Lin Shi drove to the eastern suburbs, searching for over an hour before finally finding the pawnshop next to a dilapidated apartment building. "Sincere Pawn Shop." The sign was clearly faded, and the small, non-transparent door did little to invite customers. After a moment's thought, Lin Shi took out the pistol from his space, checked the bullets, and tucked the pistol into his inner jacket pocket before getting out of the car.
With a backpack containing five kilograms of gold already prepared, he entered the shop. Inside, a large screen with the character "當" (pawn) greeted him. Beyond the screen, a man was fiddling with something behind the counter, so engrossed that he didn't even notice Lin Shi's entrance.
"Knock, knock!" Lin Shi walked over and tapped on the counter. The man looked up, and upon seeing a new face, immediately became wary. It was only then that Lin Shi noticed the crossbow in the man's hands. The crossbow was entirely black, with sleek lines full of tension. On the table, there was also a sight and some spare parts that hadn't been assembled yet. From its overall shape, it was a compound crossbow produced by the Beacon Country, far more powerful than a pistol. It was said to be capable of piercing an elephant's skull from 150 meters away, with a firing rate comparable to a pistol, high accuracy, and easy operation. It could be disassembled and reassembled as needed, and it made less noise than a pistol, with arrows that could be reused. If he had such a crossbow in his previous life, he could have roamed the wilderness during the apocalypse with ease. He was indeed in the right place.
Noticing Lin Shi's gaze, Xie Jinxin pulled a cloth over the partially assembled crossbow. Although he didn't think the young man in front of him could recognize it, Xie Jinxin still explained, "My kid likes playing with these toys. What can I do for you, young man?"
Lin Shi didn't call him out on it, instead, he took off his backpack and placed it on the counter, unzipping it to reveal the gold inside. Xie Jinxin's eyes lit up as he picked up one of the gold bars and examined it. "Sell or pawn? Cash or transfer?"
"I want to trade for something," Lin Shi said.
Hearing this, Xie Jinxin dropped his casual demeanor and gave Lin Shi a serious look. Not many people knew that he could trade for "things." Only regulars or those introduced by regulars would know.
"Who sent you? What are you looking for?" Xie Jinxin asked.
Lin Shi avoided the question, "Can I trade for that crossbow you were just working on?"
Xie Jinxin scanned Lin Shi up and down, seemingly judging his age, and said, "Do you know what that is?"
Just as Lin Shi was about to respond, the door behind him opened again. Before the person appeared, a voice rang out, "Old Xie, has my stuff arrived?"
A tall, burly man walked in, circling around the screen. He only now noticed that there was someone else in the shop and immediately gave Lin Shi a wary once-over.
Xie Jinxin spoke to the burly man, "It's here, but not assembled yet. Go wait in the back; I need to finish this deal first."
At this point, the burly man noticed the bag of gold on the counter, and a glint of greed flashed in his eyes. Seeing the burly man head through the small door behind the counter, Xie Jinxin continued, "What do you want to trade for? Speak quickly, I have other customers."
"I want to trade for that interception crossbow, or the elite crossbow, the Stealth, any of them, with the accompanying arrows. I also need as many 54-caliber pistol bullets as possible," Lin Shi said.
Xie Jinxin's pupils contracted, and he gave Lin Shi another thorough look. In their line of work, having a keen eye was crucial. Xie Jinxin could usually tell at a glance who he could do business with and who he couldn't. He wouldn't trade his items to desperate men, as it might bring trouble. Nor would he trade with ordinary people, who had no use for his goods. He only traded with those who frequently operated on the border or with mercenaries. These people often put their lives on the line, and after getting the equipment they wanted, they would be grateful to him.
Xie Jinxin had relied on his sharp judgment for years, but he found himself unsure about Lin Shi. At first glance, Lin Shi seemed like a student, perhaps there to pawn something. But on closer inspection, Lin Shi's eyes were calm and sharp, and his body was tense, ready to act at any moment. This level of alertness was something Xie Jinxin had only seen in seasoned veterans. However, the young man's skin and hands were too smooth, without the calluses or the air of a desperate man. Yet, he could instantly recognize the interception crossbow.
Finally, Xie Jinxin decided to trust his instincts. "Young man, what you want isn't enough with just these gold bars."
"As long as you have what I need, money is not a problem," Lin Shi replied.
Xie Jinxin nodded. "Follow me."
Xie Jinxin turned and pushed open the door behind the counter. The burly man, who had apparently not gone far, was standing by the door. "Old Xie, why are you bringing this kid in?"
"Old Jin, your stuff will have to wait. Let this young brother choose first," Xie Jinxin said. So, the burly man was called Old Jin. Lin Shi could sense the ferocity emanating from him.
Old Jin gave Lin Shi a sidelong glance, his tone contemptuous, "Old Xie, how desperate are you for money that you're doing business with anyone? A kid who hasn't even grown a beard, and you're not afraid that your place will be raided in a couple of days!"
Xie Jinxin narrowed his eyes, his smile fading slightly, "I know what I'm doing."
Lin Shi mentally added, "No need for your unsolicited advice."
"Hmph! I'm just worried that our years of business will be ruined by this kid," Old Jin grumbled, his eyes flashing with a menacing light as he looked at Lin Shi.
Lin Shi met his gaze calmly. When facing a fierce beast, showing composure was key to not being seen as prey.
Xie Jinxin, unwilling to continue the conversation, waved his hand, indicating for Lin Shi to follow. They walked through a dark corridor to a thick aluminum door. Xie Jinxin unlocked it and felt around on the wall inside for a few seconds, and the lights came on.
Through the gap, Lin Shi saw rows of wooden racks. "Come in," Xie Jinxin said, leading the way.
Inside, there were indeed rows of wooden racks, each with different-sized wooden boxes, all sealed. Lin Shi followed Xie Jinxin to one of the racks, where Xie Jinxin took down a box and used a screwdriver to remove the nails. Opening the box, he removed the straw on top, revealing an unassembled interception crossbow!