Chapter 24: The Correct Way to Bargain

Outside the port.

Low shacks, flowing sewage, and people coming and going in disheveled clothes, with fierce faces or barely covered bodies, formed a typical picture of the commoner district.

A stark contrast to the clean and tidy streets within the port.

The attendant assigned by Gaza stood at the entrance of the commoner district and said to Gao Wen with a hint of apology:

"My lord, arms deals mostly take place in the black market; inside, good and bad are mixed. Even if the public... the Lord wants to manage it, he is willing but powerless."

"Moreover, ruling a port is far from as easy as one imagines; grabbing the big and letting the small go is the norm. Therefore, as long as no major trouble breaks out, we generally turn a blind eye here."

"I cannot accompany you inside; please be extra careful."

This attendant bowed to Gao Wen, then prepared to leave, when Xiang Keluo suddenly asked:

"Is this treatment only for us, or do they have it too?"

The attendant was slightly stunned, a strange smile appearing on his face:

"Please do not misunderstand."

"The Lord's exact words were that, compared to that group, you look much more like real navy no matter how you look at it."

Having said that.

After the attendant's gaze lingered for an instant on the two faces, he smiled slightly and turned to leave.

"What does that mean?"

Xiang Keluo was stunned.

"He's complimenting your good looks."

A smile curled Gao Wen's lips.

Xiang Keluo's face instantly turned red.

Ten-plus years at sea.

In the past, he had only heard people say his appearance was gloomy and frightening; when had he ever been praised so directly?

So much so that he unconsciously muttered:

"Talkative."

The smile on Gao Wen's face grew even stronger.

Food and medicine could be obtained through official channels within the city; although the prices were somewhat high, the quality was guaranteed and the speed was fast, so it was settled in no time.

The difficult part was firearms and ammunition; they could only find Xiang Keluo's contact, Habingjie.

The two followed the route Xiang Keluo remembered and quickly walked into a bar in a corner.

The strong smell of alcohol and an indescribable foul odor rushed into Gao Wen's nose, making him frown; looking up, he saw Xiang Keluo walking straight into the corner, so Gao Wen followed.

In the corner was a low door.

With both of them standing over two meters tall, they had to bend down to enter.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Xiang Keluo knocked on the door.

Only the sound of a creaking hinge was heard, and a somewhat cunning face poked out from inside; this was Habingjie.

"Yo~"

"Isn't this Xiang Keluo? I heard you were preparing to retire; why are you back at your old trade?"

"Cut the nonsense."

Xiang Keluo's expression turned cold and stern:

"Flintlock gun ammunition, three hundred sets; 100mm cannon shells, five hundred rounds; how much for all of this together?"

"Let me calculate~"

Habingjie shook his fingers, looked at Xiang Keluo, then at Gao Wen's face, and spoke out a number:

"Thirty million Beli in total!"

"Are you crazy?"

Xiang Keluo's face darkened, and he shouted angrily:

"Last time, all of these together were less than ten million; tripled? Don't you fear having the life to take it but not the life to spend it?!"

"You have to understand me~"

Habingjie spread his hands, wearing an expression that showed he had Xiang Keluo right where he wanted him:

"I spent a huge price to have someone pull me out of the navy's hands; now I'm buried in debt. Besides, arms dealing is a business that kills people; is it appropriate to bargain with a dead man?"

Along with Habingjie's words, everyone in the bar instantly surrounded them; under the lights, blades reflected cold light, clearly prepared for the situation before them.

Xiang Keluo gritted his teeth; unwilling to start a conflict here, he held up two fingers:

"Twenty million! Twenty million at most!"

"That's not enough~"

A smile curled Habingjie's lips; just as he was about to speak, a cold and stern voice came from beside his ear:

"Xiang Keluo, this is not how you bargain!"

Gao Wen swept his gaze around, slowly drew the long sword at his waist, and exuded a fierce killing intent; the pressure radiating from one person made nearly a hundred people in the bar dare not take a single step forward.

Cold sweat streamed down Habingjie's forehead; he looked at Xiang Keluo in surprise:

"Hey, hey, hey~ Xiang Keluo, where did you find this subordinate? This pressure is even stronger than yours!"

"Subordinate?"

Xiang Keluo looked at Habingjie, a sinister smile curling his lips:

"He is my captain!"

"Being the captain of someone like you, does he think his life is too long?"

Ha Bingjie retorted with a sharp comeback.

"Heh, he's different, strong like a monster!"

Xiang Keluo gave no ground, but Gao Wen had already lost his patience, looking coldly at Ha Bingjie:

"Ten million."

Ha Bingjie's back was soaked with sweat, yet he still bore the pressure, gritting his teeth and saying:

"Twenty million."

In the next instant.

Silver sword light flashed in the bar; with every appearance, a scream erupted from the surroundings, and an ear fell from mid-air to the ground, severed from its owner's body.

Gao Wen moved among the crowd like the Grim Reaper, his long sword in hand leaving trails of blood everywhere.

Everyone instantly panicked, gripping their weapons tightly, yet unable to gain even a shred of safety, forced to silently await the arrival of the Grim Reaper.

"Eight million!"

Gao Wen's voice entered Ha Bingjie's ears again, causing only his whole body to tremble; he called him a madman, with not a trace of the arrogant confidence he had held moments ago, certain he had the upper hand.

How could he not understand?

If Gao Wen could so easily sever these people's ears, he could just as easily take everyone's lives!

Xiang Keluo hadn't lied; this really was a monster!

"No, how can you go lower?"

"Six—!"

"Eight million! Just eight million!"

Ha Bingjie hurriedly spoke up to interrupt Gao Wen, his voice trembling; if he kept cutting, this deal would lose so much he'd be left with nothing but his underwear!

"I said, six million!"

Gao Wen appeared, looking down at Ha Bingjie from above, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Ha Bingjie opened his mouth, but his eyes saw only his subordinates clutching their ears, trembling in pain yet daring not to utter a single scream; a chill instantly ran through him:

"Six million, just six million!"

All he wanted now was to get this plague god out of here as quickly as possible!

Even if he lost money, it didn't matter!

If Gao Wen kept cutting, these subordinates he had gathered with such difficulty would likely all run away.

The outcome of being left alone here would not be good.

"Don't try any tricks; once the Captain starts fighting, I can't stop him~"

Xiang Keluo reached out and patted Ha Bingjie's face; seeing the latter completely dare not resist, he couldn't hold back his smile.

Gao Wen, meanwhile, looked at the battered long sword in his hand, his brows furrowing slightly.

This knight's sword that had followed his original body for years had a blade full of notches, and even several obvious cracks along the spine.

Most of these wounds were left during his previous clash with Xiang Keluo, while Xiang Keluo's claw knives remained as bright and new as ever, clearly showing the two were not on the same level of quality.

"It's time to change weapons."

Several hours later.

The sun on the horizon gradually set, its afterglow dyeing the sky a deep crimson.

A group of people dressed as sailors entered the civilian district, carrying away boxes of ammunition sealed with wax paper.

Xiang Keluo then conducted a spot check; after confirming the quality was up to standard, he nodded at Gao Wen:

"No problems; everything can be used normally."

"Mm."

Gao Wen responded with a sound, then turned his head to look at the distant sea.

The wind was light and the waves calm; a few seabirds skimmed across the water's surface.

For no reason, he felt a hint of unease, then turned his head and spoke to Xiang Keluo:

"You take these supplies and munitions onto the ship; I'll go remind that woman. If it truly matches our speculation, once Creek's people attack, this port will be destroyed."

Xiang Keluo was stunned:

"Is it necessary?"

A faint smile appeared on Gao Wen's lips:

"She was praising your handsomeness this afternoon."

"Boring."

(End of this chapter)