805: Chapter 80 I'll Go with You

The Fat Boss let out a sneering huff from his nostrils and casually tossed the pendant onto the grease-stained tabletop, letting out a sharp clink.

"Silver? In Bapeng City, silver is barely worth more than scrap iron. Five hundred dollars? You poor wretch must be crazy for money; this thing is worth fifty at most."

Lin Chi's face flushed deep red, a sickly glow caused by long-term malnutrition.

He needed money.

Just ten minutes ago, he had received word that those people had already tracked down his residence. If he didn't buy a boat ticket to leave Bapon tonight, he would be captured by the warlord known as "Scorpion" to refine drugs.

"Fifty is too little... I beg you, a hundred, just one hundred dollars!"

The Fat Boss waved his hand impatiently, while his other hand already reached for the sawed-off shotgun under the counter.

"Either take fifty and get lost, or I'll throw you out to feed the dogs. Don't block my business."

The wind chimes at the door rang as someone pushed it open.

That crisp sound seemed exceptionally abrupt in this lifeless pawnshop.

Lin Chi instinctively looked back and saw a man wearing a dark grey cashmere sweater walk in, followed by a man in a floral shirt and a burly man carrying a case.

The scent on these three people was very clean—a composure nurtured by money and power that was completely out of place in this gutter-like Bapeng City.

Shen Yan didn't look at the Fat Boss; his gaze fell straight onto Lin Chi.

The system interface flashed on his retina again, providing more detailed information.

[Target Confirmed: Lin Chi, 24 years old, chemistry genius.]

[Hidden Attribute: He is the only person who knows how to stabilize the molecular structure of 'mesaichi-7', because that key formula isn't on any piece of paper, but in his head.]

[Current Status: Extreme panic, in desperate need of funds to flee.]

Shen Yan walked to the counter. Chen Guangke, showing great discernment, pulled out a dust-covered chair and wiped it with his sleeve before letting Shen Yan sit down.

"Fifty dollars."

Shen Yan's voice wasn't loud, yet in the cramped space, it even drowned out the noise of the ceiling fan.

The Fat Boss narrowed his eyes, his greedy gaze lingering on Shen Yan's Patek Philippe watch for a full three seconds.

"This boss wants this pendant? I see you're an expert; this is an antique, you'll have to pay more..."

Shen Yan ignored the Fat Boss and instead looked at Lin Chi, his fingers tapping twice lightly on the table.

"I'm saying, I'll pay fifty dollars for this pendant."

The hope in Lin Chi's eyes instantly vanished, replaced by a sense of fury and despair at being toyed with.

He thought a savior had arrived, but it turned out to be an even more ruthless exploiter.

"I'm not selling it anymore."

Lin Chi grabbed the pendant and prepared to leave.

"But for you as a person, I'll pay ten million."

Shen Yan's next sentence made Lin Chi's stepping foot freeze right in its tracks.

The entire pawnshop fell into a deathly silence.

Even the Fat Boss's mouth hung wide open, wondering if he had misheard the units. Ten million? This skinny monkey wouldn't be worth ten thousand even if he sold all his internal organs.

Lin Chi turned around and stared warily at Shen Yan, like a young beast backed into a corner.

"Who are you?"

Shen Yan took a cigar from Chen Guangke's hand; he didn't light it, but just held it to his nose to smell it.

"Who I am isn't important. What's important is that I know who you are—Dr. Lin's illegitimate son."

These words hit Lin Chi's chest like a heavy hammer.

His father was indeed a famous chemist, but he was infamous in the academic world because that madman was always trying to synthesize anti-human chemical substances.

No one knew that the madman had a son.

"You want that formula?"

Lin Chi's voice turned cold, and his hand quietly reached toward the utility knife in his pocket that he used for self-defense.

Shen Yan smiled with a calmness that saw through everything.

"The data at the auction was incomplete. If synthesized according to that formula, all you'd get is a pile of toxic waste liquid. The true core technology is you."

Although the Fat Boss didn't understand formulas or synthesis, he understood "ten million."

Greed instantly swallowed his reason.

*Click.*

The Fat Boss raised that double-barreled shotgun from under the counter, the dark muzzle pointing at Shen Yan's head.

"I misjudged you; turns out you're a big fat sheep. Ten million? Where is the money? Leave the case and get the hell out!"

In Bapeng City, human life was the cheapest consumable. As long as he killed these few people, that ten million would be his.

Chen Guangke didn't even take his hand out of his pocket, just looking at the Fat Boss as if he were an idiot.

"Brother Yan, there are really a lot of flies in this place."

Shen Yan didn't even lift an eyelid, still looking at Lin Chi.

"I'm asking you: come with me, or stay here and wait to die?"

Looking at this man who was talking business while a gun was pointed at his head, Lin Chi felt an inexplicable chill in his heart.

This wasn't the fearlessness of the ignorant.

This was the arrogance of someone in total control, as if that gun were merely a fire poker in his eyes.

"I... I'll go with you."

Lin Chi made his choice.

In that very instant.

Chen Guangke moved.

No one saw how he drew his gun; they only heard a muffled shot—the unique sound of a silenced Glock.

The Fat Boss's hand holding the gun exploded into a cloud of blood. Before the scream could burst from his throat, it was smashed back by a glass ashtray Chen Guangke had casually grabbed.

*Thud.*

The two-hundred-pound body slammed heavily behind the counter, the shotgun sliding to the floor.

The bodyguard standing behind Shen Yan stepped forward, placed the black briefcase on the counter, and opened it.

Inside were neat stacks of US dollars, a green that made one's head spin.

"This is one million as a down payment."

Shen Yan stood up and smoothed his unwrinkled hem.

"The remaining nine million will be deposited into your account once you reach Jinghai."

Lin Chi looked at that case of money, his throat so dry he couldn't make a sound.

He had never seen so much money in his life.

"Take the case and let's go."

Shen Yan turned to walk out.

Just then, the sudden sound of screeching brakes came from outside, followed by chaotic footsteps and the sound of gun bolts being pulled.

"Surround this place! Don't let even a single fly out!"

A gruff voice boomed in the alley.

Lin Chi's face turned deathly pale instantly, and the case in his hand almost fell to the ground.

"It's 'Scorpion's' people... that mad dog named Vera, he's been looking for me!"

Through the dirty glass window, one could see the outside was already surrounded by dozens of fully armed militants, their dark muzzles pointing at the pawnshop's entrance.

"It's over... we can't get out."

Lin Chi slumped to the ground, the hope that had just been kindled instantly shattered.

In Bapeng City, no one could make it out alive from "Scorpion's" encirclement, no matter how much money they had.

Shen Yan stopped his pace and glanced sideways at Lin Chi slumped on the floor.

"Stand up."

His tone was flat, without frustration or encouragement; it was just like ordering an Employee to pour a glass of water.

"Since you've taken my money, you are now a member of Rock Technology."