Warhammer: The Time Traveler

Chapter 240 One Ton of Gold (Second Update)

Valerie stepped forward, her voice steady but firm: "Jack and I can choose to be loyal, but you promised us a settlement allowance, and I want to see that money."

She stared directly into Chen Yu's crimson lens. "After all, this is money to buy our lives. We have to make sure our deaths are worthwhile, right? And I remember you promised gold, boss."

Jack instinctively tugged at her sleeve and whispered, "V, is this the time to talk about this...?"

Valerie shook off his hand, her gaze unwavering.

Chen Yu's synthesized voice was completely flat: "The promise is naturally valid."

A waiting machine responded and stepped forward, placing two unremarkable silver-gray metal boxes flat on the ground.

The moment the latch popped open, the entire workshop seemed to light up a bit.

The gold bricks neatly stacked inside the box reflected the cold light of the overhead lamp, their heavy gold almost overflowing from the box.

"Damn..." came Rebecca's gasp from behind Mann.

Even the usually composed Dorio couldn't help but lean forward. Mann's mechanical prosthetic fingers tapped unconsciously on his arm armor—they had indeed received more valuable enhancements, but this most primal symbol of wealth still made the hearts of these street mercenaries race instinctively.

“Damn it,” Pila whispered in Mann’s ear, “that’s enough to buy half of the Kabuki district…”

Qiwei clicked her tongue slightly, while Lucy silently calculated the value of this gold on the black market.

Chen Yu took in everyone's reactions and said calmly, "To me, precious metals are nothing more than industrial raw materials with decent conductivity." His optical lens swept over the Mann team, "If you prove their value, this kind of resource is inexhaustible."

These words elicited a few restrained swallows from the workshop.

Rebecca's eyes lit up as she tugged at Mann's arm, but Dorio gently held her down.

Jack whistled exaggeratedly, his eyes wide open.

He had seen plenty of illicit transactions on the streets in his life, but the scale of wealth before him was beyond his imagination.

"Let me touch it, this is fucking real gold!" he muttered as he eagerly squatted down and grabbed the handles of the box with both hands.

As he exerted force, the expected scene of the box popping up did not occur.

Instead, Jack's face instantly turned bright red, and the veins on his thick arms bulged. The box seemed welded to the ground, remaining completely still.

He lost his balance and stumbled backward, almost falling on his backside.

Just as the heavy metal box was about to crash down with its terrifying weight, potentially tearing his arm in the process, the servant standing silently to the side reached out with inhuman speed, its steel fingers firmly supporting the bottom of the box and silently placing it back in its original position.

Jack gasped for breath, staring incredulously at the box of gold bars before him, then at the box of the same weight next to it. His face was a mixture of shock, lingering fear, and the dizziness of being completely overwhelmed by such immense wealth.

He wiped his face vigorously, turned to Chen Yu, and all his previous hesitation and tension were replaced by a mixture of gratitude and fervor.

"Boss! No more questions asked!" He patted his muscular chest, his voice cracking with excitement, "My life, Jack Wells' life, is yours from this day forward!"
"I've spent half my life in Night City, helped so many middlemen, but none of them are as valuable as this box of gold you have! From now on, if you say go east, I, Jack, will never look west!" His statement carried the unique gangster spirit of the Heywood District, straightforward and passionate, and the weight of that ton of gold truly crushed all his doubts.

Valerie didn't speak. She silently squatted down, picked up a gold brick, and weighed it in her hand.

The cold, solid touch felt incredibly real.

She looked up at Chen Yu, her eyes flickering with complex emotions before finally settling into calm.

“I’m the same as Jack.” Her tone became decisive. “In Night City, a gold bar like this is enough to make countless people risk their lives. For the two of us to exchange our lives for this much, we’ve made a profit. We accept this deal.”

Her analysis remained rational, but she was equally impressed by the unexpected and almost absurd "advance payment."

Such a generous employer is practically an urban legend in Night City.

Chen Yu nodded slightly, and the scarlet optical lens recorded the two completely different yet ultimately similar reactions.

“I define the value,” he stated calmly. “The potential you have demonstrated, and the services you may provide in the future, make this investment worthwhile.”

David took a deep breath, looked up at Chen Yu, his young face showing neither desire for gold nor fear of the other world, only an almost stubborn purity: "Sage, you promised that as long as I serve you, you will teach me how to cure my mother, right?"

“Yes.” Chen Yu answered without hesitation. “The core of the agreement is the granting of knowledge. Based on your obedience and service, you will acquire the necessary medical knowledge and operational skills to cure your mother’s injury. At the same time, she will receive proper living support during her recovery.”

“That’s enough,” David replied almost immediately, a look of relief on his face. “I promise you. I’ll do anything to learn how to save Mom.”

His motivation was simple and direct: his sole core concern was gaining the ability to save his mother.

Chen Yu's crimson optical lens briefly paused between David and Lucy, processing the core moment to analyze the subtle biosignals and interaction patterns between the two.

“I have noticed the connection between you,” his synthesized voice said smoothly, as if stating an observation. “The Mechanicus does not prohibit such long-term stable relationships based on biological instincts; in some cases, it has even been shown to help maintain the physiological and psychological stability of its members.”

These words startled both David and Lucy. The boy looked away in a fluster, his ears turning slightly red; Lucy, on the other hand, instinctively crossed her arms.

“But David Martinez,” Chen Yu’s tone remained unchanged, still cold and objective, “your primary task is to complete the standardized education agreement I have prepared for you.”

You have one year to master the basic knowledge I impart. If you fail the final assessment, it will be considered a failed investment, and the agreement to impart advanced medical knowledge will automatically terminate.

He paused slightly, making his next words particularly clear.

"At that time, in order to make up for the loss of resources, your nervous system will be connected to a specific entertainment interaction interface, and this physical body will be transformed into a 'virtual idol' carrier that conforms to the aesthetics of the masses. Through continuous performance activities, the debt will be repaid in the most direct way."

“Therefore,” Chen Yu concluded with an undeniable logic, “before you prove your learning ability, it is best to concentrate all your cognitive resources on your studies. The emotional module must be given a later priority.”

These emotionless words made David's face turn completely red, and Lucy turned her face away as well. A subtle atmosphere filled the air, a mixture of shyness and nervousness.

As for Mowell, she didn't need to make any further statements; she simply took a step forward, bowed slightly, and demonstrated her unwavering stance through her actions.

(End of this chapter)