Fatal Shot

Beside the flea market stall, the expressions of the six teenagers went dark. Only the girl with the weaker equipment, who hadn’t yet spoken, seemed calmer than the others. It was because the plan had been concocted by the others. She hadn’t participated since the beginning. So, right now, she only glanced at Feng Luo curiously.

“Ah, this young lady! You sure have an eye for good products to recognize that this core crystal is rare. Spending 60,000 credits for it is definitely worth it. Right. So, will you be paying by crystals or a transfer from the terminal?”

The stubble-bearded Merchant, who was smiling so wide that his eyes could no longer be seen, spoke to the short-haired girl beside him, whose expression seemed a bit crazy.

In this world, the words “young lady” didn’t have any negative connotations. However, upon hearing his words, the short-haired girl’s face was clearly bleak. Although she already knew that she was being ripped off, under Feng Luo’s “provoking” gaze, this sort of youngster, whose skin was not thick enough, did not dare to go back on her words to say that she did not want it anymore.

“Humph! This lady here is rich! Unlike someone who can’t afford it. Terminal transfer!” As such, she could only utter these words and use her personal terminal to transfer the credits.

“Boss, get those… those… from your safe…”

“Anyway, those rock-like, rare materials—those core crystals or whatever—bring them all out. I have no choice. My pet likes to eat core crystals… However, don’t bring me anything more than 60,000 credits. The thing is it doesn’t eat core crystals over 60,000 credits. This little thing is a very picky eater!”

Feng Luo actually had a sharp tongue, especially now, after he had leveled up and become rich. He was more than happy to have an argument with this non-mainstream-looking, short-haired girl.

“You!” The short-haired girl’s face was already twisted. As she heard this, the girl holding the box containing the Fire Ant Commander’s core crystal glared in anger at Feng Luo through her eyes rimmed with thick makeup.

However, at that moment, the group noticed 24K caught in Feng Luo’s hands and connected to Feng Luo through the mental link, which was filled with resentment at its master as it flailed all six of its claws around. They couldn’t help it as their gaze turned towards 24K.

For one, pets were extremely rare. Secondly, although 24K was a beetle, its appearance was indisputable. Its round body looked as if it were made of gold while its round eyes kept rolling around. It was not like normal beetles that gave off a scary vibe.

Of course, to Feng Luo, this group of people had already been put aside. His attention was now focused on the boxes containing materials or core crystals that the stubble-bearded Merchant handed to him.

When the stubble-bearded Merchant brought the things in front of him, 24K finally confirmed what it was that it had wanted. Through the mental link, 24K told Feng Luo, with yearning, that in the second box from the left, the grayish-blue rock that was about half the size of a fist was the item that it felt that it wanted to eat.

All right!

From “very important” to “very tasty.” It looked like 24K also knew that it had to make things sound more serious and important for Feng Luo to satisfy its needs!

However, in regard to the item 24K thought was “tasty,” Feng Luo also became interested after looking at it. It was because the item that looked like a grayish stone was actually the only item inside the box that did not have any stats or attributes!

Can’t see its attributes? Feng Luo grew curious.

It was important to note that it was extremely difficult to spot and acquire a missed treasure since items only needed to be appraised before their stats and attributes appeared.

(Of course, as mentioned previously, in regards to appraising in War, it was possible for the appraised attributes or stats to be incomplete or even wrong, depending on the knowledge of the appraiser.)

Whether it was a good or a bad item, as long as one saw its stats and name, it was naturally very easy to determine its value. That was why there was no way any of those sharp and resourceful Merchant players would be easily tricked by a cheap method like that.

But the stats of this stone can’t actually be seen? Then it looks like there is room to maneuver, Feng Luo thought while his expression remained calm as if nothing was wrong. At the same time, he notified 24K to not act too obvious through the mental link while he picked up the “rock.”

Then Feng Luo said, “This thing looks decent. How much?” Among all the seven to eight boxes, only this did not have any stats. Anyone would have seen it immediately. If he were to pretend and try to disguise himself, it might have made the stubble-bearded Merchant more suspicious.

“This is really a good item!” The Merchant glanced at the thing Feng Luo had picked up before starting to boast and talk immediately.

“This thing was brought back from underground ruins by my friend. Half of their team died back then before they acquired this item. It was stolen from the lair of a Boss after a lot of trouble…”

“Really? A good item without stats.” Feng Luo shook the “rock” in his hands and looked at the Merchant with a faint smile.

“Hey, it hasn’t been appraised yet. Relax. As long as you appraise it in an appraisal office, it’s definitely going to a good item. It’s from a Boss. There’s absolutely no way it’s normal…”

The stubble-bearded Merchant smiled awkwardly while his mouth continued to ramble. Feng Luo knew that none of the words this guy mentioned were true, so he did not believe him in the slightest.

The item had not yet been appraised, so it was possible he’d gotten it from another player as he was trying his luck to spot a treasure. In the end, the NPC appraiser had failed to appraise it, so now, it was left stuck in his hands.

The only reason it was left in the safe was that the Merchant recognized the fact that it was unappraised, and perhaps some generous and gullible person would believe his words and purchase it for a good price.

Yes. Speaking of generous and gullible individuals, the short-haired girl with thick makeup had not yet left. She was holding the box containing the core crystal while staring coldly at him from the side.

“How much is this?” Feng Luo asked while shaking the “rock” in his hands.

“This one. 30,000 credits!” The stubble-bearded Merchant turned his gaze toward the short-haired girl and named the same price as the core crystal.

“30,000 credits, huh? Oh, that’s right. Do you want this?” Feng Luo intentionally threw a glance at the short-haired girl. Provoking her one more time.

“Humph! Only an idiot would buy that!” The girl with the thick makeup had a dark expression as she let out a cold snort with her nose. After that, she no longer stopped as she stomped two steps on the ground, creating a cloud of sand before turning around and walking toward her friends.

After being snubbed, the young boys and girls did not stay any longer. They gave Feng Luo an annoyed look before turning to leave together.

“All right, the gullible charity has left. This piece of rock. 3,000 credits. Deal?” Feng Luo turned around and asked the stubble-bearded Merchant after the group left.

“3,000!” the stubble-bearded Merchant exclaimed loudly with a shocked expression. “Brother, you’re a little too cruel with your negotiation, aren’t you? This is a good item that hasn’t been appraised. You should know that items that need to be appraised cost at least 5,000 to 6,000 credits, don’t you?”

“So, this item worth 50,000 to 60,000 credits—you’ll sell it to me at 30,000?”

“Ugh…” The Merchant realized that he had gone a bit too far, and now, he was caught in between his words.

“You can’t appraise this item, right?” Feng Luo glared at his eyes with a faint smile.

“Hey, brother. Look at you speak. How can it not be appraised…?” A look of guilt flashed across the stubble-bearded Merchant’s eyes, but his expression was one that implied that it could definitely be appraised.

“All right, I won’t bullsh*t you anymore,” said Feng Luo. “Truth be told, I don’t even know the use of this item. It’s just that my precious pet likes to eat core crystals, rocks, and the like. Just now, it was hungry and told me that this was the one it wanted, so I don’t really care if the stats and attributes of this thing can be appraised.” He was certain about his judgment. “I’m paying 3,000 for this thing, but, if you really want it to be 30,000, it’s still a deal! Let’s sign an electronic contract. You’ll appraise this thing, and no matter the appraised stats or attributes, I’ll pay 30,000 for it. If the appraisal is unsuccessful, you’ll pay me 10,000 credits instead, how’s that?”

“This…” The stubble beard Merchant turned to look at 24K and noticed that all six of its limbs were waving and flailing around. It was really trying to grab the “rock” in Feng Luo’s hands. “All right, brother. We’re honest people, and honest people don’t do underhanded things! This item was really found in some underground ruins. Moreover, there was really a Boss monster near it, so it’s definitely not some junk item! I bought it for 4,000 credits last time, and I spent another 1,000 appraising it. So, you should at least supplement my cost, right? 6,000, and it’s yours. I won’t say it again!”

As if he’d made up his mind, the stubble-bearded Merchant had transformed into a very straightforward person.

However, Feng Luo still smiled. He wouldn’t be tricked by the honest demeanor of this person. In truth, most of his words were still lies—at least in regard to his cost. Those were definitely lies.

Merchants and businesspeople, whenever the negotiation process was nearing its end, would always pretend to be a sincere person and trick youngsters who were inexperienced. But against a veteran like Feng Luo, it was ineffective! But, for just 3,000 credits, he really didn’t bother too much at that moment. Moreover, he was really interested in that piece of “rock” because 24K had never shown so much desire in wanting to eat something.

After all, 24K had the “Devour” talent. Who knew what kind of benefits it would gain after eating this rock?

That was why he no longer tried to barter. Instead, he extended his hand and threw the black rock in his hand to 24K, who could not wait any longer, allowing it to use its tiny claws to catch and hug the rock that was one-third the size of its body size. After that, Feng Luo faced the Merchant and said, “Okay, I’ll take it for 6,000! Also, do you have any food bait that can lure Desert Rock Lizards and Desert Fire Ants? Give me ten of each. Also, give me a map of Withered Desert Five!”

Monster lures used to attract monsters concocted by life profession players were commonly sold at popular supply points. At the same time, maps with detailed monster locations would never be in short supply.

“All right. At once! But, brother, you sure are willing to spend!”

The stubble-bearded Merchant saw that Feng Luo really did feed the “rock” to 24K without any hesitation. His originally suspicious face turned into one of admiration, as he truly did not know what else to say except to lament in admiration.

To be so willing to spend on raising a “decorative pet,” I really don’t understand how the tycoons of the world think! But who cares what they think? The junk item I spent 2,000 credits on helped me earn a hefty amount in the end!

“Oh, that’s right,” said the Merchant. “Brother, let’s exchange electronic name cards. I’m called ‘Good Honest Merchant,’ and I’m almost at the Expert Level. Let’s conduct business again in the future if we have the chance!”

As he was packing a few sets of monster lures for Feng Luo and copying the map into the terminal, the stubble-bearded Merchant finally remembered to exchange name cards.

Feng Luo laughed. Good Honest Merchant. Even the name showed the patterns of a profiteer!