"I'm Li Yuan, Chief of the Spark Uprising Army and currently the leader of the Spark Gang." Li Yuan extended his hand in advance. "Thank you for helping Xiao Xi. If you need anything, just let me know."
Seeing this, Bruce silently poured three glasses of liquor and placed them on the bar.
Jiang Xiao shook hands with Li Yuan and habitually opened the search function.
Li Yuan (78% Sub-gold Human)
Level: Tier 2 Peak (Seriously Injured) Talent Value (Source Energy): 2.43 Source Energy Intensity: 78 (98)
Jiang Xiao's heart tightened.
So strong!
Putting aside the guards aboard the Doran, this was the strongest person he had faced directly so far!
Even seriously injured, he still had a Source Energy Intensity of 78.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Jiang Xiao got straight to the point. "No need to be so polite. May I ask what Chief Li and Ms. Xiling wish to discuss with me?"
Ms. Xiling was still dressed in a black robe, her expression impossible to make out. Li Yuan's expression dimmed slightly. "We'd like to ask you to save a Pan-Human, Xi Guang Arsophie.
"She is currently the strongest member of our Spark Gang, a Tier 2 Elite Esper. Right now, the Sin City Council has joined forces with several major gangs to surround her in Kasar Street Block. If Mr. Jiang can rescue her, we will open our gang's resource vault to you in full. You can take whatever you want, Mr. Jiang!
"You can already see the specific contents.
"However, this matter is extremely dangerous. The Sin City Council has dispatched several Tier 2 Elites and mechanized forces to blockade that district. Even if you refuse, Mr. Jiang will remain our honored guest."
After speaking, Li Yuan and Ms. Xiling fell silent and waited for Jiang Xiao's answer.
Jiang Xiao's eyes lit up instead. Several Tier 2 Elites and mechanized forces?
That sounds like a pretty good hunting ground.
"Why don't you tell me the enemy's exact numbers first? For example, the scale of the Tier 1 Martial Artists and mechanized forces."
Ms. Xiling immediately replied, "According to our intelligence, there are no more than five Tier 2 Elites, no more than fifteen Tier 2 Regular Martial Artists, and roughly five hundred Tier 1 Martial Artists in total. There are also more than ten thousand non-martial-artist gang members from several different gangs. Their firepower is extremely strong."
"Kasar Street Block is a meat grinder right now." Li Yuan opened a handheld terminal on the bar. A holographic 3D Map appeared, and the radar display was packed with red dots like a swarm of ants.
"In fact, five Tier 2 Elites aren't the real problem. The true killing move is them." As he spoke, he brought up an image.
It showed a massive district filled with a mixture of low- and mid-rise buildings. At several major exits and high points, the barrels of fifteen crude Electromagnetic Tanks, each resembling an iron fortress, were aimed directly at the district!
"260mm Electromagnetic Railguns. Their projectiles travel at Mach 11. The buildings around Kasar Street Block have already been flattened. That's the real reason Xi Guang can't break out."
What did Xi Guang do to warrant this kind of force?
Jiang Xiao couldn't help feeling puzzled, but the more he listened, the brighter his eyes became. This is practically the perfect hunting ground!
The mechanized forces were undoubtedly the greatest threat. After all, no matter how strong they were, Tier 2s were still made of flesh and blood. Even a Tier 3 Martial Artist might not dare take a 260mm Electromagnetic Cannon head-on. To him, however, mechanized forces were the easiest targets to deal with!
As for the Tier 2 Elites?
With the Thunder Cannon Floating Cannon, he was now capable of threatening Tier 2 Elites. Besides, judging from the Spark Gang's wording, they clearly weren't asking him to go rescue Xi Guang immediately. If he was given a few days to hunt and develop, dealing with Tier 2 Elites wouldn't be a problem!
After thinking it over, Jiang Xiao decided to confirm one thing. "Is there a specific time limit?"
"According to our intelligence, no later than fifteen days from now!" Li Yuan was silent for a moment before answering helplessly.
"I agree."
Ms. Xiling sighed instinctively. "I know this is asking too much of you, but thank you anyway, Mr. Ji—huh?"
Li Yuan abruptly turned toward Jiang Xiao. He had agreed just like that?
"Leave it to me. I'll notify you when the time comes. Oh, right, there's something I need the Spark Gang's help with now."
"Please, go ahead!" Li Yuan replied decisively, paying no attention to anything else.
"I want to open a mechanical shop in the black market. It would be best if you could provide some basic equipment."
Li Yuan nodded. "I'll have to check whether there's a suitable storefront..."
Suddenly, Ms. Xiling turned and asked Jiang Xiao, "Does it have to be a mechanical shop? Would a small Mechanical Workshop do?"
"Mechanical Workshop?"
Jiang Xiao was delighted. He hadn't expected this unexpected gain. Since it was called a Mechanical Workshop, it should have quite a bit of basic equipment, right?
Ms. Xiling said seriously, "That's right. It's a Mechanical Workshop covering a little over five hundred square meters, with complete basic facilities. It was originally allocated for the Sub-human mechanic recruited by the Spark Gang, but later, he went to the Black Mech Gang.
"Those basic facilities are all processing machinery. No one has been using them, and they've been idle for more than half a year.
"It wasn't easy to acquire that equipment, and several gangs wanted to buy it during those six months, but we refused.
"Of course, that Mechanical Workshop is located deep inside a black market, so there would be no problem using it as a storefront!"
Jiang Xiao was about to answer when Li Yuan said hesitantly, "Do you mean the workshop in the Yuanjin Black Market, A Ling?"
Then he looked at Jiang Xiao.
"Mr. Jiang, the Yuanjin Black Market is the largest black market controlled by our Spark Gang. It's located at the boundary between the inner and outer regions. In terms of scale and customer traffic, it ranks among the top three across the entire Sin Capital's black markets. But precisely because of that, all kinds of alien races can be found there, including the Viper Clan and Blade Armor Race.
"All the major gangs in Sin Capital know the Yuanjin Black Market exists. On the surface, it was jointly established by more than a dozen small and mid-sized gangs. The Spark Gang can't guarantee that you won't be disturbed there."
The boundary between the inner and outer regions? A huge number of alien races?
"Are there many major gang headquarters nearby?" Jiang Xiao became even more interested.
"The Dragon Fang Gang's and Viper Gang's territories are very close. And..." Li Yuan answered, "the district next to it is Kasar Street Block."
"Good. I'll take it."
Jiang Xiao added, "It'll also make it more convenient for me to observe the situation in Kasar Street Block."
"Then... all right." Li Yuan stopped trying to persuade him.
The strong all had their own ideas and pride. If he kept urging him, it might damage their relationship.
I knew he would definitely be interested in that place.
Ms. Xiling was completely certain. From slaughtering prisoners in the Old Capital and wiping out the Rosaka Settlement to annihilating the Venomous Hunter Group, not a single alien had survived at Mr. Jiang's hands along the way.
It seemed that only after arriving in Sin Capital had he begun to show some restraint. At least, she hadn't heard of any aliens disappearing from the Netherflame Black Market.
She was certain that Jiang Xiao had some kind of driving force or hobby when it came to killing aliens. Although he appeared cheerful, Mr. Jiang must have enjoyed himself when he slaughtered the Venomous Hunter Group!
Ms. Xiling's intuition was incredibly accurate. At that time, Jiang Xiao had indeed faintly revealed a sense of satisfaction from reaping his gains.
With that thought, Ms. Xiling took the initiative to ask, "Mr. Jiang, would you like to stay a while longer, or go directly to the Mechanical Workshop?"
"Let's go take a look at the workshop."
"All right. It's a long journey, about an hour. I'll take you there personally."
"Sorry for the trouble, Ms. Xiling."
A little over an hour later, Jiang Xiao and Ms. Xiling arrived in front of a two-story square building.
It was a gray building tucked away in a corner deep inside the black market. Its exterior looked utterly ordinary. The pitch-black metal door was covered in dense, old scratches, with quite a few bullet holes as well.
What made Jiang Xiao look twice was the faint outline of an alien visible on the concrete wall. The surrounding wall was blackened and cracked, seemingly the result of being executed by cannon fire.
Not bad. It even has a mural.
Jiang Xiao was satisfied with both the location and the scale of this black market.
Unlike the cautiously concealed Netherflame Black Market, the Yuanjin Black Market was quite open. It occupied the underground first floor of a gigantic cubic building, and many areas were even built in the open air.
What surprised him most was the cubic building above the black market. It was itself one of Sin Capital's famous legitimate markets, belonging to a large gang affiliated with the Black Mech Gang!
It was also worth mentioning that at least half of the mechanical shops in the Yuanjin Black Market belonged to members of the Black Mech Gang.
The black market charged sellers far lower commissions and rent than legitimate markets.
That was precisely why the Yuanjin Black Market had reached its current scale and status.
People from wilderness settlements and wanderers who wanted high-quality weapons or modified vehicles usually chose to come here. Besides Sin Coins, the mechanical shops also accepted the remains of Rampaging Mech Soldiers discarded by the Starport, scrap parts, and the like.
They were usually household waste generated by the Starport, along with experimental Individual Equipment and mechanical combat soldiers deployed by military-industrial enterprises.
"Mr. Jiang, go inside and take a look."
Ms. Xiling took out a thick key and opened the metal door. A series of dim lights flickered on.
Ms. Xiling introduced it. "The single floor covers a little over five hundred square meters. The first floor has basic repair and maintenance equipment. Gunpowder firearms, Electromagnetic Firearms, and motorcycles and jeeps can all be repaired and modified here.
"The second floor has basic facilities purchased from the Black Mech Gang at a high price: one Medium Vertical Machining Center, two medium-sized 3D Metal Printers, one small Industrial Furnace, and one medium-sized Forging Press.
"Besides that, there are cutting machines, plasma welding stations, rust-removal guns, and other handheld equipment."
Suddenly, Ms. Xiling turned to look at Jiang Xiao, her tone serious.
"These facilities are at the civilian level of a Planetary Civilization. They can't process special alloys or high-precision parts. The Starport maintains extremely tight control over this area. If a gang tries to upgrade its Industrial Equipment, the Star Rail Defense Ship can detect it very quickly and launch an orbital strike. A major gang was once destroyed because of this!"
Although she didn't think Jiang Xiao's Mechanical Technology could be very advanced despite his strength, it was still better to give him the necessary warning, just in case.
"I understand." Jiang Xiao nodded, but his thoughts were already turning to other matters.
A Planetary Civilization—the weakest type, a Primary Civilization—was defined as one that had mastered all the resources of the Planetary System containing its home planet.
Even civilian-level equipment was probably more advanced than the equipment on Earth in his previous life.
As long as he had the materials and technology, producing powerful weapons and mechanical combat soldiers with the Industrial Square Box wouldn't be difficult. As for sources of technology... there should be plenty of Rampaging Mech Soldiers in the wilderness.
The Electromagnetic Tanks in Kasar Street Block were also excellent material.
Ms. Xiling took a chip from her pocket. "This contains the complete set of basic mechanical data you wanted, as well as the operating methods for this equipment. Insert it into the Sin City Network Terminal to use it.
"Please put more effort into Sister Xi Guang's matter, Mr. Jiang. I won't disturb you any longer. If you need anything, call me directly through the terminal. My communication code is in the first column."
"All right."
Jiang Xiao withdrew his gaze from Ms. Xiling's departing back, closed the door, and used the Origin Data to scan the workshop from top to bottom.
Before you continue