The Artifact Forger from the Beginning of Collapse

Chen Li threw the merit coins out again, and the coins melted instantly when they landed on the other person.

The other person's eyes instantly became clear.

Chen Li walked safely back to the pile of gold.

"Look, as long as you have these gold coins, no matter how despicable you are, you can pay money to avoid disaster. Whether it's crushing all the instant noodles at the convenience store, shaking all the soda until it's about to explode, or even luring someone else's cat away on the street... the merit gold coins can solve everything."

"Oh, that's just too unethical!"

"So you see how valuable these gold coins are?"

"I see it."

"Want it?"

"Do not want."

"Ok?"

"Boss, you're clearly not an ordinary person. Being your bodyguard must be too dangerous. Boss, I quit!"

"Sure, no problem." To Pado's surprise, Chen Li stroked his chin for a moment and then agreed to Pado's resignation.

"Really?"

"real."

"Can I go now?" Pado had already sensed that something was wrong with Chen Li.

Whether it's these gold coins with mysterious powers or the spatial rift summoned by Chen Li that I had just overlooked, they all prove that Chen Li is no ordinary person.

"No."

"Didn't I already resign? Why can't I leave?"

"Pado, were you really listening to my explanation of the Merit Coins' function?"

"I'm listening, whether it's crushing all the instant noodles, shaking all the soda until it's about to explode, or even..."

"Go on, keep going."

"...even luring other people's cats away on the street." Pado's confidence clearly waned.

No, no, right?

"Pado, do you know what the flower symbolism of stray cats is?"

"No, I don't know."

"It's first come, first served."

"!!!" Pado quickly made her escape, not forgetting to grab a handful of merit coins before running away.

But the next second, Pado was hoisted onto Chen Li's shoulder.

"Help! There are human traffickers!" Pado's loud and clear voice echoed throughout the entire Twilight Street.

Upon hearing the familiar voice, countless stray cats darted out from every corner.

"Ding!" The sound of the gold coin bouncing high into the air rang out.

Chen Li's immoral deeds were erased, and the stray cats went back to their own homes and found their own mothers.

People on Dusk Street?

No one on Dusk Street paid any attention to Pado.

Or rather, there are many people who want Pado to die.

After all, as a righteous thief in Twilight Street, Pado has offended quite a few people.

Besides, this is a twilight street, how many good people are there to stand up for justice here?

"Vilvie, I'm leaving Aponia in your care. I'll take Pado back for the surgery first," Chen Li said to Velvie.

“No problem.” Velvi nodded.

As one of the Thirteen Heroes, Aponia happened to be in Twilight Street as well, making her a target for Chen Li and his group.

But with Aponia, you can reason with her and appeal to her emotions.

Pado is too timid, so it's better to be more forceful and make it a fait accompli.

Moreover, since Pado's luck allowed her to appear in front of Chen Li within 30 seconds, it means that going to the Fire Moth was the best choice for Pado.

Pado's luck doesn't lie.

"What? We need to have surgery? They don't want our organs, do they? Help!" Pado's eyes widened.

......

"What is your name?"

“Pa...Pa..."

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, it will pass soon," Mebius reassured him.

“You probably think that once you win this bet, you’ll never have to worry about food and drink again?” Möbius continued.

"No, I was kidnapped."

"Do you still think that this way you might be seen in a new light by everyone?"

"No, I already told you! I was kidnapped!"

"I'm confirming this one last time: the success rate of this surgery is extremely low. It's not too late for you to regret it now."

"I regret it, I regret leaving!"

"If you insist, I'll do my best to help you."

"I won't insist, let me leave!"

"Alright, Mebius, stop scaring Pato," Chen Li said, resting his chin on his hand as he sat down next to the operating table.

“I never force anyone to undergo surgery. You know that,” Möbius said calmly.

"......" I don't believe you.

"Have you thought it through? This might be your last chance. You can go back and live another chapter of your life," Möbius asked Patto one last time.

To Pado's surprise, the green-haired girl in the white coat actually managed to untie herself.

Do I really want to let myself go?

"..."

“If you want to give up becoming one of the thirteen richest and most famous people on Earth, give up a life of plenty with plenty of food and sunshine every day, give up becoming one of the Thirteen Heroes, give up enjoying the fruits of your hard work… then you can leave.” Möbius pointed to the laboratory door.

“…” Looking at the unlocked operating room door, looking at Mebius and Chen Li who seemed completely unconcerned about his escape, and feeling their complex emotions in their gazes.

For some inexplicable reason, Pado did not leave the operating table immediately.

Although she was brought to this operating room by someone, Pado inexplicably felt that they had no ill intentions, or rather, were full of goodwill.

"I..." Complex emotions swirled in Pado's heart.

The rational desire to escape the operating room is clashing with Pado's intuition, which has never deceived her.

"Alright, just kidding," Möbius suddenly said with a relaxed laugh.

"You don't want to let me out?" Paddo looked at Mebius warily.

"No, the surgery is already finished."

"Huh?! When?!" Pado's eyes widened.

"Look, the wound on your finger is from the surgery you're going to have this time."

Using a scalpel to perform surgery has a special effect: the patient's condition will temporarily stop changing. This effect was originally intended to prevent the patient from dying during surgery due to severe injuries, but it can also be used to perform surgery without the patient's knowledge.

Because the status has temporarily stopped changing, it also means that the other party's time has stopped flowing.

This is also why Mebius was unable to use the scalpel artifact to perform surgery on himself.

The fusion of the cat's ability to reverse things with Pado's doesn't require major surgery; the key is to infuse the potential points into Pado's body.

"This is far too dangerous!" Pado realized this and quickly jumped off the operating table.

But the moment her feet touched the ground, Pado suddenly lost consciousness... and was then firmly grabbed by the back of her collar by Chen Li.

The surgery is over, and the transformation of Patto is about to begin!

......

"You're awake? The surgery was a success." Mebius's voice reached Patto's ears.

"Snake Sister, stop making a fuss." Pado tossed and turned in bed, unwilling to wake up, muttering something under her breath.

"It seems the surgery was very successful." Möbius nodded in satisfaction.

"Oh, is this the revelation you mentioned, Möbius, that one gains after completing the fusion surgery and fulfilling their predetermined destiny?" Chen Li asked, intrigued.

"Yes. At least after I completed the fusion surgery, I had a dream, a dream of everything that should have happened in this world, a dream of the shattered land. But it was just a vivid dream, and it didn't affect my personality. It's like... watching a movie and then being forced to have all the plot spoiled."

"However, after watching the movie, it can be awkward when you encounter acquaintances who haven't seen it. For example, they might suddenly call you 'Snake Sister' out of the blue, making it seem like you two are very close."

However, those who are still alive in the future will not receive this revelation.