The Merchant Association

The Scavengers had arrived in a modified pickup truck.

Armor plates of different sizes and colors had been bolted onto the entire body. The plates were riddled with bullet holes.

The original cargo bed had been converted into a small compartment, supported by rebar and covered with tent canvas.

It was very much the Scavengers' style.

This was the kind of vehicle they used to travel through the wilderness.

Li Yèlái could even smell a faint trace of blood.

But he didn't care. He shouldered the Large Black Umbrella and climbed into the cargo compartment with the boss.

Three Scavengers sat beside and opposite them, staring intently at him.

Seeing Li Yèlái carrying the Large Black Umbrella, the fierce-looking, burly man sitting opposite him furrowed his brows.

He keenly sensed that it might be a weapon.

But it was rather oversized, and its handle was long and slender. It didn't look like a firearm.

Could it be hiding a melee weapon? A knife concealed inside?

That would be very much in the Scavengers' style.

Some Scavengers who couldn't afford guns could only carry knives to give themselves courage.

The fierce-looking man glanced at Li Yèlái and let out a mocking laugh. Hiding a weapon in front of a Scavenger was like showing off an axe before Lu Ban.

Besides, did he think carrying a weapon would keep him safe?

Even in a Mega City where firearms were banned, they had ways of bringing guns in.

Thinking this, the fierce-looking man knocked on the armored compartment to signal the driver to go.

As for the boss sitting beside Li Yèlái, the only good news was that the pickup wasn't heading out of the city.

That eased the boss's mind. If they were leaving the city, his life would truly be in danger.

Generally speaking, Scavengers didn't dare kill people inside a Mega City. The Security Bureau kept a close eye on them.

But even so, they couldn't be provoked lightly.

Their strength varied widely. Quite a few were just thugs, but there was no shortage of blood-soaked brutes among them—real desperadoes!

Once you crossed them, you could be in danger even without leaving the Mega City.

Thinking of that, the boss grew afraid.

The courage he'd mustered earlier was slowly ebbing away.

Li Yèlái asked in a low voice, "Boss, you really didn't take anything of theirs, did you?"

"We've known each other for so long, and you still don't trust me?" the boss snapped in exasperation.

Li Yèlái was at a loss for words. They had indeed known each other for quite some time—over four years.

He'd found this job when he was nineteen. A guaranteed monthly salary of a thousand Mega City Coins was decent enough in the Old City District.

But the boss was also incredibly stingy, almost as bad as Li Yèlái himself. Passing up an opportunity like that really wouldn't have been like him.

"There was no chance to take anything!" the boss whispered. "I don't know which side brought out even a machine gun. I didn't dare go near them. I hid far away and could only watch them desperately fighting over something. Then, after a long while, the Scavengers' convoy showed up. Naturally, I had no choice but to leave."

"Better be telling the truth!" The fierce-looking man bared his teeth, making his already menacing face look even more terrifying. "Otherwise, you'll be the one who suffers!"

Li Yèlái silently agreed. It would be best if the boss hadn't taken anything.

It would be disastrous if he'd accidentally come into contact with a Forbidden Item.

As Li Yèlái thought this, his hand quietly pressed the communicator hidden beneath his sleeve.

He didn't need to speak. The East City Branch on the other end could understand what was happening from their conversation and provide the appropriate support.

If necessary, the operator would also request support from the City Defense Force or the Iron Guards.

Meanwhile, in a team of handlers from the West City Branch,

someone frowned. "A Night General from the East City Branch? How did a handler from the East City end up in our West City? Did he cross the whole Mega City just to barge in?"

From this perspective, it really was absurd. The Mega City had a huge population and covered an enormous area.

The Processing Department had been divided into four branches, each responsible for one direction of the city.

The East City Branch, for example, managed the East Old City District, the East Ring District, and the East New City District. The central district was managed by headquarters.

Generally speaking, members of other branches didn't get involved in their missions.

The last time the branches had worked together was during the Fantasy Band incident.

So when they heard that a handler from the East City had suddenly gotten mixed up in this, the West City team was at a loss.

Who barged in like that?

Did he cross the entire Mega City, pass through headquarters, and come all the way to the West City District?

"No, this really was an accident. He seems to work at an antique shop owned by some buyer and just happened to run into this. Now he's been taken away by a group of Scavengers." One handler looked bewildered. "Is he unlucky or lucky?"

"Let's set aside whether he's lucky or unlucky. How capable is this 'Night General'? Could he disrupt our plans, or even drag us down?" The handler who'd spoken first frowned. "According to our investigation, this merchant association is in contact with wild psychics outside the Mega City. If there's a clash, we'll have to support him."

For a team that had already been investigating for some time, Li Yèlái's involvement could very well disrupt their plans.

"Let me check. Night General. He's a newcomer, on the Myriad Paths, and has only been with the East City Branch's First Team for two months. During his first Awakening, he killed the wanted criminal, the Suffering One, the Skinner. We can't access any further records. Our permissions aren't high enough; we'll need to contact the East City Branch. For now, we only know that he's successfully undergone a second Awakening." A handler replied, "A second Awakening within two months means he has tremendous talent. And he killed a Suffering One during his very first Awakening. He's no pushover!"

"The East City Branch's First Team—the former championship team?"

The team leader's frown eased slightly. "During the last incident, they suppressed the Black Prison in the East City Branch and didn't let a single Forbidden Item escape. But their losses were catastrophic; nearly half their members were killed. If this Night General survived that kind of battlefield, he must have some ability. What did the East City Branch say?"

"The East City Branch said Night General can't be contacted right now and asked us to keep him safe. They also said something strange: 'That windfall has finally come your way.'"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

The vehicle traveled for a long time. It wasn't until the afternoon that it finally reached its destination.

When Li Yèlái and the boss got out, they saw a group of factory buildings in the northwest part of the Old City District.

The factory grounds were extensive. Many modified vehicles were parked around them, including several large trucks bristling with weapons.

In front of one of the factory buildings stood a sign.

The Red Dart Merchant Association.

That's right, a merchant association.

Those Scavengers were all members of the association—or, more precisely, guards for the caravans under its banner.

As mentioned earlier, out in the wilderness, the roles of settlement, caravan, Scavenger, and bandit could change at any time.

The Red Dart Merchant Association was much the same. They controlled a Scavenger settlement in the wilderness and also escorted caravans or went scavenging in ruined cities.

When necessary, they would turn into bandits and attack other Scavengers or caravans.

The Red Dart Merchant Association was considered one of the larger associations in Border City No. 3.

If it weren't so dangerous and required leaving the Mega City, Li Yèlái might have joined an association like this a few years ago and become a Scavenger who lived by the blade.

Of course, even with such a powerful organization, the Red Dart Merchant Association had to keep its fangs sheathed inside the Mega City and do its best to appear friendly.

The boss did some business with them, often going to their trading post outside the city to purchase goods.

After getting out of the vehicle, Li Yèlái saw the association's members: thugs with their shirts open to reveal tattoos, carrying knives; young women dressed provocatively, puffing on cigarettes; and burly men whose frames were lean and powerful, faintly reeking of blood.

When someone saw Li Yèlái get out with the Large Black Umbrella, they couldn't help laughing at him. Some women—and even men—winked at him.

"Boss, is this who you usually do business with?" Li Yèlái asked.

"They have a lot of goods, and some wealthy merchants finance them, so their supply is steady." The boss reminded him, "Don't say too much. You might be the one making the purchases in the future. Don't offend them."

Li Yèlái naturally took the advice. Carrying the black umbrella, he followed the fierce-looking man into the factory with the boss.

By now, quite a few people had gathered inside.

They were carrying all kinds of weapons, though none had drawn a gun.

They stared coldly at Li Yèlái and the boss, making the boss look increasingly troubled. He kept warning Li Yèlái, "Don't be impulsive. Don't say anything."

Just then, the fierce-looking man asked, "I've brought the people from the East City. Have you found everyone else?"

"No. One family from the North City ran off, but they can't have gotten far." A woman with a vicious knife scar on her face replied with a sneer. "They dared to take our goods. We'll make them and their families understand the consequences!"

"What about the others?"

"They're all here. Yours was the last family we were waiting for." The scarred woman studied the boss and Li Yèlái.

She looked a little surprised when she saw Li Yèlái's Large Black Umbrella, but then she smiled. "Take them inside. If this kid acts up later, don't kill him outright. Save him for me. And be careful not to hurt his face."

Laughter and jeers rose around them.

"Kid, Sis Scar likes you. Aren't you going to thank her?"

"You've really hit the jackpot, kid. Why not stay with the association? Hahahaha!"

They mocked him without restraint, their words dripping with malice.

The boss looked even more upset and whispered to Li Yèlái, "We're innocent. Nothing will happen. Nothing will happen."

Li Yèlái wasn't particularly bothered by it, so he simply nodded in silence.

On the other end of the communicator hidden under his wrist,

the cautious operators burst out laughing when they heard the conversation.

But Doll, passing by the office area, suddenly stopped.

A symbol appeared on her sign.

[(╬◣д◢)]

Then Li Yèlái and the boss followed the fierce-looking man and the scarred woman deeper into the factory.

They entered a large room.

Quite a few people were already inside. Some were antique shop owners, some were wealthy merchants' stewards, and others were traders of unknown origin.

They were all connected to the earlier incident; their subordinates or companions had been involved in that shootout.

Now, more than a dozen of them had been forcibly brought here, and most looked unhappy.

One old steward, however, was stunned when he saw Li Yèlái.

But years of professional experience helped him keep his composure.

He really was an acquaintance: the old steward from the Wang Clan whom Li Yèlái had met during a side job.

After Wang De's death, many of the Wang Clan's businesses had been seized, and the Wang Corporation had gone into a steep decline.

Li Yèlái hadn't expected even the old steward to have to show up in person.

Li Yèlái didn't greet him either. It was best to pretend they didn't know each other.

"It looks like everyone who was involved in the trade that day has arrived, except for that family from the North City," the boss whispered.

Just then, a voice rang out.

"No, the North City family is here too."

A blood-soaked man was thrown into the room, hitting the floor with a heavy thud and leaving a streak of blood behind him.

His arms and legs were twisted and broken. He gasped in pain.

The bloody sight abruptly chilled the room. Some people trembled, while others struggled to keep their composure.

Only then did the speaker emerge from the doorway.

It was a man smoking a cigar, with a male and a female bodyguard close behind him.

The man in front was probably Xu Shi, the head of the Red Dart Merchant Association.

Li Yèlái narrowed his eyes slightly at the two behind him.

"Don't be afraid. I, Xu Shi, just want to get our goods back." Xu Shi spoke casually to everyone, then planted a foot on the gravely injured man's head.

He ground his leather shoe against the man's face, then bent down and stuffed the cigar in his mouth when the man let out a scream of pain.

Then he watched the man writhe in agony.

Xu Shi smiled. "You still have one chance. Hand over the goods, and I won't hold it against you. If we find them ourselves, your fate will be even worse than his."

No one spoke. Clearly, Xu Shi's methods had intimidated them all.

Xu Shi nodded slightly. "Good. I hope you'll all stay this quiet until the end. Then I'll look for the goods my own way."

He raised a hand, and a Scavenger came out carrying a box.

It was a small treasure chest. The classical patterns on it suggested that its contents were quite valuable.

But Xu Shi didn't seem to have any intention of opening it. He simply had the chest placed in front of him.

Li Yèlái was wondering about this when he saw two people not far away begin to tremble.

Their eyes were filled with greed as they stared at the chest.

They actually moved toward it with more than a dozen Scavengers watching them, apparently forgetting the weapons in those Scavengers' hands.

"See? We've already found two," Xu Shi said, spreading his hands.

The next second, his female bodyguard suddenly attacked. She moved so fast that the naked eye could barely follow her, appearing in front of the two in an instant.

She brought her hands together with a fierce clap. Crack! Their heads slammed into each other.

Both of them crashed to the floor and clutched their heads in agony. One endured the pain and reached for his waist, clearly carrying a gun.

But the female bodyguard only had to stomp once to break his arm.

Crack! The sharp snap sent a chill through everyone.

Xu Shi acted as if he hadn't heard it and continued looking at the crowd. "There are still two more among you. Let's keep going."

Li Yèlái gripped the Large Black Umbrella, unable to believe his luck.

How did I manage to run into wild psychics too?