Kahn drove to the location Jimmy had given him. Though it was a bit remote, it was still within New York City, albeit near the outskirts.
After parking his car, Kahn stepped inside without hesitation. It was a standard gun shop, with firearms legally sold in the U.S. displayed openly. Kahn scanned the shop. If these were all they had, he wouldn't have gone through the trouble of asking Jimmy for information or driving this far.
"Excuse me, sir?"
At his call, a man slowly stood up from behind the counter. He was a middle-aged man whose unkempt beard blended into his messy hair, making him look like a hairless gorilla.
"If you're old enough to buy guns, feel free to browse," the shop owner said gruffly.
The shopkeeper assumed Kahn was just a curious young man sneaking in to look at firearms. Such customers rarely had much money, and even if they pooled all their savings, they could only afford the cheapest hunting rifle.
"Pick whatever you like, and let me know. Since it's your first time here, I'll give you a 10% discount."
"I've already made my selection. I want everything on this list, sir," Kahn said, placing a piece of paper on the counter.
The shopkeeper glanced at the list and frowned deeply. It wasn't just the quantity of items but also that many were restricted or outright banned.
"I'm here on Jimmy's recommendation," Kahn added quickly.
The shopkeeper grumbled, "Why didn't he just send you to Stark Industries?"
"Stark Industries wouldn't break the law for such a small order. Name your price, sir," Kahn replied.
He hinted he was willing to pay extra for the items on his list. While it would be expensive, it was his only option to acquire them. At least this shopkeeper didn't seem dangerous. If Jimmy had sent him to deal with the mafia, Kahn would've preferred to buy from official channels.
Kahn's social connections weren't helpful in this situation. The only person willing to help him buy firearms was Jimmy, motivated purely by money. Everyone else would've advised Kahn to hire bodyguards or call the police.
But Kahn's unique ability didn't recognize New York's police or bodyguards. Contracts were meaningless to it.
The shopkeeper, looking serious, said, "Selling these is illegal. If the cops find out, I'll—"
Thud.
Kahn placed $30,000 in cash on the counter.
"This is a deposit. If you agree to the deal, the balance will also be paid in cash," Kahn said calmly. Seeing the shopkeeper's hesitation, he added, "Besides, you know Jimmy. He wouldn't set you up. This isn't a one-time deal; I'll be back for more in the future."
In the year 2000, $30,000 was a significant amount. Kahn's list was mainly for personal use, consisting of handguns, rifles, a good supply of ammunition, and a few grenades and explosives. The total cost wouldn't exceed $150,000.
It was a lucrative deal. The shopkeeper hesitated, repeatedly scrutinizing Kahn's expression but couldn't discern much. With such a brief interaction, it was impossible to uncover everything about Kahn.
"I'll take the deal. I'll have everything ready in five days. Leave me an address," the shopkeeper finally agreed.
Jimmy's recommendation played a part, as he was known to introduce reliable clients. The shopkeeper also noted Kahn's youth and the expensive clothes and car—clear signs of wealth.
Kahn wrote down an address and phone number, handing it over. "Here's my contact info. Call me before you deliver."
The address was one of the properties Kahn had inherited from his parents, located just four blocks away. It had a large garage but was rarely used.
The shopkeeper took the address and immediately pocketed the $30,000. This deal alone would cover three months of his expenses.
With the deal settled, Kahn left the shop and drove away.
Back home, Kahn resumed self-studying medical knowledge. His top ranking at Midtown High was due to his exceptional memory. He didn't want to waste time on mindless video games, especially since games in the year 2000 were dull to him, both in graphics and storyline.
Kahn's interest in medicine wasn't driven by his 34% stake in the family hospital but by its potential usefulness in his life as a transmigrator. Firearms could protect him against human threats, but medical knowledge was vital for survival in unexpected situations.
He practiced first aid, suturing, diagnosing illnesses, and using medication. His parents had left behind numerous medical books, and he even experimented with surgical techniques on practice dummies. While his success rate was 100% on dummies, he had no idea how many lives he could save in real scenarios.
That day, Kahn felt a surge of excitement. Once his new weapons arrived, he could finally test his unique ability.
Though danger was inevitable, Kahn was mentally prepared. For an ordinary person like him, opportunities for extraordinary power were rare. His system was the most suitable method for him.
"In five days, I'll activate the System. Should I practice some more? I'm skilled with firearms, but I've only seen videos of rocket launchers."
Feeling energized, Kahn cut his study session short, took a hot shower, and poured himself a glass of wine. As long as the police didn't come knocking, he wasn't technically a criminal.
"When the time comes, I'll see which world I can trade with. If it's not too risky, I'll explore it... System."
A translucent panel appeared in front of Kahn, visible only to him. He had tested this multiple times in front of his classmates.
The panel displayed minimal information and had a simple function.
The system could scan a world, but Kahn had to initiate a trade personally. He needed to find a local inhabitant with a trade request. Once completed, the system would mark that world, allowing Kahn to freely travel between it and the Marvel universe to conduct further trades.
This made the first trade the most dangerous. However, once successful, Kahn could leverage the system to build his own influence in the trading world.
The system also featured 50 storage slots, each capable of holding up to 999 units of a single item, with one unit equating to 100 kilograms. For instance, Kahn could store nearly 5,000 tons of flour in those slots—a massive capacity.
"Risk and opportunity go hand in hand. But if I succeed, the rewards will far outweigh the risks."
Kahn had thought this through. A mundane life as a wealthy man wasn't what he wanted. He longed to explore other worlds.