Chapter 264: Preparing Ahead?

Chapter 264: Preparing Ahead?

Ever seen Kaja City past nine?

— No!

Zheng Yichen was about to toss his pocket watch back into his Personal Space when a slender hand nabbed it. “You can make more whenever you want anyway. Just give this one to me.”

“Hey… this is my first finished piece,” Zheng Yichen protested unhappily. This pocket watch was the first successful one he’d made after designing it. Even though it had undergone refinements later, he had memories attached to it. And now this woman had just swiped it!?

Holy shit!

“That’s exactly why I want it.” Dan Marina spun the watch by its chain a few times, and before Zheng Yichen could blink, it vanished into her hand.

“…I bloody…” Zheng Yichen’s face fell, and he waved a hand weakly. At least his first version had two pieces. This smaller one was made when reminiscing about his Human Form, while the larger one was suited for his Dragon Body.

“Let’s go, let’s go, don’t mind it,” she said, grabbing his arm directly.

Tch~ Zheng Yichen clicked his tongue. How should he put it? Nights in this world were pretty boring. With little entertainment, regular folks basically went home to sleep once dark. Those who stayed up late engaged in after-dark activities. Go for a stroll? Nights weren’t safe here, not even in the cities. Sure, some Guard Patrol teams did their rounds at night, but that didn’t guarantee no shady business happening. Running into trouble was just bad luck.

“For a city, not even a night market stall?” Zheng Yichen felt disappointed. He looked around and couldn’t help but pout. No street lamps either. So, what, walking these pitch-black streets was just for pure boredom or baiting criminals?

“Night market stall? What’s that?”

“Uh, a fun place,” Zheng Yichen shook his head, thinking back to times roasting skewers at a night market with old classmates. Now? Now he could probably do that with a girl. But forget if such places existed here, the key problem was he had the girl… but couldn’t be one! Damned Dragon Body he could shift out of? How could he go out?

How could he squat on a little stool, watching the cook expertly grill skewers?

Impossible! He could only do it himself. The point was, doing it alone felt like missing the atmosphere. Sighing gloomily, Zheng Yichen’s mind wandered until a sudden brightness snapped him back. He looked around: “This is the Black Market, right?”

“Yeah, what about it?”

“What made you want to come here?” Zheng Yichen shook his head. It wasn’t a problem, per se. This area was just the Black Market’s surface—basically, Black Street. It was semi-regulated. During the day, it had order; at night, city guards didn’t patrol here. Yet, it didn’t get too chaotic.

It was the surface layer, after all. Regular people might get into trouble here, but some special folks came too. If stability was low and someone offended those types—even if weak it might be fine—but if they were tough? The whole street could suffer.

So Black Street like this stayed relatively calm at night too. Of course, stepping outside such areas often meant descending into unchecked chaos.

With Dan Marina’s power, getting through unhindered was easy. Getting attention was even easier, but she didn’t seem interested. After passing through Black Street and into the real Black Market, they faced no trouble. Not even the “chatty” ones approached, as if they weren’t there.

“Much busier here,” Zheng Yichen observed. Each side of the street boasted glowing Magic Artifacts providing light, lamp-like. They were few, yet sufficient to illuminate the Black Market. Many people moved busily through here.

“Find something here? Planning to nab it?”

“Look over there.” Dan Marina pointed a short distance away. Staring at a stall, even though its owner was draped in a cloak, face fully hidden—same for his companions—Zheng Yichen recognized him instantly!

It was Oss and his crew! Not via X-ray vision, but because Dan Marina’s Avatar stood nearby! He made those Avatars himself; they carried his unique Mana signature. Even if slow, he could sense it.

“What the hell are they doing? Instead of running, why here?” What kind soul hung around the Black Market? Zheng Yichen bet Oss’s identity being exposed meant no leaving Black Street alive—unless Dan Marina intervened. Even if her power wasn’t direct combat, auxiliary abilities could effortlessly wipe away one Black Street plus a Black Market.

One word charged with her Mana could forcefully “predict” someone’s death—an AOE spell. All nearby lacking power fell victim, yet she didn’t pay extra Mana based on crowd size!

Learning this, Zheng Yichen wanted to hand her a megaphone—Oh wait, her Avatar could transform; conjuring a giant speaker was easy.

“Passing the buck.”

“That’s it? I can guess,” Zheng Yichen pondered. Oss’s stall was loaded; a magical key hid among junk waiting for a bite.

“Tell me,” Dan Marina found it fascinating. This plan was what she sent Oss via her Avatar.

Zheng Yichen rolled his eyes: “Too obvious! Treasure-hunting fever strikes everyone! Say you find that young man sleeping nightly beside you is a girl—would you announce it?” Oss’s tactic was exactly this. If someone discovered that artifact among junk, would they alert others? Who wouldn’t want that Arcane Treasure to themselves? Even knowing Oss sold it, a buyer would gladly hide it.

Logical enough! Haunted by trouble for its sake, it made sense they’d sacrifice a limb. Selling it off hurt, but was understandable. Hidden themselves, buying quietly would work; then later they’d spread news Oss remained the scapegoats. Wishful thinking ran deep in Humans.

“I bet if someone spotted it now, they’d haggle briefly—but pay and flee.”

“Oh? Quite sharp yourself?” Dan Marina studied him with some surprise. Zheng Yichen answered instantly, seeing through Oss’s game. Only schemers caught this so fast?

“It’s just too cliché.”

Zheng Yichen shook his profouly. Dan Marina lived eras longer, but he? He witnessed Earth’s explosive data age. Web schemes weren’t scarce. Even without mastery, spotting one was easy.

“How about… we buy it?” Dan Marina’s eyes glittered, suggesting.

“That thing’s useless to me. Why risk that trouble?” Oss was baiting a hook; Zheng Yichin could ignore it but hated being played. “Besides, you handed it out! Snapping it back?”

“Putting it strangely… Remember what I told you?”

Zheng Yichen deadpanned, picking at his ear before flicking. “Sorry, you talk a lot. Your older words? Didn’t keep track.”

Dan Marina shot him a look without secrecy: “A Sorceress with deep life-study knowledge.”

Zheng Yichen understood instantly. This? Hadn’t Dan Marina mentioned it before? When? He didn’t pay attention then, recalling just some village? Oh—she said the Sorceress would find his research intriguing? When gifting a living Magic Eye, wasn’t it?

“Wait! Where did you dump those Magic Eyes?”

“→_→ Dropped ’em.”

“Messin’ with me!?”

“Truly gone! Else you drank what that day?”

“Thieved the…!”

“It’s legit!”

“How…How’d you not get beaten dead?” Zheng Yichen’s lip twitched, dropping the subject.

“I never gamble foolishly.”

“Mana Eyes gave you security?”

Dan Marina’s light nod silenced him. It sounded like expert prep-work! All planned, no skill—just the tools made a seamless win.

Back to topic.

“That key relates to this Sorceress her?”

“Not many pull that off. Plus, her touch remains. Old tactic.”

Tactics… Right! Sorceress without schemes? Not true Sorceresses! Irene did such; for Dan Marina? Her life blood. Qin? No known dark past yet—but Sorceress traits say should! Even Loris Zheng Yichen loved? During Witch Hunts, she left traps too—just prevented by him.

“You? Hear! That key? Looks antique? Nope! Made this past year! She needs specimens!”

“Lack them? Can’t she nab some?” His eyes rolled. Schemes? He doubted Sorceresses obeyed laws.

“Odd quirk. Lasting research? She avoids forcing. Her words: ‘willing specimens win out. Better? Willing and unaware.’ Though Sorceresses are feared? Humans envy their Witch’s Power.”

“…You all.” Zheng Yichen shook his head. Power sure freed one! Simply tweak an experiment’s method? Volunteers poured forward—leaping eagerly for the chance! Winners relished gains—oblivious Lab Rats.

“Speaking of? Indirectly? Spawned strong Humans.” Dan Marina tapped her chin. “Believe a few still live.”

“Scheming this far? Watch out! Someday someone stages a comeback?” Zheng Yichen said. Who knew? A world with a Main Character? Using Sorceresses’ setups to ascend? Soaring before they noticed? Reaching their heights? Then turning tables… Thrilling indeed!

“You said meeting her invites trouble?”

“That was then. Skip meeting? Minor headaches later come.” She shrugged blaming Zheng Yichen: “Her flawless cover? Could’ve stayed! But Little Dragon? My helper? Failed!”

“Huh? My fault? Wait—those drinks I got? Stolen from her?”

“It’s legit!”

“Same difference!”

“Leaving that? Drunk? It’s unsolvable.”

“Can drunk-then-digested stuff be detected?” Zheng Yichen looked Aberration-y.

“Nope. I remain trackable! Think? Resembles Fate-Killer—Irene’s Mana Crystal? Exclusive stuff! Poor Mana Eyes you made? Obscure the picture. Else? Would’ve fetched real deals!”

“Grabbing the genuine ones? I’d need to move,” Zheng Yichen rubbed his forehead. He didn’t dare flippantly claim her problem—he’d already had his gain.

“Heh, if they were genuine? You wouldn’t see me until much later!” Dan Marina laughed. That Sorceress? Her things? Unalike Fate-Killer’s burn-touch—pay upon touch—rather her goods? Like Irene’s Mana Crystal: useful but crucial; Derivative Products? Minor issues; the real deal? True troubles brewed. Unlike the Undying Witch? Crossing this Sorceress was hazardous.

“Knowing there’d be trouble? You took it? Brain cramp?” Her small face made Zheng Yichen almost knock her temple. Why the hassles? Had he known? Might’ve skipped that drink…

“Noooo. You were fated to meet. So! A preliminary greeting? Essential!” Dan Marina said solemnly.

Zheng Yichen’s brow hitched. Did this Sorceress have a ‘drink my tea? my friend!’ habit? Unreal!

“Relax. No changes in you? Perfect opener! Trust me?” Dan Marina lightly shook her head. “Look, quick. Fish caught!”