109: Chen Ao and Li Mo

Fifty percent?

This isn't just an exorbitant demand anymore.

This is them trying to crush their bones and boil them for soup!

Old Ghost and Seventh Master's bodies both stiffened.

A thirty million sampling fee was already outright extortion, and this fifty percent deposit was practically an open robbery!

Based on their current inventory and daily turnover, the value of this batch of goods was already an astronomical figure.

A figure large enough to drive any faction in Linzhou City mad.

What's more, the so-called "safekeeping" and "eventual return" were lies that even a three-year-old wouldn't believe.

Once it entered the pockets of the Black Market Management Office, once it entered Chen Ao's pockets, did they still expect to get it back?

Wishful thinking!

Scarface watched the two men's expressions, as if they had swallowed a fly, and the frustration in his heart finally dissipated considerably. That disgusting, sinister grin reappeared on his face.

The humiliation of being subdued by a mere youth with a single move seemed to have been repaid at this moment.

What if he was strong?

In the territory of Linzhou City, in the face of the rules set by Chen Ao, even a dragon had to coil!

"What? Do the two of you have an objection?"

Scarface deliberately raised his voice, a morbid pleasure in his tone, "These are the Black Market Management Office's regulations, for the stability of the black market. You wouldn't want to defy them, would you?"

Zhao Tianyang's massive body leaned forward slightly again, and the dark red patterns on his skin began to faintly flow, a violent aura uncontrollably spreading out.

He didn't care about market balance or deposits.

He only knew that these two men were bullying Old Ghost and Seventh Master.

They were bullying the boss's people.

Seventh Master subtly raised his hand and gently pressed on Zhao Tianyang's arm, stopping his impulse.

Now was not the time for a fight.

Since the other party dared to propose such conditions, it meant that Chen Ao, who stood behind them, was already prepared to tear off all pretenses.

Once they made a move, there would be no room for maneuver at all.

Old Ghost took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the anger in his heart.

He knew that the other party's purpose in coming today was to probe and exert pressure.

Of these two conditions, the first was extortion, and the second was the true objective.

They wanted to get their hands on the potion distribution channels, or even swallow the entire Old Ghost Hall in one go.

But Old Ghost also knew that this was absolutely not the other party's bottom line.

This was just the beginning of an exorbitant asking price.

If they started haggling with them here and now, they would fall into the other party's rhythm and would only be slowly devoured.

Couldn't rush.

More importantly, Old Ghost couldn't make a decision; he didn't know the boss's intentions.

If he made a rash decision now, going against the boss's wishes, that would be truly messing things up!

Old Ghost's mind raced. He glanced at the man who had remained silent all this time, then slowly spoke.

"Sir, we've understood both conditions you've stated."

His voice was a bit dry, but still steady.

"However..."

He changed his tone.

"Such a big matter is beyond the scope of what Old Seven and I can decide."

The silent man was noncommittal about Old Ghost's statement.

He didn't nod, nor did he shake his head.

The two of them remained motionless, seemingly waiting for something, or perhaps silently pronouncing judgment.

Scarface moved his recently reattached arm, the joints making a crisp clicking sound. His reaction to Old Ghost and Seventh Master was filled with a morbid pleasure... Meanwhile.

Deep within the black market, in a luxurious private room isolated from the chaos outside.

The elegant scent of expensive incense permeated the air.

In the center of a huge, circular sofa made of an unknown metal, an irregularly shaped black crystal floated.

The surface of the crystal clearly projected everything happening in the front hall of Old Ghost Hall.

The images and sounds were all perfectly clear.

Chen Ao, the king of Linzhou City's black market, was half-reclining on the sofa, toying with two smooth metal balls in his hands.

Inside the balls, several elements flashed back and forth, each time leaving different burn marks, knife marks, and freeze marks in Chen Ao's hand... which then quickly repaired themselves.

He watched the scene in the crystal with interest, as if watching an entertaining play.

Across from him, Li Mo of Qingyun Pharmaceutical stood ramrod straight, a faint smile on his face.

"A bit interesting."

Chen Ao spoke, the metal balls clinking in his palm.

"A newly awakened Mythical-level profession, though seemingly reckless, his strength is indeed good. He's a promising talent."

He was referring to Zhao Tianyang.

"And those two old fellows, one playing the good cop, one playing the bad cop, they cooperate quite well. To be able to endure the pressure from both you and me until now, they do have some guts."

Li Mo bowed slightly: "They're just grasshoppers after autumn, they won't last much longer."

"You can't say that," Chen Ao shook his head. He sat upright, his gaze shifting from the crystal to Li Mo's face, "What I'm more curious about is the person behind them."

Chen Ao's fingertips tapped lightly on the sofa armrest.

"Li Mo, tell me, what kind of person would choose to cooperate with these two old fellows?"

This was a question.

And a doubt that had bothered him for a long time.

"The potions from Old Ghost Hall, both in quality and quantity, are terrifying. The person who can produce such things, their financial resources and background, are definitely among the top echelon of the entire Blue Star."

"But why would such a person?"

Chen Ao's voice carried a hint of confusion.

"In Linzhou City, the factions wanting to cooperate with him could line up from the black market to outside the city. There are not a thousand, but eight thousand, who are more capable, have more background, and have more connections than Old Ghost and Seventh Master."

"Why did he specifically choose two old fellows who have nothing?"

"What value do these two men have, besides having lingered at the bottom of the black market for decades, achieving nothing?"

This didn't make sense.

The strong only associate with the strong.

This was an undeniable truth.

Yet, the boss of Old Ghost Hall's choice completely went against this truth.

Li Mo listened to Chen Ao's analysis, the smile on his face deepening.

"Master Ao, perhaps your perspective on the problem is different from that mysterious boss."

"Oh?" Chen Ao raised an eyebrow.

Li Mo unhurriedly walked to the wine cabinet, poured himself a glass of red wine, and gently swirled it.

"Master Ao, what do you think is the most important quality for a partner, for someone who truly stands at the top, wielding absolute power?"

Chen Ao didn't answer immediately; he was thinking.

Is it capability? Is it resources? Is it connections?

It seemed to be all of them, yet none of them seemed to be the most important.

"Is it loyalty?" He tentatively uttered a word.

"No." Li Mo shook his head, denying the answer.

"Loyalty changes. When the benefits are great enough, any loyalty will show cracks."

He raised his wine glass to the light, admiring the rich red color.

"That boss chose Old Ghost and Seventh Master precisely because they have nothing."

This sentence made Chen Ao pause.