C9 Seeing Black Bear

"Come in," Chen Cheng invited.

"Hello, Mr. Chen. My name is Xue Gang, the owner of this hotel. It's a pleasure to meet you," Xue Gang said, extending his business card with respect.

After exchanging pleasantries, they both took their seats.

"Mr. Xue, your personal visit suggests you have something on your mind," Chen Cheng remarked as he poured a glass of red wine and offered it to his guest. Xue Gang inhaled the aroma with a hint of greed but restrained himself from tasting it, instead asking with caution.

Those who occupied positions like his were known for their strong self-control. The man before him was offering food, hinting at a power behind him that might be beyond his wildest dreams. This could be his opportunity.

"Mr. Chen, since you've brought it up, I'll be direct. We've looked into your background. So, what brings you to Calcheth?" Xue Gang inquired.

Chen Cheng was inwardly surprised, but he was confident that no one truly knew his past. If they knew anything, it was only recent events in the town. With a plan forming in his mind, he replied, "You wouldn't believe me if I said nothing. I am, after all, a businessman."

With that, Chen Cheng pulled out several cans of food from his backpack and set them on the table. "This is why I'm here."

"You're proposing a...?" Xue Gang looked at the cans, his surprise evident.

"A trade. I'm a man of peace, and these goods represent my intentions here," Chen Cheng explained.

"And what would you like in exchange for these?" Xue Gang asked, his eyes betraying his avarice, a flicker of covetousness passing through them.

Having heard the news, he had swiftly taken control of those in the know. Initially, he had intended to simply pay a visit and probe Chen Cheng's reasons for coming. Now, however, his plans had shifted entirely.

Greed is the root of all evil, and faced with the prospect of absolute profit, he was resolved to monopolize the opportunity. He didn't intend to betray or swindle; he aspired to become the sole broker in Calcheth.

"Crystal nuclei, weapons—I have a varied and extensive list of wants. It all depends on what you can offer. If you have a detailed inventory, that would be ideal," Chen Cheng stated nonchalantly.

"Of course, of course. If it's not too much trouble, Mr. Chen, I'd like to invite you to my office for a more detailed discussion," Xue Gang offered.

"No problem at all. Lead the way."

Chen Cheng rose to his feet and spoke.

Xue Gang's office was situated on the hotel's top floor, but it was less an office and more akin to an opulent mansion.

It was furnished with rare wooden pieces, exotic animal furs, and an abundance of gold and jewel adornments.

Flanking the room were stunningly beautiful girls in a variety of attire.

"Please take a seat, Mr. Chen.

I'll fetch the list for you."

Xue Gang snapped his fingers, signaling the girls to attend to their guest.

Chen Cheng was taken aback by the respectful service of the beauties; such a scene was beyond his expectations.

He had had his share of girlfriends in the Modern Realm, but in the end, money turned them into mere acquaintances.

Suddenly, Zhou Xuqing approached Chen Cheng and gestured for the girls to back away.

Chen Cheng's initial irritation subsided as Zhou Xuqing acted like a cat guarding its meal.

"Apologies for the wait, Mr. Chen."

Xue Gang extended a tablet to Chen Cheng.

Chen casually browsed through it.

The man was clearly a slave trader. The tablet's inventory gave Chen a good idea of what was on offer – a variety of slaves, predominantly female.

Weapons and food items, however, were quite basic.

"Is this everything?"

"Well, Mr. Chen, Calcheth is a small place..."

Xue Gang replied, his discomfort evident.

Noticing Chen Cheng's dissatisfaction, he reluctantly produced another tablet. "Mr. Chen, would you consider making me your exclusive agent?"

"Why are you selecting so many slaves?"

Back in her room, Zhou Xuqing asked with curiosity.

Upon discovering the existence of slave collars in this world, Chen Cheng didn't hesitate to purchase a thousand slaves, knowing that just the two of them weren't enough to start a company.

"What do you think would happen if I were to rebuild that ruin?"

Chen Cheng shared his plan without reservation.

"Are you serious?"

Zhou Xuqing's face was etched with seriousness as she gazed at Chen Cheng.

"What else do you think I'm buying all these slaves for?"

Chen Cheng nonchalantly pulled out a bottle of red wine from his pack and filled their glasses.

"If you do that, you'll be targeted by the major powers behind Calcheth. I'm not sure about the strength of your backers, but the forces behind Calcheth are beyond imagination. Do you have any idea how many metahuman lords they have?"

"How many are there?" Chen Cheng inquired with a hint of curiosity.

"On the surface, about three thousand, but in the shadows, it's at least ten thousand to start. And with all the years that have passed, that number has probably multiplied several times over," Zhou Xuqing replied, her eyes seething with resentment. Sensing the intensity of her emotions, Chen Cheng instinctively offered her a glass of red wine.

"And what of it?" he prodded.

"Could you tell me just how much support you can expect from your backers?" Zhou Xuqing downed the red wine in one swift motion, fixing her gaze firmly on Chen Cheng.

"My situation is somewhat unique. The support I receive from the forces behind me is contingent on my performance. But as for the early stages, I can have as much canned food and supplies as I need," Chen Cheng responded cautiously. He wasn't intentionally deceiving Zhou Xuqing; the truth was, there was no mighty force backing him—it was all a fabrication of his own making.

Noticing the skepticism in Zhou Xuqing's eyes, Chen Cheng found himself compelled to spin another tale. "Think of it as a struggle for inheritance within a family. As one of the heirs, I'm tasked with completing a series of missions set by the family." His words seemed to convince Zhou Xuqing.

"Then your first concern should be whether Xue Gang might double-cross you."

"Ha, rest assured. Imagine you're one of the leaders of Calcheth Town and you discover that your friend's power has surged—what would you do?" Chen Cheng had thoughtfully considered his exclusive deal with Xue Gang, not just for the sake of disrupting the equilibrium within Calcheth Town's leadership.

"You're looking to upset the balance of power in Calcheth Town and then reap the benefits, huh? I didn't expect you to play such a cunning game," Zhou Xuqing said with a chuckle.

As the conversation flowed, so did the wine, with both of them consuming a fair amount of red wine. A smile played on Zhou Xuqing's lips as she boldly straddled Chen Cheng's legs, a move that took him by surprise and ultimately ignited a fiery passion within him.

In the clarity of the morning, their relationship had transcended the usual barriers between a man and a woman, bringing them much closer. Chen Cheng, without any reservations, conjured up an item from thin air in Zhou Xuqing's presence, who refrained from questioning him. Her curiosity was evident, and Chen Cheng felt a deep sense of appreciation for her restraint.

As Zhou Xuqing rose to her feet, Chen Cheng felt an unexplainable surge of affection in his heart.

"This must have been the town's headquarters at one point."

Surveying the ruins, Chen Cheng sighed to himself, ruefully considering the challenging location the system had assigned him.

"Are you certain you want to establish our headquarters here?"