Chapter 1282: The Swindler and the Middleman Fee
Xu Huo had not yet reached the level of evolution where he could create multiple spaces within a spiritual realm. Multiple spaces were different from simply creating multiple library towers; they were completely independent spaces, like a large container holding a smaller one inside. One could enter the large container but not necessarily the small one. Unlike location items or container items, the spaces within a spiritual realm did not have to be tangible.
In other words, the spaces within a spiritual realm were invisible and intangible to ordinary people.
However, this also presented a new problem: a spiritual realm could only be created by a living person. Even if that super player had once hidden the entrance to a mineral vein within his spiritual realm, his spiritual power should have dissipated after his death. It couldn't persist forever.
The Han Clan was the only independent family in Fresh Flower City involved in the mining rights. Although the primordial stones belonged to them, this didn't mean the others were ethical enterprises. So there must be a reason why the Han Clan couldn't be excluded.
Could special items achieve the effect of a spiritual realm space?
An item that actually existed shouldn't be indestructible or immovable.
The information available didn't provide more detailed explanations on this part.
However, it did mention the issue of mining the vein. The reason it was only mined once every few years was that it took a certain amount of time for the sub-class stones, which could be used to make items, to accumulate to a sufficient quantity. Almost all of the mined ore was sold to other districts. It was rarely seen in Fresh Flower City or District 001, and even the ordinary ore from the vein wasn't sold on the open market.
He wondered if He Pu's key came from Fresh Flower City or another district…
As he walked out of the reading pod, he unexpectedly ran into the player who had tried to act as a middleman for him yesterday. The man's face lit up with surprise when he saw Xu Huo. He called out "Brother!" and hurried over, enthusiastically saying, "Thinking of buying something else?"
Xu Huo initially didn't want to bother with him, but as he reached the door, he changed his mind. He turned back to look at him. "Do you have a channel for selling weapons?"
"Yes, yes, yes!" The man quickly caught up, warmly leading him out of the library and hailing an aircraft. "It's a bit far, let's take a ride."
"Large weapons are prohibited from sale. Can you do this business in broad daylight?" Xu Huo asked.
"For players, day and night aren't much different." The player pointed to the aircraft outside. "Look around, there are monitors everywhere. It's not about the time, it's about the connections."
Seeing him pat his chest with confidence, Xu Huo allowed a hint of a smile to appear on his face. "As long as I can get good stuff, the middleman fee is no problem."
The man introduced himself with a beaming smile. "My name is Jiao Cheng. There's no underground channel in Fresh Flower City I don't know about. Whether you want to buy weapons, items, or information, you can come to me. I guarantee I'll set you up properly. The sellers are all reliable. As long as the money is right, everything is easy!"
"I'm not short on cash," Xu Huo said.
The aircraft arrived at a residential area in the city.
The buildings in Fresh Flower City were all quite similar, and the streets were exceptionally clean. Combined with the similar clothes people wore, at first glance, this residential area looked no different from any other part of the city.
Jiao Cheng led Xu Huo into a small eatery. Once inside, he called out to the owner, who was cooking, "Sis, I'm going to the back for a bit."
The owner was chopping loudly with her cleaver and replied impatiently, "Is my shop open just for you? Coming and going without even buying a bowl of snacks!"
Jiao Cheng used a few flattering words to avoid spending money. He went out the back door of the eatery and knocked on a small door across the way.
A man with a fierce face opened the door. His tone was unfriendly. "What's the matter?"
"I have a buyer, wants some good stuff." Jiao Cheng explained apologetically to the man for a moment, repeatedly assuring him that it was a reliable customer, before the man relented.
"Brother, wait outside for a moment. I'll go in and talk to them. I'll definitely get you a good price!"
Xu Huo nodded and stood waiting outside the door. The fierce-faced player left the door slightly ajar and kept an eye on him.
After a while, Jiao Cheng came out and explained that the seller insisted on a one-on-one transaction and wouldn't allow anyone else to follow. However, he could show a sample first. If Xu Huo wanted it, he would have to pay a deposit.
Xu Huo had no objections. He left Jiao Cheng and entered the room alone.
The specially modified room could block external surveillance. A long-limbed man was sitting sprawled on the sofa. He looked Xu Huo up and down, then pointed to the seat opposite him, indicating for him to sit.
"What kind of goods do you want to buy?"
Xu Huo sat down. "What goods do you have?"
The man grinned, casually picked up the box at his feet, and placed it on the table. He opened it to reveal two portable blasting guns. "The latest model of building-demolition gun from Fresh Flower City. One shot can blow up half a building."
"Looks decent." Xu Huo didn't touch them, just glanced at them and asked the price.
"Fifty thousand white notes each, firm price. If you buy a lot, I can throw in some ammo. But you'll need to pay a deposit upfront. You can pick up the goods in a day," the man said.
"I can't wait that long. I'll take these two." Xu Huo reached for the box, but the man closed the lid first, pushed the box aside, and said, "Money."
Xu Huo placed one hundred thousand white notes on the table.
The man smiled, opened the box again for Xu Huo to inspect the goods, and then let him take them.
When Xu Huo walked out of that cramped room, the fierce-faced doorman and Jiao Cheng, who had been outside, were both gone.
He lifted the box he had just placed in his luggage compartment. Unsurprisingly, it was empty inside.
Someone nearby was watching him, but they quickly looked away, pretending not to see. A faint voice drifted over from a distance, "Another sucker taken for a ride…"
The owner of the eatery saw Xu Huo looking at her, sneered, and chopped her cutting board in half with her cleaver. At the same time, four people inside the shop stood up.
Xu Huo didn't go in to cause trouble for them. Instead, he turned and walked deeper into the street.
Meanwhile, Jiao Cheng, who had used a teleportation item placed in the room to escape far away, knocked on a wall. A hidden door in the wall opened, and the short man who had appeared outside the library earlier showed his face. He looked around cautiously before saying, "Shook him off?"
"Easy as pie." Jiao Cheng said smugly, "This middleman fee was earned effortlessly."
The short man let him in and closed the door. There were two other people in the room: the fierce-faced doorman and the tall man who had made the transaction. The four of them exchanged glances and smiled, the atmosphere very congenial.
"I told you, those greenhorn outsiders are easy to fool," the tall man said, slapping the white notes in his hand. "A few minutes' work!"
"Standard procedure, split five ways. That guy probably realized he was scammed and is looking for trouble with the owner right now," Jiao Cheng said.
"With flying monitors all over the city, if he starts trouble, that's even better. The government players will deal with him, and he won't be hanging around here anymore." The short man laughed. "...It's just hard to find people this stupid."
"Is that so?" someone asked.
"Of course, I—" The short man had just started his sentence when he realized something was wrong. He spun around abruptly, only to see Xu Huo standing right behind him!
(Chapter End)