108: Isn't this robbery?

Silence.

Inside the front hall, the air seemed to solidify into lead, so heavy it was suffocating.

Scarface clutched his twisted wrist, cold sweat beading on his forehead. He stared intently at Zhao Tianyang, his arrogance long gone, replaced by shock and an incomprehensible humiliation.

He, the ace enforcer of the Black Market Management Office, had actually been subdued in one move by an unknown kid?

Although he hadn't used his full strength, it shouldn't have been something a newly awakened kid could contend with.

How was this possible!

However, despite his surprise, he didn't react with the same aggression as before; instead, he lay dormant.

Nor did he show anger at being injured.

His words and demeanor showed no trace of his previous hooligan-like attitude.

The other man, who had been silent all this time, finally moved.

He didn't walk towards Zhao Tianyang, nor did he go to help his companion.

He merely took half a step forward, his entire being like a sculpture merged into shadow, his presence extremely low, yet exuding an invisible pressure.

Seventh Master's heart tightened.

Old Ghost's muscles also tensed.

This man was far more dangerous than Scarface.

However, Seventh Master made a move no one had expected.

He walked directly past the two confronting parties and went to the girl cowering in the corner, still sobbing softly.

The girl flinched, thinking she was about to be scolded.

"You did very well."

Seventh Master's voice was as calm as ever, but it carried a soothing power.

"You didn't do anything wrong; there's no need to be afraid."

He took a black card from his pocket and gently placed it in the girl's trembling hand.

"There's five hundred thousand in here; it's compensation for your emotional distress. Rest well for a few days; whenever you want to come back to work, just come back."

The girl was stunned. She looked at the card in her hand, then looked up at Seventh Master, and her tears flowed even more fiercely, but this time, it was no longer out of fear.

Five hundred thousand.

For an ordinary person like her, it was an astronomical sum.

Seeing this scene, Scarface felt even greater humiliation.

This wasn't just appeasement; it was a display of power!

It was using money to slap him hard in the face!

"It's not up to outsiders to lecture the people of our Old Ghost Hall."

Old Ghost's voice came from the side, cold and stern.

He stepped forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with Seventh Master, looking directly at the two men from the Black Market Management Office without fear.

"As for what just happened..."

Old Ghost glanced at Zhao Tianyang, then turned his gaze back to Scarface.

"Consider it a small disciplinary action for you."

"To let you know that not every place is somewhere you can run wild."

His words were decisive.

He redefined Zhao Tianyang's action from a passive counterattack to an active disciplinary measure.

This completely changed the nature of the situation.

The atmosphere in the front hall also shifted from tense confrontation to an almost provocative rigidity.

Old Ghost and Seventh Master showed no intention of backing down.

"Now, we can talk about proper business."

Seventh Master took over, looking at the silent man.

"Are you here on Chen Ao's orders?"

The question, like a sharp knife, pierced directly to the core.

Chen Ao.

The king of Linzhou's black market.

As soon as this name was uttered, even the air seemed to stop flowing.

Scarface's breath hitched.

The silent man finally reacted.

He first looked at Zhao Tianyang; it was a scrutiny, a re-evaluation.

Surprise.

These two words were clearly written in his reaction.

Clearly, the power Zhao Tianyang displayed completely exceeded their expectations.

A young man who could easily crush Scarface was definitely not an ordinary newcomer.

The Old Ghost Hall was hiding a monster.

Then, he turned his gaze to Old Ghost and Seventh Master; their firm attitude also surprised him.

He had originally thought this was just a ragtag outfit that had gotten lucky and secured some kind of channel.

That with a little pressure, they would be squashed like a soft persimmon.

But now it seemed, this was not a persimmon at all, but a piece of steel wrapped in thorns.

"Heh heh."

The silent man suddenly laughed, but the amusement didn't reach his eyes.

"Gentlemen, don't misunderstand."

He finally spoke, his voice flat, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.

"We are from the Black Market Management Office, and our duty is to maintain order and rules in the black market."

He deliberately avoided mentioning Chen Ao's name.

But this sentence itself was an implicit acknowledgment.

In Linzhou's black market, the Management Office was Chen Ao's will.

But as long as it wasn't explicitly admitted, there was still room for maneuver; this was an unspoken rule of the underworld.

"Our arrival is not malicious," the man continued, "It's just that the market fluctuations have been too great recently, so we're routinely here to understand the situation."

"Understand the situation?" Old Ghost sneered, "Attacking my people right away, is that how you understand the situation?"

"That was an accident." The man glanced at Scarface, "My colleague here is a bit hot-headed. I've already disciplined him for you."

As he spoke, he gave Scarface a signal.

Scarface's body stiffened for a moment, then he obediently and stiffly lowered his head towards Old Ghost and Seventh Master.

"My apologies."

This scene made Old Ghost and Seventh Master exchange another piece of information.

Everything today, from beginning to end, was a test.

First, they used aggressive attitudes and violent means to apply pressure, testing their reactions and bottom line.

Then, they would decide the method of contact and assess the power behind them.

"Gentlemen, don't misunderstand."

The silent man spoke again, bringing the conversation back on track.

"We are here not to create conflict, but to solve problems."

"Solve problems?" Old Ghost said with a fake smile, "How is it that I feel you are the problem itself?"

The man ignored Old Ghost's sarcasm and continued speaking on his own.

"The Old Ghost Hall's potions are priced too low."

"So low that it has already disrupted the market balance that Linzhou City has maintained for over a decade. The three giants are in a frenzy, and the small potion merchants in the black market are full of complaints. This is harmful to the overall ecosystem of the black market."

"So, what is the Management Office's intention?" Seventh Master asked calmly, wanting to see what the other party was truly after.

"Very simple." The silent man extended one finger.

"First, to verify the authenticity and effectiveness of your potions and prevent inferior products from entering the market, we need to conduct sample testing on all your potions for sale."

"One hundred units of each type."

One hundred units of each type?

At the current selling price of the Old Ghost Hall, the value of this batch of goods would be as high as thirty million!

This wasn't sampling!

This was blatant robbery!

Scarface looked at the shocked expressions of Old Ghost and Seventh Master, and a smug, sinister smile reappeared on his face, as if he hadn't been the one who had just been humiliated.

However, this was not the end.

The silent man slowly extended a second finger.

"Second, and most importantly."

His voice was flat, yet carried an undeniable weight.

"Given the huge impact your appearance has had on the market, to ensure you have the ability to maintain stable supply in the future, and not just make a quick buck and run, leaving a mess..."

"The Management Office has decided that you need to hand over fifty percent of your total inventory as a security deposit."

"This deposit will be held by the Management Office. When necessary, we will use it to stabilize market prices and maintain the stability of the black market."

"Of course, if you can consistently supply goods, this deposit will eventually be returned to you."