As far as Pei Guang saw it, Todd was definitely going down.
Colluding with the Alchemy Commission's forbidden knowledge to get an immortal formula, and on top of that, trying to reverse aging?
In Luofu, chasing immortality, especially if it involves experimenting on Xianzhou people, the Vidyadhara, or the Foxians, warrants a life-imprisonment penalty.
Which is exactly why Pei Guang decided to squeeze the guy dry!
What? That goes against the path of the Trailblazer? In Pei Guang's stance this wasn't extortion: he was simply asking for fair compensation while helping someone complete their mission!
With that in mind, Pei Guang continued: "Mr. Todd, you wouldn't want word getting out that you're up to heretical things in Luofu, would you? If not, then show me your sincerity!"
"S-Sincerity?"
Todd swallowed hard, getting a bad feeling.
Meanwhile, Pei Guang said calmly: "My demands are very modest. All of your wealth in exchange for my help completing your task. As a qualified player, I promise you: as long as I get the reward that's due to me, I'll absolutely help you gather everything you need for your reverse-aging plan. You don't get to say no. Refuse, and I report you."
Todd: "If you report me, I'll report you!"
Pei Guang: "Report me? For what? Hiding a prescription? Who do you think the Luofu folks will believe: me or you? I'm a big hero in Luofu. You?"
That line hit like a critical strike: Todd had heard some things about Pei Guang and the other Trailblazers' deeds. With Pei Guang's reputation, if it came down to a report, there would be no defending himself.
Todd's body slumped. Seeing that, Pei Guang tempted further: "Just think about it! Once I finish your task, and you've become young again, with your intelligence and knowledge you'll earn that money back in a few years, right?"
Todd thought it over and realized Pei Guang had a point. With Pei Guang's connections in Luofu, having him on board would make things a lot easier.
Thinking of the consequences if he got reported, then Pei Guang's status and the leverage he had, Todd clenched his teeth: "Fine! I'll transfer all my assets to you. I only have one request: take me to the Alchemy Commission and the Scalegorge Waterscape. I want to see the Vidyadhara Eggs with my own eyes."
Pei Guang: "See the Vidyadhara Eggs? Trying to get something out of it, huh? No problem! I know someone. As long as the reward's in place, anything's negotiable. But just so we're clear: I don't only want your money. I also want all of your research. Just give me a copy and we're good."
At this moment, Pei Guang was thoroughly enjoying the freedom of complete autonomy: extorting at will, and openly strong-arming others.
With allies or factions he liked, he still had to maintain favor and reputation. But when it came to enemy targets, or even enemies of his friendly factions… he'd squeeze every drop he could.
Pei Guang's demands were excessive, but Todd took a deep breath. He knew he had no way out—at this point, all he could do was gamble.
If he lost, he'd just be bankrupt: he still had a few connections, and the Intelligentsia Guild would pay him a stipend. That stipend was enough to keep him alive until the end.
But what if he won? Pei Guang's reputation already ensured that he was the only person Todd could turn to for help. And by giving him money, wasn't that essentially tying him to his side?
Whatever happened afterward, at worst, Pei Guang might extort him for more money or some immortality secret, but Todd already had a backup plan. If things went south, he could just run, couldn't he?
As the saying goes, old people are cunning. Todd was already analyzing the pros and cons of Pei Guang's proposal.
After weighing the options, he smiled. "No problem! As long as you can help me get what I want, help me regain my youth, it doesn't matter if I give you this in advance. Even if it fails, I won't blame you. Someone my age doesn't have many days left anyway."
Pei Guang replied, "Pleasure doing business!"
A few minutes later, Todd transferred all his wealth to Pei Guang.
"Transaction received. 300 million credits…"
Pei Guang didn't even care about the digits after the decimal anymore. As soon as the credits were received, he immediately got a batch of documents: Todd's research findings from over the years.
Pei Guang didn't think too much before forwarding the materials to Mei. She was on his team and specialized in research: whether they were useful or not didn't matter for now—just let her hold on to them.
After all, if a villager could share something like controlled nuclear fusion, it wasn't impossible that something in Todd's research might help Mei.
Receiving the files, Pei Guang nodded in satisfaction. Todd then explained what he wanted to do.
It was simple: he wanted to find the information left behind in the Alchemy Commission and Scalegorge Waterscape by his former mentor. His teacher had once come to the Scalegorge Waterscape with the help of a Vidyadhara.
Todd was certain that his teacher had left behind important information there, and as long as he could decode that information and combine it with his years of research, he believed he could discover the secret to immortality!
Even if he couldn't achieve eternal life, he could at least regain his youth.
As he spoke about this, Todd grew visibly excited. Though the immortality of the Xianzhou people was flawed, if he could, he really wanted to borrow another five hundred years from the heavens.
Pei Guang listened to Todd's request and nodded after some thought.
"No problem. But the Scalegorge Waterscape has been sealed off for various reasons. I need to get in touch with someone. With her around, getting in won't be an issue. Don't worry, I'll make sure you get to the Alchemy Commission and Scalegorge Waterscape and do what you need to do. And don't worry: I swear by the Aeons, I will absolutely not report you in any way."
Pei Guang was someone who honored his promises! As for which Aeon he swore to, well, only ghosts would know.
And being the promise-keeping person he was, Pei Guang immediately reached out to Bailu before taking any action. At that moment, in Aurum Alley, Bailu was enjoying a feast with Elysia when she saw Pei Guang's call. She picked up her phone immediately.
"Hello hello~ Ah Guang~?"
Before Pei Guang could even speak, Bailu continued, "Are you looking for Elysia? Don't worry, I'm taking care of her! I'm showing her around Aurum Alley and treating her to some great food~"
Pei Guang: "Huh?"
Only then did it suddenly hit Pei Guang: he had come to Exalting Sanctum to entertain Elysia, but ended up flaking on her? And now it looked like she had run into Bailu and was enjoying food and drinks with her?
Pei Guang: "Elysia's with you? If that's the case, I'm relieved. But I'm actually calling for something else. I need to take someone to the Scalegorge Waterscape. Could you take us there?"
Bailu: "Huh? If you want to take someone, just take them! … Wait a sec?"
A question mark practically appeared over Bailu's head. In that moment, she recalled the time Pei Guang had carried her all over the Luofu.
Suddenly, she understood!!!
If Pei Guang just wanted to bring someone into Scalegorge, he might inform her: but he wouldn't specifically ask her to bring them.
Now that he was specifically asking her to do it, it meant Pei Guang was definitely planning to mess with someone. And not just anyone: someone who didn't know she was a Vidyadhara High Elder.
Realizing this, Bailu instantly got excited. "No problem! Just give me a time and I'll take you to Scalegorge! Oh—wait, I promised Elysia we'd go shopping…"
Pei Guang: "Shopping, huh? You two go ahead. The person on our side isn't great on their feet anyway: by the time we get to Scalegorge, it'll probably be dark."
Bailu: "Got it! By the way, Ah Guang, are you maybe~"
Bailu's tone was teasing, excited. Pei Guang calmly replied, "You already know, don't you? Business is business. Business is business!"
Bailu: "Alright! I got it, business is business."
Though the two of them weren't physically together, they both shared a knowing smile.
What? Tricking Todd? How was this tricking him?
Pei Guang patted his conscience and told himself he hadn't tricked Todd. He was seriously fulfilling Todd's request and taking him to the Scalegorge.
If Todd ended up getting reported by the Vidyadhara High Elder and arrested by the Ten-Lords Commission, what did that have to do with him, the Trailblazer?
Pei Guang had the credibility of someone at the Aha-level. When he said he wouldn't report, he wouldn't report. But if Bailu, the High Elder, reported Todd, what did that have to do with him?
He'd kept his promise. He hadn't used any method to report Todd.
And that was the key point. What other people did had nothing to do with him, the Trailblazer Pei Guang!