Chapter 74: Prelude

The angrier Lin Ke got, the calmer he became.

His pace and demeanor unchanged, he naturally walked out of the Rune Items Area and arrived near the black market entrance.

There was an inconspicuous hidden stall tucked in the corner, selling various blueprints.

For example, the West District recently updated its terrain and topography map.

Lin Ke found this piece of information after repeatedly searching on the "Forum".

It cost the boss a lot of time and effort.

Standing before the stall, Lin Ke said nothing, directly taking out five pieces of standard first-grade Magic Stone and placing them one by one on the stall's counter.

The five Magic Stones occupied the five points, forming a relatively abstract pentagram.

This was a code, indicating understanding and compliance with the stall's rules.

Once bought, never speak of it.

The blind old man guarding the stall sensed the movement, his trembling, skinny hand reaching out to touch the counter and feel the Magic Stones.

The blind old man slowly and patiently felt them, only after confirming the five Magic Stones formed a pentagram did he collect them one by one.

Then he shakily pulled a crumpled, wrinkled map from under the counter, placed it on the counter, and slowly turned his back.

Only a brand-new map counts as being for sale.

A wrinkled old map is considered lost.

Although it smacked of pulling down one's pants to fart, it at least gave the stall owner, black market operators, and those behind the black market some breathing room.

The grey zone, surviving in the cracks—this is the norm.

There is no carefree abandon, only trembling anxiety.

Thus, excessive mental stress often produces perverts and antisocial personalities.

Lin Ke picked up the wrinkled map, quickly opened it for a glance, compared the map's information with his memory, noted the updated parts, and immediately left the hidden stall.

After exiting the dark tunnel and returning his mask, Lin Ke quickly left the black market.

He wandered a few nearby alleys and finally found the several street thugs who had tailed him for several streets earlier.

From a distance, after repeatedly confirming that those few street thugs were wizard apprentices within Lin Ke's capability to handle, he knew there would be no mistake.

Only then did Lin Ke stand at the mouth of a dead-end alley, casually waving at the few street thugs who had noticed his movements and grown suspicious.

The street thugs, each with a violent temper and love of face, instantly flared up in anger upon seeing this.

"Who the hell is this looking down on?"

"Imagine calling over a few dogs—are we supposed to shout for them like that?"

Thus, the several street thugs scattered, advanced, regrouped, and trapped Lin Ke in the dead-end alley.

In all available information about Auspicious Fertile Seek-Think City, Lin Ke had learned the general situation of the West District's street thugs.

These people were mostly locals of Auspicious Fertile Seek-Think City and its surrounding areas, possessing wizard aptitude, but all were of third-tier or lower aptitude, which was very awkward.

They could not afford the expensive tuition, nor did they wish to sign a "Body Sale Agreement" (similar to the Storm Sea Newblood Agreement), nor did they want to study hard for four years at the Auspicious Fertile Seek-Think Biological and Medical College only to end up in those sweatshops and workshops of the South City District.

They could only casually learn a generic meditation method that might not suit them, study a few generic wizard arts that might not have development potential, and then, like hyenas, roam the streets and alleys of the West District all day, scavenging for carrion.

If they had put in just a little more effort, they would not have fallen to such a state.

At the very least, they could join one of the big or small gangs within the West District.

Lin Ke was surrounded, yet showed no panic.

He gently pushed up his glasses and smiled politely: "Gentlemen, I mean no harm."

The street thugs gave no response, grinning wickedly as they prepared to swarm him.

They had earlier wanted to rob this fat sheep laden with rune items and even magical devices, but unfortunately he had gone to the black market.

They never expected that the fat sheep, after leaving the black market, would actively come forward to provoke them.

What more is there to say? Attack!

Suddenly, a super-strong fog in which one cannot see five fingers ahead enveloped the street thugs.

Suddenly, their vision was completely blocked,

a blank white expanse of thick fog, unable to see anything at all.

Not even their companions nearby.

Though they were in bodily contact and could sense each other's presence, they could not see.

The street thugs were greatly shocked—an ambush!

Just as they were about to launch a counterattack,

dozens of thorny vines silently grew, wandering, tightly entangling and binding the street thugs' legs and torsos.

Five gleaming, eerie-light leaf arrows also promptly struck the street thugs' foreheads.

As long as Lin Ke willed it, the street thugs had no time to activate the defensive effects of their rune items before dying instantly.

The Secondary Mist Rain Technique was withdrawn, and the super-strong fog dissipated.

The street thugs recognized reality and, under the threat of the Leaf Arrow Technique, dared not move a muscle.

In less than 0.5 seconds, Lin Ke first instant-cast a Perfection-level Secondary Mist Rain Technique, and at the same instant, in the form of False Natal Witchcraft, instant-cast Thorn Entanglement.

Immediately thereafter, using the "Parallel Casting" developed from False Natal Witchcraft, he simultaneously cast five Leaf Arrow Techniques within less than one second.

This smooth sequence of interference, control, and intimidation completely subdued the street thugs.

In the blink of an eye he used three witchcrafts, which, although they are relatively common among zero-ring witchcrafts, but…

This damn thing is not something an ordinary wizard apprentice could do!

Which young master from the North City District came to the West District to have fun?

"Big brother, just say what's up; no need for this act."

The street thugs' guy who acted as boss spoke with a trembling voice.

By this point, however, the boss still couldn't let go of his pride and didn't directly beg for mercy.

Lin Ke didn't hold it against them, and with a gentle attitude he asked: "Now, can we talk calmly?"

"No problem, you decide."

Several street thugs spoke in unison, saying: "First dispel your sorcery, then we can talk—this way of speaking makes people nervous."

Lin Ke chuckled, withdrew the Leaf Arrow Technique, and two Self-Exploding Fire Thunders promptly appeared on his left hand.

If he could handle the street thugs once, he could handle them a second time.

Afterward, he gave the street thugs no chance to chatter and went straight to the point: "I have a job that pays ten standard first-grade Magic Stones—are you in?"

The street thugs looked at each other.

"Boss, you've made such a fuss just to give us a job to do."

"You think too highly of us!"

"You speak."

"The situation is stronger than the person; what can the street thug boss do but agree?"

Lin Ke immediately described Harold Andrews' height, hair color, build, and clothing to the street thugs, then said: "This person will soon come out of the black market; I want you to find a way to lure him to Spider Tail Alley."

Saying this, Lin Ke pulled out ten Magic Stones from his right hand and threw two to each person.

This isn't a negotiation; it's an order.

"You take the money, you do the job, right?"

He walked past the street thugs bound in place by thorns, and Lin Ke turned back with a refined smile.

His snow-white teeth flashed with a cold light.

(End of chapter)