INFINITE MONEY - I Will Buy Everything

The man to whom he spoke was meticulously assembling the delicate components of a machine, its true age obscured by time, yet significant enough that even a minor error could result in its total destruction. Despite the intricate nature of the task, his hands moved with a practiced steadiness, carefully aligning a piece before securing it with a specialized tool.

Without diverting his gaze from the machine, the man inquired in a tone that conveyed both disinterest and detachment, "And what might that be?"

"I can\'t say for certain, sir. It\'s wrapped," the butler replied evenly. The butler really didn\'t know as he didn\'t check for it as it was meant to be a gift for his master.

"Then how do you know it\'s interesting?" the man asked, still engrossed in his work.

"The boy was quite sure that you\'d find it intriguing," the butler explained, his voice steady and composed.

A faint, sardonic smile curled the man\'s lips. "Nale, it seems you\'re getting soft in your old age. The boy said I\'d like it, and just like that, you took him at his word?"

"But he did say it," Nale reiterated, his tone unwavering.

"Of course he did. His father declined my invitation, so the boy had to say something to avoid besmirching their family\'s reputation. But it\'s not as if we\'d hold a grudge over it."

The man\'s voice took on a dismissive quality. "Stop wasting my time and see that the boy is sent off with the proper courtesy." He resumed his work, clearly uninterested in prolonging the conversation.

"As you wish, sir," Nale replied. But before departing, he placed two wrapped parcels beside his master, positioning them where they would inevitably draw his eye. "If you\'re curious about what it is, you might want to open this one," he suggested, indicating the longer package. Without awaiting a response, the butler left the room.

The man attempted to refocus on the machine, but his attention kept wandering to the wrapped items. The distraction began to undermine his precision, and after several unsuccessful attempts to connect another component, he sighed in exasperation. His gaze lingered on the packages as he muttered to himself, \'Damn that Nale. He knew exactly where to place them to get my attention.\'

Finally succumbing to his curiosity, he set aside his tools and reached for the longer parcel. With a deft flick of his wrist, he sliced through the wrapping as though it were tissue meeting the sharpest of blades. The paper fell away, revealing a long, ornate scroll fashioned from gold. The man\'s eyes narrowed as he scrutinized the object, noting the craftsmanship with growing interest.

\'Hmm... This gold appears to be ancient, perhaps dating from 1200 to 1900,\' he mused. He then examined the intricate carvings etched into the scroll, nodding with a touch of satisfaction. \'The engravings are exceptionally well done, likely the work of a master artisan. But let\'s see if the contents are as impressive as the exterior.\'

With deliberate care, he unlocked the scroll and began to unroll it. As he did, his eyes caught sight of a symbol that sparked a vague recognition, though he couldn\'t immediately place it. He paused, his mind racing to make the connection.

\'No… it can\'t be, can it?\' He hesitated, then unrolled the scroll further, his mouth falling open in disbelief as his eyes widened in shock.

\'This… this can\'t be real, can it? If it is…\' His thoughts trailed off as he suddenly recalled something, and panic flickered across his features. \'The boy… Nale.\'

He had instructed Nale to send the boy away, but now, realizing the potential value of what the boy had brought, he knew he had to intervene. "NALEEE!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the room.

Almost immediately, the door opened, and Nale stepped inside. "You called, sir?"

"Ye-yeah, look at th—" The man\'s words caught in his throat as he eyed the butler with suspicion. "How did you get here so quickly?"

"I was just outside, sir," Nale responded without hesitation.

"So you never left, did you?" the man accused, though there was a note of grudging admiration in his voice.

Nale nodded, and the man allowed a small, wry smile to appear. "You really are a sly old fox, Nale."

"My apologies if I overstepped, sir. What would you like me to do?" Nale asked, his tone as composed as ever.

Regaining his composure, the man gestured for Nale to come closer. "Here, take a look at this and tell me what you think."

Nale approached and accepted the scroll from his master. As he studied it, his expression mirrored the shock that had earlier crossed the man\'s face. He, too, recognized the symbol on the scroll, and his eyes widened in disbelief.

"This… how is this possible? Sir, did you see this?" Nale\'s voice trembled slightly as he spoke, clearly shaken by the implications of what he was holding.

The man nodded, his own surprise still evident. "Yes, it took me by surprise too. I couldn\'t believe it was genuine."

"So it could be a forgery?" Nale suggested, though there was doubt in his voice.

"Possibly, but it looks too authentic to dismiss out of hand," the man replied, his brow furrowing in contemplation.

"Have you tested its authenticity at the machines, sir?" Nale asked, snapping the man out of his reverie.

Edward nearly smacked his forehead as he realized he hadn\'t done so. "I completely forgot," he admitted with a sheepish smile. "The shock was so great that I overlooked it."

"Well, perhaps we should verify it now," Nale suggested. The man nodded in agreement, and the two of them moved to another room.

This new room was markedly different from the one they had just left. It was filled with an array of sophisticated machines designed to analyze items in meticulous detail— everything from their composition and design to their authenticity.

Edward and Nale approached a machine equipped with infrared imaging and other advanced features. Edward placed the scroll on the machine and powered it up. His movements were swift and precise, as if the urgency of the situation had ignited a sense of urgency within him. Nale was equally quick, understanding the gravity of what they were about to uncover.

As the machine whirred to life, Edward unwrapped the scroll once more, his eyes fixed on the symbol now illuminated under the machine\'s light. He scrutinized every detail, not missing a single nuance, before finally letting out a breath he hadn\'t realized he was holding.

"It\'s real… this is indeed the genuine symbol of Hegemon An," Edward declared, his voice tinged with awe.

"So… this is actually real," Nale echoed, still grappling with the magnitude of their discovery.

Edward nodded, but his mind was already racing ahead. "But what I can\'t figure is how they managed to find the Scroll of Hegemony— something that was supposedly destroyed 3,000 years ago."