C4 Trading Street, the Swindlers’ Street.

The night had fallen, and a chill was creeping into the air...

While Lin Yih was still fast asleep in his pitch-dark room...

Not far from Lin Yih's home, in a lavish chamber, two peculiar figures sat shrouded in black cloaks, their faces concealed behind silver masks.

"What's the situation?" inquired the taller of the two cloaked figures.

The other remained silent for a moment before responding, "They've begun to act."

"How can that be? Isn't there still a year left?"

"The one from Jingcheng has taken notice. He's not willing to wait any longer."

With a thud, the cloaked figure slammed his fist onto the chair, cursing, "Damn it!"

"The Pet Beast Exam is in two months. They plan to use it to lure out all the big players."

"That's madness! Do you realize how many lives will be lost? These are humanity's future we're talking about! This isn't a game."

"There's no fooling around here!" The cloaked figure stood, his anger palpable.

"I refuse to follow through with this!"

"You don't have a say in the matter."

The taller figure scoffed, his silence a form of protest.

"Look," the other sighed, sitting back down, "I'm not keen on this either. My daughter will be there too, but duty calls—we're soldiers."

The air grew tense.

"You old coot! You're as heartless as ever," the tall figure broke the heavy silence.

"Say what you will..."

...

The next day, Lin Yih was up with the dawn. Despite the holiday, he had to hurry to the trading center. His Pet Beast Egg was nearing hatching, and he needed to stock up on nourishing supplements. A creature with such potential deserved the best, didn't it?

"Master, why didn't you drop me off where I needed to be?" Lin Yih was baffled by the unfamiliar surroundings.

'I'm this good-looking, could it be he wanted to...?'

"Are you dense? This is the station near the trading center! You can't just drive up to it, got it?"

The driver rolled his eyes and sped off with a rev of the engine.

"Seriously? After such an expensive fare, you don't even drop me off at the right spot? What kind of service is this?" Lin Yih grumbled, but the driver was long gone.

Luckily, the trading center wasn't far, and he reached it after a brief walk.

...

The trading center comprised three sections: the trading street, the auction house, and the purchasing shop.

As Lin Yih meandered down the trading street, his gaze was captured by all manner of curiosities he'd never seen in his previous life.

"Hey! To the dashing, debonair, and distinguished young man ahead!" A shrill voice halted Lin Yih in his tracks.

He couldn't help but be amused by the flattery.

"What's up?" he inquired, pausing to address the caller.

A gaunt middle-aged man in worn black garb stood before him, his past a mystery. His stall was laden with an assortment of oddities that seemed to be wearable items.

Capturing Lin Yih's attention, the man launched into his pitch. "Check out this hoodie—fresh style, crafted entirely from wood dragon lizard skin. It'll greatly enhance your sensitivity to wood elements. Perfect for a student's needs and it matches your cool demeanor." He flaunted the green hoodie as he spoke.

Lin Yih eyed the hoodie's color and the array of goods spread across the stall.

He was at a loss for words. Even if it were a divine artifact, the color alone was a deal-breaker. And how could he be sure it would actually enhance his sensitivity to wood elements? What use did he have for it anyway?

Feigning contemplation, Lin Yih replied, "Brother, I'm genuinely interested in your wares. But as you can see, I'm just a student."

The man nodded in understanding.

"I came with a specific goal today and didn't bring much cash. I can't afford anything else right now, but next time, count me in," Lin Yih bluffed.

The man nodded once more. "A specific goal? Are you here for that item too?"

What item? What news? Lin Yih's curiosity was piqued, despite his ruse.

"Tell me, what do you know about this item? What's the current situation?" Lin Yih asked, his expression unchanging.

The man pondered briefly before whispering, "Rumor has it the Gray Wolf Hunting Group fought tooth and nail for it. But between you and me," he leaned closer, "I think they stole it."

"Why's that?"

"They're just not cut out for it..."

"Now it's got everyone's attention. Kid, if you're after it, I'd advise you to back off. It's a hot potato."

"But I'm not keen on giving up," Lin Yih replied, still in the dark about the actual topic.

The man glanced around and prodded, "Brother, how much did you bring?"

"Money? I've got... about 200,000," Lin Yih said after a moment's thought.

In truth, Lin Yih only had 20,000 to his name, the sum of years of saving pocket money, and that was when his family was still well-off.

"200,000? That's it? ...No, wait, that's actually a lot of money, but still not enough," the middle-aged man lamented with a gloomy expression. "Damn it! Kid, you're loaded. Make sure you look out for my business in the future, alright?"

"Absolutely, without a doubt."

...

Half a million at least? The auction house? At noon?

Lin Yih, having just left the trading street, pondered what could be worth so much. It had to be a Pet Beast. For such a steep price, it either had to be incredibly strong or have an impressive pedigree.

Unable to figure it out, Lin Yih decided to sneak out later that evening for a closer look.

Checking the time and seeing it was still early, he turned and entered a shop on the opposite side.

The trading street had its perks, with a wider variety of goods at lower prices, but it was a mixed bag—you never knew if what you were buying was up to snuff or even legitimate.

The savvy ones knew it was mostly a hunting ground for scammers.

For those seeking reliability, purchasing from the shop was the way to go.

But Lin Yih was not your average customer; he was a man with an edge.

His keen eyes swept over the sellers, making them wonder if he was onto something big.

Lin Yih had hoped to score a major find, just like anyone else with an unfair advantage. But he quickly realized he was dreaming—the trading street was a minefield of fakes and low-value goods.

Name: Handcrafted Green Hood.

Material: Forest Lizard Skin

Function: Slight wood element sensitivity, with a flashy green effect. Maybe it'll turn more heads your way?

Damn that green effect! Damn that attention-grabbing gimmick!

Wearing this thing, he feared he might never be able to look anyone in the eye again.