pertwk Page 56
Page 56
As soon as the words were spoken, the silence in the shadows ahead was broken.
Click, click, click.
Three figures emerged slowly, like demons rising from sewage. They were all dressed in tight-fitting black clothes suitable for nighttime movement, their faces covered with black cloths, revealing only a pair of eyes that gleamed with greed and ferocity. In each hand, they held a well-maintained dagger, and in the other, they gripped a gleaming dagger.
Although the gun barrels were not raised, the threatening meaning was self-evident.
Zhang Su turned his head to look at "Grey Sparrow," who had frozen in place and whose breathing had almost stopped. His tone was playful and amused: "See? The people who wanted your Vigorous Ability inside but didn't have the money to buy it have come to rob you. How about it? Can you handle all three of them at the same time?"
"Grey Sparrow" was so frightened that her voice trembled with tears, her body shaking slightly: "Your...Your Excellency! I can't do it! I...I'm on the path of the 'Swiss Craftsman,' only at Sequence 9, called 'Flexible One'! My ability is that my body is much more flexible and light than ordinary people; my joints, muscles, and even internal organs can be twisted and displaced to a certain extent, making some strange movements. That's all I have...I...I'm not good at head-on combat at all! They have three guns!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Su laughed even louder, as if he had heard something amusing: "It can even contort internal organs and joint muscles, and you still say it's not suitable for combat? I think you completely misunderstand."
He paused, watching the three masked robbers slowly approaching in a fan shape, his tone as casual as if discussing the weather: "But it's alright, there's a chance later, I can teach you how to use this 'soft bone' technique in fighting. As for now..."
He took a step forward, just enough to shield the trembling "Grey Sparrow" behind him.
“I’ll take care of these three things for you. Consider it an advance payment for being my local ‘guide’ and ‘ears’ in the future.”
As he spoke, Zhang Su casually slipped his hand into his pocket, and when he pulled it out again, a dagger was now between his fingers.
The dagger was old-fashioned, rusty, and unremarkable, as if it had just been pulled from the bottom of a toolbox that had been abandoned for many years.
Only at the edge of the blade, there was a faint, unsettling hint of dark red.
He gripped the "blood-thirsty dagger" and walked slowly forward, his posture relaxed, as if he were not approaching three armed thugs, but taking a stroll in his own backyard.
Seeing this, the three masked men, the one in the middle who seemed to be the leader, hissed in a hoarse voice, "Hey! You in black! This is none of your business, get lost! We're only looking for 'Grey Sparrow' and taking back what he shouldn't have taken! If you don't want more holes in your body, get out of here!"
Zhang Su didn't stop walking, a cold smile curving his lips: "Sorry, he's my friend. I don't have many redeeming qualities, except I'm quite protective of my own. If you turn around and leave now, you can still walk back."
The three of them exchanged glances, as if they had heard the biggest joke in the world.
The leader sneered, his voice filled with disdain: "Damn it, you're asking for it! You dare to provoke the three of us by yourself? Who do you think you are? Everyone knows that those who gather in this sewer are just a bunch of pathetic losers! Sequence 9 at best! Who can compare to anyone else in the heavens?"
He suddenly raised his gun and pointed it directly at Zhang Su. The other two men also raised their guns at the same time. The hammers of the three revolvers made a crisp clicking sound, which was particularly jarring in the claustrophobic sewer.
"Kneel down! Put your hands on your head! If you dare to move, I'll beat your nice clothes to a pulp and then sell them for money!"
Zhang Su simply smiled.
next second.
His figure seemed to blend into the boundary between dim light and shadow, or as if he were blown away by the wind in the sewers—not just fast, but an extreme abruptness and an illogical "disappearance-appearance"!
When his vision cleared again, he was already like a ghost, pressed against the robber on his left, so close that he could almost feel the other man's heavy breathing.
The robber's eyes widened suddenly, his pupils contracted sharply, and his brain couldn't process this unbelievable sight. He only felt a slight coolness on his right wrist, where he was holding the gun, as if a cold, withered leaf had gently brushed against it.
It was that rusty dagger.
The scratch was very shallow, and there wasn't even an immediate oozing of blood.
But the instant he was slashed, an irresistible sense of weakness, originating from the very source of life, swept over his entire body like an ice tide!
The blood seemed to congeal and disappear in the veins, the strength was drained, and the bones turned into brittle fragments. A strong sense of dizziness and nausea rushed to the top of my head.
"Ugh..." He let out a short, weak groan, his finger loosened, and the revolver... the pistol clattered to the ground. His entire body trembled uncontrollably, as if his spine had been ripped out, and he collapsed to his knees, too weak to even lift a finger.
Before the robbers in the middle and their accomplices on the right could even fully react to why their companion had suddenly knelt down, Zhang Su's figure had already "flickered" again.
It wasn't a straight line; it was more like a winding, black lightning bolt that defied the laws of physics, leaving a faint afterimage in the narrow space.
Poof, poof.
Two more extremely faint sounds, almost drowned out by the background noise of the sewers, came from the sharp sound of a weapon tearing through clothing and skin.
The leader felt a chill on the back of his hand holding the gun. The chilling, weak feeling immediately shot into his body like a venomous snake. His vision went black, the world spun, and the gun fell from his hand. He clutched his chest and staggered backward, crashing heavily into the slippery wall. He gasped for breath but felt like he couldn't breathe in a single ounce of oxygen.
The robber on the right fared even worse; the dagger grazed the skin on the side of his neck.
He didn't even feel pain; he only felt the whole world instantly recede from him, darkness engulfing his vision like a tide. He collapsed without a sound and passed out.
From the moment Zhang Su took his first step until all three of them lost their fighting ability, it was only a matter of two breaths.
Only the heavy, painful breathing of the three men remained in the sewer.
Zhang Su stood still, flicking away non-existent droplets of blood from his dagger.
He licked his slightly dry lips, suppressing the faint thirst emanating from the "Bloodthirsty Dagger." Against such small fry, this side effect was negligible.
He turned around and looked at "Grey Sparrow," who was staring in disbelief with her jaw practically dropping to the ground. His tone remained calm: "Alright, it's settled. Now, the tables have turned, it's our turn to rob them."
Volume 2: Chapter 11: Teleportation Magic, a Method for Attracting Newcomers
Zhang Su squatted down and skillfully searched the three limp robbers.
Soon, three reasonably well-maintained revolvers, pistols, two spare magazines, several small boxes of ammunition, three poisoned daggers, and several empty money bags were piled on the ground.
He weighed the purse in his hand; it felt surprisingly light.
Upon opening it, they found mostly copper coins (Finni), mixed with a small number of silver coins (Sola). The three of them had a total of about 4 Sola and 20 Finni in cash—typical low-level thugs who probably spent all their money on weapons and daily necessities, leaving them with little savings.
"Hmm, no wonder they're robbing us, they're so poor," Zhang Su commented, but still unceremoniously emptied all the coins into his pocket and threw the empty bag back at the robber. He then gathered the weapons aside.
He stood up and gestured with his chin to "Grey Sparrow," who was still in a daze beside him: "Don't just stare. Take these three guns."
"Huh? I...I'll take it?" Gray Sparrow seemed to have just recovered from the shock of Zhang Su's lightning-fast resolution of the battle and his skillful looting of the spoils. Looking at the three heavy revolvers, he was somewhat at a loss.
“Yes, you carry it. Do you expect me to carry everything by myself?” Zhang Su’s tone was calm, yet carried the authority of a powerful figure.
The gray sparrow jumped in surprise and hurriedly nodded and bowed, "Yes, yes, sir! I'll take it, I'll take it!"
He hurried forward and clumsily picked up the three guns and held them in his arms. The cold metallic touch made him a little more sober, but also made him more nervous—these three items in his arms were worth a lot of money on the black market, and they represented huge trouble.
Zhang Su kicked the bandit leader, who was still writhing in pain, at his feet, then turned to Gray Sparrow, his tone becoming somewhat playful: "Alright, the spoils are accounted for. Now, according to the rules of your 'Mysterious Circle' underworld in this city, what should be done with these three bandits? Kill them and bury them on the spot, or... hand them over to some official organization's doorstep, maybe we can get some reward money?"
Upon hearing this, Gray Sparrow trembled violently, his grip on the gun tightening. His voice, hidden beneath the bird-beak mask, was tinged with obvious fear: "The...the rules of the path...in a private duel between extraordinary beings, the loser bets everything, including their life. The surviving winner has the right to dispose of everything, and no one will hold them accountable..."
"Oh?" Zhang Su raised an eyebrow, his gaze sharp as he looked at him. "So, you had the courage to kill them? After all, they were trying to steal from you. I just stood by and did something wrong."
"I...I..." Gray Sparrow's Adam's apple bobbed violently, his voice trembling with sobs, "I wouldn't dare, Your Excellency! Since my 'debut,' the most I've ever done is fight with people and steal things, but I've never robbed anyone, much less dared to kill anyone!"
He was telling the truth. His "soft-bone craftsman" approach leaned more towards stealth, theft, and evasion. Direct combat was not his forte, let alone killing.
Zhang Su looked at him silently, his gaze penetrating the mask and seemingly piercing through his inner cowardice. After a few seconds, he slowly spoke: "Then tell me, what should we do? Let them go? Wait for them to recover, find out your background, and then come back with more people and more ruthless methods to seek revenge? By then, I might not be there."
Gray Sparrow was rendered speechless by the question, his body trembling even more violently. Yes, he understood the principle that releasing a tiger back into the mountains would lead to endless trouble. But murder... just thinking about it made his stomach churn.
He lowered his head, his voice filled with shame and despair, and stammered, "I...I don't know...Your Excellency...Could you...could you..."
"No." Zhang Su interrupted him, his voice turning colder. "I intervened simply because I happened to be there and helped you out. But this is your own doing, the trouble you brought upon yourself. You can't always expect to kneel down and beg others to solve all your problems. You have to clean up your own mess."
Gray Sparrow lowered his head even further, almost burying it in the cold barrel of the gun in his arms, as shame and fear nearly overwhelmed him.
Just then—Shan Si 〇 Qi _ Er Er Si Ba! Si-—
hum!
A soft, water-like blue light suddenly appeared not far in front of the two of them, quickly stretching and condensing into a human shape.
As the light faded, an old man wearing a dark blue robe embroidered with silver stars and moons and a pointed wide-brimmed hat was revealed—it was none other than Lord Quartz, whom they had just parted ways with!
He wore a faint smile as he watched the scene unfold, as if he were merely passing by and enjoying a good show.
Zhang Su's pupils suddenly contracted, and he almost instinctively took half a step back, his body tensing slightly. He thought warily, "How did this guy appear in front of me so suddenly? Was it teleportation magic? If so, did he place the teleportation beacon on me? He secretly marked me when I saw him earlier?"
Quartz seemed to immediately sense Zhang Su's wariness. He smiled slightly and, instead of using the common language, spoke directly in the authentic High Mountain language: "Do not worry, my friend who seeks the language of the clouds. My short-range teleportation beacon can only anchor itself to inanimate objects, such as rocks or doors, not to living things or things that can be carried away at will. This is the ironclad law of magic; if the beacon is attached to a living thing or a moving object, it will immediately become ineffective. I have marked the area around these houses, which is why I was able to appear before you."
Zhang Su immediately focused on listening to Yuan Shu's real-time translation. After listening, he felt somewhat relieved, but his vigilance was not completely eliminated.
He remained expressionless, responding in the same mountain language that the Source Pivot had injected into his mind, his pronunciation still surprisingly standard: "I see. Thank you for your explanation; I have gained new knowledge about teleportation magic today."
This expressed gratitude and also implied that the speaker was not entirely ignorant of this type of knowledge.
Shi Ying's eyes showed even more appreciation. He nodded, switched back to Common Tongue, and glanced at the robbers on the ground and the nervous gray sparrow before finally settling on Zhang Su: "It seems you two have encountered a little trouble. If you trust me, perhaps I can handle the disposal of these three?"
Although he was speaking to both of them, his questioning gaze was only directed at Zhang Su, and Gray Sparrow's opinion was clearly just a side note.
Zhang Su did not immediately agree, but instead asked, "What does Mr. Shi Ying intend to do with it? Kill and bury it, or use it for something else?"
Shi Ying stroked his beard and chuckled, shaking his head: "I am not a bloodthirsty man. I will impose 'slavery contracts' on them, making them serve me, performing some... necessary physical labor or experiments, until their sins are atoned. This is more valuable than death, and it will save you two from having blood on your hands. What do you say?"
Zhang Su pondered for a moment. This approach did indeed sound more "sustainable" than simply killing or releasing them, and it also fit the likely style of this mysterious mage. He turned to Gray Sparrow: "'Mr. Gray Sparrow,' what do you think? After all, they mainly came for you."
The gray sparrow dared not object, nodding its head vigorously like a chick pecking at rice: "Good, good, good! It's best that Lord Quartz is willing to handle this! Thank you, sir! Thank you, Your Excellency!"
He couldn't wait to get rid of this hot potato.
Seeing this, Zhang Su nodded to Shi Ying and said, "In that case, I'll have to trouble you, Mr. Shi Ying."
Quartz smiled and nodded: "It was no trouble at all."
He raised his withered hand, and a complex and obscure dark blue rune condensed at his fingertips, then gently pushed it forward.
The runic light instantly split into three thin streams of light, which precisely entered the foreheads of the three robbers on the ground.
The three of them convulsed violently, then went completely limp and fell into a deep coma.
Then, Quartz drew a symbol in the air with his other hand. A flash of blue light, like an open maw, instantly swallowed the three people on the ground and disappeared without a trace.
“I’ll take the people back with me first. To show my sincerity, if there’s an opportunity in the future, I will let them ‘see’ you two again to prove that they are indeed still alive, just being ‘re-educated’ at my place.” Shi Ying smiled at Zhang Su. “Then, I’ll take my leave.”
The blue light flashed again, and the mysterious mage's figure disappeared silently into the dim sewer, just as he had appeared, leaving Zhang Su staring at each other in bewilderment and Gray Sparrow clutching a pile of guns, still shaken.
There seemed to be a lingering, strange smell of arcane energy in the air, mixed with the inherent stench of the sewers, which was quite peculiar.
Afterwards, Zhang Su and Gray Sparrow left the suffocating atmosphere of the sewers one after the other and turned into a tavern with a crooked sign and dim lighting.
Pushing open the door, a warm wave of air, a mixture of cheap ale, stew gravy, and tobacco, hit me, dispelling some of the chill.
The tavern wasn't crowded; a few scattered patrons were slumped over the tables, some whispering, others staring blankly at their glasses. A burly proprietress in a greasy apron yawned behind the counter.
Zhang Su found a corner seat against the wall and sat down. Gray Sparrow sat opposite him somewhat awkwardly, clutching the three roughly wrapped rags tightly in his arms, looking out of place.
"What would you two like?" The proprietress walked over lazily and wiped the table with a rag.
"Two roasted pork knuckles, a plate of peanuts and black bread, and two large glasses of your best beer," Zhang Su ordered calmly, deliberately controlling his speaking speed to sound like an ordinary citizen finishing a day's work, rather than a superhuman who could instantly take down three armed thugs.
"Okay, just a moment." The proprietress noted it down, glanced at the conspicuous long package in Gray Sparrow's arms, and without asking any questions, turned and went to the kitchen.
The food and drinks arrived quickly. The roasted pork knuckle was tough and chewy, but packed with calories; the rye bread was as thick as a brick, as always; the beer was foamy and bland, but perfectly chilled.
Zhang Su picked up his knife and fork, deliberately slowing his movements and eating in small bites, chewing each bite thoroughly as if he were savoring a delicious dish, rather than merely trying to fill the growing hunger that stemmed from the emptiness of space.
He had to maintain a respectable appearance and not reveal his unusual condition that he might need to eat enough food for three to five people to feel full.
The gray sparrow across from them ate very cautiously, practically nibbling at the bread with its front teeth. It didn't dare make too much noise while drinking beer. Although it had taken off its bird beak mask and put it aside, its expression remained tense, its eyes glancing around frequently before quickly returning to their own, completely unable to relax.
Under the mask, he was just an ordinary person with a long, thin face, looking no different from any other office worker.
Half a glass of ice-cold beer slightly eased the previous tension and the musty smell of the sewer.
Zhang Su put down his wine glass, tapped his fingers lightly on the rough wooden tabletop, looked at Gray Sparrow, and got down to business.
“Grey Sparrow, in the occult circles of this city,” he lowered his voice to make sure only the two of them could hear, “how do they usually recruit newcomers if someone needs helpers or assistants?”
The gray sparrow quickly swallowed the food in his mouth, licked the foam off his lips, and cautiously replied, "Your Excellency, generally speaking, everyone tries to cultivate relationships with acquaintances. Relatives, neighbors, fellow apprentices—we know them well, so there's no need to start from scratch. We know how many people are in their families and what their temperaments are like. The risk of being stabbed in the back is always lower than with strangers. This is the simple survival philosophy of every person struggling at the bottom of society."
Zhang Su said, "I don't know anyone in Miga City. If I want to win over strangers, what channels do I have?"
“There are quite a few methods,” Gray Sparrow thought for a moment. “For example, you could go to a place like ‘Anvil Agency’ and post a request saying you’re hiring special handymen who are bold and tight-lipped. You could then slowly test and screen them during the interview. Or you could go to semi-underground bodyguard companies or detective agencies like ‘Black Shield’ or ‘Night Raven’. There are some hotheads there who will do anything for money, and you can hook them with just a hint of something extraordinary.”
"Or you could stake out the 'Gear Scraps' black market, observe those lone wolves who frequently come to buy and sell materials but don't seem to be doing very well, and just go up and strike up a conversation... If you're willing to look, there are plenty of ways."
Zhang Su pondered for a moment, then shook his head: "Those who come through these channels are most likely just at the bottom. Are there any higher-end channels? I want to connect with some newcomers who are more valuable."
"More valuable?" Gray Sparrow paused for a moment, then realized, "You mean those gentlemen, ladies, young masters, and young ladies in the upper district?"
He looked troubled. “That…that’s much more difficult. People in that social class, even if they aren’t superhumans themselves, usually have advisors at home, or at least they’ve heard about things in the circle. They understand superhuman power and are wary of it. It’s hard to win them over! Unless you have a prominent status to befriend them.”
He glanced at Zhang Su's calm and composed expression and added, "If you really want to try, perhaps you could start with the places they frequent. For example, the monthly auction of rare items at the 'Golden Hall,' or the charity gala held at the 'Saint Reliance' Cathedral. But those require invitations, and they're only a starting point for getting to know them; the rest..."
He didn't continue, but the meaning was clear: the class divide is difficult to bridge.
Zhang Su nodded, not surprised by the answer. He picked up his glass and took another sip, the cold liquid sliding down his throat. "I understand. Well then, let's start with the lower and middle classes." He put down his glass. "Tell me in detail about the methods you just mentioned, such as agencies, bodyguard companies, and the black market. Explain how they work and what you need to be careful about."
"Yes, sir." Seeing that Zhang Su had accepted his suggestion, Gray Sparrow relaxed slightly and began to explain in detail:
"The anvil job agency is relatively open, but it's a mixed bag. When posting a job ad, the wording should be vague yet attractive, such as 'High-salary position for special site manager, must work at night, fearless of darkness and strange noises.' Prepare some tricks for the interview, such as making a candle ignite without wind, and observe the other person's reaction. If the reaction is indifferent or interested, you can take further steps."
"Bodyguard companies/detective agencies have more basic skills, but they're also more slick. You can talk to their managers directly and say you need people to 'handle special matters,' offering higher commissions. They'll recommend candidates to make money, but these people's loyalty is primarily to the company, not to you."
"The black market for broken gears requires a keen eye and luck. There are often guys who come alone to sell 'Shadow Moss,' 'inferior wolf blood,' or to buy 'lock picking scrolls.' Most of them are self-taught, short of money, and eager for power. You can go up to them and ask, 'Is there a job with a high reward but a bit dangerous? Do you want to take it?'... But be careful, it could be bait set up by the authorities or other organizations."