God of Money: Reincarnated as the Weakest SSS Rank

Louis sighed and seemed to relax. "Life has taught me that you can't trust appearances, old man," he said.

"I once had a friend and a wife. Both were the best things in my life. They knew how to keep up appearances, but you know what? In the end, they were both cheating on me for more than five years. They played with me, and it all ended in irreparable misfortune." He smiled and looked at the old man.

"Appearances can be deceiving, old man."

The old man stared at him before biting the fish he had given him.

"Good story, young man. It's hard to see through people, and when you think you know them, they surprise you by showing you that you're not even close."

Despite his response, he continued to bite into the fish he had been given, so Louis sighed and turned his attention away. He had no interest in poisoning an old man, as he had said.

He simply wanted to see the old man's reaction, as he looked suspicious. But now he just looked like any other old man.

There were many like him, especially magicians.

While eating, the old man looked at Louis.

"Aren't you going to continue investigating what you were investigating before?" he asked, taking a sip of juice and then returning to eating the fish.

Louis looked at him. "What thing?" he asked, playing dumb.

The old man then began to laugh.

"Hahaha, I'm sorry, young man. I saw it when I arrived, so I couldn't help but ask. That grimoire of yours."

Louis didn't respond, nor did his face change. The old man then smiled.

"Don't think anything strange, young man. I don't plan on stealing it from you. It's just that..." He stared at him for a moment. "You shouldn't think about investigating the Blood Grimoires."

"Do you know something about them?" Louis asked, and the old man shook his head.

"May I give you some advice, young man?"

Louis raised his left eyebrow and shrugged slightly to encourage him to continue.

The old man smiled and took the last fish bite.

Then he picked up his cane once more, having finished eating.

"He who investigates and befriends magical blood achieves a connection with life and death. His blood becomes the carrier of his power; his veins are transformed. His life changes. He becomes a carrier of a power that may no longer be his own."

"He manages to die while alive. He manages to understand everything, but understanding everything means dying." Finally, the old man stood up with the help of his staff and spoke again. "Do not walk the path of those who failed, for you will fail. Do not seek glory where misfortune and dishonor exist, for you will not find it."

The old man turned around and began walking toward the river. He washed his hands under Louis' gaze and then looked toward the mountain a short distance from the river.

"Remember, an era does not end until all its avengers die. Do not become another avenger. Let the river flow where it must flow. Only then will you not fall into madness."

After that, the old man began to walk away.

In the end, a few words seemed to float in the wind and barely reached Louis's ears before the old man disappeared from view.

Louis stared at the place where he had disappeared for a long time.

His thoughts fluctuated, but there was no doubt about which path he should take. He couldn't understand the depth of the old man's words right now, but he could preview what they meant.

Just a little.

'What a peculiar old man. I guess he's not a normal person,' he thought, continuing his guard duty.

--

The muscular man drank the last drop of tea from the jug on that mountain and sighed.

"Where did the Floor Master go? It's hard for him to say he will reward me, but now that he says so, he's gone..."

He got up and wanted to walk up the mountain, but then he saw an old man drinking tea next to him and was startled.

"Shit!" He jumped back in fright.

The old man looked at him. "What's wrong with you? Has something so simple fooled you?"

The man sighed and relaxed when he saw that it was the old man and apologized.

"I'm sorry, Floor Master. I was lost in my thoughts and couldn't perceive you."

The old man gestured for him to say no more about the subject and went to take a sip of tea from his cup, but there was none left.

He raised an eyebrow and looked at his subordinate, who smiled sheepishly.

"You were gone so long that I thought you weren't coming back, so I drank it," he apologized.

The old man took out his cane again and hit him on the head with it. "What are you standing there for? Why aren't you going to make me some more? If you don't bring me some good tea right now, I'll take back the reward!" he roared.

"Yes, yes." The man quickly entered the small house behind them to prepare what he wanted, afraid of losing his reward.

Meanwhile, the old man smiled a little.

'Young people these days are so diligent and intelligent that they amaze me,' he thought, remembering the young man he had just met.

Something in his gaze and manner of speaking made him see things he would hardly see in the eyes of someone older.

A little while later, the man returned with more tea, allowing the old man to enjoy it. It was good, he had to admit.

While the burly man was trying to find a way to discuss his reward, the old man spoke.

"Help me observe the movements of those two boys inside the Tower."

"Are you interested in knowing what they will do with that Cube?" asked the burly man. "Since it's the only thing that grants entry, but it doesn't disappear..."

"Partly yes. Knowing what these people will do with ancient objects like that is always interesting. But I'm more curious to see the growth."

"Growth?" He frowned. "Do you want to know if they can reach the upper floors?"

"No, it's certain that they'll reach the upper floors. What I want to know is how their mindset will change."

"Oh." He nodded. "All right, Floor Master. I'll try to monitor them." Even though he didn't understand it clearly, he wouldn't refuse such a simple task.

Then the old man spoke again.

"By the way," he said. "Do you know how they got through that dungeon?"

"Um... no."

"Do you know how it was passed?"

"I have no idea."

"Tsk, these regional subordinates are so useless these days." The old man waved his hands again to shoo him away. "Go collect your reward from the city," he said.

--