Chapter 236: Black Market Recruitment
Chapter 236: Black Market Recruitment
With his previous experience of visiting the black market, Jiang Cheng was much more at ease this time.
Having reached the Fifth Rank, he put on a human skin mask and stuffed the gold and silver jewelry into his pockets, including the gauntlets, as he intended to sell them for some cash.
As he got off the bus, he immediately noticed several masked individuals loitering around.
Upon seeing Jiang Cheng's bare face and empty hands, their gazes quickly shifted away.
However, there was an unlucky fellow carrying a bag and wearing a mask, who was either a mere passerby or heading to the black market. As soon as he got off the bus, he was already being watched by two or three people.
Jiang Cheng's peripheral vision noticed this.
But he didn't bother getting involved.
Walking into the alley, two masked men stood guard at the entrance.
"I don't know if they're the same two from last time," Jiang Cheng muttered to himself as he handed over the token.
One of the men took the token, examined it, and then returned it, stepping aside.
Jiang Cheng entered and arrived at the room he had been in before.
"Number 72, haha, I remember you," said the man in the long robe, looking at Jiang Cheng's token and smiling.
"So, are you here to deposit money or have us auction your items?"
"Can you appraise this and tell me how much it's worth?" Jiang Cheng took out a pair of gauntlets from his pocket.
If he wasn't planning to buy a blade, these gauntlets could serve as a means of self-defense.
Additionally, according to his speculation, a weapon of a Tier 3 Primordial Energy Warrior was most likely a D-grade.
Indeed.
"Oh, D-grade alloy weapons, Blacklight Gauntlets," the man blurted out, picking up the gauntlets and examining them closely.
"These gauntlets are in relatively good condition. We can offer you a flat price of 60,000 yuan, but if you think it's too low, we can also auction it. However, I must remind you that this is just a D-grade alloy weapon, and it's not something rare. You can find it in many places.
Even if it's auctioned, it won't fetch a high price, and after the auction, you'll still need to pay us a 20% handling fee. By the time you receive the money, it might not even reach 60,000."
"Then I'll take the flat price," Jiang Cheng said after some thought.
He didn't think these gauntlets would fetch a high price at an auction.
60,000 yuan was already a good deal.
"Alright, I'll give you a contract shortly. Just sign it, and after you're done, tell me your bank account details, and I'll transfer the money to you," the man said.
"Also, can you appraise these as well?" Jiang Cheng took out the gold and silver jewelry from his pocket.
The man smiled, probably aware that these items were of questionable origin.
But the black market didn't care about such things; they only cared if the items were genuine.
A few minutes passed.
The man looked up at Jiang Cheng and said, "For these gold and silver items, I can give you an appraisal of 80,000 yuan. Just like the gauntlets, if you have no objections, you can sign and receive the money later."
"Then I'll take 80,000," Jiang Cheng agreed.
He felt relieved.
His account still had over 200,000 yuan, and with this additional 140,000, it would be over 300,000.
After signing, in less than ten seconds, Jiang Cheng's phone received a message notification.
Deposit of 140,000 yuan. Account balance: Over 360,000.
"Is there anything else I can help you with?" the man asked with a smile, glancing at the auction item brochure on the table.
"I heard there are two auctions held here?" Jiang Cheng asked.
"That's right," the man nodded. "There's one at 7 o'clock, but only Mental Masters can participate. Force Warriors aren't allowed, and that's a rule set by the Black Market. I can't do anything about it."
His tone carried a hint of helplessness as he spoke.
With the scarcity of Mental Masters, the auction prices naturally wouldn't increase much and might even fall below market prices. Only exceptionally rare items would fetch high bids.
The higher-ups didn't want to offend this group of people and were actively trying to win them over. On the one hand, they wanted more talented individuals, and on the other, they aimed to increase the prices of the auction items.
Unfortunately, the results weren't very effective. Many Mental Masters were proud and unwilling to work for the Black Market. The stronger they were, the more they resisted, just like the two Grandmasters here, one of whom was a Psychic Grandmaster. He only came to help out whenever the Black Market was in session and left as soon as it concluded, a typical transaction.
"I'm a Mental Master."
As his voice trailed off, the eyes behind the man's mask suddenly widened.
"What rank Mental Master are you?" he asked.
"I'm barely a First Rank," Jiang Cheng hesitated for a moment but decided against lying.
If the other party wanted to verify, it would be embarrassing.
Moreover, he recalled what Oxhead Uncle had said—as long as he could move objects with psychic energy, he would pass. After all, this also aligned with the interests of the Black Market organizers.
"I'm barely a First Rank."
The man glanced at Jiang Cheng, a figure of suspicion.
He pointed to the pen on the table, "Why don't you try moving it with your psychic energy?"
Jiang Cheng's gaze followed the pen on the table. With a thought, the pen floated, sometimes standing upright and sometimes spinning.
"Is that enough?"
"That's enough, that's enough," the man said, his attitude towards Jiang Cheng improving without him even realizing it.
"Friend, please wait here for a moment. I'll call our manager over."
As he spoke, he stood up and headed out.
"Sir, please wait a moment. Our manager will be here shortly."
The woman in the qipao before him spoke in a soft and gentle voice.
"Manager?"
Jiang Cheng had his suspicions.
After a short while, footsteps approached, growing louder as they came closer.
The man in the long robe who had just left returned, followed by a man in a blue robe, wearing a mask.
"Manager Li, this friend here is the new Mental Master."
The man in the long robe introduced Jiang Cheng.
The man in the blue robe sized up Jiang Cheng and then smiled, clasping his hands together, "Friend, could you repeat the action you just performed?"
The man in the long robe also smiled at Jiang Cheng.
Without saying a word, Jiang Cheng once again controlled the pen with his thoughts.
"Good, good."
The man in the blue robe quickly stopped Jiang Cheng and smiled, "Friend, may I have a word with you in private?"
Jiang Cheng had anticipated this and was curious about the situation.
"Sure, follow me."
The man in the blue robe made an inviting gesture.
The two of them, one in front and one behind, entered a private room.
The room was elegant and classic, with heavy rosewood furniture bearing faint traces of time. On the wall hung delicate landscape paintings, ink flowing on the rice paper, depicting one majestic scene after another.
Beneath the ancient paintings, an exquisite tea set rested on a long table, with tea brewing nearby, filling the air with a subtle fragrance.
(End of Chapter)
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