Chapter 25 Again with the Black Market
Under the low-hanging moon, its silvery light cascades over the urban landscape.
The residential community on the northern side stood as a forest of concrete giants. Between these towering structures, narrow streets twisted and turned like veins.
The soft glow of streetlights cast long shadows across the pavement, dimly lighting the pathways and creating pockets of darkness where danger lurked unseen.
Among the maze-like streets and buildings, Ceid's figure, cloaked in shadows, moved towards a fixed goal.
His footsteps were light, barely audible against the deserted street. An allusive figure barely discernible to all but the most astute observers.
Approaching a tall residential building, Ceid's purpose became evident. With a fluid motion, he navigated around obstacles, swiftly ascending the structure until he reached its rooftop. His silhouette blended seamlessly with the night.
Concealed within the veil of darkness, Ceid observed in silence. A group of ten figures slinked through the streets, their identities obscured by the faint illumination of street lamps.
The group moved with a clear sense of purpose, their eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of their target.
In their midst, a scar-faced figure stood out, emanating authority as he gave orders, directing the group with unquestionable command.
Ceid instantly recognized the scar-faced figure as the leader, his presence leaving no doubt as to his role within this gang.
Ceid continued to watch from a distance. His keen eyes and trained ears could easily catch any changes to their movements. Soon, he heard the information he had wanted to know.
"It seems that they were not looking for Ayda."
"I agree," he said. "But I can't help but wonder why they're searching for me stealthily. Plus, it seemed that they were sent here by someone. So, it might be part of a larger group."
As the group moved farther away, Ceid shadowed them, keeping a safe distance while remaining vigilant, ready to act when the moment arose.
-
Unaware of being observed, the group pressed onward. Their movements were dictated by caution and a sense of urgency.
One member, however, voiced a concern to their leader.
"Boss, if we continue ahead, we risk exposing ourselves to the city wall's surveillance. It wouldn't bode well if the army or the public security caught wind of our presence here."
"Agreed," another chimed in. "This area has been eerily quiet and deserted for too long. Our target must be elsewhere."
After a brief deliberation, the scar-faced leader redirected them toward the west side. He opted to encircle the neighborhood to avoid overlooking any potential clues.
Ceid observed their strategic shift with a sense of admiration and appreciation. Despite knowing they were likely after him, Ceid couldn't help but appreciate their meticulousness and caution.
Perhaps it was either he was confident in his abilities, he didn't feel threatened by them, or he simply didn't sense any malice from the group.
Whatever it was, he didn't feel any anger towards them.
Alternatively, he pondered the feasibility of incorporating them under his wings.
While they operated as thugs, they didn't exude the malevolence typically associated with such individuals. It seemed likely that circumstance had coerced them into their current roles.
-
The contrast between the eastern and western areas of the community was stark. While the east side bustled with densely populated streets lined with stalls and apartment buildings, the west area presented a different scene.
The western area had a sparse population density. The area had fewer residential structures but more space dedicated to recreational buildings and facilities.
The expansive public park nearby served as a focal point, offering residents a serene escape amidst the urban landscape.
But for the eleven figures moving under the cover of shadows, it was an area that offered little to no cover from attackers.
As the group slowly closed in on an exposed, open area, Ceid realized that a head-on confrontation was inevitable.
So, he swiftly made his way to a deserted street adjacent to an open basketball court. The street offered little options for him to conceal himself.
With nowhere to hide, he positioned himself directly in the path of the approaching group.
Surprised by the sudden appearance of the hidden figure, the group quickly reacted. Their alertness was greatly stimulated and heightened. They realized that they never noticed this figure approaching them.
Expert!
Their brains were already screaming 'Danger!' as they saw the figure leisurely stand there.
Sensing the tension, the scar-faced leader signaled his underlings to spread out, their movements precise and disciplined. They knew that they were now facing a dangerous situation.
One of the scar-faced leader's men immediately recognized Ceid's face under the illumination of the moon and streetlights. "Boss, it's him," he declared, confirming their target's identity.
The scar-faced leader maintained his composure despite realizing their target had preempted them. And that their situation had become more dangerous.
However, his confidence wavered slightly as he saw their target remained steadfast, boldly confronting him, despite standing in an empty area with minimal chances of reinforcement.
With heightened vigilance, they cautiously advanced toward the figure in the opening, aware of the suspicious circumstances surrounding the encounter.
As they closed in within 30 meters of the figure, they heard their target's voice shattering the silence. The voice echoed through the open space. "Are you looking for me? Who sent you, and for what purpose?"
His words hung in the air, demanding answers from the encroaching group amidst the tension-filled atmosphere.
As their target uttered those words, the scar-faced leader, the only awakened individual among them, keenly sensed subtle coercion and aura emanating from their target. This awareness heightened his understanding of the gravity of the situation.
Realizing this, he knew he had to act wisely. Each move could change everything. He needed to make a calculated decision on how to proceed, knowing that every move made from this point onward would significantly impact the outcome of their encounter.
The order he received was straightforward yet open-ended: locate the target and uncover the source of the rare magical equipment.
The intention was obvious. The Zhou Syndicate Clan wanted to monopolize the origin of the rare magic equipment that Ceid previously sold to their competitor.
Thus, this seemingly simple task harbored numerous interpretations and strategies for completing the order.
While the most direct brute force method of extracting a confession was an option, it was clear that their adversary was not easily intimidated.
A more diplomatic approach was also an option, such as paying a respectful visit and discreetly probing into the target's background.
Alternatively, persuading the target to cooperate or collaborate could yield valuable information without overt confrontation.
While this approach might not align perfectly with the clan's desire for sole ownership of the source, it remained within the parameters of their orders.
Executed skillfully, it could even earn them a commendation. However, failure to navigate this delicate balance could result in being cast aside as expendable pawns.
But, somehow, he felt he shouldn't make an enemy out of his target. That was what his sixth sense told him. An instinct developed after struggling among the desperados.
And he trusted his sixth sense more than anything else. It was what kept him alive.
Given the circumstances, he decided to attempt negotiation.
He knew that their prior actions and behavior practically screamed to everyone that they were up to no good, making it impossible to turn things back now. And they couldn't pretend nothing ever happened.
So he could only resigned to his fate. With a forced smile, he signaled for everyone to halt.
"I'm sorry for coming in such a suspicious manner. I'm aware that my words may not be convincing," he said, trying to show his sincerest gesture and harmless appearance.
Ceid got to admit that the guy was good at controlling his expression. Unlike the funny moments he read in novels where the guy gave a distorted forced smile, this guy's expression was convincing.
Then he heard him saying, "But we are here to seek the person who sold the rare protection magic equipment yesterday morning. And we were told you are the person we need to look for."
"Oh-ho. So you are offering a proposition?" Ceid said while looking at him interestingly.
The other people around them were confused by the sudden change of attitude of their leader. But, as a group, they trusted him more than anything else. He might have been bossy and rude, but he cared about all his subordinates.
Thus, they too let down their aggressive stance, while still keeping vigilance.
All of their reaction falls under Ceid's watchful eyes.
He became even more interested in this group of people.
"Yes," the scar-faced leader said. After rearranging his words, he continued, "We are from the Zhou Syndicate Clan, one of the major clans in the Black Market.
Our superiors are extremely interested in the magic equipment you sold before. It was rare to find defensive-type equipment, it was especially high in demand during these dire times."
"Again, I apologize for coming to see you in such a manner. We are hoping to establish a supply chain contract with you, where we are responsible for selling and marketing your product. How about it?" he said unabashedly.
Ceid must say that this guy had a thick skin.
Who in their right mind would think about proposing a business transaction under these circumstances?
But Ceid admitted that this guy bet right. He doesn't care to whom he sells his merchandise. He was never concerned about local influences' struggle. All he cared about was whether or not he could properly establish an effective marketing channel.