Chapter 72: We meet everywhere in life

Lin Ke took in this scene.

Perhaps this young man has some hidden difficulty and is eager to make a deal.

His stall, frankly speaking, is not in a great location.

Many people shop at the market, picking and choosing, often overlooking the stalls at the ends and finally making a purchase at the middle stalls.

Although this phenomenon isn't absolute, most people are like that.

Lin Ke also held the idea of comparing three shops, thinking there might be better, more suitable stalls later, so he didn't immediately buy the magic model scrolls of Water Blade Technique and Thorn Whip Technique.

Of course, he wouldn't act out of a saintly heart.

Lin Ke would certainly not place an order impulsively just because of a few changes in the young man's demeanor.

As a black market stall owner, how could just anyone sympathize or pity him?

You probably haven't seen a face with an innocent smile, hands covered in fresh blood and flesh, a sociopathic killer who doesn't blink when killing.

Who knows what kind of person this young man really is?

People have many faces.

No one can guarantee that this young man's nature is as harmless as his appearance suggests.

Lin Ke's resolve was firm, his steps unceasing, and he turned toward the next stall.

Several nearby stall owners, seeing Lin Ke's demeanor, had their scheming to overcharge customers fade considerably.

Looks like he's not so easy to fool.

But no matter how the stall owners' thoughts change, business still has to be done.

It's just buying and selling.

It's natural for buyers to be picky.

The seller asking for a high price is also understandable, right?

Lin Ke was picking and choosing, and they could also quote a higher price.

After browsing seven or eight stalls, Lin Ke found that the water- and wood-system zero-ring attack magics on those stalls had nothing particularly special.

Whether it's attack power, attack method, or attack effect, they all fall within the conventional range, with nothing novel.

Moreover, those stall owners, one or two of them, were asking damn what prices?

Buying a generic zero-ring magic model scroll for twenty Magic Stones is something only an idiot would do!

Lin Ke had inquired; in the black market, the average price of a zero-ring magic model scroll was around fourteen Magic Stones.

Compared to the average price in East District's bookshops and scroll shops, it's almost one Magic Stone cheaper.

Until he was about to finish half the stalls in the magic model scroll area, Lin Ke discovered two magics that caught his eye.

One is a water-system zero-ring magic called Ice Cone Technique;

One is a wood-system zero-ring magic called Greenfield Tracking.

Ice Cone Technique's attack power is considerable, featuring both striking/piercing and freezing damage; its effect equals the stacking of two Breaking Law Crossbow Arrows.

Lin Ke had also mastered the prerequisite knowledge of the relevant rule runes; after getting started, getting into it is not difficult.

Greenfield Tracking is not an attack magic but a supportive magic.

The caster can use it to communicate with the "consciousness" of trees, flowers, and grasses, to identify and track; in the wild or in high-greenery environments, it is used for investigation, with remarkably high effectiveness.

"Boss, give me a set price; I'm sincerely buying."

Lin Ke flicked the two magic model scrolls in his hand, without beating around the bush, to hide his intentions.

"Fifteen Magic Stones. Each."

The stall owner, with white-flecked temples and a mess of hair, whose appearance and demeanor were suave and uninhibited, glanced up slightly, his lips twitching a bit.

He remained aloof the whole time, never putting down the illustrated reference material in his hand depicting the battle between two male and female mages, the Coiled Serpent War.

Compared to the academy's magic trading center, this price is undoubtedly sky-high, double the usual.

But relative to other black market stalls' asking prices, it is an honest price, not excessive, falling within the black market average.

Once we agree on a set price, it's a set price.

Lin Ke didn't haggle, taking out three small pouches from his bosom.

These were specially prepared by Lin Ke before he went out.

He took out the Magic Stones from the box, either five or ten each, and put them into the individual small pouches.

Lin Ke brought several different small pouches, all tucked inside his bosom.

The reason he didn't bring the box is that it bears the academy's insignia and number, which would easily reveal his identity.

Lin Ke cheerfully poured out the Magic Stones from the three pouches onto the stall, indicating for the boss to count them.

"All right, all right."

Who would have thought the boss couldn't be bothered to lift his eyelids, waved his hand, and his tone was a little impatient.

It seemed that perusing the illustrated reference material on the Coiled Serpent War was the real business, while setting up a stall to trade was just a sideline.

Lin Ke wasn't annoyed either; he tucked the magic model scrolls and small pouches into his bosom and turned to leave.

With limited Magic Stones, he didn't bother browsing the other stalls in the magic model scroll area.

One, to avoid getting dazzled; two, greed leads to indigestion.

Returning to the young man's stall, Lin Ke didn't dawdle, directly pointing to the Water Blade Technique and Thorn Whip Technique and asked, "I'm buying in earnest; what's the price?"

The young man's face lit up with delight as he repeatedly said, "Each technique costs twelve Magic Stones; two techniques cost twenty-four!"

"Whoa!"

This price is really cheap, several Magic Stones below the black market average.

Upon hearing this, Lin Ke furrowed his brow slightly.

He could tell that the young man stall owner must have run into something urgent, eager to sell his goods, even willing to cut the price.

By the way, you can't just casually take advantage of a small bargain.

If you buy it back, you won't get into any trouble, right?

Lin Ke couldn't help but hesitate a little.

Water Blade Technique can be combined with Water Sphere Technique and Ice Spike Technique to form the attack system of water-element witchcraft;

Thorn Whip Lash can be paired with Thorn Entanglement, integrating control and attack into one.

These two witchcraft techniques are indeed what Lin Ke needs.

Moreover, it's not just the young man at one stall selling the model scrolls of these two witchcraft techniques.

Out of an instinct to avoid trouble, Lin Ke suddenly didn't really want to buy from the young man's stall.

The young man wasn't lacking in perceptiveness; seeing Linke suddenly fall silent, his thoughts turned and he guessed Linke's concerns.

He immediately gave a wry smile and explained: "My stall's lease is about to expire, I can't renew it, so I need to sell these scrolls quickly, hence the low price. Buying something from me won't get you into any trouble. Besides, this is the black market; once you leave, no one will know what you bought or where you bought it."

"Alright."

Lin Ke nodded, feeling his worries were somewhat unnecessary.

This place itself is the black market, where shady and problematic things abound.

Having chosen to come to the black market to buy things, it's inevitable that you'll encounter situations like this in the future.

Or you might encounter even stranger things than what's before you.

Do you have to give up every time?

Then why come to the black market at all?

Without further hesitation, Lin Ke counted out twenty-four magic stones and bought the two witchcraft model scrolls.

The young man accepted the magic stones, unable to keep a smile from spreading across his face.

Today can finally be considered open for business!

Not easy at all.

Lin Ke put the scrolls and the small bag back into his bosom, immediately left the witchcraft model scrolls area, passed the rune items area, and headed toward the witchcraft implements area.

As soon as he entered this area, Lin Ke's gaze instantly became sharp.

He saw a familiar back view and heard an equally familiar voice.

Life really is full of unexpected encounters; I never thought I'd meet you here.

Harold Andrews!

(End of chapter)