Chapter Twenty: Gold Coins, My Life

In the afternoon, Lin Qi, rarely seen, walked into the classroom carrying his schoolbag. The vast, semicircular, tiered lecture hall was already filled with many students. Graham and Yulian followed closely behind Lin Qi, swaggering as they took their seats dead center in the very first row. The other students in the front row glanced at them, then swiftly rose and moved to seats further back.

Wherever they went, within five meters, not a single student remained—a testament to the overwhelming aura of menace that Lin Qi and his companions emanated.

Vick had been captured alive by the Round Table Knights, and all responses and arrangements were left for Enzo to handle. This afternoon’s class was the most famous course in the Fifth University’s accounting major, taught by the renowned “Gold Coin Professor,” Cohen. For two years, Lin Qi had attended Cohen’s lectures without fail, no matter the circumstances; nothing had ever kept him from a single class.

Gold Coin Professor Cohen was infamous at the Fifth University as a parasite among vampires, and a vampire among parasites. He once wielded great power as the Chief Minister of Logistics in the Imperial Military Department. Yet, due to suspicions of embezzlement, he was expelled by the military and stripped of all titles by Saint Louis XIII, forced to retreat to the Fifth University and make a living by leveraging his expertise in finance as an accounting professor.

What drew Lin Qi in was Professor Cohen’s unreserved sharing of brilliant accounting techniques in class—the kind that could bewilder any auditor. These were practical tricks for massive embezzlement and misappropriation, all without leaving a trace.

Furthermore, if one privately offered Professor Cohen a glittering golden bribe, a few casual words of guidance from him could yield considerable profits. Thus, rain or shine, even if knives fell from the sky, Lin Qi never missed a single lecture.

As the bell rang for the first class of the afternoon, Professor Cohen entered: gaunt, his face sharp as a spike, eyes triangular, his pale green irises like those of a starving wolf, forever searching for prey. He walked with a steady, square gait, hands clasped behind his back and stooped as he stepped into the classroom.

When Professor Cohen appeared, all the third-year students of the Fifth University’s accounting major—over a hundred, including Lin Qi, Graham, and Yulian—rose as one and applauded vigorously, paying homage to a giant in the world of accounting.

Once, as Chief Minister of Logistics, Cohen controlled the supplies and resource management for a million imperial soldiers. Born in poverty, he owed over a thousand gold coins before assuming his post. But after three years in office, when expelled by the military and stripped of all rank by the emperor, he had amassed a secret fortune of fifty thousand gold coins in a hidden bank account!

If not for the betrayal of a banker—who happened to be a close friend of one of Cohen’s political enemies—no one would have known he possessed such wealth.

Moreover, no one really knew whether Cohen had other secret accounts hidden with other bankers.

Everything was shrouded in mist. During Cohen’s three years as Chief Minister of Logistics, before his dismissal, the emperor convened thirty-six auditors to conduct a three-month, comprehensive review of the entire department’s accounts. Yet not a single error was found; every copper coin could be traced, and the records showed Cohen to be scrupulously honest.

Yet those fifty thousand gold coins in his secret account were undeniably real, and no one knew how he acquired them! If not for the banker’s betrayal—breaking the first rule of banking—Cohen might still be sitting in his ministerial post. Indeed, before his expulsion, there were rumors the emperor intended to promote him to Minister of Finance.

Such a remarkable figure, with a fervent passion for gold coins—how could Lin Qi, Graham, and Yulian not revere Professor Cohen as a god?

Cohen stood firmly at the podium, gazing down at Lin Qi seated in the center of the front row, and nodded in satisfaction. His gaze lingered especially on Graham for two seconds, particularly appreciative of Graham’s money-grubbing character.

Clearing his throat, Professor Cohen slowly raised his right hand, “What is our creed?”

“Gold coins! Gold coins! Gold coins!” All the accounting students of the Fifth University roared, their eyes reddened.

“What is our faith?” Cohen pressed on.

“Gold coins! Gold coins! Gold coins!” The students shouted again.

“What is our life’s goal?” Cohen’s voice soared up three pitches.

“Countless gold coins! More gold coins! As many gold coins as possible!” The classroom boiled with excitement.

Satisfied, Cohen lowered his hand, nodding with reserved approval. “Very good, you are all excellent students. Remember what I have taught you: as accountants, our mission is to use every legal and non-violating means to place gleaming gold coins, shining silver coins, and adorable copper coins securely in our pockets.”

With a gentle sigh, Cohen softly reminded, “Once again, I solemnly advise all of you: choose a trustworthy banker!”

He waved his shriveled hand, and began the afternoon’s lesson. Today’s topic: “How, based on the master's title and estates, to precisely calculate the annual safe threshold for embezzling gold coins from a noble family!”

Lin Qi and the others listened, enthralled, to Professor Cohen’s teachings—each word carried the tantalizing fragrance of gold coins.

The two-hour class passed in a flash. Cohen left as he had arrived, walking steadily through the faculty corridor. Lin Qi hurried after him, discreetly slipped a gold coin into Cohen’s pocket, and handed him a parchment from Master Koch, the alchemist.

The parchment listed the types and quantities of experimental materials Koch had requested from the Fifth University’s logistics department. As a master of alchemy, Koch’s materials were extremely rare and expensive.

Cohen scanned the parchment with reserved indifference, narrowed his eyes, and pondered briefly. He gently patted Lin Qi’s shoulder.

“For ten-year Ten-leaf Moonflower, you can mix in Ten-leaf Moonlight Grass. In appearance, scent, and every other trait, the two are nearly identical. A single Moonflower is worth three gold coins, but Moonlight Grass is just horse feed. Here, you need three thousand Moonflowers, powdered and delivered—no problem at all.”

Cohen calculated quickly and nodded, “Mix in thirty stalks of Moonlight Grass among the three thousand Moonflowers—there’s absolutely no risk.”

Lin Qi’s eyes lit up as he bowed deeply to Professor Cohen.

Cohen smiled with satisfaction, gently patting Lin Qi’s shoulder.

“A fine seedling, keep up the good work!”

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