Rebirth of the Godly Prodigal

When the lid of the suitcase was opened, Dr. Ai Hui pointed to something inside that looked like a measuring instrument of some sort. “This is the first finished product we have now. The test can just be used, barely. After all, this technology is still untried.”

There were two instruments, one big and one small. The big one looked like a measuring instrument. On the surface, it did not look like anything special. There were ten scale markings on it. The small one looked like a pendant, about the size of a bottle cap. It was round and metallic.

“It’s great you managed to complete building it!” The thing did not look like much, but the strange man was overjoyed. He picked up something and looked at it left and right. After looking at it for a while, he laughed and said, “With this luck detector device, we will be much more confident when we work in the future!”

The two instruments, one big and one small, were actually a luck detector device!

One should know, just by looking at the name, this was an instrument for testing the amount of luck a person had!

“Yes, with this, we will be more confident in the future!” The Bureau Chief agreed. “It’s not so reassuring if we were to leave everything up to fate. Dr. Ai Hui, tell us quickly how this luck detector device works!”

“Okay.” Dr. Ai Hui took the luck detector device from the mysterious man’s hands and said slowly, “It’s easy to use. All you have to do is let the person wear this accompanying measuring device. When his luck changes, this other display will show if his current luck is good or bad.”

“So simple?” asked the mysterious man, shocked.

“That’s right.” Dr. Ai Hui explained, “Luck, or Fortune, might sound like something totally illogical, but it’s something everyone possesses. Everyone’s index is also different. According to our latest research, when a person is in a good mood or has fulfilled certain criteria, his luck index will increase. Similarly, when he is frustrated or is in low spirits, his luck index will decrease.”

“Okay. We know that already.” The mysterious man gently touched the delicate measuring device and asked, “How do we know if a person’s luck is good or bad, then?”

Everyone had luck, and everyone knew what luck was. However, the hardest part was how to quantify it. That was why this device was very important.

“If it were a normal person, the ebb and flow of their luck would hardly be noticeable. Even with this luck detector device, it would be hard to see any difference.” Dr. Ai Hui said slowly. “But, now that we have Hong Dali, things are different. According to my observations so far, Hong Dali’s luck is astonishing. We’re not sure why this is so, but if Merika has an Angel of Misfortune, it’s then possible for us to have an Angel of Fortune.”

“So, this equipment was built according to Hong Dali’s heaven-defying luck. During our research, we found that a person’s brain waves can occasionally sense something special. In other words, based on what we have discussed previously, when a person is in high spirits, his brain waves will have more of this sense. This device measures the amount of this particular type of brain wave to determine luck.”

“Wait.” The mysterious man touched his forehead and asked cautiously, “You mean, there is a finite amount of luck in this world and it’s not that a person has good luck, rather, the good luck goes to him?”

He was not the head of the Heavenly State for nothing. The mysterious man quickly understood the meaning of Dr. Ai Hui’s words.

“Basically, it’s like that.” Nodded Dr. Ai Hui. “That’s the result of our research presently. It’s possible that there are other factors, but we have not discovered those yet.”

The Bureau Chief rubbed his chin and suddenly smiled. He said, “That means that our lucky mascot is definitely under the divine protection of the heavens? The Heaven’s true son of legends? Or the kind that has a few sisters above him?”

The mysterious man laughed out loud. “It seems like your evaluations about Hong Dali are quite accurate…”

“After spending time with the kid, it’s inevitable that his jovial nature has rubbed off on me.” The Bureau Chief laughed. “I find that it’s rather nice this way. At least my mood is always good.”

“Yes, I realized that too.” The mysterious man looked toward Dr. Ai Hui again. “So, this device, what levels does it separate luck into?”

“At the moment, it separates luck into thirteen levels.” Dr. Ai Hui turned on the luck detector device and the long screen quickly displayed thirteen different levels. Ai Hui pointed at the levels and explained them one by one. “Level One is the level naturally unlucky people are in. I call it the Contradicted Life. It means that their path will be arduous and full of pitfalls. Level Two, Unlucky Life. It means that their life is hard and nothing goes smoothly. Level Three, Obscurity. It’s called that because their life is full of fog that obscures their future, making their future unclear and bumpy.”

“Contradicted Life, Unlucky Life, Obscurity,” mumbled the mysterious man before he nodded. “Yes, it’s true some are born unlucky. These three levels make sense.”

“The first three levels are not very useful. They are just there to fill up space.” Dr. Ai Hui continued with his explanation. “Level Four, Happy Contented Life. This level belongs to people who are more or less happy with little good luck, but with little bad luck too. This level is where most ordinary people are at. Level Five, Rewarding Life. These people will sometimes enjoy some good luck. It’s not a bad level to be at. Level Six, Lucky Life. Simply put, it means these people have a higher luck index than most and enjoy more good luck than most others.”

“Happy Contented Life, Rewarding Life, Lucky Life. Yes, not bad.” The mysterious man laughed, before saying self-deprecatingly, “To think that I would be here discussing such a subject matter. There will be jokes if this were to get out.” Although he said it self-deprecatingly, the message he sent to the Bureau Chief and Dr. Ai Hui was clear.

The Bureau Chief hurriedly reassured him, saying, “Big Boss, don’t worry. It will not get out.”

Dr. Ai Hui was sweating profusely as he said, “Please rest assured, Leader. Our entire team understands the importance of this matter. The kill command has been issued and there will definitely not be any leakage of information.”

“Okay, good. Go on, then.” The mysterious man nodded.

“Level Seven, Exceptional Luck. This is better than Lucky Life.” Dr. Ai Hui continued explaining. “However, at this level, the fluctuations of the waves are much bigger. To put it simply, it’s impossible for anyone to maintain this level of luck. Just reaching it occasionally will yield exceptional rewards.”

“Yes, yes, understood.” The mysterious man said in agreement. “It would be scary if anyone were to maintain at this level. I would probably have to give up my position! Haha.”

This was not purely said in jest.

Luck was of paramount importance in governance and politics. Take for example a man who wished to gain a higher footing in the government, what would he need? Not considering the miscellaneous stuff, what he needed were political achievements. If his luck was good, and everything was smooth sailing, then his political achievements would accumulate quickly. Within a few years, he would be able to rise up. It would not be impossible then to reach all the way to the very top.

“Big Boss, your level is definitely at Exceptional Life!” The Bureau Chief said, sucking up to his boss.

“Haha, ok, stop sucking up to me. See what else is there.” The mysterious man shook his head, smiling.

“What’s next is more powerful.” Dr. Ai Hui said, “The first seven levels are still within the boundaries of a normal human. Level Eight, Turning Bad Luck Into Good Luck. That means he can turn a bad situation into a good one. Level Nine, Everything Is Smooth Sailing. Everything you wish for will come true. Level Ten, Continuous Good Luck. That means the good luck persists indefinitely. We estimate Hong Dali’s luck should be at about this level.”

“Turning Bad Luck Into Good, Everything Is Smooth Sailing, Continuous Good Luck. Yes, something like that!” The mysterious man marveled. “I gauge that Hong Dali, that little prodigal, is probably at the level Continuous Good Luck. Ahhh, I’m envious.”

The Bureau Chief said, “Luckily, he is on good terms with us. That’s a good thing.”

“Yes, very good. We have to take note of this in the future.” The mysterious man said, chuckling. “Go on, go on. Let’s see what’s at the back.”

“Level Eleven, Redirecting Trouble, is where he can redirect any misfortune which should befall him to someone else,” said Dr. Ai Hui, smiling. “When Hong Dali was going up against Merika’s Angel of Misfortune, this should be the level he activated. Level Twelve is called Good Fortune Befalls You. A person at this level is practically invincible. I doubt there is anything anyone in the world can do to you.”

“True, true.” The mysterious man laughed heartily. “This level means that all kinds of good fortune will befall him. It would not be impossible to find some gold bricks while out strolling. Hehe.”

By then, there was one last level left of the thirteen. The mysterious man and the Bureau Chief were both curious. The Bureau Chief asked, face full of anticipation, “What about the last one?”

“The last one.” Dr. Ai Hui took a deep breath. “Right now, the last one should only exist in legends. I have named it ‘Luck of the Heavens’!”

Luck of the Heavens! What a terrifying state!

When a person’s luck was at a level which was on par with that of the heavens, who on earth could win against him?!

The mysterious man and the Bureau Chief exchanged looks and simultaneously inhaled sharply. “Hong Dali, that brat, should not be at that level yet? Luck of the Heavens. How terrifying is that?!”

In truth, Dr. Ai Hui was unsure if Hong Dali could reach that level. He pondered it for a long while before finally saying, “Should, probably, maybe, not there yet…”