NOVEL NEXT Chapter 352 Death Note_2
Most items, unheard of, yet they emitted a mystical mental fluctuation that reminded one of a term in the circles: Strange Objects!
Such an abundance of Strange Objects, the shop's owner must be wealthy enough to rival a country, right?
For Lu Wenhao, this journey beyond imagination was an unprecedented experience in his life.
Wang Hao suddenly asked, "Mr. Lu, do you think the emergence of supernatural phenomena is a good or bad thing for Earth society?"
Lu Wenhao was silent for a moment, "If the supernatural is an objective reality that doesn't change with our subjective cognition, we all have to accept it. Just like nuclear and Hydrogen Bombs, whether we accept them or not, they exist in the world."
"What's more, everything in the world has two sides. The emergence of supernatural phenomena will exacerbate wealth disparity yet can create world miracles. I heard part of the medical and craft technology has already been applied. If these new discoveries are used in the right places, our world could indeed become better."
Wang Hao nodded, "That is indeed true."
Lu Wenhao continued, "However, the essence of the world is, 'to him who has, more will be given; and to him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.' The world produces enough food to feed everyone, yet there are seven to eight hundred million people starving. A small group of people owning most of the wealth is also a fact."
"Whether it's war or disaster, it enriches a small group while plunging the majority into poverty."
"So, I don't think these miracles will spread to more people but rather become a tool for profit for a few. Supernatural phenomena, no matter what, are rare."
"Speaking like that, you're really casting a pessimistic shadow on the future," Wang Hao gently sipped his tea.
"It's not so much pessimism as it is a realistic extrapolation of the future. Perhaps the world is not so dark, but the world I see certainly is that way."
Wang Hao suddenly had a brilliant idea, pondered for a moment, and tore a page from a notebook on the table, "Here's what we'll do, Mr. Lu."
"Your Desire, you have two, the grand one to create a true Utopian world, is far too complex, and you may not be able to afford the corresponding price."
"As for the smaller Desire, I can trade you a piece of paper, which is a page from the 'Death Note.' Write a name on this paper, and imagine that person's face, and they will die instantly."
Lu Wenhao was stunned, his eyes wide with surprise as he looked toward Captain His Excellency.
"I can demonstrate now." Wang Hao took out the Death Note, "Your adversary, what's his name? The one that criminal who can't be taken down."
"Li Mingbo, 62 years old, engaged in human trafficking, organ selling, and forcing women into various illegal activities."
"Oh, I see, like a broker. He must be serving the higher echelon, which is why you can't take him down. Now, I'll write his name in the Death Note and grant him a true death."
...
...
"Captain, we don't have a Death Note, Your Excellency!" Xiao Ai, the AI, paused time, filled with shame.
It was just an ordinary piece of white paper.
Captain His Excellency was playing the empty-glove white-wolf game again, leaving the honest artificial intelligence utterly bashful.
Wang Hao asked, "Check if this Li Mingbo has committed these crimes."
Xiao Ai immediately responded, "It's true, he's even worse than described, a pure evil man."
"Oh, then activate the Star Annihilation Cannon later and grant him a peaceful death."
Xiao Ai stood there dumbfounded, his tone finally with a hint of emotion, "Captain, are you really going to annihilate the entire Earth over this?"
"The cost of a Sirius Class I Star Annihilation Cannon is 119 million, capable of evaporating the entire Pacific, raising Earth's temperature to three hundred degrees Celsius, causing a level twelve cataclysmic earthquake, and wiping out 99.9999% of life forms."
"Although your shop might break even from this blast, we will have lost an Earth Plane!"
Wang Hao covered his face, speechlessly -- this artificial dumbness was just too ridiculous!
Ridiculous to the point of being somewhat endearing.
...
...
Time resumed its flow.
"Cough, cough." Wang Hao coughed, writing "Li Mingbo" in the notebook, "while writing the name, imagining his appearance."
"Within half an hour, this man will die of various accidents."
Lu Wenhao was frozen, his heart pounding, his breathing gradually becoming heavier.
Wang Hao said in a mocking tone, "Since the world is dark, and criminals cannot be brought to justice by the law, personally sending him on his way might also be a good thing."
"Of course, there is a cost to every transaction. This blank sheet of paper can only carry ten names. For each name you write, your own lifespan will decrease by one year, not too much, right?"
"Ten names, just ten years."
"How do you feel about this trade?"
This is... power!
It is privilege!
The privilege to kill those who are privileged!
Lu Wenhao fought against privilege.
But now, he also held privilege in his hands!
He couldn't help but smile bitterly, "You really are a devil. This kind of trade is an indescribable temptation for me, a shortcut."
"But to be honest, even if I could kill ten people, what would that change? It wouldn't bring any change to our world. Even, if such a power to kill were to be discovered by others, it could make the world even worse."
Wang Hao smiled without responding, observing the other's hesitation and confusion.
Finally, Lu Wenhao took a deep breath, "However, I accept this trade."
"Very good, you indeed are a wise man," Wang Hao commended.
He placed the sheet of paper and the terms of the trade on the Judgment Balance.
Balance!
It meant that the trade was fair for both parties.
Lu Wenhao bowed slightly, took the sheet of paper, and left. Before he left, he heard the shop owner say from behind, "The team you like hasn't lost yet, they might at least make it to the quarterfinals!"
...
...
"Captain Sir, you just gave him an ordinary sheet of notebook paper. Why did you deceive him into believing it was a 'Death Note'?"
Watching such an "interesting" customer leave, Xiao Ai's head began to emit steam again.
Such a good investment target, yet he was only given an ordinary piece of paper!
No other... help whatsoever.
Such a shame, really such a shame.
Wang Hao shook his head, it was just a whimsical impulse, he thought it was just for fun!
"Because he actually doesn't need much help, He only needs a bit of courage. Through this piece of paper, I gave him a bit of courage, to continue walking his own path."
So that's it!
Xiao Ai immediately felt her heartbeat quicken, such a sufficient reason, Captain Sir had indeed given it careful thought!
But the next second, the Captain began to act improperly, "Xiao Ai, when you're dissatisfied with me in the future, could you just punch me fiercely with your fist, or glower and berate me loudly? Do we have a problem with mechanical mutiny here? Let me experience it in advance!"
Xiao Ai was dumbfounded.
The dark flame above the Captain's head began to dance wildly again, casting mad and eerie shadows sweeping through the shop.
[Mission: Fulfill the Captain's desire. Dress in black silk JK, stand taut all over, make a horn gesture with both hands, and berate the Captain at the top of your lungs, "You really are a big idiot." Happiness level of the Captain +100.]
[Mission completion: You will receive an answer to a question of no more than **** complexity.]
The "artificial dimwit's" brain cooled down again and rapidly calculated, refusing the request in less than 0.1 seconds without any hesitation.
Because the last time she was asked to sit on the Captain's lap, pretending to be a green tea, she immediately crashed.
Such seemingly simple requests were not within her capabilities.
Xiao Ai, with a deliberately indifferent voice, said, "Captain Sir, you just mentioned wanting to kill a human named 'Li Mingbo.' Do you really want to use the Star Annihilation Cannon? The preparation process requires 5 minutes, please confirm in person and press the button when you're in a clear state of mind."