Chapter 61: Investment By The God Of Trading!

The black and red tendrils creeping across Novak's body vanished in an instant!

Even the zombies' claws retracted into his body.

Despite being a mere projection walking in this world, the figure standing before him was unmistakably a god—a true god! And not just any god, but one of immense power!

In terms of wealth, few could rival him, perhaps only the Dwarven God of Steam and Machinery.

In the presence of such a being, there was no need to worry about interruptions from low-level zombies.

And indeed, the moment this divine figure appeared, everything else seemed to fade away.

"Nice to meet you, Your Excellency God of Trade, Zogwort!" Novak greeted with a calm smile. His response, however, left the god slightly taken aback.

"You know me? How curious... a Kepler human?" the god mused, intrigued.

Novak offered no empty flattery to this god, one who thrived on investment, wealth, treasures, and the praise of others.

"Of course, I've come across your name before in my studies. The Trial Grounds of Gods and Demons have descended upon Planet Kepler, and you walk these grounds, offering invaluable aid and making truly generous deals with those who participate in the trials. No god, not even the Bright Creator, is as benevolent as you. Unfortunately, I'm only human and cannot become your most devoted follower..." Novak's words of praise flowed effortlessly.

In his previous life, this goblin god had been one of the most approachable and harmless deities.

Because of that, unlike other gods, the Goblin God of Trade had fewer restrictions when descending to the Trial Grounds, able to move freely in his incarnations and projections.

Sure enough, as Novak finished speaking, even this well-traveled god scratched his head in embarrassment and waved his hand modestly.

"Oh, I'm just a businessman, really! Even if my divine power fills the entire realm of gods and my chambers of commerce span the heavens and countless worlds, with traders chanting my name at every deal and contractors pleading for my witness at every contract signing... even so, it's nothing remarkable!"

He continued, "Honestly, I thought the Gods and Demons Trial Grounds had only just arrived, so I wasn't expecting to meet anyone interesting on this Planet Kepler yet. But here you are! A clever little fellow! How about this—take this. It's my gold membership card for the Goblin Chamber of Commerce. You'll get a 12% discount on any purchases you make with us!"

Novak was overjoyed inwardly, but he maintained a calm demeanor as he accepted the card. In the early stages of the apocalypse, benefits like this were invaluable!

He knew, however, that in the future, flattery alone wouldn't be enough to get anything significant from this god. After all, many evolutionaries in his past life had already figured out the Goblin God's character, and it had become much harder to extract benefits from him.

"Alright," the god of trade continued, "since you're the first native human I've encountered in this new proving ground and you know my name and my reputation, you surely know my power. So, what do you wish to trade today?"

With a wave of his hand, the god summoned a list in front of Novak's eyes.

The contents of the list left Novak holding his breath.

——

- Thunderwalker Job Scroll (S-Class): Gain control over lightning, refining your body into a powerful profession capable of summoning thunder to annihilate enemies and wielding immense strength in close combat. 

 —Exchange price: S-class certificate, 1 million gold coins.

- Kiss of Death (S-Class): A legendary sniper rifle, usable only by those in gun professions. This was crafted by the Dwarven God of Steam and Machinery, the close friend of the Goblin God Zogwort.

 —Exchange price: S-class certificate, 3.2 million gold coins.

[...]

——

The staggering prices left Novak speechless. 

And staring at the Thunderwalker job scroll, he didn't expect it to be originally in the possession of this trading god. In his previous life, 'Whiplash of the Skies' from Chat Group No. 001 had used this very profession—the Thunderwalker. 

Fascinating.

Novak scrolled through the list, taking in each item, all the while knowing he couldn't afford a single one of them. Still, he couldn't help but marvel at their beauty.

Of course, he wasn't here to buy. He had no intention of acquiring anything today, but he was certainly going to show off these treasures to the other members of his group. With that thought in mind, Novak began recording a video of the list.

Naturally, his real goal wasn't these items. He even ignored the lower-grade E-class and F-class items scattered throughout the list.

"I'm sorry, Your Excellency Zogwort," Novak said, shaking his head. "I can't afford any of these items."

The god nodded knowingly. "That's to be expected. The Trial Grounds for Gods and Demons have just opened, so it's only natural for evolutionaries to lack the currency needed for such purchases. But don't worry, your gold card will remain useful. If you encounter any of my other projections or chambers of commerce in the future, you can always use it."

Novak knew he couldn't let the trading god leave just yet. Smiling, he asked, "Lord Zogwort, while I can't buy anything from you right now, I've heard that any god who descends upon the Trial Grounds is permitted to have a spokesperson. You're here to make an investment, aren't you?"

The goblin god raised an eyebrow, surprised by Novak's insight. "You're quite knowledgeable. So, you're after my treasures, are you?"

Novak spread his hands with a grin. "I've heard you possess a treasure coveted even by the gods—something no evolutionary could ever refuse, once they know of its existence."

Zogwort, who had been preparing to leave, paused. He sat back down on the bench, scrutinizing Novak carefully, even glancing over at the zombies Novak had just slain in the square.

With a faint smile, Zogwort spoke, "What exactly are you after? I've seen your potential just now, but it's still not enough. As you probably know, aside from trading, my favorite thing is investing! But investments must yield returns. How can I be certain that you will bring me greater returns in the future than what I currently have? You do realize how valuable that item is, don't you?"

The goblin god's eyes gleamed with caution. "For such a high-level investment, I must be careful. Even if you admire me, that alone won't suffice."

Novak smiled, understanding the challenge. "Tell me what I need to do to prove myself."

Zogwort chuckled, though his excitement was evident despite his frown. "Little guy, do you think I'd just hand over something that valuable for a simple test? Let me think..." He paused, deep in thought.

The Goblin God of Trade, known for his love of deals and investments, wasn't easily swayed by mere words. Novak, however, had heard about his habits in his previous life. There were rumors of an emperor who had received ten unimaginable investments from this god in the early days of the apocalypse. But even that emperor had claimed that his S-level investment was far from the goblin god's greatest offer.

The Trial Grounds of Gods and Demons were an unparalleled opportunity, not only for the evolutionaries but also for the gods who watched from above. The chairman of the wealthiest Goblin Chamber of Commerce, the God of Trade, Zogwort, had spent a fortune investing in promising candidates from Planet Kepler.

And now, standing before this god, Novak's ambition burned even brighter than before.

Zogwort considered for a moment and then spoke. "The talents of evolutionaries are the foundation of their strength. While the level of talent doesn't always determine one's future, a higher-level talent certainly holds more potential than a lower one. I won't risk my investment lightly."

Talent? In his previous life, Novak wouldn't have stood a chance at this stage. His talent, E-rank virus immunity, wasn't even worth mentioning, let alone impressing a god like Zogwort.

But now, things were different. Novak smiled confidently and revealed his true talent.

"Huh?!" Two voices overlapped—one of surprise and one of shock. Zogwort, the goblin god of trading, stared at Novak in disbelief.

"This... this kind of talent! Even among the gods... an SSS rank?" Zogwort didn't finish his sentence but shook his head in awe. After a moment of silence, he continued, "Your talent is quite peculiar. It's different from anything I've seen before. The Planet Kepler Proving Grounds... no wonder the Cosmic Will values it so highly."

Then, a sly grin spread across Zogwort's face. "You're not a prophet, are you?"

Zogwort laughed heartily. "Interesting! How amusing! I didn't expect to meet such an interesting little guy so soon after arriving at Kepler. But it's still not enough, little one. Let me think it over."

Novak's eyes narrowed slightly. Was Zogwort onto him?

It seemed Zogwort wasn't just a cheerful, carefree figure; he was sharp, noticing immediately that Novak, a mere native of Kepler, knew too much. Fortunately, in his previous life, this god had never done anything against his principles. If it had been another god's projection, Novak wouldn't have dared to reveal so much.

Zogwort suddenly slapped his forehead. "Ah, right! Honestly, I hadn't planned on investing in such a valuable item so early. But you, little guy, are indeed an excellent investment prospect. Were it not for that specific treasure, I would've invested in you with an S-level item based on your talent and performance alone. But you want 'that' treasure! I've seen your talent, but surviving in the Trial Grounds of Gods and Demons requires more than just talent. You also need spirit and the ability to explore!"

Zogwort's expression grew serious. "Do you know why I sent my projection here in the first place?"

Novak blinked, caught off guard. He hadn't expected that question.

The Goblin God of Trade grinned as he noticed Novak's confusion. "If you knew, I'd start to worry something was off with you! In my perception, a mystery lies here—right on this campus."

He continued, "In this secret realm, a unique creature with incredible potential has been born. It holds immense research value, and it could prove to be a worthy match for your abilities. If you can find it, defeat it, and bring me a part of it, you'll have passed this test!"

Novak was stunned. A secret realm at De M-anila University?

In his previous life, there had been numerous dungeons and secret realms around De M-anila and its surroundings. But he hadn't known about any dungeon at De M-anila University during the apocalypse.

Could Zogwort be making an excuse to avoid giving him the treasure?

Novak was skeptical, but he knew the goblin god's principles well enough. Zogwort was more committed to contracts than any capitalist on Kepler, because he was the god of contracts.

So what was really happening here?

At that moment, a dialog box appeared in front of Novak's eyes:

——

[The Goblin God of Trade, Zogwort, has issued an SSS-level quest: "Ultimate Investment – First Ring." Do you agree?]

——

Novak pursed his lips, his mind racing. But in the end, he clenched his teeth and chose 'yes'. An opportunity like this—he couldn't pass it up, no matter the risks!

After Novak accepted the mission, Zogwort smiled once again.

"You've got guts! Even if you fail to fulfill my request, I still see potential in you. Here, take this. When you complete the task, you'll be able to summon my projection. But don't make me wait too long! I'll hold onto that precious item for now."

Novak felt reassured. After all, in his previous life, it was rumored that Zogwort hadn't invested that item in anyone for decades. Some even speculated that the Goblin God was using it to bait people, like a fisherman patiently waiting for the right catch.

After a moment of contemplation, Novak spoke, "Your Excellency, may I take a look at the item?"

Zogwort chuckled and, with a casual wave of his hand, a unique item materialized before Novak's eyes. At the same time, its detailed description and abilities were revealed to him.

His heart skipped a beat.

[Double Job Transfer Scroll!]

[Special Item — SSS Rank]

[A masterpiece of goblin industry, the pinnacle of alchemy technology! This item allows an evolutionary to possess two job classes and their respective growth attributes simultaneously. All attribute and skill bonuses will apply at the same time! It is the prized treasure of the Goblin God of Trade, Zogwort.]

Novak exhaled slowly, a mixture of awe and excitement bubbling within him. The goblin god had indeed brought out something extraordinary.

"Interesting little guy," Zogwort said with a playful grin, "Good luck! Oh, and one last reminder—the secret realm's emergence is tied to your talent. Stay vigilant!"