Chapter 18: The Black Market (Thanks to the recent Sugar Craving Alliance Leader!)

10:00 PM.

I sat at an idle computer, waiting for my shift to begin. Currently, the internet cafe’s main terminal was still being operated by Sakurako.

*Whoosh.*

Accompanied by a gust of wind, a figure stepped in from outside. Lu Xiaobei, that street-wandering soul, had left the internet cafe in the morning and finally returned.

She was dressed in her usual attire: a striped sweater on top, a brown skirt below, and long, flowing hair. She looked exactly like a beautiful tourist visiting the ancient city—ethereal and detached from the mundane world.

"Ding Han, come over here."

She sat behind the counter and gestured for me to approach.

She then pulled a men’s jacket from a bag and said, "I bought this based on your height. Try it on. It’s the latest style from Metersbonwe, with a fleece lining; you can wear it in both autumn and winter."

"Oh?"

Sakurako tilted her head, took a glance, and laughed. "Boss Lu, you really dote on this kid, Ding Han. How come I never see you buying autumn clothes for Zhao Yihang?"

As she spoke, she gave me a meaningful look. "Ding Han, Xiaobei is really good to you..."

"Don't talk nonsense." Lu Xiaobei’s face flushed slightly. "The internet cafe is expanding, business is booming, and Ding Han has offered many useful strategies. As the boss, I naturally reward merit. This is called appreciating talent—knowing how to put people to good use, understand?"

I did need a jacket, so I didn't stand on ceremony. I put it on and tried it out; it fit perfectly.

"Thank you, Boss!"

"Don't mention it."

Lu Xiaobei stood up and patted my shoulder. "Work hard. When the business gets even better, I’ll distribute bonuses to everyone at the end of the year!"

"Is that for real?" Sakurako asked with a delighted smile.

"Just wait and see."

Lu Xiaobei yawned and headed upstairs to sleep.

...

Midnight. The shift change was complete.

After adding the VIP section, business for overnight stays had improved significantly. There were nearly twenty people online, and even though the VIP overnight rate was as high as 8 yuan, it was still packed.

Those *Zang'ai* family teenagers were so caught up in their "chuunibyou" phase that I even overheard someone say, "Give up, Cold Young Master. Sis is on a VIP machine; you’re not worthy of her."

Late at night, with all the customers settled in, I lay back in the manager’s chair and started thinking about the dungeon.

I entered the Star Map, consuming 1% of my experience points.

"Player Zhuoying seeking assistance. Does any brother nearby have news about the player Zhui Guang? If so, please call out to Zhuoying. Many thanks, brothers and sisters, thank you, thank you!"

"Oh, if it isn't the great Zhuoying, ranked 12th on the regional leaderboard!"

A female player named "WhatAreYouEatingGiveMeABiteToo" chimed in. "Rare guest, rare guest. We rarely see you pop up here~~~"

"Cough, cough. I’m just a bit introverted and profound." I laughed. "Beautiful, do you know Zhui Guang’s whereabouts?"

"I don't..."

"Well, if you happen to hear anything, please give me a shout. I’ll make sure to reward you handsomely!"

"Alright, brother. Don't you worry!"

Afterward, a few others chimed in, but there was no useful information.

Closing the Star Map, I picked up my phone and sent a message to Zhang Ruolin: "Sister Ruolin, are you asleep? I need a batch of 9mm ammunition, but I don't have cash. I want to trade a green-grade Roarer for it. Do you have any leads?"

"Not asleep. The night is long, and I’m quite lonely," Zhang Ruolin replied instantly. "How much ammo do you need?"

"The more, the better. A thousand rounds might not be enough, and one Roarer is worth more than just a thousand rounds."

"Hmm." Zhang Ruolin replied, "How about this: let's meet at the coffee shop tomorrow at nine in the morning to discuss it?"

"Sounds good."

After settling that, I put down my phone and returned to the long, tedious process of the night shift.

...

The next morning, after handing over my shift, I grabbed a quick breakfast and headed to Island Coffee.

At nine o'clock sharp, Ruolin arrived.

She was wearing a black wool coat, but underneath was a striking sweater and a tight-fitting skirt. Combined with her exquisite, bright features and short hair, her "killing power" was indeed strong. While her looks were slightly inferior to Lu Xiaobei’s, she possessed far more feminine charm.

We drank coffee for a while before getting straight to the point.

"Roughly how much ammo do you need?"

"Over three thousand rounds."

"That many?" Zhang Ruolin looked surprised. "I don’t have that much in stock. If it’s really not enough, how about I accompany you to the black market?"

"The black market?"

I frowned; it was the first time I had heard that term in the Star Abyss world.

"Yes." Zhang Ruolin lowered her voice. "Players have their own trading channels located in an alley in the old city. I’m familiar with the crowd there. Want me to take you?"

"Let's go!"

We were in agreement. We finished our coffee and set off together for the black market.

...

The black market was located in an incredibly cramped alley in the old city. After passing through the alley, we saw two burly men blocking the path with hostile expressions.

"Identification?" one of them asked, his gaze cold.

"We're one of your own."

Ruolin instantly switched to combat mode, her health bar and ID flickering above her head for a split second.

"And you?" The burly man looked at me.

I followed suit, briefly switching to combat mode to show my health bar.

"OK." One of the men laughed. "Please, go ahead."

Inside was a large courtyard where people were coming and going—most likely all players. Ruolin brought me to a storefront where a bald player sat, chewing on a spicy rabbit head.

"Buying arms?" he asked without looking up.

"Strictly speaking, not buying—trading."

I sat down and said, "I have a green-grade MP25. I want to trade it for a batch of 9mm ammunition."

"Let me see the goods first."

"OK!"

I immediately reached into my interdimensional storage space, grabbed a pile of Roarer components, and "swish-swish-swish," assembled the parts into a brand-new submachine gun.

"Brother, your basic shooting skill level isn't low..." The bald player narrowed his eyes. "Ordinary players don't have that kind of proficiency in assembling and disassembling firearms."

"It's alright." I nodded with a smile. "Brother, check it out."

"Sure."

He took the submachine gun, quickly worked the bolt, aimed, checked the magazine, and nodded repeatedly. "The goods are genuinely good. How much ammo do you want for this gun?"

"4,000 rounds."

"That's too much..." He frowned. "I can give you three thousand at most."

"Deal."

I was decisive; there was no need to nickel and dime over this. After all, it was my first time trading at the black market, and there would be a long road ahead.

"Straightforward!"

The bald man smiled and nodded, then began moving boxes of ammunition out of his interdimensional storage. Each iron box contained ten paper packets, and each packet held one hundred rounds. There were three boxes in total.

After collecting the ammo, I didn't say much and left the black market with Ruolin.

"How did this black market come to be?" I couldn't help but ask, my head full of confusion. "And where do these military supplies come from?"

"I don't know." Ruolin said, "My guess is that there are powerful figures above the players. Otherwise, these military-grade supplies couldn't appear in the hands of players in such batches. I even feel that our arrival in the Star Abyss world might be orchestrated or utilized by someone. As for the specific circumstances, nobody knows yet."

"What about the people in the black market?"

"They don't know either. It's said they all follow the arrangements of certain NPCs, which is how this black market was established to provide players with various arms and supplies."

"These NPCs are probably not simple..."

"Who knows~~~"

Ruolin looked at the scenery of the ancient city ahead and laughed. "Anyway, it's still early. Want to walk around the ancient city with me?"

"Huh?" I showed a hint of fatigue. "Actually, I want to sleep."

"What is that supposed to mean..." She showed a shy expression. "We haven't known each other long, and you're already taking me to a hotel? That’s not right. We should take things step by step—at least take me out for a meal and a movie first, right?"

I remained expressionless. "Sister Ruolin, please, take it easy. I just worked the night shift and I'm exhausted. I really mean just pure sleeping, not the kind you're thinking of."

Zhang Ruolin burst into laughter. "You really are impossible to tease."

"Heh heh, I'm an honest man!"

I laughed, but as I walked a few steps further, I suddenly felt as if someone was staring at me and Zhang Ruolin. A chilling sensation crawled down my back for no reason.

I turned around to look behind us.

The light in the alley suddenly distorted, turning into countless granular particles, before quickly dissipating and returning to its original state. In that split second, a figure had vanished into that grainy curtain of light!

It was the Phantom Assassin's stealth skill, Shadow Veil!

In the blink of an eye, I saw an ID lingering in the wind.

[Godslayer of the Mid Lane] (Phantom Assassin, Tier 1)

...

"It’s someone from the Twilight of the Gods," Zhang Ruolin frowned and lowered her voice. "A subordinate of A-Blade-Into-The-Soul. What are they doing following us?"

"I don't know."

I turned around directly and smiled at the empty air. "Friend, we’re all players. Why not come out and talk?"

The alley remained silent, with only a breeze blowing through. It seemed the other party had no intention of talking to us.

...

After leaving the old city, Zhang Ruolin hopped into a taxi and left. I braced myself, deciding to clear the dungeon during the day to avoid any complications.

*Swish!*

After using the dungeon crystal, a ring sounded in my ears.

[Please note: A dungeon portal has appeared on the map. Please enter within the specified time, or this dungeon challenge opportunity will be forfeited!]

I opened the map, and sure enough, a flickering light appeared just two streets away.

This was my first time using a dungeon crystal to raid a dungeon—my first time on the job, so to speak. My heart raced, and I started walking toward the target marked on the map.

In the old city, the gate of a dilapidated courtyard flickered with a deep blue light, just like a portal in a movie. Judging by the expressions of the nearby residents, they couldn't see the portal; only I, the one who opened the dungeon, could. I stepped forward and walked right into it!

[Please note: You have activated the dungeon: Red Sand Raid Ground (Rare Rank ★★)!]

[You have entered the map: Desert Caravan Ruins!]

[Objective: Eliminate the defected Sergeant Major and recover the STC fragment!]

[Hint: Beware of the sandstorm! Beware of the sandstorm!]

...

My body felt a sudden shift, and I stepped into the dungeon map. Before me was a scene of a barren desert, with the wreckage of a caravan ahead. Camels with stiff necks and fierce, glowing eyes suddenly turned around, staring straight at me!

Mutated Camels, Level 15 Elite Monsters!