it!

At this moment, Mike finally understood why Afterskin couldn't conquer the 29th floor.

Originally, Afterskin's talent and divine favor worked well together: the deities' favor would bring him many negative buffs, which would then be converted into positive effects through [Reverse Polarity].

But on the 29th floor, Afterskin's talent would be nullified, making him completely useless.

After introducing Afterskin's situation, Foreskin quickly added, "Don't feel too pressured. Afterskin has already come to terms with it. He told me not long ago that he would rather never challenge the 29th floor than risk harming others."

Mike nodded slightly.

This Afterskin seemed like a decent guy.

He wasn't trying to guilt-trip him.

Foreskin changed the subject.

"But Afterskin plans to join the Guardian Shadow after he dies, to continue serving humanity."

Mike: ???

Letting a follower of the God of Poverty into the Guardian Shadow, the consequences... were unimaginable!

Mike had always dreamed of Foreskin dying and joining the Guardian Shadow to help solve their financial problems.

He never expected that instead of Foreskin, he would get Foreskin's good buddy, Afterskin.

Mike patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, I promise to carry Afterskin through the 29th floor!"

As for the reward...

Mike didn't ask, and Foreskin didn't mention it.

Anyway, Mike wouldn't lose out!

He felt at ease dealing with the Mystic Market Manager.

"By the way," after finishing the business, Mike switched to gossip mode, "why did you decide to be friends with Afterskin back then?"

"Oh, just some youthful foolishness."

Foreskin smiled sheepishly.

"When I was young, before I met Apollo, I was busy making money. Making money was so easy, I felt like I wasn't doing anything, and money just kept flowing into my pockets..."

Mike, standing beside him, fell silent.

Foreskin, I want to learn that too.

After briefly explaining the background, Foreskin, unusually, seemed a little embarrassed.

"To make earning money a little more challenging for myself, I found Afterskin, the poorest, unluckiest, and most unfortunate person. We hit it off immediately and decided to become best friends on the spot."

After hearing Afterskin's ridiculous story, Mike just wanted to say three words to him:

"What the fuck."