Identity Rental
The moment Ya Li Kun appeared, the Exploration Team's morale plummeted.
—A great merchant in Sixth Stage!
Ya Li Kun is a big shot in Nine Bends City.
Through various activities, those present also came to know this strong person.
If they were facing enemies at the Fifth Stage, they would still have the idea of challenging and fighting them.
The insurmountable gap created by the Sixth Stage of strength is enough to shatter all illusions.
Even the explorer Reze was no exception.
As the leader of the team, he needs to be responsible for his teammates.
Naturally, one should not lead others into a hopeless situation where certain death is inevitable.
Reze released the sensory being he had pinned down and spoke to Ya Li Kun in a wary tone:
"Mr. Ya Li Kun, we..."
Ya Li Kun interrupted Reze directly, "Explorers, I know you are not willing to have made a wasted trip in the forest. But unfortunately, this secret place was discovered by our guild first, and there is no dispute over ownership and development rights."
As soon as he finished speaking, a powerful Essence erupted from Ya Li Kun's body.
The wealthy merchant pulled out a gleaming golden Double Serpent Coin from his pocket, instantly drawing everyone's attention and causing them to instinctively submit to its power.
A genuine Sixth Stage awakened being.
He didn't even need to lift a finger; the sheer force of his power rendered everyone present immobile.
The surroundings were completely quiet.
Ya Li Kun nodded in satisfaction and made a decision in a tone that indicated complete control of the situation:
"Of course, I understand how hard you work."
"Once we return to Nine Bends City, I can personally sign a gold note, which you can use to exchange for an equivalent amount in any world where Merchant United Guild located."
Reze tried his best to speak:
"But Mr. Ya Li Kun, the strange changes in the forest..."
The merchant interrupted the explorer once again, "Ollie's attitude may be a bit impatient."
"But you must also understand that everything that happens here will profoundly affect the changes in the entire world, and it is also a goal that our Riverbank Merchant Guild is determined to achieve."
"Not taking any action against you is already the greatest leniency I can show!"
"..."
Ya Li Kun's words.
They almost admitted that the changes in the forest were related to them.
At the same time, as Sixth Stage awakener, he also taught the Exploration Team a lesson.
If you stay here quietly and don't interfere or hinder their actions.
That way, you can survive.
Reze looked unwilling.
He looked at the merchant in the Sixth Stage before him, still wanting to make one last attempt:
"But there are countless people in the forest..."
Ya Li Kun frowned, and the power that dominated the entire scene focused on Reze: "I'm handling this. You just need to stay here quietly and not let things get any worse..."
Bang! Ya Li Kun suppressed Reze, before he could even finish his sentence.
A gunshot suddenly rang out in the forest.
Everyone turned their attention to the location where the gunshot had rang out.
Then they saw Linsey holding a flintlock pistol in one hand, the muzzle pointed directly at Ya Li Kun, who had just been lecturing Reze.
"I... you..."
Ya Li Kun looked at Linsey with a blank stare.
The next second, he felt a sharp pain in his chest.
Blood had soaked through the shirt on his chest and was flowing down the wound.
As the strength drained from his body, he quickly collapsed to the ground, powerless.
"Ah?"
"This..."
The scene before them left everyone in a state of near disarray.
Even Reze could only blankly call out Linsey's disguised name:
"Drake? You... you...?"
"..."
Linsey remained silent.
He strode forward and kicked the Double Serpent Coin out of the other person's hand.
Then, Ya Li Kun's appearance began to change.
The aura of Sixth Stage great merchant has completely faded away.
Instead, a plain-looking man lay on the ground, the pain from the gunshot making it difficult for him to even struggle!
At this moment, Linsey said to Reze:
"Given the meticulousness of a Sixth Stage merchant, there is absolutely no way they would proactively reveal this information to us."
"And it was an unfortunate coincidence."
"A while ago, Ya Li Kun negotiated a big deal in Nine Bends City. He took it very seriously and certainly didn't have time to leave the city and cause such a big mess."
"..."
Hearing Linsey's reasons, Reze's expression was a mixture of emotions.
In fact, Linsey made the right choice; he successfully saw through the guy who was pretending to be Ya Li Kun.
But what if we change the situation?
If the person standing here today is indeed that Sixth Stage great businessman.
So, if Linsey had fired that shot, the result might have been the complete annihilation of their Exploration Team.
The explorer shook his head with a wry smile:
"Drake, your insight is truly remarkable."
"But it's best to be careful in the future. To dare to attack a Sixth Stage awakened being for such a reason is far too dangerous."
Respect for the strong is a universally accepted principle.
But Reze had a feeling at that moment.
He couldn't sense this 'common sense' in his companion, whom he had been working with for over a month.
"Aside from a Double Serpent Coin, he didn't make any significant moves." Linsey added, noticing Reze's expression, "Besides, I've dealt with Sixth Stage merchants before. They're definitely not this easy to talk to when they have a power advantage and are not constrained by their environment."
After explaining her perspective, Linsey glanced at the map.
The normal range of the [map] skill is relatively small, so he zoomed in to take a look.
Besides the four people in front of us, there is one last Red Dot deep in the valley.
"Is there another one hidden?"
Linsey frowned.
Since the other party doesn't intend to show themselves, he won't just rush in without any idea what's going on.
"Let's figure out the situation first."
Linsey walked around to the front of the perceiver.
Originally, because Reze had released the suppression, the Perceiver had already gotten up from the ground.
But seeing that Ya Li Kun's stunt double had been shot down by Linsey, he obediently found a tree to lean against, squatted down, and put his hands behind his head, looking as if he would never dare to cause trouble again.
"Sir, I'm here to do my job after being paid!"
"The contract I signed with the businessman does not allow me to disclose any information; this is a constraint of the rules and the transaction."
Faced with Linsey, this killer, the Perceiver dared not hesitate and honestly explained why he could not speak.
Linsey pointed to the man disguised as Ya Li Kun beside her. "This guy may be an imposter, but the Double Serpent Coin he holds don't seem fake. His identity must be rather special, right?"
The perceiver is bound by the rules of the transaction and is unable to provide an answer.
But he very cleverly complimented Linsey, saying, "Whether in terms of strength or intelligence, you are the best one here!"
Linsey understood what the perceiver meant.
So they turned back to the person lying on the ground.
Instead of immediately offering assistance, he first collected the Double Serpent Coin that had been kicked away.
[Rare Item: Double Serpent Coin - Goods Rental]
[A currency used by Sixth Stage merchants to lease their personal identities to others through wealth management. It can also be used as a one-time consumable, just like regular Double Serpent Coin.]
[The extremely rare Double Serpent Coin, crafted by Sixth Stage merchant, is of high value.]
"..."
"Can even something like an identity be rented out using Double Serpent Coin?"
Linsey remarked with emotion.
According to Ailini, he had never heard of a merchant having such an ability; this was probably a skill that Ya Li Kun had developed himself.
The man on the ground was bleeding profusely.
Linsey didn't delay any longer and turned to the female doctor behind her, calling out:
"Mira, could you please come here and help control his injuries?"
"Don't let this guy die like this!"