Reentry

"That..."

Karl frowned.

Selling it to anyone was still selling it, but he didn't think Kinsley could afford the price.

"Yiwenni's birthday is coming up soon. I plan to buy it as a birthday present for her."

Kinsley said:

"Three pounds. How about it?"

Yiwenni?

A girl's image flashed through Karl's mind. He hesitated, then sighed helplessly and slowly nodded:

"All right."

"Kran." Kinsley was overjoyed. Turning toward the old man, Kran, she swayed her body and said coquettishly:

"Could you pay for me?"

"Sure." Kran grinned:

"I'll pay."

Three pounds was nothing much to him.

Old Nick watched the scene and shook his head lightly.

The hairpin was worth far more than three measly pounds. Even three gold coins would have been cheap. This woman was clever—she had gained such a huge advantage without paying a single penny.

Still, he believed Karl knew the hairpin's true value just as well.

Three pounds—

It simply wasn't worth making a special trip for.

After paying, Kinsley's attitude immediately grew much colder. She exchanged a few words with him, then took her leave.

"Darling, are we going to your place or a hotel?"

"The hotel, I suppose?"

"Then let's go get something to eat first."

"Of course!"

The two discussed their plans without a care for anyone else, their figures gradually receding into the distance.

Watching them leave, Karl wore an utterly speechless expression. So her enthusiasm earlier had only been because of the hairpin.

"Sorry about that."

He turned around and looked at Old Nick:

"I actually have one more thing here."

As he spoke, he took out a jade bracelet and placed it on the table, making the somewhat dispirited Old Nick's eyes light up.

By the time Karl left Badi Goods Store, the sky had already begun to darken.

Karl touched the heavy money pouch, then turned into a dark alley. When he emerged, he looked completely different.

A black cloak wrapped him tightly from head to toe. His features were hidden deep beneath the hood, and his entire body radiated an aura that warned strangers to keep away.

"Divine Domain Fragment... How convenient."

After glancing at Badi Goods Store and muttering under his breath, he turned and entered another consignment shop.

"Friend."

Geri, who was attending to a customer, saw Karl enter. His eyes lit up, and he hurried over:

"You're here."

"Mm."

Karl nodded, his voice cold:

"The usual. Take a look at the goods. If the price is right, sell them."

"Yes, yes." Geri rubbed his hands together, his face full of anticipation:

"You always manage to bring in good stuff, friend. I wonder what it'll be this time. I'm looking forward to it."

"Jewelry again." Karl sat down and casually pulled a necklace from inside his cloak, placing it on the table:

"Take a look."

It was a necklace strung with dozens of gemstones. Every gem glittered with dazzling light. The necklace's overall design was simple and elegant, its chain smooth and perfectly matched.

If not for the poor quality of the gemstones, it could almost be considered a beautiful, peerless treasure.

"Good stuff!"

Geri's eyes shone as he held the necklace and carefully ran his fingers over it:

"What a pity. The gemstones are of average quality, but even so, it's still an excellent work of art."

"Hmm..."

"Twenty gold coins!"

Hmm?

Beneath his hood, Karl raised an eyebrow slightly.

It wasn't because the price was too low, but because it was too high—so high that it had already exceeded the price he had expected.

Small pieces of jewelry were difficult to sell for a high price, especially when their quality wasn't particularly good.

A few gold coins was the usual price.

He had expected ten gold coins.

"Twenty gold coins?"

"That's right." Geri explained:

"That price is already quite generous. If you're not satisfied, I can only say that's unfortunate."

As he spoke, he placed the necklace on the table.

"No."

Karl's voice carried a hint of amusement:

"I'm very satisfied. Twenty gold coins it is."

After seeing Karl off, Geri swung his arm vigorously, then put away the necklace and hurried toward the back courtyard.

"Ring, earrings, necklace."

Brey Foster, the younger son of the Foster Family, lay in a lounge chair, toying with the necklace in his hand.

His eyes flickered as he asked:

"Are these a set?"

"They are!" Geri nodded emphatically:

"All three pieces use topaz, and the cutting techniques are identical. Of the three, the topaz set in the earrings is the highest quality."

"The necklace is the most expensive single piece, costing twenty gold coins. If the complete set is sold, it could fetch at least one hundred gold coins."

Although the ring and earrings formed a pair, they were relatively small and had not cost much to acquire. Together, they were still worth less than the necklace alone.

This transaction could bring in several times the investment.

"Interesting."

Brey Foster narrowed his eyes:

"A matching set of jewelry naturally sells for more. No ordinary person could fail to know that. So why sell them separately?"

"And not even in the same place."

The Foster Family's businesses spread throughout the entire city. They owned more than one consignment shop and also did business with other consignment shops.

Their people had discovered by chance that the three pieces of jewelry had been bought from different shops, yet turned out to be a set.

"This..." Geri hesitated before saying:

"Could they be stolen goods?"

A set of jewelry sold in batches at different shops, while the seller kept his face hidden—clearly, it couldn't stand the light of day.

"Perhaps."

Brey tossed the necklace aside and beckoned Geri closer:

"When he comes next time, remember to give me a signal."

"..." Geri's expression changed slightly. He immediately nodded:

"Yes."

*

*

*

Karl had no idea that secretly selling goods under a hidden identity had inadvertently attracted someone's attention.

As for that set of jewelry...

He had acquired the pieces separately, so he naturally hadn't known they were part of a set when he sold them.

At that moment, after several days had passed, he once again arrived in Black City.

"Fewer and fewer people."

Karl entered Laka Market. Looking at the sparse crowd, he shook his head lightly and arrived before Aya's stall.

Hmm?

The unfamiliar stall owner made him frown slightly.

Aya wasn't there.

"Friend."

Seeing someone stop, the stall owner immediately greeted him enthusiastically:

"Is there anything you need? We can talk about the price."

Karl glanced at the goods on the stall and slowly asked, "The previous stall owner isn't doing business anymore?"

"Mm..." The smile faded from the stall owner's face as he scrutinized Karl from head to toe:

"You know how it is. In Black City, one or two people dying is perfectly normal. Stalls changing hands are even more common."

"That's true."

Karl nodded and continued forward.

Just as the man had said, people dying in Black City was nothing unusual. Aya was merely agile, but she was still an ordinary person. It was perfectly normal for her to have died.

"Huh?"

Seeing Karl about to leave, the stall owner hurriedly rose and held out a hand to stop him:

"Friend, you're quite impatient. I never said she was dead!"

"You're looking for Aya, right? I know where she is. Come with me. Let me pack up my things first."

Karl stopped and watched the man pack up the goods from his stall. After thinking for a moment, he followed.

"If you ask me, what's so special about that girl Aya? I sell the same things she does."

The stall owner carried the bundle over his shoulder as he walked:

"Friend, why don't you consider buying from me instead? The price is negotiable, and I can offer a discount for large quantities."

"How much farther?" Karl didn't answer. He merely looked up at the sky.

The sky was dark and gloomy.

The two had already left the market and arrived at an abandoned, deserted ruin.

"Almost there."

The stall owner quickened his pace:

"It's just ahead."

"Tap..."

Karl stopped walking:

"Here is fine."

He lifted his cloak, revealing the broad sword strapped to his back:

"Since you've lured me out here, there's no need to hide anymore. Come out, all of you."

(End of Chapter)