Reborn with Infinity Money System, I was Worshipped by All Universes!-Chapter 234 - 231-Student Karos Pays Respect to Mentor Velen!

The rabbit was utterly in disbelief.

Despite having gone to great lengths to conceal his identity, he'd still been recognized by Velen with a single glance.

How is this possible? he thought, his little heart racing. Could this brat be the illegitimate son of some supreme being from the Upper Realm?

What the rabbit didn't know was that Velen had already used Fate's Trojan on him moments ago, easily uncovering the truth—that this was none other than Pulitzer, the once-unstoppable Dark Archmage who had rampaged across the galaxy and now found himself reincarnated inside a rabbit's body.

"This brat actually knows who I am… But even if I've ended up in this fluffy form, I still have principles!" Pulitzer raged internally. "I'm still a formidable dark magic practitioner. Those shadowthorns are precious beyond measure. How could I possibly… burn them?"

Unless… he adds more to the deal.

Just like Karos, Pulitzer was now standing there with big, gleaming eyes, silently hoping for a better offer.

But the next moment—

"Well, Senior, if you're unwilling, that's fine too. Karos can handle it on his own," Velen said casually as he began to retrieve the ring full of mana crystals.

He wasn't the kind to force anyone.

Pulitzer: ???

What… just happened?

Why the hell does Karos get to haggle and drive the price up, but when it's me, I don't even get a counteroffer?

Are we still burning shadowthorns together or what?!

"Darn it all!"

"No, no, no! Your Highness Velen, I'll do it! I'll burn them right now!" Pulitzer shouted in panic the moment he saw the ring being taken back.

Seeing the master-and-apprentice duo get to work, Velen watched them with amusement, thinking to himself, Once they finish burning these, I should be able to rack up three waves of system rewards.

Karos and Pulitzer both looked like their hearts were being stabbed as they tossed one shadowthorn after another into the fire.

Half an hour later, a system notification echoed in Velen's mind.

Ding! Congratulations, host, on a successful display of wealth!

Rewards: 30 million luxury points, 3 million shadowthorn plants.

"Huh?!"

Velen froze in disbelief.

"Did the system glitch just now?"

"I just burned 10,000… and now I've been rewarded with 3 million? What's next, a truckload of them for free if I keep going?"

Staring at the absurdly generous reward, Velen fell deep into thought.

After a moment, he made a decision: "I'll give one million to my first disciple, keep one million for myself, and hand the remaining one million to Karos."

Why Karos?

No deep reason—he simply found the guy pleasing to the eye.

That's it. That's the whole reason.

I'm a certified spendthrift tycoon. Do I need justification for giving stuff away?

"Mentor… that was ten thousand shadowthorns… Just gone like that," Karos muttered via spiritual link, nearly in tears.

"My heart… it feels like it's being shredded by knives."

"I don't know if Velen's happy, but I'm dying inside."

Pulitzer huffed. "Oh, please. When you were pocketing your 'payment,' you were grinning from ear to ear. Spare me the dramatics!"

But before they could continue arguing, they both saw something that nearly made their souls leave their bodies—Velen was once again pulling shadowthorns out from his storage ring.

"Wait, Your Highness Velen—what are you doing—"

Within moments, the room was once again stacked with thorny plants, filling over half the space.

Karos and Pulitzer felt like they were about to lose their minds.

This pile… it looked like way more than ten thousand. Heck, it might be over a hundred thousand!

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How were they supposed to burn all this?

Even if Velen offered them twice the pay, even if someone held a sword to their throats, they wouldn't dare burn another shadowthorn.

Not a single one.

Not even if God himself descended.

"Relax, the two of you," Velen said, raising a hand. "This time, I'm not asking you to burn them like before. These are meant to be gifts—"

Before he could finish his sentence, Karos and Pulitzer exchanged a glance.

No words were needed. They understood each other perfectly.

Karos closed his eyes, sighed, and tossed the firestone into the pile of thorns.

"Let's just burn them!"

Velen was genuinely stunned. "Holy—Karos! You're crazier than I thought. A full million shadowthorns, and you just set them on fire?!"

"Burning's underway, Brother Velen!" Karos replied, trying to remain calm, though his voice trembled slightly. "By the way, what were you saying about gifts?"

"Oh, right." Velen smiled. "I meant those million shadowthorns are for you. As a gift. You didn't have to burn them this time—you misunderstood."

WHAT?!

A million shadowthorns, as a gift?

Karos and Pulitzer both stood frozen.

And then came the explosion—mental, emotional, and possibly spiritual.

WHY didn't you say that earlier?!

They were a gift?!

We just torched most of them!

"Mentor! Quick! Save the rest!" Karos snapped out of it and dashed into the flames with a roar.

"My apologies, Your Highness Velen. Please don't mind this idiotic student of mine," Pulitzer muttered, already casting a dark-water spell. In the blink of an eye, the flames were extinguished, leaving the room a steaming mess of scorched wood and thorn.

Pulitzer looked at what little remained of the precious plants and gasped.

That was all that was left?

He nearly fainted.

"Karos! Look what you've done, you impulsive blockhead!"

"Acting like a berserker in the Singularity Battlefield will get you killed in seconds!" Pulitzer scolded, his voice like a whip.

"I… I know, Mentor. I messed up." Karos hung his head in shame. "But it was just so many shadowthorns… I couldn't bear it."

"Bear it? You sure didn't hesitate when pocketing your reward!" Pulitzer barked back.

"Fine then! Whatever remains, we'll split fifty-fifty," Karos offered, trying to redeem himself.

Before his words had even fully landed, Pulitzer had already transformed into a streak of dark light and dove headfirst into the pile of ashes.

"Brother Velen, my foolish mentor is embarrassing us again," Karos said awkwardly as he began sorting out the scorched plants using mana.

"What are you staring at? I just didn't want Karos to feel awkward, alright?" Pulitzer grumbled, emerging from the ashes. "Of course I can use mana. Don't doubt me."

These two really are a riot, Velen thought, barely suppressing laughter. I can't even tell anymore—are they truly dumb or just pretending?

Later, Velen brought up the topic of the Tycoon Club.

"Tycoon Club?" Karos blinked. "You mean, once I join, I can spend mana crystals however I want?"

"Exactly. All you have to do is swear loyalty to the club and to me—your Boss," Velen explained.

Karos's expression turned serious. "Brother Velen… I do love money, but I can't join."

"When I messed up all those years ago, my mentor was forced onto the path of becoming a beastfolk. Rebuilding the Dark Star organization is his dream now. I have to carry that burden."

Velen nearly applauded on the spot.

The determination!

The noble expression!

The tragic backstory!

Nope. Velen didn't dare feel moved.

Why?

Because he had a sneaking suspicion that if he even whispered the words "I'll add more," Karos would crumble instantly.

"Well, alright then. Since you're determined, I won't push—"

Thump!

Before he could even finish, Karos dropped to his knees and banged his head twice against the ground.

Bang! Bang!

"Student Karos pays his respects to Mentor Velen!"