Chapter 4

Serpens carefully placed the redcap brown oranda on a piece of glass and approached the young man without hesitation.

"Eight goldfish. Your six thousand won't cover it. I'm calling the police to handle this mess," Serpens said coldly, eyeing the young man.

The young man's arrogance rubbed Serpens the wrong way. If he had apologized right away, things might have been different. But his attitude left Serpens no choice. Little did he know, Serpens was beginning to adopt the imperious nature of a Great Dragon.

"Kid, you're making a big deal out of nothing. How much could your busted motorcycle be worth? And those little fish? I'll pay you for them. Don't push your luck," the young man sneered as he approached Serpens.

"Hey, watch it. Let's talk this out," an elderly man nearby interjected, trying to defuse the situation. "Son, these boys aren't being unreasonable. They'll pay you what's fair. Don't be greedy."

Serpens glanced at the old man, then back at the young men surrounding him. "I don't need compensation for the motorcycle, but for my goldfish..." He paused, setting his eight redcap brown orandas on the ground. "You owe me for these fish. Eight of them. Look up their value online."

"Enough with this redcap nonsense," the young man snapped. "Stop making up stories. You're not getting a dime from me."

The old man, however, rushed over and confirmed the truth. "These are real redcap brown orandas! And they're worth a fortune!"

As more onlookers gathered, the truth became undeniable. The young men stood in shock as they realized the value of the fish they had destroyed.

"You're looking at at least two million dollars in damages," the old man said solemnly. "There's a goldfish fair today. We can get a professional assessment there."

The young man's face fell. He knew he was in deep trouble. Two million dollars was a hefty sum he couldn't afford.

"Please, don't involve the police," he pleaded with Serpens. "I can't pay you that much. But I can offer you my motorcycle."

Serpens raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Your motorcycle? Worth 1.53 million dollars?"

"It's custom-made, top-of-the-line," the young man insisted, showing Serpens the records on his phone.

"Not enough," Serpens retorted. "The value of my fish alone exceeds that."

Desperate, the young man offered a pair of rare shoes worth seventy thousand dollars. But Serpens remained unimpressed.

"Fine," he finally conceded, though clearly dissatisfied.

"This darn motorcycle and those shoes," Serpens muttered, emerging from the vehicle office with a grim expression, eyeing the Harley motorcycle and the flashy footwear.

The young man had acted like a rascal, but his compensation of the motorcycle and shoes totaled up to two million dollars, matching the value of the goldfish. At least there was one good thing: Serpens was confident he could sell his remaining goldfish at the market.

As word spread about the crushed Redcap Brown Orandas, more people gathered, but no one dared to make a purchase fearing repercussions.

Following the young man, Serpens completed the transfer of ownership for the Harley and even got himself a heavy-duty motorcycle license through connections.

"This motorcycle..." Serpens examined it briefly before mounting it cautiously. Though he knew how to ride, this bike was on another level. Starting the engine, he cautiously made his way back to school.

"This thing's too fast," Serpens muttered as he gently pressed the accelerator, feeling the bike's power.

Earlier, he had learned about Harley motorcycles. Known for their customization and flashiness, they exuded charisma. Serpens could feel the stares of passersby as he rode.

But deep down, he knew the risks. Unlike cars, motorcycles offered little protection in accidents.

Riding slowly, Serpens valued his life above all else.

At the administrative office, Shan He, the young man, faced the consequences of his actions. His family's strictness loomed over him, and he couldn't afford any more mistakes.

Meanwhile, Serpens, back in his dorm, tossed the shoes on his bed and called his sister, Serena, to share the good news. But Serena declined, content with her tutoring job.

Resolving to send her money anyway, Serpens looked forward to her visit. Yet, he couldn't shake the missed opportunity to earn more money.

Cultivating his Dragonic Force, Serpens felt his strength grow. With over forty points now, he felt unstoppable.

After a night of practice, he planned his next move: acquiring more goldfish. With a sense of determination, he set out to purchase some ornamental fish for upgrading.

Back in his dorm, he upgraded the fish, especially focusing on a premium Chilli Red Arowana. If he could sell it, he'd be set for a comfortable future.

As he gazed at the fish tank, Serpens envisioned a life where money wasn't a worry, where he could focus solely on becoming a Great Dragon..

On Draketown's 2nd Ring Road, Serpens cruised atop his Harley heavy-duty motorcycle, a styrofoam box strapped to his frame, headed for the Flowers and Birds Market.

Determined to avoid a repeat of yesterday's mishap, he'd secured a sturdy styrofoam container to safeguard his five goldfish and Arowana.

With his helmet on, Serpens relished the sensation of riding, maintaining a steady pace of around 60 km/hour.

The thrill of navigating the bustling streets on his $1.5 million motorcycle surpassed any joy Serpens Dahai's bike could offer.

"Poor Dahai. I left his bike near the market yesterday; it's probably gone now. But I'll treat him to a ride on my Harley once school starts," Serpens mused.

His motorcycle whisked him to the market's entrance in just ten minutes, stunning the security guards.

Parking his Harley, Serpens carried the styrofoam box into the market, noting the reduced crowds compared to yesterday.

Spotting the sign pointing towards the goldfish fair, he made a beeline for it, passing rows of fishbowls displaying an array of dazzling goldfish.

At the center, he spotted two Redcap Brown Orandas priced at a staggering $430k each.

"Not good," Serpens muttered disapprovingly, scanning the surrounding goldfish ranging from $40k-$50k and some as low as $10k-$20k.

He approached the organizer's service counter, where a mix of middle-aged and elderly men and a young attendant awaited.

"Excuse me, miss. How can I sell my goldfish here?" Serpens inquired.

The attendant, taken aback by his request, explained the requirements: proof of fish farm quality certification and valuable goldfish.

Disheartened by the criteria, Serpens was interrupted by a dismissive middle-aged man before he could respond.

"Sorry about that," the attendant apologized, flashing an apologetic smile.

Serpens exited, disappointed, overhearing the man's dismissive remarks.

"Forget it. I don't need this fair to sell my Redcap Brown Orandas," he decided, placing his styrofoam box by the roadside.

Surveying the foot traffic, he saw an opportunity to set up shop.

He coughed to attract attention, announcing, "Top-grade Arowana and goldfish for sale!"

Some passersby hesitated, intrigued by the makeshift stall and its rustic owner.

A couple, drawn by curiosity, approached, despite the man's initial reluctance.

Enthralled by the fish's beauty, the woman insisted on purchasing them, much to the man's chagrin.

Serpens, surprised by the man's meager wallet contents, remained composed.

"If you have five million dollars, we can proceed with the transaction," Serpens quipped, causing the man to bristle.

Undeterred, Serpens grinned, welcoming the growing crowd of intrigued onlookers.