Before long, Ji Xun received two skill cards, a pile of cash, and an anonymous points card.
He also won a prize worth more than 100,000 through a lottery.
Not daring to linger in Big Ivan's shop, given the sensitivity of the items he sold, he couldn't be sure he hadn't exposed any flaws.
The shop was considerate, offering a secret passage for big clients.
After the transaction, he didn't leave through the main door but exited via the secret passage.
Though he had a slight worry that something might go wrong, he encountered no trouble until he completely left Dark Rain Street.
The shop ensured customer privacy throughout.
No worries about robbery, no fears of betrayal... the shopping experience was excellent from start to finish.
This was Ji Xun's first encounter with such a well-organized boss in Innocence City.
He had a feeling that "Big Ivan's Treasure Shop" would become a major player in the future.
...
Leaving Dark Rain Street, Ji Xun took the intercity train, wandered around the nearby Muddy Street and Copper Tower Street, erasing any scents and necessary traces.
He then changed his clothes and returned to the black market with over a million in cash.
He had only bought two cards earlier, and the items on his list weren't yet complete.
Seeing the increasingly bustling black market street, Ji Xun couldn't help but feel, "This trip was really worthwhile."
This visit added **[Basic Qi Mastery]** and **[Basic Combat Proficiency]** to his skill panel.
Don't underestimate these basic skills.
Grappling, throwing, striking... various combat techniques and qi protection made him both offensive and defensive.
He estimated that with his current state, he could beat his previous self at least five times over with the same attributes.
The next step was to practice and make these skills muscle memory, increasing his proficiency and combat strength.
Although he spent over four million, it was absolutely worth it.
If he had gone to a combat gym to learn, it would have taken him at least a year and a half of hard training to master these basic combat skills and qi techniques.
Now, it only cost him a bit of money.
The cost-performance ratio was very high.
Money can be earned again.
But combat skills can save lives.
...
"Big Ivan's Treasure Shop" limits each person to two skill cards. Ji Xun wondered if changing his clothes would allow him to try again.
But he decided against it.
Running a shop in the black market meant that the background and strength were far more complex than they appeared.
There were definitely experts in the shop.
Trying to take advantage could likely bring trouble.
Not worth the risk.
He'd come back another time if the opportunity arose.
Ji Xun continued browsing other shops.
He had thought his few hundred thousand in black market goods made him a big spender among hunters.
But while walking, a commotion erupted again at Big Ivan's entrance.
A mysterious person had placed an item into the fortune cat, appraising it at over ten million.
Innocence City truly hid dragons and tigers.
There were a dozen new shops on the street, offering a variety of goods.
Some had skill cards for sale, but they were either showcase gimmicks or expensive and impractical.
Ji Xun didn't find anything else suitable for himself.
But after a round of shopping, he found everything on his previous list.
The quality far exceeded his expectations.
Things like the **[Rogues II Single-Soldier Steam Super-Pressure Blaster]** for 300,000, **[High-Precision Portable Mechanical Grappling Hook]** for 70,000, **[Arche Alloy Ultra-Light Military Exoskeleton Suit]** for 280,000, and **[Rock Emperor III Mechanical Shield]** for 100,000...
Equipment he had wanted but couldn't afford before now came in full sets.
These mechanical devices were the most direct way to enhance the combat power of a Card Master apprentice.
Moreover, compared to other equipment, the mechanical gear was extremely affordable!
These were all military-grade.
While they might not be the latest technology from the Federation, they were certainly top-notch in Innocent City.
High quality, stable, precise, and powerful...
This was a far cry from the products of small mechanical workshops.
The stores were bustling with various large hunter groups and mercenary bands purchasing these premium mechanical pieces.
It could be said that as long as you have money, in the current Dark Rain Street black market, you could directly arm an elite mechanical army.
Ji Xun bought a lot.
Now that he had money, he also needed more ammunition.
Previously, buying six [Annihilation Bullets] required him to pledge most of his possessions.
Now he grabbed several boxes.
Not just this type of bullet, but also [Silver Bane Bullets] for dealing with vampires, [Violet Bullets] for high damage against dark creatures, [Mithril Acid Bullets] for corroding metal, [Daylight Bullets] for targeting evil spirits...
Various special bullets, each costing tens of thousands, were all stocked up.
This trip to the black market gave Ji Xun a wave of satisfaction from spending.
His storage rings were filled with various equipment and ammunition.
Firepower provides a unique sense of security.
...
While Ji Xun was wandering around the black market, on the second floor of the "Silver Star Mysterious Shop" he had visited before, a man and a woman were drinking coffee, watching the bustling grand opening of the Ivan Secret Treasure Shop, and chatting.
The man was plump, young but exuded wealth.
The woman, dressed in a biker leather jacket, had a hint of roguishness in her brow.
If Ji Xun were here, he would definitely recognize this leather-clad woman as "Dong Qi," who had previously introduced him to the shop.
The wealthy-looking man was Song Can.
He was none other than the owner behind Ivan's Secret Treasure Shop.
"Hey, fatso, can you really make money with this kind of discount promotion?"
"Burning a few billion is just a drizzle. Our VIP points system can lock in high-quality customers. Once the small shops lose their supply channels and clients and close down, that's when we start making money."
"..."
The plump man seemed to have no intention of hiding his business strategies, speaking openly.
Dong Qi frowned slightly.
Born in the underworld, she only knew about fighting and killing, completely unable to understand this level of capital operation.
She thought of something and smirked, "But the people behind these shops are no pushovers. Aren't you afraid they might come after you when their businesses shut down?"
"Of course I'm afraid!"
Song Can had a sorrowful expression.
He made no attempt to hide his fear of death, pouring out his grievances: "But the cruelty of business competition is no less than the battlefield, and there's no bloodless conflict. Moreover, if I don't achieve something within a year or two, I'll be in big trouble. So, Qi-ge, my safety and our shop's security depend on you and Honglou."
Dong Qi chuckled, "Don't worry. Your old man and my old geezer are old friends; we won't let you die in Innocent City."
She became curious, "But I don't get it, you're the legitimate heir of the Black Gold Merchant Guild. You have money, power, and everything. Why come to this godforsaken place of Innocent City to suffer?"
Hearing this, Song Can looked troubled, "Aiyo~ Qi-ge, I've already been exiled here, no need to tease me. A 'legitimate heir' like me, the Song family has at least a hundred or eighty..."
He didn't hide anything, complaining about his family background: "The old man is critically ill, and the uncles in the family are fighting fiercely over the inheritance. My brothers and their maternal family connections aren't easy either. If I didn't give up my right to inherit and leave Long City, I might 'accidentally' fall off a building one day without knowing how it happened. As you know, the bigger the family, the more dirty and vicious the methods. For the sake of those interests, so-called relatives can be even more ruthless than outsiders... I finally got a chance in Innocent City, so I came here to lay low."
Dong Qi listened with interest and said, "But Innocent City hasn't been safe lately. Just got confirmed news from the Great Cemetery: Cao Sihai is dead. The city might be in chaos for a while."
Song Can looked indifferent. "Chaos is fine. I'm mainly dealing in arms now. The more chaos, the more profit. Besides, regardless of the current situation in the city, the development of the Old Continent will be on the agenda in the future. I'm here to lay the groundwork first. The real big money comes later. If I wait until everything's settled, I won't even get a sip of hot soup..."
Dong Qi, uninterested in these business plans, pouted.
She then asked, "By the way, fatty, can you make the blueprints I gave you?"
Song Can patted his chest. "Don't worry. I have good relations with major military factories' labs. I'll get you some heavy-duty stuff, Qi-ge."
Dong Qi's eyebrows lifted slightly. "Good."
At this point, Song Can added, "One more thing. Qi-ge, with all your informants, can you help me keep an eye out for someone?"
Dong Qi raised an eyebrow. "Who?"
Song Can replied, "Someone my great-grandmother is looking for."
Dong Qi asked casually, "What's their name? Or any distinguishing features?"
Their gang, Honglou, was the best at finding people in Innocent City.
Song Can said, "My great-grandmother didn't give many details, just asked me to inquire. The name is 'Chaoyang'. Should be around our age."
Dong Qi furrowed her brows, questioning, "Your great-grandmother is looking for someone our age?"
Song Can shrugged, knowing her confusion, and said helplessly, "I know it's strange. But my father said my great-grandmother has been searching for this person for many years. Might not even be in Innocent City, but worth a try."
Dong Qi agreed readily, "Alright."
...
With the four corpse retrieval teams in East District Five wiped out, Ji Xun seemed to have nowhere to go in Innocent City.
He left Dark Rain Street and found himself in the bustling Tangning Street.
Without the governor's restrictions from the Cao family, many outsiders had flocked to the city.
Tangning Street's entertainment venues were busier than ever.
Every tavern was packed.
Innocent City might lag behind Upper City in many ways, but its entertainment industry was top-notch, attracting wealthy merchants and thrill-seekers.
Ji Xun wandered around, observing the recent changes in the city.
Not long after, he heard gunshots from a nearby alley.
Shootings were common in Innocent City.
With so many "fat sheep" arriving, murder and robbery were more frequent.
Soon, a black truck with the Golden Oak Company logo drove up.
Several black-clad, gas-mask-wearing individuals got out, loaded the bodies into body bags, and drove off quickly.
Ji Xun felt a strange familiarity.
Their amateurish technique suggested they were new hires.
The truck also had recruitment ads with the address being the Golden Oak branch in East District Five.
"Wow... They formed a new corpse retrieval team so quickly?"
Ji Xun suddenly knew where to go.
Having recently come into a fortune, he felt it was best to stay low.
The more crowded the place, the less safe it was.
Nothing suited him better than his old profession.