In just a single breath, a wave of despair forcibly invaded everyone's minds, sapping their fighting spirit to the point where they couldn't muster the slightest will to resist.
They had fallen under the negative effect known as "Poverty."
(Note: "Poverty" is a special negative effect with an infinite duration. When a friendly target is afflicted with "Poverty," all combat attributes are reduced by fifty percent, and combat motivation drops by one hundred percent. As long as the enemy target "Capitalist Bird" is present, the "Poverty" effect cannot be dispelled.)
This was an attack that struck both body and mind, delivering physical pain and mental devastation!
This was the power of the Capitalist Bird!
"No… no, no, no, without credits, we can't even pay the hotel bill," March 7th murmured.
Firefly: "No way, without money, how am I supposed to entice Stelle to come with me…"
Misha: "Not again… I have to start all over… So despairing, so suffocating…"
With just one move, the Capitalist Bird had completely drained the fighting spirit of all three people present.
In their current state, let alone picking up a weapon, even if March 7th and the others had the strength, they'd likely hesitate due to the potential medical bills afterward (even though this was the Dreamscape).
"Jie jie jie jie jie, boxer briefs, boxer briefs!"
The Capitalist Bird laughed maniacally, taking a deep breath before spitting out four contracts labeled "Lifetime Labor Contract." Its voice carried a seductive, almost magical allure as it said:
"Sign it, sign it! Just sign this, and you'll have a worry-free job for the rest of your life."
"Sign it, and you're set for life."
"Here with me, your monthly salary will be at least 80,000 to 50,000 credits—several times the galactic average."
"Sign it, and you'll never have to worry about anything again…"
…
This was another of the Capitalist Bird's skills: Deception and Trickery.
As long as the enemy signed this contract, their fate would be entirely in its grasp.
This was the Capitalist Bird's usual strategy: first, use the skill "Market Manipulation" to expose the enemy to false information, causing mental strain and applying a mental debuff. Then, follow up with "Deception and Trickery" to pull them in and lock the door behind them.
This combo was absolutely effective against ninety-nine percent of people in the universe.
However, just as the dazed trio was about to sign the contracts, a hand suddenly reached out, tearing the papers to shreds.
"…Huh?"
As the contracts were ripped apart, the clarity returned to March 7th and the others' eyes. They glanced around in confusion, instinctively checking their phones, only to realize their balances had never changed.
What they had just seen was nothing more than a mental illusion created by the Capitalist Bird.
"Chirp chirp chirp! What's going on? Someone dares to ruin my plans?!"
The Capitalist Bird flapped its wings in fury, glaring sharply at the plaster-masked woman who had intervened. "Impossible, impossible! How could you be immune to my mental control?!"
"Who are you?! Could you be some kind of tycoon?!"
The plaster-masked woman shook her head, letting out a cryptic chuckle. "Heh, allow me to introduce myself. I'm Black Swan, a Memokeeper of the Garden of Recollection."
"To be honest, the Garden of Recollection is quite curious about the secrets behind Penacony, which is why they sent me here."
Black Swan smiled. "We know a thing or two about you. So, care to guess why the Garden sent me?"
"If you kept hounding me, I might've had a headache, but trying to play these mental control tricks in front of me… heh, I can only say you're showing off your axe before a master."
So she's a Memokeeper…
Hearing this, March 7th and the others gradually understood. As a Memokeeper, she was practically in her element in a memoria-rich place like the Dreamscape. It wasn't surprising she could stay clear-headed…
Thank goodness she was a Memokeeper.
"Bragging! All talk!"
The Capitalist Bird stared at Black Swan in disbelief. "My mental control strikes straight at the heart. Whether you're a Memokeeper or anything else, as long as you have a mind, it's impossible—"
Black Swan tossed a card onto the ground, her eyes teasing. "Then take a look at this."
Everyone's gaze focused on the card. When they saw its contents, their eyes widened, filled with awe and respect!
The card showed an IOU with a debt of seventy million credits.
And the repayment date listed was two Amber Eras ago.
The Capitalist Bird was stunned. "Tch, could this be…"
"Exactly what you're thinking."
Black Swan crossed her arms. "Maybe ninety-nine percent of the people in this world would fall to you, but I'm probably that one percent."
"A mere debt? I just won't pay it back."
"Your pathetic mental attacks? They're just another day at the office for me!"
Black Swan waved her hand through the air, summoning a deck of cards out of nowhere. "Your attack's done, right?"
"Now it's my turn. Any objections?"
With a flick of her fingers, Black Swan sent cards flying like blades. Unlike before, these thin cards pierced through the Capitalist Bird's defenses, embedding themselves in its body.
"Skill: Deadbeat Technique, kill!"
"Skill: Zero-Cost Purchase, kill again!"
"Skill: Loan-and-Skip Method, kill!"
…
After Black Swan's smooth combo, the Capitalist Bird was no longer as arrogant as before. Its bloated body shifted into an offensive stance. "A mere Memokeeper thinks she can defeat me with these petty tricks?"
"Of course, that's not all!"
Black Swan pulled out another card. "How will you handle this one?"
"Vanity Suppression Method!"
"What?!"
Upon hearing this, the Capitalist Bird's expression changed drastically, charging recklessly at the group!
Boom!
Yet, despite the vast difference in size, the tiny card stood like an immovable vajra, halting the Capitalist Bird's advance!
"Skill: Don't Believe Rumors, Don't Spread Rumors, Don't Stress!"
"And… Autonomous Mental Thinking!"
Black Swan flung another card, and this time, the previously unstoppable Capitalist Bird was sent flying back in a pathetic mess, its massive, bloated body scraping along the corridor walls until it vanished into the darkness.
"You… you actually defeated the Capitalist Bird?"
Misha stared at Black Swan's back, astonished. "That thing's no pushover. If the Family finds out about this, your situation… well, I don't need to spell it out, do I?"
"Heh… don't worry, kid. I'm not as strong as you think."
Black Swan turned around. "I only managed to temporarily repel it. Let's use this chance to part ways here."
"Oh, of course, if you're all set on leaving, pretend I didn't say anything. But if someone wants to stay and look for someone… heh, my services don't come cheap."
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New Story posted:
Mushoku Tensei: The Imbibitor Lunae Template