This Life, I Will Be the Protagonist-Chapter 282: 【Moment of Reversal】 Acquired!

As soon as [Disguise!] finished cooling down, Rita set off. She didn’t take Nivalis along, worried that Black Jade might detect the scent of a dragon. To be extra cautious, she donned Oak Owl-themed clothing and doused herself in half a bottle of [I Really Don’t Have Time to Shower] to eliminate any odors. After modifying all her information and casting a Disillusionment Charm, she teleported near Black Jade’s residence, marking a large tree as a waypoint. Then, she flew toward the sleeping Black Jade by the lake.

In midair, she clutched the shrunken Soul Catcher in her palm and activated its skill.

[One Transaction (1/1)]: Is there anything in the world that cannot be "borrowed" with money? My answer is no.

Upon landing, Rita walked up to the resting Black Jade and said, "Lord Maple Cang sends you his regards."

She couldn’t keep using Mistblade as a scapegoat—especially after realizing she had stolen two World Tombstones from him. It didn’t feel right. Time for a new "friend." Maple Cang seemed like the perfect choice!

Besides, it wasn’t really a betrayal. She was paying 80,000 gold coins to rent a skill for just one year. Black Jade might even thank Maple Cang later.

Sensing someone nearby, Black Jade stirred, ready to strike. Nearby, Rick, who had been bathing the Flood Dragon, froze mid-motion. Enjoy more content from novelbuddy

Maple Cang?! Lord Maple Cang knows who I am?!

Rita could sense players converging on the area. She opened a small box she’d prepared, poured all her coins into it, and presented a literal mountain of gold—over 80,000 coins. The sheer visual impact was overwhelming.

Looking at the glittering pile of coins, Rita felt a pang of regret. If only Soul Catcher had offered a "full refund" skill, I would’ve used it on Black Jade in a heartbeat.

Swallowing her grief, she pushed the box toward Black Jade. "Lord Maple Cang asked me to deliver this to you. The Eternal City will always welcome you."

The vague phrasing gave her room to maneuver. While Snow Pile’s intel suggested Black Jade was likely from the Eternal City, she couldn’t be 100% sure. If she was wrong, it could still sound like an invitation from Maple Cang.

Black Jade blinked, dazzled by the sheer brilliance of the gold. He rarely needed coins—he didn’t require gear—but he knew the value of money. The golden mountain practically melted his cold-blooded composure. With one look, he estimated it to be at least 70,000 coins.

Maple Cang, you’ve truly outdone yourself.

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Pleased by what he assumed was Maple Cang’s effort to recruit him, Black Jade wrapped his tail around the pile of coins, ready to say a few words of thanks.

But at that moment, players from the Special Affairs Bureau surrounded the estate. Four more descended from the sky, blocking escape routes in all directions.

Rita wasted no time. "Black Jade, you’ve accepted the payment. I’m renting your skill that can reverse pet contracts and is at least SS-tier. Thank you."

Black Jade: ???

Before he could react, Rita felt a surge of energy. A new skill appeared in her list:

[Moment of Reversal] (SSS-tier): After taking any form of damage from a target, use this skill to swap any equivalent attribute or status between you and the target, completely reversing the situation. Unless you voluntarily cancel it, the skill’s effects persist, even if you or the target dies. Can only be used once every seven days.

This is it!

Rita smiled brightly at Black Jade. "Your contribution will forever be remembered by the Oak Owls."

Without giving him a chance to respond, she launched herself into the air and sped away. The speed that once triggered her Drone debuff was no longer an issue now that her four main attributes exceeded 100. In the blink of an eye, she broke through the Special Affairs Bureau’s encirclement.

Skills flew toward her, but she effortlessly dodged them without even looking back, disappearing into the night sky.

The Special Affairs Bureau players pursued her briefly but lost her after just a few hundred meters. No trace of scent or image remained.

When they returned, Black Jade was still frozen in place, looking like he’d been struck by lightning.

Rick, sensing danger, began to back away. But it was too late. Black Jade erupted in fury.

His most prized skill, [Moment of Reversal], was now rendered unusable. Worse, a countdown of over 300 days had appeared on it.

"MAPLE! CANG!"

"Good, very good! Well played, Maple Cang!"

Though his tail lashed at Rick, his real rage was directed at the Oak Owls. Rick, now well-versed in survival tactics, shielded his vital areas and consumed health-restoring potions and food, carefully avoiding wasteful overhealing.

The Special Affairs Bureau players retreated, unwilling to get involved. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to help Rick, but they knew Black Jade wouldn’t kill him outright. Helping Rick would only prolong his suffering.

Moreover, several Eclipse Vanguard members harbored resentment toward Rick. They didn’t see why someone like him, who seemed to contribute so little, deserved to contract such a powerful beast. The injustice made them unwilling to intervene.

Mid-rampage, Black Jade glanced at the box of coins and paused. A sinister grin spread across his face as he laughed and slapped Rick’s back with the tip of his tail. "Look at this! Look! We’re rich!"

Each slap sent Rick coughing up blood, but not responding only made Black Jade angrier. Weakly, Rick raised a trembling thumbs-up.

Black Jade nodded in satisfaction. Now that I think about it, this isn’t so bad. It’s not like I sold the skill—it’s just a rental. Besides, I’m strong enough to protect myself against these Blue Star players. I don’t even need the skill unless I encounter a truly exceptional talent. Eighty thousand gold? Definitely worth it.

Maple Cang, you’re so generous! If anyone other than Maple Cang becomes the Eternal City’s next Owl King, I’ll protest!

Rick, on the verge of collapse: … Who will fight for me?

The moment Rita acquired [Moment of Reversal], the wealth leaderboard shifted dramatically. The sudden disappearance of its top entry, even near midnight, sparked an uproar across forums and chat channels.

Inside the Special Affairs Bureau, agents pieced together the situation. Between the rental payment and Black Jade’s reactions, it became clear that the "Oak Owl" was one of their own in disguise. Their frustration over failing to capture an alien beast was quickly replaced by regret over the massive amount of coins now sitting in Black Jade’s possession.

The envious, green-eyed looks Black Jade received made even him a little uneasy.