Moretti took the piece of paper with the handwritten bank account number on it. "Godfather, this is the bank account number that Grim Reaper left. Should we transfer the money?"
Antonio didn't hesitate. "Of course, we must transfer it. We must fulfill every condition he set during the transaction. Such an existence is beyond our understanding. I never imagined such supernatural power existed in this world!"
Antonio's voice was serious, his eyes showing the far-sightedness of an elder: "Listen carefully, the money must be transferred to Mr. Grim Reaper as quickly as possible, and no one is to reveal anything about him. Even if we don't become allies, we must never offend such an existence!"
Upon hearing this, everyone in the room quickly nodded in agreement. "Understood, Godfather!"
After Antonio's eyes regained their former sharpness from his near-death experience, he slowly surveyed the core members around him. "Is the Valenti Family planning to wage war against us? No matter who the real killer is, Valenti won't remain quiet in the coming days."
Antonio raised his head, a cunning and sinister smile crossing his face. "Listen, my children. We will sever the hands and feet of our enemies and let those bad guys see…"
Upon hearing this, Moretti and the others immediately understood. They exchanged knowing glances with each other.
He turned around and with just a flick of his finger, over a dozen of his subordinates simultaneously tightened their grips on their guns. Their faces were expressionless, but their eyes burned with murderous intent. The gleaming metal of the guns sparkled under the dim lighting.
"Let the enemy pay in blood for their sins!" Moretti's voice was filled with authority and confidence. "We are the hunters of Lobauerguang City. Remember, the Cahill Family... is protected by the Grim Reaper!"
...
Meanwhile, on the quiet rural road leading to the Cahill estate.
Michael had already removed his mask. He took a glance at his remaining lifespan.
Name: Michael
Age: 23
Remaining Lifespan: 2 years, 28 days, 19 hours, 37 minutes, 7 seconds
"Another year of life secured," Michael said with a faint smile playing on his lips. He realized that even before he fainted and ended up in the hospital, he had already been suffering from dizziness due to brain cancer, enduring frequent bouts of pain that had become a part of his daily existence.
But now, after the extension, his body felt incredibly comfortable, as if he had returned to a healthy state!
He believed there must be some mystery behind it, something to explore in the future. For now, his eyes glowed with excitement. "I've completed my first transaction—bought one year of life for $200,000, sold it for $100 million! This proves that this model actually works!"
"Next, I need to expand my business!" Michael thought to himself, gradually hiding the ambition in his eyes. But for now, he had a problem. The Cahill Family estate was in a remote area, and all around him was desolate and uninhabited.
He had come here by taxi, but now the driver was long gone. Michael was left walking alone on the road, not knowing how long it would take to return to the city.
Clack, clack, clack! Suddenly, he heard the sound of wheels behind him. He turned around and saw a tractor, with a man wearing a straw hat driving it.
Michael immediately waved his hand, signaling the tractor to stop and asking for a ride. The tractor indeed pulled over beside him.
"Hello, I'd like to get to the city." Michael politely requested.
The driver was an elderly farmer, a weathered man who appeared to be an honest, hard-working soul. With kind eyes and hands calloused from years of labor, he agreed with a nod and waved his hand toward the empty seat next to him as an invitation.
"Thank you." Michael climbed into the vehicle. The tractor rumbled down the road, its large tires kicking up dust and small rocks. Michael rolled down the window, feeling the fresh, crisp air fill his lungs. It smelled of earth and hay, a sharp contrast to the suffocating atmosphere of the Cahill estate.
As the ride continued, Michael suddenly noticed a framed photograph prominently displayed on the dashboard. It was a family photo—a farmer, his wife, and a young girl with a braid, all smiling together.
It was clear that this was a family of three.
Since Michael had gotten into the tractor, the farmer had remained silent. Michael noticed a deep sense of worry on his face, and his eyes were red, glistening with unshed tears.
"Hey, you... been having some trouble lately?" Michael asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
The farmer glanced at him, his voice tinged with sadness. "It's nothing, I'm fine."
He didn't seem inclined to speak further, so Michael shrugged.
But after a while, perhaps because the journey to the city was taking longer than expected, the farmer finally spoke up, beginning to talk about his life and family. Once he started, the words flowed freely. Michael soon understood just how tragic the farmer's life had been.
The farmer's life had been filled with misfortune. Now in his fifties, his financial situation was dire, and he was facing a midlife crisis. To make matters worse, his family had been struck by a devastating blow.
His only daughter had been diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer and needed a bone marrow transplant. After years of fighting, they had unexpectedly found a donor. But the medical bills were far beyond what his family could afford.
On top of that, his wife had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and the farmer himself had suffered from degenerative spinal disease, which had worsened over the years of hard labor. In short, the man sitting next to Michael was someone who had suffered greatly in life.
'It seems like none of us are very lucky...' Michael thought as he listened, his heart heavy. He sighed softly as he looked out the window, then turned to the farmer. "May I ask your name?"
"My name's Dale, sir." The farmer replied, his voice carrying a thick Southern accent. Despite sharing his many misfortunes, he didn't curse life. Instead, he smiled at Michael. "Although... we'll be alright. It'll just take some time."
He still worked hard, holding up his entire family while battling the misfortunes of fate, hoping that one day a miracle would occur. Even though, in the eyes of others, it seemed laughable.
Michael was silent for a moment, moved by what he had heard, but also realizing that this was a good opportunity for business.
"Dale, I think I can help you." Michael looked at him and spoke softly.
A moment later.
"This..." Dale gripped the tractor's steering wheel, his face filled with shock. He noticed that the tractor's speed had slowed dramatically, and the environment around him—the swaying grass, the flying birds—seemed to have frozen in place.
"Time... has really slowed down by a hundred times!" Dale's eyes were wide with disbelief as he looked at the young man before him. He didn't fully understand but could sense the power. "You... are really the Grim Reaper? You can control life?"
"To be precise, it's our time that has sped up by a hundred times." Michael's face remained calm. He then pointed to the numbers above Dale's head. "That's right, I am the Grim Reaper. I can see your remaining lifespan, right here above your head. Want to see it?"
Dale swallowed nervously and hesitantly nodded.
With a flick of his hand, Michael revealed the numbers.
Name: Dale
Age: 52
Remaining Lifespan: 8 years, 6 months, 17 days
When Dale saw the numbers, his pupils contracted sharply, his heart filled with wonder and shock.
He was just in his early fifties. Yet, due to a lifetime of hard work and ongoing health issues, he had less than a decade left to live. Furthermore, barring any unexpected events, the remaining years of his life were only going to get worse with each passing year.
Michael deactivated Time Acceleration, then said, "I am the Grim Reaper, and I'm also a Time Merchant. You can make a deal with me, and I can buy your lifespan."
"Buy... lifespan?" Dale's face was filled with confusion and doubt. He hadn't fully recovered from the shock, and now he even questioned whether any of this was real.
Michael looked at him, continuing, "I've already learned about your situation. Based on your conditions, I'll give you $300,000 for every year of life you sell. You can choose how much you want to sell, and I'll pay you in cash, all at once."
Soon, Michael would have money at his disposal. A transaction no longer had to be limited to just one year. As long as he needed it, he could buy however many years he wanted. He believed that Dale needed this kind of deal.