"This is the interception crossbow. 200,000, no discount." Xie Jinxin stared at Lin Shi, not missing any subtle change in his expression. The price was high, but if this young man didn't know better, he could make a good profit.
Lin Shi remained unmoved, his expression displeased. "A sniper rifle only costs a few tens of thousands, and you dare to ask for 200,000 for a crossbow? I remember the Interceptor's market price in the Beacon Country is around 8,000 dollars. Give me a fair price. I need quite a few things, and I won't let you lose out."
He still had many more items to trade, and he couldn't be taken for a fool. "Hehehe," Old Xie chuckled, showing no sign of embarrassment. "Where did you come from, kid? Alright, alright. I'll give you a normal price, 100,000. It took a lot of effort to get these items, so I can't sell them at the Beacon Country's price."
Lin Shi held up a hand, indicating a number: "60,000."
"90,000. No lower."
"65,000."
...
In the end, they settled on 80,000. For the arrows, Lin Shi asked for 50. Since the arrows were reusable, Xie Jinxin didn't have many in stock, otherwise, Lin Shi would have asked for more.
Next were the 54-caliber pistol bullets. Lin Shi took all of Xie Jinxin's inventory, 2,000 rounds. The shop had a wide variety of weapons, including various models of sniper rifles, assault rifles, and pistols. But apart from the 54-caliber pistol, Lin Shi only wanted two AK-47s and their accompanying ammunition. Originally, Lin Shi had also wanted some rifles from Xia Country, known for their durability in harsh conditions. However, Xie Jinxin said that getting those was too difficult. Lin Shi didn't take any other firearms. Precision weapons like sniper rifles would become useless in extreme cold due to thermal expansion and contraction, increased resistance of parts, and thickened gun oil. Even some might crack in the extreme cold. Simpler weapons like the 54-caliber pistol and the AK-47, which were already designed for harsh conditions, were more reliable.
However, even these would have a significantly reduced lifespan and would need frequent maintenance to prevent freezing. In a blizzard, snow could easily enter the barrel, making them more of a deterrent than practical. For self-defense, a pistol was sufficient, as Lin Shi had more than one. For hunting and gathering supplies, cold weapons were more practical. The age of cold weapons would rise after the apocalypse.
Finally, Lin Shi chose three Nepalese military knives and three daggers. When Xie Jinxin tried to sell him Tang Dynasty swords, Lin Shi declined. "I thought young people like you would be into these swords," Xie Jinxin muttered. Tang Dynasty swords were indeed popular online, but they were too straight and long, making them prone to breaking in extremely low temperatures when colliding with hard objects or other weapons.
Lin Shi smiled without explaining. "Do you accept pre-orders?"
Xie Jinxin confidently replied, "Tell me what you want. As long as it's not something huge, I can get it for you."
"I want the best military-grade cold-weather gear, including boots, combat gloves, and helmets. The top-of-the-line, most cold-resistant kind. Can you get them?"
Xie Jinxin's eyes widened. A full set of top-tier military cold-weather combat gear, with multiple layers, could withstand sub-zero temperatures and cost at least several hundred thousand each. Lin Shi added, "I need 50 sets, all in my size."
50 sets?! Xie Jinxin's eyes bulged. "Are you going to war?!" This kid must be rich. Lin Shi seriously lied, "I'm planning to stay in Antarctica for a few years." Xie Jinxin, of course, didn't believe this. But after hearing what else Lin Shi wanted, he began to think it might be true.
"Five night-vision goggles."
"Twenty military walkie-talkies, twenty individual cold-resistant tents, and fifty cold-weather military sleeping bags."
"Also, get me a few more of those military crossbows and more arrows. As many bullets as you can get."
Xie Jinxin quickly calculated; these items were worth over ten million. "For such a large order, I need a deposit of at least one million. I only accept cash and gold."
This was a reasonable request. Lin Shi nodded, "I'll come back tonight."
There was plenty of gold in his space, but he couldn't just bring it out. They agreed on a time, and Lin Shi left the pawnshop with a backpack Xie Jinxin gave him.
After Lin Shi left, Xie Jinxin continued assembling the crossbow for Old Jin. Old Jin asked with a meaningful tone, "Old Xie, is this sheep fat?"
"Don't get any ideas, Old Jin," Xie Jinxin defended Lin Shi. He couldn't read this young man and didn't want trouble. When he asked for the deposit, the young man didn't hesitate. Someone who could easily produce that much cash or gold and buy so much equipment was definitely not ordinary. Most importantly, he had never seen such composure in a young man in his twenties.
Old Jin fell silent.
...
Leaving the pawnshop and returning to his car, Lin Shi made sure there were no surveillance cameras before putting the items into his space. After dinner, he took five kilograms of gold from his space and went back to Xie Jinxin's pawnshop. The suburbs were even quieter at night.
Lin Shi entered the pawnshop, handed the gold bars to Xie Jinxin, and said, "Alright. I'll pay the rest when the goods arrive."
"Then I'll be off."
Lin Shi wasn't worried about Old Jin running away. First, Xie Jinxin was well-known for his reputation. Though he charged high, he always delivered. Second, the gold was useless to him, and losing it wouldn't be a big loss.
As Lin Shi turned to leave, Xie Jinxin called out, "Wait."
Xie Jinxin hesitated for a moment before saying, "Be careful tonight."
Lin Shi paused, then understood, "Thanks."
Be careful? What did a grown man need to be careful about? Clearly, someone was watching him.
Driving on the quiet streets, Lin Shi drove cautiously. After a while, he braked. Ahead, a row of nails lay across the road. Lin Shi's eyes narrowed. He shifted into reverse, hit the gas, and backed up to the previous intersection, quickly changing direction and driving down another road. This unexpected move caught the ambushers off guard. Normally, people would either have a flat tire and be forced to stop or get out to check, clearing the nails. Who would simply turn and run?
In an alley nearby, Old Jin, dressed in black and wearing a motorcycle helmet, was waiting for his prey. Seeing this, Old Jin cursed and revved his engine, chasing after Lin Shi.