Black Market (Thanks to Alliance Leader Zui Jin Xiang Chi Tang!)

It's 10 PM.

I'm sitting in front of a spare machine, waiting to be replaced. Sakura is still operating the internet cafe's management console.

"Whoosh~~"

A figure entered from outside, accompanied by the sound of the wind.

Lu Xiaobei, that street rat, left the internet cafe this morning and has only just returned.

She's still dressed the same: a striped sweater on top, a coffee-colored skirt below, her long hair flowing, looking like a beautiful, otherworldly tourist in the old city.

"Ding Han, come here."

She sat down behind the counter and gestured for me to come over.

Then, she took out a men's jacket from her bag and said, "I bought it roughly according to your height, try it on. It's the latest men's style from Metersbonwe, with a fleece lining, suitable for both autumn and winter."

"Oh?"

Sakura tilted her head and looked, then smiled, "President Lu, you really dote on this kid Ding Han. Why haven't I seen you buy autumn clothes for Zhao Yihang?"

As she spoke, she gave me a meaningful glance. "Ding Han, Xiaobei is treating you well, you know..."

"Don't talk nonsense."

Lu Xiaobei's cheeks flushed slightly. "The internet cafe is expanding, and business is booming. Ding Han has given me a lot of advice. As the boss, I naturally reward merit. I'm appreciating him, using his talents wisely, understand?"

I really needed a jacket, so I didn't stand on ceremony. I put it on and tried it. It fit perfectly.

"Thanks, boss!"

"You're welcome."

Lu Xiaobei stood up and patted my shoulder. "Work hard. When the internet cafe's business gets even better, I'll give everyone a year-end bonus!"

"Is that so?"

Sakura exclaimed with surprise and laughter.

"Just you wait and see."

Lu Xiaobei yawned and went upstairs to sleep.

It's midnight, and my shift has ended.

After adding the VIP area, the overnight business has improved significantly. There are nearly twenty people online tonight, and even though the overnight price for the VIP area is as high as 8 yuan, it's still packed.

Those teenagers and girls from the "Love to Die" families are so chuunibyou. I even heard someone say, "Give up, Cold Young Master, I'm the one who gets VIP machines. You can't reach me."

Late at night, all the customers who logged in are settled. I'm lying in the manager's chair, and it's time to think about running dungeons.

Entering Star Chart, consuming 1% experience.

"Player Shadow Chaser seeks help. Does any brother nearby know the whereabouts of player Chasing Light? If so, please contact Shadow Chaser. Thank you, brothers and sisters. Thank you, thank you!"

"Wow, it's the great Shadow Chaser, ranked 12th on the regional leaderboard!"

A MM named "What to Eat, Give Me a Bite Too" chimed in. "A rare visitor, a rare visitor! We don't usually see you pop up~~~"

"Ahem, I'm more introverted and profound."

I chuckled. "Miss, do you know where Chasing Light is?"

"I don't know..."

"Well, if you find out when you have time, help me inquire. If you get any news, contact me, and I'll reward you handsomely!"

"Okay, brother, don't worry!"

After that, a few more people came up to chat, but there was no useful information.

After closing Star Chart, I picked up my phone and sent a message to Zhang Ruolin: "Sister Ruolin, are you asleep? I need a batch of 9mm bullets, but I don't have cash. I want to trade a green Roarer for them. Do you have any leads?"

"Not asleep, the night is long and lonely."

Zhang Ruolin replied instantly: "How many bullets do you need?"

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

"Mmm."

Zhang Ruolin said, "How about this, let's meet at the coffee shop tomorrow morning at nine to talk?"

"Okay."

After agreeing, I put down my phone and endured the long night shift again.

The next morning, after handing over my shift, I quickly ate breakfast and then headed to Shangdao Coffee.

At exactly nine o'clock, Ruolin arrived punctually.

Today she was wearing a black wool coat, but underneath was a striking sweater and a hip-hugging skirt. Combined with her exquisite and bright appearance and short hair, she was indeed very captivating. Although her looks were slightly inferior to Lu Xiaobei's, she exuded much more womanly charm.

After drinking coffee for a while, the two of them got straight to the point.

"About how many bullets do you need?"

"More than three thousand."

"That many?"

Zhang Ruolin exclaimed, "I don't have that many in stock. If you really can't find them, how about I go with you to the black market?"

"Black market?"

I frowned, hearing the term for the first time in the Star Abyss world.

"Mm."

Zhang Ruolin lowered her voice, "Players have their own channels for trading, in a small alley in the Old City District. I know people there, want me to take you?"

"Sure!"

We hit it off immediately. We downed our coffee in one gulp and then headed to the black market side by side.

The black market was located in a very narrow alley in the Old City District. After passing through the alley, we saw two burly men blocking our way with ill intentions.

"Identity?" one of them asked coldly.

"One of us."

Ruolin instantly switched to combat form, her health bar and ID flashing briefly above her head.

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

I did the same, instantly switching to combat form and showing my health bar.

"OK."

One of the burly men smiled, "Please, come in."

Ahead was a large courtyard, with people coming and going. They were most likely all players. Ruolin led me to a doorway. Inside, a bald player sat there, gnawing on a spicy rabbit head.

"Buying weapons?" he asked, looking up.

"Strictly speaking, it's not buying, it's exchanging."

I sat down and said, "I have a green MP25, and I'd like to exchange it for a batch of 9mm bullets."

"Show me the goods first."

"OK!"

I immediately reached into my Dimensional Storage Space and grabbed a pile of Roarer components. Then, with a series of swift movements, I assembled the parts into a brand-new submachine gun.

"Brother, your Basic Shooting skill level isn't low..."

The bald player narrowed his eyes, "Most players don't have that much proficiency in assembling and disassembling firearms."

"It's alright."

I smiled and nodded, "Brother, want to inspect the goods?"

"Sure."

He took the submachine gun, quickly pulled the bolt, aimed, and then looked at the magazine. He nodded repeatedly, "The goods are really good. Brother, how many bullets do you plan to exchange for this gun?"

"Four thousand rounds."

"That's too much..."

He frowned, "I can give you three thousand rounds at most."

"Deal."

I was also very straightforward. There was no need to haggle over such matters. After all, it was my first time trading in the black market, and there would be many more opportunities in the future.

"Straightforward!"

The bald man nodded with a smile, then began moving boxes of bullets from his Dimensional Storage Space. Each iron box contained ten paper packets, and each paper packet held a hundred bullets, for a total of three iron boxes.

After receiving the bullets, I didn't say anything more and left the black market with Ruolin.

"How did this black market come about?"

With many questions in my mind, I couldn't help but ask, "And where did all these military supplies come from?"

"I don't know."

Ruolin said, "Based on my speculation, there must be some important figures above the players. Otherwise, these supplies, which seem to come from the military, wouldn't be appearing in batches in players' hands. I even think that we players descending into the Star Abyss world is itself a manipulated or exploited situation. No one knows the specifics yet."

"What about the people in the black market?"

"They don't know either. It's said they follow the arrangements of some NPCs, which is why they set up this black market to provide various weapons and supplies for players."

"Those NPCs are probably not simple..."

"Who knows~~~"

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

"Huh?"

I revealed a hint of fatigue, "Actually, I just want to sleep."

"What are you saying..."

She showed a shy expression, "We've only known each other for a short time, and you want to take me to a hotel already? That's not right. We should take things slow. At least take me out to dinner and a movie, right?"

My expression was blank, "Sister Ruolin, please stop. I'm just really tired because I worked the night shift yesterday. I genuinely just want to sleep, not what you're thinking."

Zhang Ruolin chuckled, "You're really not good at taking a joke."

"Hehe, I'm a very honest person!"

I laughed heartily and took a few more steps forward, but suddenly felt like someone was staring at Zhang Ruolin and me. A chill ran down my spine for no reason.

So, I turned to look behind me.

I saw the light in the alley suddenly distort, breaking into countless particles before quickly dispersing and returning to its original state. In that instant, a figure disappeared into that curtain of granular light!

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

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

[Mid Lane Killing God] (Shadow Assassin · Tier 1)

"It's someone from Ragnarok."

Zhang Ruolin frowned and lowered her voice, "A subordinate of One Blade Into Soul. What do they want following us?"

"I don't know."

I turned directly and smiled at the empty air, "Friend, we're both players. Is there something you want to say?"

The alley was silent, only the gentle breeze blowing.

It seemed the other party didn't intend to talk to us.

After leaving the Old City District, Zhang Ruolin got into a taxi and left. I, on the other hand, rallied my spirits and decided to tackle this instance during the day, to avoid any unnecessary complications.

"Swish!"

As soon as I used the Instance Crystal, a bell sound chimed in my ear.

[Notice: The instance portal has appeared on the map. Please enter within the time limit, or this instance challenge opportunity will be void!]

Opening the map, I indeed saw a flashing light just two streets away.

This was my first time using an Instance Crystal to tackle an instance, a true maiden voyage. My heart was a little excited, so I set off towards the target marked on the map.

In the Old City District, the gate of a dilapidated courtyard flickered with a faint blue light, like a portal in a movie.

Judging by the expressions of the nearby residents, they couldn't see this portal. Only I, the one who opened the instance, could see it. So, I stepped forward, and with one step, I entered the instance!

[Notice: You have opened the instance 〖Red Sand Plunder〗 (Rare ★★)!]

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

[Objective: Defeat the renegade Sergeant and retrieve the STC fragments!]

[Warning: Beware of sandstorms! Beware of sandstorms!]

My body relaxed as I stepped into the instance map. Before me was a desert landscape, and ahead lay the wreckage of a caravan. Camels, with their necks stiff and eyes fierce, suddenly turned and stared straight at me!

Mutated Camel, Level 15 Elite Monster!