Chapter Eighty-Six: Are You Looking for Us?

What Xuanxuan was searching for were, naturally, rare items. She mentioned the name of the Matta Continent, explained the items’ uses and appearances, but even so, Zhan Yu was unable to locate several of them. She didn’t know what they were called in the Federation either, so all they could do was wander the market aimlessly, hoping to stumble upon something by chance. If not, she’d have to look for substitute materials.

Since these were materials for converting magic crystals, most of what they needed was metal and wood. Xuanxuan and Zhan Yu headed directly to a few auction houses. The areas around these auction houses were quite different from the imperial capital itself, featuring several streets dedicated entirely to small vendors and peddlers. This was a hallmark feature of the old online game and had gradually formed on the StarNet as well.

Because the auction houses charged exorbitant fees, most ordinary citizens couldn’t afford to use them. As a result, these vendor streets sprang up, providing a place for people to exchange goods. Here, one could always find someone trying their luck with peculiar finds, hoping to strike it rich—just like on Antique Street, where no one could predict who would become the next millionaire or who would fall into bankruptcy overnight.

Of course, this was StarNet, not reality, so the stakes weren’t as dire. Yet, because StarNet allowed more people to venture across various planets and vastly compressed the distances of time and space, all manner of strange and rare things appeared more frequently.

Neither Xuanxuan nor Zhan Yu realized that soon after their arrival, someone had already taken note of them: that same Xiao Wang who had previously acted on Deputy Director Liu's orders.

In that same room, Xiao Wang had someone tail Zhan Yu and Xuanxuan, then rushed to report, “Master, Zhan Yu and that masked woman have shown up again.”

“Where?”

“On the trading street near the auction house.”

“Keep a close eye on them. See what they’re buying. If it seems a coincidence, buy it up for me.”

“Yes, sir.”

Xuanxuan herself had only learned of this place because Zhan Yu mentioned it. Without Kuang Shao with them, the two walked quietly together, exchanging only a few words now and then.

Yet, no matter who looked at them from the outside, they seemed perfectly harmonious. Though they barely spoke, their occasional gestures were full of tacit understanding.

“Still nothing?” Zhan Yu asked. They’d already walked the length of the street.

Xuanxuan shook her head. Luck was unpredictable in matters like this.

“Maybe I should post a bounty at Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion,” Zhan Yu suggested, thinking it might be a good solution. Though more costly, the Pavilion was their family’s establishment. Besides, it was on StarNet, so the expense could be overlooked. He simply didn’t want to attract too much attention—Xuanxuan always acted in unexpected ways. Who knew if the things she sought would astonish people?

Xuanxuan nodded; it was a good idea, much like the Adventurers’ Guild on the Matta Continent. “Let’s wait a bit longer.”

Zhan Yu hadn’t taken that step before, and there must have been a reason, so Xuanxuan was reluctant to go straight to offering a bounty.

Suddenly her eyes lit up, and just as she was speaking, she spotted something. “That one.”

“Hm?” Zhan Yu followed her gaze. It was a small stall, piled with all kinds of metal. Xuanxuan pointed to a black chunk on the edge.

She strode over and examined the items on the stall.

Zhan Yu tugged her sleeve lightly, signaling her not to speak, then addressed the vendor. “Where did these come from?”

The vendor, clearly a sharp type who bought and resold goods for profit, noticed at once that Zhan Yu and Xuanxuan were of unusual bearing and hurried to answer, “These are all rare finds, collected from various places.”

Xuanxuan didn’t understand the underlying principles of StarNet, but she knew it could simulate the entire Federation, as if it were a copy of the real world. Thus, many items whose uses were unknown in reality could also appear on StarNet. Some people would buy them for research, since the costs and time involved were so much lower than in reality.

Yet those who truly managed to achieve results were vanishingly few.

To stall vendors, wealthy young men and women like Xuanxuan and Zhan Yu were the fattest targets—rich and naive.

But Zhan Yu, though a rich young master, was no fool. After all, he’d seen all sorts in the Black Domain, dealt with every kind of scheme.

One glance was enough for Zhan Yu to know what the vendor was thinking. He asked, as if it were no matter, “What’s the price?”

Xuanxuan, meanwhile, glanced over her shoulder.

Zhan Yu followed her gaze and understood immediately—someone had already caught wind of Xuanxuan’s abilities, or at least suspected the two of them. He smiled slyly. If someone else wanted to play the fool, he’d gladly help them along.

“Which piece are you interested in?” The vendor wouldn’t name a price outright; that would be foolish. The one they wanted would surely be the most expensive.

Zhan Yu glanced at the people behind them, then turned to Xuanxuan, “We need all of these, right? Should we take the lot?”

Xuanxuan hadn’t yet reacted, but the vendor was already grinning from ear to ear. “All of them?” Today was his lucky day—no business in a year, but one sale would feed him for the whole year!

The stall might not look large, but the quantity of small metal pieces added up to a tidy sum.

Xuanxuan was about to say she only wanted that one piece when Zhan Yu shot her a covert wink, and she caught on. “Yes, we’ll take them all.”

“How much?” Zhan Yu asked, lips curled in a faint smile.

“The large pieces are two thousand, the small ones a thousand each,” the vendor declared after a glance at his goods.

Zhan Yu twitched—did he look so gullible? That was outrageous.

But since he wasn’t the one paying, and noticing the urgency in the faces behind him, he said, “Wrap them all up.”

The vendor’s mouth dropped open in delight. Someone was actually taking the bait on his sky-high prices?

“Hurry up,” Zhan Yu urged, seeing him stunned.

The vendor quickly counted. “Sixty-one in all: fifty large, eleven small, that’s a total of 111,000. Just give me 110,000.”

Xuanxuan glanced over. What counted as “large,” anyway? Eleven small ones, about the size of eggs—definitely small. But were the fist-sized ones really “large”?

The vendor didn’t care; a sheep’s a sheep, and he’d be a fool not to fleece it.

Zhan Yu kept his attention fixed on those behind, smiling slyly. “Fine.”

“Wait!” Just then, Xiao Wang, who had just arrived, leapt out. “I’ll pay 120,000!”

A moment ago, when Xuanxuan glanced back, he’d thought Zhan Yu had spotted him and was putting on a show. But now that they were really about to pay, he couldn’t stand it. Spending over a hundred thousand on a few random stones? He hesitated for a long time, but finally, as Zhan Yu prepared to pay, he jumped out in urgency.

The vendor hesitated, but inwardly he was delighted. “They wanted it first.”

“They haven’t paid yet. I’m offering 120,000. Highest bid wins,” Xiao Wang insisted.

Xuanxuan found him oddly familiar, but couldn’t recall where she’d seen him before.

Zhan Yu’s face seemed to darken. “I’ll go 130,000.” Inwardly he smiled—so the fish had bitten, and he wasn’t about to let him off cheaply and arouse more suspicion.

“150,000,” Xiao Wang quickly countered. If not for the reward his master had given him for those two potions a few days ago, he wouldn’t have dared bid so high. But he’d be reimbursed if he brought the stuff back, and with a bonus if things went well. He couldn’t show himself openly at Zhujing Pavilion or by his master’s side, so while he was still remembered, he had to make his mark. He resolved to buy the goods even if it cost all his money.

Zhan Yu had calculated that he’d keep bidding, but pretended to hesitate. “180,000. First come, first served.”

The vendor cared nothing for that—profit was profit. This sale could sustain him for years.

Xiao Wang, seeing Zhan Yu’s reluctance, was gleeful. Could Zhan Yu be running out of funds? Impossible. “200,000,” he called.

Zhan Yu looked even more troubled, glancing at Xuanxuan. “Do you have enough money?”

Xuanxuan, no fool herself, realized Zhan Yu was setting someone up. She shook her head.

Zhan Yu turned to the vendor. “How about 300,000, and you fetch the money from Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion? I’m Zhan Yu.”

The vendor started, shocked by the sudden jump to 300,000. He was about to agree, but then caught himself. He knew who Zhan Yu was—the only son of the Zhan family. If he went to the Pavilion for payment, someone might recognize the goods, and then he’d be lucky to get even 30,000, let alone 300,000.

He quickly shook his head. “Young Master Zhan, we’re just small traders.” No credit.

Zhan Yu had expected this, and pretended to be even more troubled and a little annoyed.

The vendor, seeing Zhan Yu’s face change, became more determined—cash only.

Xiao Wang, seeing this, was elated. He hurried forward and transferred 200,000 to the vendor, who packed the goods immediately.

The vendor, having received the money, logged off at once.

Looking at the goods, Xiao Wang began to wonder—were these really worth 300,000? Was it all just an act? But looking at Zhan Yu’s expression, he thought not.

Zhan Yu still looked dissatisfied, but Xuanxuan pulled him away.

Xiao Wang hurried after them, but the more he followed, the further they led him away, winding through backstreets until, suddenly, he realized he’d lost them.

“Looking for us?” came a voice behind him.

Startled, Xiao Wang turned to see Zhan Yu and Xuanxuan standing behind him.

Though surprised, he kept a straight face. “Young Master Zhan, you must be joking.”

Zhan Yu smiled faintly. “Joking? Then why are you following us?”

“This is a public street; surely you’re not forbidding people to walk here?” Xiao Wang retorted, hiding his panic. Though they’d caught him tailing them, he refused to admit it—after all, wasn’t the street open to all?