Apocalyptic Mechanist

Ling felt confused and shook her head. "The basic knowledge and textbooks are fine. The Black Mech Gang scattered a lot of complete basic textbooks to test prisoners with mechanical talent.

If you want to get more advanced knowledge, you can only join the Black Mech Gang and get it by completing gang missions. They control this aspect very strictly."

Could such a powerful Old Capital Killing God also be a Mechanist?

Basic textbooks?!

Jiang Xiao was very surprised; this was exactly the basic knowledge he needed!

Technical data could be provided by the panel's research tab, but he lacked basic knowledge the most.

Many advanced formulas and data were basically derived from basic knowledge.

Back on the Doran, he had no mechanical talent, so he didn't pay attention. Now, he truly regretted it.

—The Doran had access to a complete set of basic and elementary academic knowledge and data from an intermediate civilization!

"It's fine, basic textbooks are okay too."

Hearing this, Ling immediately replied, "No problem. The Spark Gang has collected quite a few sets to provide education for the children in the camp. Most of this knowledge is basic data from elementary civilizations, which in simple terms is the knowledge covered by compulsory education."

She felt a little disappointed, then chuckled inwardly: A Pan-Human, powerful and friendly to his own kind, and also a rare veteran Mechanist?

Such good things don't exist in the world.

Jiang Xiao didn't know what Ling was thinking. "Thank you. How long will my identity verification take?"

"About half a day. Are you going to the Spark Gang or...?" Ling asked.

For some reason, Jiang Xiao felt Ling was a bit hesitant when she asked this.

Without overthinking it, he pondered for a moment. "Then take me to the black market managed by the Spark Gang. I'll look around myself."

"Okay."

Ling breathed a sigh of relief. As long as they could make contact, it was fine.

Soon, the three of them successfully entered Sin City.

The jeep weaved and turned on the chaotic, crisscrossing roads, arriving in front of a huge, seemingly abandoned stadium.

"This is one of the large black markets on the outskirts of Sin City. On the surface, it was jointly established by multiple small gangs, but in reality, it's one of the black markets directly controlled by the Spark Gang. To contact the Spark Gang, find a merchant wearing a black robe with red patterns and say my name.

He'll come find you when your identity verification is complete. The way to enter the black market is..."

"I understand. I'll go on my own from here. Thank you, Ms. Ling, for explaining everything along the way."

Jiang Xiao smiled, bid farewell, got out of the car, put on a gray robe, and entered the basement of a residential building through a very inconspicuous, dilapidated corridor.

Watching Jiang Xiao's retreating back, Bruce slowly started the car.

"Ling, why didn't you mention Lord Xi Guang?" Bruce asked after a moment of silence.

Ling sighed. "That area is jointly blockaded 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, a large number of martial artist teams, and the high-level forces of various gangs.

Even a Tier 2 elite martial artist would have a slim chance of survival. I really don't know how to persuade Mr. Jiang."

Then, silence fell again inside the jeep.

Finally, Ling said tiredly, "I'll try. If it doesn't work, I'll have to risk organizing a rescue team and cooperate with Sister Xi Guang to force a breakthrough."

"..."

Bruce didn't speak because he knew in his heart that the Spark Gang's strength was nowhere near enough to confront the four factions head-on.

Meanwhile.

Jiang Xiao arrived in front of what looked like a scrapped elevator and pressed the button fifteen times in a row.

'Ding~'

Suddenly, the elevator slowly opened.

What a hidden place. But in front of the Alliance Army's detectors, it's no different than being exposed, right?

Jiang Xiao thought as he walked into the elevator.

A slight feeling of weightlessness came, lasting about ten seconds before it stopped.

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

This should be a scrapped underground shopping mall. Many areas had collapsed severely, and he could even see the remains of a tall building's exterior embedded in the ceiling.

'Netherflame Black Market'

As Jiang Xiao stepped in, besides many bizarre Alien races, he saw quite a few Sub-humans.

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

Of course, Starry Beastmen were undoubtedly intelligent beings and had nothing to do with spore plants.

What pleased Jiang Xiao the most was that there were no Viper Race or Blade Armor Race here. He felt annoyed whenever he saw these two races now.

After a rough look around, Jiang Xiao found hundreds of stalls and twenty to thirty shops. Most sold firearms and addictive substances like alcohol and tobacco. Only a handful of shops repaired equipment and sold healing medicine.

It was evident that weapon and mechanical repair was in high demand in Sin City.

Thinking of the Black Mech Gang's monopoly on mechanical repair and manufacturing, Jiang Xiao's plan began to take shape.

"How about opening a mechanical modification shop in the black market?"

Although he wasn't too keen on Sin City's currency system, and if he lacked materials, he could just rob the Viper Gang, Jiang Xiao decided to play it safe for now after thinking it over.

He would hunt aliens in small groups at night and run a black shop during the day to earn money and learn, gradually realizing the potential of his Mechanist class.

The plan was perfect!

Jiang Xiao was very satisfied with this plan.

Chapter 23: A Request from the Spark Gang

The Netherflame Black Market, despite its name, was no different from markets officially recognized by the Sin City Council.

The only distinction was that the black market allowed criminals without gang affiliations to trade there. Lone wolves, small gangs, and wanderers would also come to the black market to fence stolen goods from larger gangs.

Therefore, the black market primarily catered to wanderers and those living in wilderness settlements.

Honestly, Jiang Xiao found it amusing that there was a black market on Frontier Prison Star, a planet full of criminals.

It was a market for a criminal society, after all.

Moreover, the purchasing power of Sin Coins was much higher than he had imagined. Basic firearms cost anywhere from tens to hundreds of Sin Coins, and monthly living expenses wouldn't exceed five hundred Sin Coins, provided they didn't involve Source Energy weapons.

The most common Tier 1 Source Energy weapons cost over ten thousand Sin Coins, and none of the few Tier 1 equipment pieces available at the Netherflame Black Market were priced below twenty thousand!

As for mechanical repair and modification services, the profits were even more substantial. Even a simple rifle repair could cost over a hundred, half the price of the firearm itself.

"Mechanical technicians are indeed in high demand here..." Jiang Xiao mused.

It seemed opening a mechanical shop was indeed a good choice. It would allow him to earn money while also providing a cover identity. Who would have thought the Old Capital Killing God would open a mechanical shop in Sin City's black market?

Of course, opening a shop was one thing, but if he truly needed any high-value materials, Jiang Xiao certainly wouldn't go through normal channels to purchase them.

Damn it, I'm already in a prison star, and I'm supposed to follow the law? Did I come here for nothing?

Everyone here is a criminal, so why pretend to be noble? Just rob them!

Perhaps robbing the Black Mech Gang would be more efficient?

Hmm, decided. Other major gangs are experience points, and the Black Mech Gang is a resource pack. Everyone has a bright future.

"Mr. Jiang, your identity verification is complete."

As Jiang Xiao stood in a corner of the black market contemplating, a voice came from behind him. Having already sensed someone approaching, Jiang Xiao turned to look.

"So soon?"

It had only been three hours.

The figure clad in a black robe with red patterns bowed respectfully, "We will naturally do our utmost to fulfill Mr. Jiang's requests. Here is your identity verification."

With that, the robed figure handed him an exquisite network terminal.

"Additionally, Administrator Xi Ling and the Chief wish to discuss some matters with Mr. Jiang. Would you be willing to visit the Spark Gang headquarters? Of course, this is not a mandatory request."

Taking the terminal, Jiang Xiao raised an eyebrow.

Completing his request before making their own request showed sincerity.

Given this, he certainly wouldn't refuse. Moreover, being new here, if he could utilize the Spark Gang's intelligence and resource channels, many things would likely become much simpler.

With that thought, Jiang Xiao smiled, "Then lead the way."

"Thank you very much!" The robed figure beamed with joy and quickly led the way.

The two left the black market and drove a jeep towards the outer areas of Sin City.

Finally, the robed figure brought Jiang Xiao to a cluster of buildings resembling the Kowloon Walled City. After navigating through more than ten turns, they entered an underground space.

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

As the robed figure spoke, he pushed open the stairwell door, and orange light dispelled the darkness.

A bar?

Jiang Xiao looked surprised, gazing at the underground space, which was about two thousand square meters, with a standard bar layout. He was a little taken aback.

He had expected the headquarters of a gang formed by the core members of a rebellion to have a more militaristic style, but he hadn't anticipated it would be so... Sin City-esque.

Currently, only a dozen or so people were in the vast bar, making it seem quite empty.

"Mr. Jiang!"

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

"Well, Bruce, still doing your old job in Sin City?"

Bruce, who was still getting used to the bar equipment, replied helplessly, "There's nowhere else to arrange me for now. The Sin City Council recently increased their crackdown on the Spark Gang, and many activities have been suspended."

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

"Hahaha, you must be the renowned Old Capital Killing God, Mr. Jiang Xiao, right?"

Suddenly, a deep and hearty voice called out from not far away. A middle-aged man in gray clothing, accompanied by Xi Ling, approached them.