C11 Harryde

A gentle breeze wafted by, carrying with it the crisp, fresh air. Leaning against the railing of the bustling Washing Cliff Bridge, with the Pu Yang River at his back, Chen Cheng wore a look of distraction.

In the post-apocalyptic world, Chen Cheng's nerves were constantly on edge, but here, his body felt remarkably at ease, and the peculiar energy in his mind seemed to stir with renewed vigor.

Could the real-world environment be aiding the enhancement of his powers? His musings were abruptly cut short by a quarreling couple—the woman berating her partner for his lack of funds. "When had such a scene last felt so familiar?"

With a faint smile, Chen Cheng hailed a taxi, embarking on his quest to liquidate his assets.

A bank was out of the question; his gold lacked a traceable origin, and he feared bank staff would immediately alert the authorities.

The more reputable private gold shops were the better option. Willing to compromise on price, he had no concerns about offloading his gold.

Chen Cheng stepped out at Old Phoenix Gold Shop, his choice driven by its reputation as the most venerable private gold shop in Larnwick, with national renown and the financial clout to absorb his entire gold cache.

"Good day, sir. Are you looking to purchase some jewelry? We have a fine selection..."

The moment he crossed the threshold, a server greeted him with zeal.

"Do you buy gold here?"

Chen Cheng cut off the server's warm welcome, getting straight to the point.

"We do purchase gold. If you're looking to sell..."

"Bring your manager. This deal is beyond your purview."

Chen Cheng's smile was polite but firm as he interrupted her once more.

His backpack contained a hefty 20 kilograms of gold—a significant sum by any measure.

The server's expression soured slightly; anyone would be irked to be sidelined after a lengthy exchange.

Nonetheless, she courteously escorted Chen Cheng to the manager's office.

Lu Nan inhaled sharply at the sight of the substantial stash of gold in the backpack.

Having worked at Old Phoenix for over a decade, he had never encountered anyone looking to sell such an amount in one go.

After examining the gold bars, Lu Nan offered a congenial smile.

"The total is 20,030 grams, and the quality checks out. Do you have any documentation or receipts?"

"No."

Chen Cheng's response was crisp and to the point, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Taken aback, Lu Nan paused to consider before venturing cautiously, "Sir, your gold seems to have an extraordinary provenance, doesn't it?"

"Rest assured, the source is completely legitimate. Is your establishment not able to handle it?" Chen Cheng shifted in his seat, speaking offhandedly.

Lu Nan, seasoned in the industry, could sense something about the man before him that hinted at a deeper story. Old Phoenix had dealt in black gold before, but the quantity this time was exceptionally large. Lu Nan mentally reviewed recent events and found no rumors of missing gold. The deal was eventually struck at 4.6 million yuan.

After checking the confirmation message on his phone, Chen Cheng rose and made his way out. "Here's my card. Remember me for any future deals, okay?" Lu Nan escorted Chen Cheng to the door personally.

Chen Cheng accepted the business card without much comment, hopped into a taxi, and departed. Unbeknownst to him, Lu Nan had already relayed Chen Cheng's information to his boss, suspecting that there was more gold where that came from. A glint of greed flickered in Lu Nan's eyes as he contemplated tracing the source.

"Where to, buddy?" the taxi driver asked.

"People's Hospital," Chen Cheng replied. With fresh funds, his priority was to acquire the necessary elements for the Soldier Factory, available only in major hospitals.

As he gazed out the window at the passing landscape, the familiarity of the surroundings struck him differently in that moment. Indeed, hospitals seemed to be the most lucrative of ventures.

Following the office signage, Chen Cheng found his way to the pharmacy director's office. "Who are you here to see?" asked a bespectacled man, frowning at the stock prices on his desk.

Luo Xin, the pharmacy director of People's Hospital, oversaw the entire hospital's pharmaceutical inventory—a position of significant influence. However, his recent stock market losses had put him in a foul mood.

"Are you Luo Xin, the pharmacy director?" Chen Cheng asked, closing the door and taking a seat across from him.

"That's me. What can I do for you?"

Without hesitation, Chen Cheng presented a list to Luo Xin, who took it, intrigued by the prospect. "I've come to make you an offer."

Luo Xin was no stranger to such visitors—typically drug sales representatives. He always welcomed them, knowing they brought the potential for substantial, and often ongoing, under-the-table income.

"Hey! What are these?" he exclaimed, eyeing the list of unfamiliar medicines. Many were names he'd never heard before.

"Do you carry any of these items, Director Luo?" Chen Cheng was direct and to the point.

Luo Xin, who was just about to clarify the situation, saw the man before him pull out a stack of RMB and promptly bit back his questions.

"Some of these we have, others I've never even heard of," Luo Xin admitted as he rose to lock the door.

"Excellent. Whatever you can provide from this list will be greatly appreciated. And of course, there's something in it for you—two hundred thousand yuan upon completion."

Chen Cheng was aware that sellers could be found online, but purchasing large quantities of medicine in Koprueles required proper credentials and registration. Hence, he opted for the simplest solution.

Luo Xin wasn't sure what the medicines were for, but the promise of a two hundred thousand yuan reward was too enticing to question. It was like free money with no strings attached.

All he had to do was request a larger order from the manufacturer.

"Just tell me how much you need, and I'll take care of the rest," Luo Xin assured him confidently.

"Good. Prepare the quantities listed here, and I'll advance you two million yuan for the costs. Here's my contact information."

Chen Cheng wasn't certain how far two million yuan would stretch, but he was ready to provide more if necessary. Money was not an issue for him at the moment.

After escorting Chen Cheng out, Luo Xin returned to his office and began making calls nonstop. He knew the potential for profit was substantial.

With the right moves, earning a million yuan was well within reach, especially since there were no specific requirements regarding the medicines' expiration dates.

With the main task out of the way, it was time to enjoy himself.

"Please, just one more day for my daughter. I'll find a way to come up with the money," a familiar voice of desperation caught Chen Cheng's attention.

A man was on his knees in front of a doctor, pleading and bowing incessantly.

"Lyu Wende, we understand your predicament and have already given you extensions. You owe the hospital three hundred thousand yuan, and we haven't pressed you for payment. But you must realize, the hospital has its policies..."

The doctor attempted to help Lyu Wende to his feet, who was kneeling on the ground.

The crowd around them grew, with some onlookers snapping photos to share online.

"Isn't that the same guy who was in debt from high-interest loans before?"