Trade

Chapter 40: Trade

"Because I hate them, I want them dead."

Tark's expression grew colder, his voice more frenzied.

Qin Xa watched Tark calmly without saying a word.

"And because I hate them, seeing my brother suffer after his sons were all killed—and seeing him hate me because he resented my order forbidding retaliation—excites me immensely."

"Then, because of the hatred in my brother's eyes, I ordered him to marry a slave. I made him and the wives of his sons marry a slave."

At that, Tark suddenly threw his head back and laughed, slapping the table as he did.

The surrounding Slaves laughed along with him.

Qin Xa remained expressionless. He only thought the man was insane.

"Sorry, I lost my composure." Tark suddenly stiffened, then smiled and waved a hand, returning to his normal dining manner.

Qin Xa had no appetite at all. After thinking for a moment, he asked tentatively, "What are those statues on the way into the Arena?"

"Statues?" Tark raised a brow. "Those aren't statues. They're combat Intelligent Machines."

"How much stronger are they than Security Automata?" Qin Xa asked.

"Strong enough that the number of Security Automata becomes a disadvantage before one of them," Tark said bluntly. "But there are very few of those things, so you needn't worry about running into one."

Qin Xa frowned slightly, unable to tell whether Tark's words were unguarded honesty or lies mixed with truth.

Tark continued, "I want you to do something for me. Help me wipe out a family. If you agree and do it, you won't have to worry about encountering that thing in that minor noble family."

"If I agree? Does that mean I can refuse?" Qin Xa asked.

"Of course. I don't hate you, so you needn't worry that refusing means death. But I believe you won't refuse." Tark raised one finger. "Name one condition. Any condition at all, including your freedom or citizenship. I'll fulfill it right now."

"Fine. But my condition is that all Gladiators be freed and granted citizenship," Qin Xa said.

"I don't like gladiatorial combat, but people need it." Tark shook his head lightly. "The nobles have ten thousand forms of entertainment that can replace it, but the only entertainment Slaves and commoners have is gathering around televisions in garbage heaps to watch gladiatorial combat. So I can't abolish it, much less release everyone involved in it."

Qin Xa did not hesitate in the slightest. "Then forget it. My condition is changed. I need a medicine that can regrow severed limbs, and from today onward, all Gladiators will no longer have fasting days. Also, they will receive medicine supplies every week."

"That's three conditions, though they're all minor." Tark first shook his head, then suddenly nodded. "I'll agree to one first. Choose one for me to fulfill now. The other two will be fulfilled after you do what I ask."

Qin Xa nodded. "Have someone send the limb-regrowth medicine to the cave."

"You want to regrow the arm of that Boyz whose arm was severed?" Tark instantly guessed Qin Xa's intention. "I think it would be better to give him a Prosthetic Arm. It'll work better than the original, and certainly not some shoddy model."

After thinking about it, Qin Xa nodded again.

Yochula needed an arm, but he also needed to grow stronger. A Prosthetic Arm was a good choice.

"The conditions you've raised have all been for your Gladiator friends." Tark looked somewhat puzzled. "Why not ask for something for yourself?"

Qin Xa did not respond immediately.

He thought that Tark would never give him what he wanted. He could only fight for it himself.

And no matter which noble was to be killed or where he was, Qin Xa believed that noble had what he wanted. As long as he left the Arena during this mission, he could obtain what he sought.

"There is only one thing I want," Qin Xa said. "My Gladiator friends' survival. A secure survival."

Tark tilted his head back and closed his eyes in thought for a while. At last, he smiled and raised his cup. "A pleasant partnership!"

Late at night.

In an oasis amid Nuceria's crimson sands.

Qin Xa stood in the mountain woods, looking at the luxurious estate ahead.

Maggot Eye descended from the sky. This Maggot Eye was somewhat different from the one in Nuceria's Arena. It was also spherical, but larger.

As soon as Maggot Eye arrived, it transported several pieces of equipment before Qin Xa.

Qin Xa crouched down to inspect them and found that the small package contained a highly futuristic-looking sword, an energy pistol without a magazine, and some explosives.

"Sorry, sir, I cannot provide more support because this is a secret operation. Though you may have noticed it isn't all that secret, I still have to obey orders." The operator's voice came from Maggot Eye. "However, the ruler of the Tark Family has stated that he does not wish for you to die in this cooperation. So if you feel overwhelmed or trapped, fire the flare in your backpack."

Qin Xa said nothing. He did not take any weapons, merely slung the backpack over his shoulders and walked toward the estate.

"Once you fire the flare, a flying vehicle will come to the estate to pick you up. But in that case, this operation cannot be disguised as the estate's imprisoned wizard losing control in a frenzy and killing everyone."

"If you kill them normally, fire the flare after you come out as well. Then the clan head's guards will come pick you up in a flying vehicle."

Maggot Eye followed behind Qin Xa, chattering endlessly.

Before he had gone far, Qin Xa stopped.

Maggot Eye stopped as well.

Qin Xa turned toward Maggot Eye and crooked a finger.

The operator of the military Maggot Eye immediately controlled the Drone forward, bringing it close to Qin Xa's mouth.

"Get lost," Qin Xa said.

"Understood." The military Maggot Eye immediately turned invisible and rose into the sky.

Qin Xa turned back toward the estate and continued onward.

The moment he took a step, his vision suddenly went black. Then an image that continuously zoomed in and out filled his sight.

How many guards were in the estate, and what its defensive arrangements were.

There were also the estate's other inhabitants, such as the Slaves. It was night, and as usual, the Slaves were locked in the dungeon beneath the breeding grounds behind the estate's largest building. The guards had taken over all the estate's miscellaneous work.

Qin Xa learned all of it.

He discovered that his Prophecy ability had grown stronger again.

Feeling quite satisfied, Qin Xa continued forward.

At the estate entrance, ten fully armed guards stood watch. Every one of them saw a hunched old man approaching the estate.

Qin Xa used his psychic power to affect the vision of the people before him.

Qin Xa continued onward, picking up stones from the ground as he walked.

"You..."

The first guard began to question him, but before the final syllable left his mouth, a stone smashed his head apart.

Qin Xa continued walking, casually throwing stones and killing all ten guards one after another.

It was not that he did not want to use the weapons in the package. Those weapons had not been custom-made for his Astartes body; his little finger could not even fit into the pistol's ring-shaped trigger mechanism.

As for the sword, by mortal standards it was merely a shortsword. Qin Xa felt he might as well not use it.

The instant the first guard was killed, the alarm directly connected to his heart had already sounded. Its piercing wail echoed throughout the estate.

All the nearby guards rushed over. Some carried shields and shortswords, while others held energy rifles.

The former immediately formed a shield wall, while the latter lined up like line infantry, preparing to concentrate their fire.

Qin Xa could tell that the Nucerians' military discipline was truly terrible.

In the guards' eyes, Qin Xa was merely an old man, so their leader directly demanded, "Who hired you, old man?! Do you know who you're trying to kill?"

"I don't care." Qin Xa slowly assumed a stance, his left hand raised to the sky and his right lowered toward the ground, one leg stepping forward. "No matter which slave master dies, and no matter who kills that slave master, it is a good thing as long as he dies. I'll have one fewer enemy in the future."

A shockwave spread outward.

Everything within sixty meters shattered.