The Spark Gang's Request

Xiling frowned in confusion and shook her head. "There's nothing wrong with the basic knowledge or textbooks. To test for prisoners with mechanical talent, the Black Mech Gang distributed quite a few complete sets of basic textbooks.

As for obtaining more advanced knowledge, the only way is to join the Black Mech Gang and complete gang missions to earn it. They keep a very tight grip on that knowledge."

How could someone as formidable as the Old Capital Killing God also be a mechanist?

Basic textbooks?!

Jiang Xiao was delighted. That was exactly what he wanted—basic knowledge!

Technical materials could be provided through the Research Slot on his panel. What he lacked most was basic knowledge.

Many advanced formulas and materials were derived from basic knowledge.

Back when he had been aboard the Doran, he had no mechanical talent and thus hadn't paid attention. Thinking about it now, he truly regretted it.

—The Doran had access to the complete basic and introductory academic knowledge of an Intermediate Civilization!

"It's fine. Basic textbooks will do."

Upon hearing that, Xiling immediately replied, "No problem. The Spark Gang has collected quite a few sets to teach the children in the camp. Most of this knowledge consists of the basic materials of a Primary Civilization. In simpler terms, it's the knowledge covered by compulsory education."

She felt slightly disappointed inside, then laughed at herself inwardly. A Pan-Human with immense strength who was friendly toward his fellow kind, and a rare veteran mechanist at that?

How could there be such a good thing in the world?

Jiang Xiao had no idea what Xiling was thinking. "Thanks. How long will my identity verification take?"

"About half a day. Should we go to the Spark Gang and wait, or...?" Xiling asked.

For some reason, Jiang Xiao sensed a trace of unease in Xiling's voice when she asked that.

He didn't think much of it. After a moment's thought, he said, "Then take me to the black market operated by the Spark Gang. I'll look around on my own."

"All right."

Xiling secretly breathed a sigh of relief. As long as they could contact him, that was enough.

Before long, the three of them entered Sin Capital without a hitch.

The jeep wound through a chaotic network of crisscrossing roads and arrived in front of a huge venue that seemed to have been abandoned for years.

"This is one of the large black markets on the outskirts of Sin Capital. On the surface, it was jointly established by several small gangs, but in reality, it's one of the black markets directly controlled by the Spark Gang. If you want to contact the Spark Gang, find a vendor wearing a black robe with red patterns and tell him my name.

"Once your identity verification is complete, he'll be the one to find you. As for how to enter the black market..."

"Got it. I'll take it from here. Thank you for explaining everything along the way, Ms. Xiling."

Jiang Xiao smiled, said his farewells, and got out of the vehicle. He put on a gray robe, passed through an inconspicuous, dilapidated stairwell, and entered the basement level of a residential building.

Watching Jiang Xiao's departing back, Bruce slowly started the vehicle.

"Xiling, why didn't you tell him about Lady Xi Guang?" Bruce suddenly asked after a moment of silence.

Xiling sighed. "That district was sealed off jointly by the Sin City Council, the Viper Gang, the Blade Armor Gang, and the Dragon Fang Gang. They've gathered tens of thousands of gang members, numerous martial artist squads, and the top forces of many gangs.

"Even a Tier 2 Elite martial artist would be nine parts dead if they went there. I truly don't know how to convince Mr. Jiang."

The jeep fell silent once more.

In the end, Xiling said wearily, "I'll try. If that doesn't work, we'll have no choice but to risk organizing a rescue team and coordinate with Sister Xi Guang to force our way out."

"..."

Bruce said nothing, because he knew very well that the Spark Gang's strength was nowhere near enough to face the four forces head-on.

Meanwhile.

Jiang Xiao arrived in front of an elevator that appeared to have been scrapped and pressed the button fifteen times in succession.

'Ding~'

Suddenly, the elevator slowly opened.

What a hidden place. But in front of the Alliance Army's detectors, wouldn't this be no different from running around naked?

Jiang Xiao stepped into the elevator.

A slight sensation of weightlessness came over him. It lasted for roughly ten seconds before finally stopping.

The moment the elevator doors opened, a cacophony of noise crashed over Jiang Xiao.

This should be an abandoned underground shopping mall. Many areas had collapsed badly, and he could even see the remains of a high-rise building's outer wall embedded in the ceiling.

'Netherflame Black Market'

Jiang Xiao stepped inside. Aside from many strange and bizarre alien races, he saw quite a few Sub-humans here.

Unlike the Pan-Humans, who looked extremely similar to humans, Sub-humans only resembled humans in outline. The most common among them were the Starry Beastman Race, with beast heads and human bodies.

Of course, Starry Beastmen were unquestionably an intelligent race and had nothing to do with spore plants.

What pleased Jiang Xiao most was that there were no members of the Viper Clan or Blade Armor Race here. Seeing those two races now irritated him.

After taking a general look around, Jiang Xiao found several hundred stalls and two or three dozen shops. Most sold firearms, weapons, tobacco, alcohol, and addictive substances. Only a handful of shops repaired equipment or sold healing medicines.

It was clear that repairing weapons and machinery was highly profitable in Sin Capital.

Thinking of the Black Mech Gang's monopoly over mechanical repair and manufacturing, Jiang Xiao's plan gradually took shape.

"Why not open a mechanical modification shop in the black market?"

Although he wasn't particularly interested in Sin Capital's currency system—if he lacked materials, he could always rob the Viper Gang—Jiang Xiao thought it over carefully and still decided to prioritize stability for now.

He would hunt aliens on a small scale at night, then open a black shop during the day to make money and study, slowly converting the potential of the mechanist profession into actual gains.

Perfect plan!

Jiang Xiao was extremely satisfied with this plan.

Chapter 23: The Spark Gang's Request

The Netherflame Black Market was called a black market, but in reality, it was no different from the markets recognized by the Sin City Council.

The only difference was that the black market allowed criminals without gang identities to trade there. Lone wolves, small gangs, and wanderers who acquired stolen goods from major gangs would also come to the black market to dispose of them.

Thus, the black market primarily catered to wanderers and wilderness settlements.

To be honest, Jiang Xiao found it amusing that there was a black market on the Frontier Prison Star, which was filled with criminals.

A lawless market in a society of criminals, huh?

Moreover, the purchasing power of Sin Coins was much higher than he had expected. Basic firearms cost anywhere from dozens to several hundred Sin Coins, while monthly living expenses wouldn't exceed five hundred Sin Coins. Of course, that was assuming source-energy weapons weren't involved.

Even the most ordinary Tier 1 source-energy weapons cost more than ten thousand Sin Coins. The few Tier 1 pieces of equipment in the Netherflame Black Market were all priced above twenty thousand!

As for mechanical repair and modification services, the profits were even greater. Even a simple rifle repair could easily cost over a hundred Sin Coins—half the price of the firearm itself.

"Mechanical technicians really are popular here..." Jiang Xiao calculated inwardly.

Looking at it this way, opening a mechanical shop truly was a good choice. He could make money while maintaining a cover identity. Who would have thought that the Old Capital Killing God would open a mechanical shop in Sin Capital's black market?

Of course, opening a shop was one thing. If he really lacked some high-value materials, Jiang Xiao would certainly not buy them through normal channels.

I've already been thrown onto a Prison Star, and I'm still supposed to obey the law? Then wouldn't coming here have been pointless?

You're all criminals. Why pretend to be so noble? Anyway, just rob them!

Maybe robbing the Black Mech Gang would be more efficient?

Hmm, it's decided. The other major gangs are experience packs, while the Black Mech Gang is a resource pack. Everyone has a bright future ahead.

"Mr. Jiang, your identity verification has been completed."

Just as Jiang Xiao stood in a corner of the black market thinking, a voice came from behind him. Jiang Xiao, who had sensed someone approaching long ago, turned to look at the newcomer.

"That fast?"

It had only been three hours.

The figure in the black robe with red patterns bowed respectfully. "We naturally did everything in our power to fulfill Mr. Jiang's request. This is your identity verification."

As he spoke, the black-robed man handed over an exquisite network terminal.

"Additionally, Internal Affairs Officer Xiling and the chief would like to discuss something with you. Would you be willing to visit the Spark Gang's headquarters? Of course, this isn't mandatory."

Jiang Xiao accepted the terminal and raised his brows slightly.

They fulfilled his request first and only then made theirs. Quite sincere.

Since that was the case, he naturally wouldn't dampen their spirits. Besides, he was new here. If he could borrow the Spark Gang's intelligence and resource channels, many things would surely become much easier.

With that thought, Jiang Xiao smiled. "Lead the way."

"Thank you very much!" The black-robed man was overjoyed and hurriedly led the way.

The two of them left the black market and drove a jeep toward a more peripheral area of Sin Capital.

In the end, the black-robed man brought Jiang Xiao to a building complex resembling Kowloon Walled City. After turning through more than ten corners, they entered an underground space.

"Mr. Jiang, the Spark Gang's headquarters is behind this door."

As the black-robed man spoke, he pushed open the stairwell door, and orange-yellow light dispelled the darkness.

A bar?

Jiang Xiao looked surprised as he gazed at the roughly two-thousand-square-meter underground space and its standard bar layout. He felt slightly bewildered.

He had thought that a gang headquarters designed by a core member of the Rebel Army would have a more military-like style. He hadn't expected it to be so criminally stylish.

At present, the enormous bar held only a dozen or so people, making it look rather empty.

"Mr. Jiang!"

A familiar voice came from behind the bar. Jiang Xiao looked over and smiled.

"Well, Bruce, are you doing your old job in Sin Capital too?"

Bruce, who had just gotten familiar with the bar equipment, said helplessly, "There's nowhere to assign me for now. The Sin City Council recently intensified its suppression of the Spark Gang, and many activities have already been suspended."

Jiang Xiao nodded slightly, puzzled by the Sin City Council's all-out suppression of the Spark Gang.

"Hahaha, I presume this is the renowned Mr. Jiang Xiao, the Old Capital Killing God?"

Suddenly, a hearty, powerful voice came from nearby. A middle-aged man in gray clothes walked over with Xiling.