Chapter 201

Chapter Ninety-Eight: Ash’s Treasure

“What is all this?”

“What’s there to complain about?” Ignoring Arisu’s displeased expression, Ash raised his hands in pride and showed her his newly built evil base, the cost being some money “donated” by his friend Darkness Organization and two exhausted officers.

“Oyster… Oyster…”

“Big teeth… Big teeth…”

Even though they were once enemies, seeing these officers who were abducted, forced to work, and driven to near death due to Ash’s unreasonable demands, Arisu couldn’t help but feel pity for them.

The whole base shining brightly after their hard work…

What could you say?

Everywhere Arisu looked was filled with golden brilliance; there was no consideration given to interior decoration or overall aesthetics. This overly gaudy style made Arisu unable to bear looking at it, truly unable to face it directly because the lights reflecting off the golden surfaces dazzled her to the point where she could barely open her eyes.

If one knew it was a villainous organization’s hideout, it might still seem impressive, but those unaware would think it some Middle Eastern tycoon’s private collection.

“Excuse me, Mr. Ash, may I ask, whose style of decoration did you follow to achieve this look?”

“Do you care about this style?”

Sitting on his throne decorated with more gold, Ash, quite pleased, leaned his chin on his hand while crossing one leg over the other, trying to recall the incident.

“It was something a certain demon king told me; he said that if you’re unsure how to decorate, just pile on gold and it will surely do the trick.”

Gold is indeed a noble color, but clearly, his fiendish friend never mentioned the fact that excessive decoration is unseemly. Ash found nothing vulgar about too much gold either.

“The scope of Mr. Ash’s friendships is truly vast.”

After deliberation, Arisu finally managed to spit out a somewhat neutral phrase, not too harsh.

“Of course,” Ash accepted her somewhat praising comment as expected. “My friends can hold hands from Earth all the way to Heim Inferno!”

Though he must have twice as many enemies.

“But Mr. Ash, shouldn’t you consider others and tone down your extravagance a bit?”

“It’s not me who should tone down, but others who should avoid overshadowing me. Do you understand?”

No longer a reserved lady, Arisu buried her face in her hands exclaiming, “This person is beyond salvaging!”

While she wouldn’t comment on their unique tastes in aesthetics, there was something else she absolutely wouldn’t stand for, even though she was currently a captive.

“Mr. Ash!”

Examining the receipts for the items Ash purchased, Arisu’s expression grew increasingly grim.

“Why are these furnishings and decorations so much more expensive than market price? Are you only buying the most expensive options?”

Arisu found through the receipts that everything he bought was the highest-end “luxury version.” It was that kind of product that merchants use to deceive naive customers, offering little extra features to justify the higher price — completely lacking in value.

Previously unnoticed, she now saw him as a reckless spender, an ultimate wastrel.

Counting the game consoles collected from the streets labeled “Giant Hard,” “Human Hell,” and “Locknie,” Ash dismissed her concerns derisively.

“You’re really nagging today, Arisu.”

She must stop him before his bad habits grow more deeply rooted! However, she would not voice that, lest she provoke further teasing.

“Does it matter what I do with my money? To me, it’s just a number.”

Thanks to some well-meaning yet gullible organizations’ “donations,” his inventory, devoid of limit constraints, boasts over ten tons of pure gold. If ever truly destitute, Ash could merely photocopy advanced designs used for Zako or Deistroon transformations. Then it would be not a lack of funds but a deluge of people wanting to pay him.

“One cannot squander resources casually, especially when you have no formal job. Once spent—”

Arisu’s lecture was cut short as Ash revealed his hoard by opening a corner of his inventory, showing not only precious metals but also bizarre treasures making her speechless.

“You see? Only when you have such wealth do you understand how real waste is.”

“No, Ash, I will make you learn the importance of saving and finances!”

Upon seeing his reserve funds, Arisu became even more determined to teach him financial literacy.

Financial markets might be disrupted globally by someone who disregards fiscal responsibility, and it pained her seeing such wealth recklessly squandered!

Even if she couldn’t change him entirely, she would correct these misconceptions wherever possible.

“You are my prisoner, you have no right to make demands.”

Facing her typical retort, Arisu returned with her own defiance.

“I will not cooperate with your training then.”

Fine, I won’t transform; kill me if you want.

“How troublesome of a woman; you act like a lady yet are so frugal.”

“Especially because of wealth, learning savings is essential.”

Ash glared angrily, regretting he didn’t go after Makoto or Rikka first.

But reconsidering, he admired the spirit behind her confrontations; he was interested precisely because of her defiant nature.

“Yet, that very trouble fuels my interest,” tilting Arisu’s chin upwards, Ash grinned. “Join me and keep me entertained.”

“Do not make decisions so rashly!”

I’m not here merely for your amusement; I aim to—

Prepping for his task, Ash moved Arisu aside; this time he was crafting enemy units for his pre-planned game – his selfish beast.

Indeed, having received a trove of negative energy and unlocking a mental seal, he could now produce the world’s specialty monsters, much like the officers did.

Unlike those officers, though, he didn’t source inflated spirits to create the monsters but utilized his experience from observing powerhouses in the战队 and superhero films to engineer a creature requiring no spiritual core but packing more functionality and strength – a plus version of a selfish beast.

Ash noted these monsters were akin to the ones frequently seen in the战队 universe, despite perhaps being less formidable in raw strength. Their special abilities could dramatically reshape the world, control laws themselves, thus incredibly perilous.

With his planned game’s special abilities in mind, he had already selected his targets, humming along with Makoto Kanzaki’s song being played.

“Humans remember the first ones to reach the top of mountains and eat crabs, but forget the second.”

“When faced with the same opportunity, what will the latter do?”

I am eager to find out.

Completing his creation, Ash leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes to enjoy the song.

“Not bad.”

Opening his eyes, he set her music as his ringtone.

After all, such moments might not repeat.