Chapter 70#
Transaction#
After making inquiries everywhere, they quickly found out the details of the trade fair.
The trade fair was held every day, starting in the afternoon and ending in the evening. Once you left the fair, you couldn’t re-enter that same day. Since the types of goods on display varied each session, every guest carefully checked what was being sold that day.
Medical-related items happened to be on display today.
Security at the trade fair was tight; without a guide, there was no way in. No electronic devices were allowed, and all attendees had to undergo a body search before entering. Yet these high-society elites didn’t dare make a peep; they all obediently complied. Of course, the burly, fierce-looking “security guards” with their thuggish air played a big role in deterring any complaints.
Ning Feng wanted to tag along, but the trade fair only accepted members. Among the three people on the ship, only Yin Beichen was eligible to enter.
Yin Beichen had no objection to going in alone—his electronic devices were hidden well enough to collect evidence easily. But he was worried about leaving Ning Feng outside alone, afraid that the latter might cause another mess. So he ordered Qiu Zhen to keep a close eye on him at all times.
Ning Feng: …
Has this guy been eating too much salt lately?
Apart from that little incident last night, when had he ever caused anyone trouble?
But Qiu Zhen was also stubborn. Upon receiving orders from his superior, he happily agreed. To better “execute” the task, he even dragged a chair over to sit behind Ning Feng.
Seeing this, Yin Beichen finally set off for the venue with satisfaction.
The afternoon sun was blazing, casting a hazy glow over the gambling tables. For most tourists on the ship, the trade fair was the main purpose of the trip, so the main hall felt rather empty.
Ning Feng leaned lazily against the table, idly playing with chips, and shot a sidelong glance at Qiu Zhen behind him.
“Hey, kid, can you stop sitting here?”
“No can do. As an elite member of the Fox Team, every mission must be executed perfectly.”
“…You idiot.”
Muttering, Ning Feng fiddled with the cards. Finding that Qiu Zhen was still staring at him unblinkingly, he asked, “What are you looking at me for?”
Qiu Zhen tilted his head and suddenly asked, “What’s your relationship with Young Master Lu?”
Ning Feng’s eyes flickered with surprise. “What relationship? Same as you—employment.”
“That’s it? You didn’t know each other before?”
“Why do you ask?”
Qiu Zhen leaned in, his face magnified. “Then how come he kissed you at the nightclub that time?”
He had seen it that day—the two of them talking, then hugging, and nearly kissing. Though they were just a hair’s breadth away from actually kissing, back then Ning Feng had that battered tin face. Unless it was true love, who would want to kiss that?
Ning Feng looked away and opened his mouth. “He was drunk.”
“Drunk and still aimed that accurately?”
“He probably mistook me for someone else.”
“Mistook you? You two are so different. How could he mistake you?”
“Who knows what a drunk is thinking.”
“But when he first came in, he was clearly angry. His eyes looked like he wanted to eat someone.” Qiu Zhen wrinkled his nose, his gaze probing. “Could it be that he was jealous?”
Hearing this, Ning Feng gave a cold smile. “He can eat whatever he wants.”
He wasn’t unaware of the change in Yin Beichen’s attitude, but he knew the latter wouldn’t show concern for someone for no reason. If he did, there had to be a motive.
For example, wanting a free laborer.
Back then, he had liked him too much to overthink things. But now…
Falling into the same trap once is pitiable; falling twice is stupid.
Seeing the robot’s expression gradually turn cold, Qiu Zhen felt puzzled.
Looking at the two of them, they didn’t seem like a couple. More like one wanted to get back together and the other didn’t. But the team leader had said to break them up…
Then why bother breaking them up? Weren’t they already apart?
Had the team leader misjudged?
Just as the two were chatting idly, a commotion came from the entrance of the hall.
“Ah! Good afternoon, Mr. Silver.”
“Oh my god, it’s Mr. Silver! I’m seeing him in person!”
“Didn’t he go to the trade fair?”
…
Ning Feng followed the sound and saw Mr. Silver in a silver-white suit, his bright red hair tied casually behind him. Carrying a large bunch of red roses, he walked unhurriedly toward them, amid the surprised gazes of the crowd.
“Good afternoon, Sixteen,” Mr. Silver said with a smile.
Looking at the fresh, vivid red flowers in his arms, Ning Feng felt like the parts on his face were about to jam. He barely managed to twitch his lips. “Mr. Silver, how come you’re here?”
Mr. Silver affectionately tapped his nose. “Didn’t we agree last night? Today, you’ll be attending to me alone.”
Ning Feng: …
Ignoring the gasps around them, Mr. Silver put on a troubled expression.
“I was worried you’d be busy, so I planned to come tonight. But I really wanted to see you.” He offered the roses. “Please accept these. I carefully chose them for you.”
Eyes fixed on the alluring flowers, Ning Feng raised an eyebrow. “This is the first time I’ve received flowers from a man.”
“If you like, I can send you 999 every day.” Mr. Silver leaned in. “The language of red roses is passion. I hope tonight you’ll bloom with the most passionate flowers for me.”
Instantly, the crowd buzzed with whispers.
Qiu Zhen even sidled up and asked in a low voice, “How are you going to bloom for him?”
Probably by bashing his head in.
Ning Feng’s face was wooden, his smile frozen. He took two steps back without accepting the flowers.
“So, Mr. Silver, which game would you like to play?”
“Up to you.”
“How about poker?”
Ning Feng picked up a new deck of cards, showed them front and back, then opened them on the spot and began shuffling. As soon as Mr. Silver sat down opposite him, a server brought over drinks and snacks. He didn’t touch them, just propped his leg and silently admired the robot’s shuffling, his gaze sweeping up and down.
“Sixteen, isn’t just gambling for money a bit boring?”
“What would Mr. Silver like to bet on?”
“Your body.”
“…You must be joking.”
Resting his chin on one hand, Mr. Silver looked delighted.
“If you win, I’ll unconditionally grant you one request.” He toyed with a chip. “Including helping you with something, finding someone… or anything you want.”
Hearing this, Ning Feng slowed his shuffling. “Anything?”
“Anything.” Mr. Silver smiled teasingly.
Ning Feng studied the other’s expression.
If he won, he could get the trade fair’s transaction list and detailed information on the participants—a shortcut to the goal. However…
“And if I lose?”
“Then Sixteen has to have dinner with me.”
Ning Feng frowned slightly. “Just dinner?”
Mr. Silver shrugged, smiling with unusual charm. “If you want some other ‘activities,’ I can arrange that too.”
Seeing the situation, Qiu Zhen tugged at Ning Feng’s sleeve. “Hey, you’re not really going to gamble on this?”
Ning Feng glanced at him. “Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”
He thought it over carefully. It was just a dinner. Compared to the list he could get if he won his bets, it was worth the risk. After all, he was a robot; he’d probably just watch the other person eat. Shouldn’t be a problem.
After weighing it for a moment, Ning Feng gave a lazy smile. “Then I’ll rely on Mr. Silver’s guidance.”
Mr. Silver’s lips curved almost imperceptibly. “Good.”
Qiu Zhen stood behind, frowning as he watched the two start dealing cards.
He didn’t know how to play poker, but having lived in the Scrap City for years, he’d seen plenty of mercenary habits, including all the tricks on gambling tables. If someone wanted to cheat, you wouldn’t even know how you lost. This Mr. Silver was a high-ranking star pirate—compared to mercenaries, he only had more underhanded tricks.
The more he thought, the more uneasy he felt. Taking advantage of the crowd’s attention, he sneaked off to the trade fair. But as soon as he reached the entrance, the security guards stopped him.
“I said I have urgent business with Young Master Lu.”
“What urgent business?” The guard was menacing.
“None of your business!”
“Then why are you telling me? The boss says anyone who doesn’t qualify can’t enter—no exceptions, not even for murder or arson!” The guard laughed loudly twice, then leered. “But if you say your wife ran off with someone else, I might bend the rules, hahaha…”
Qiu Zhen, who had been itching to punch someone, blinked at this.
**
The trade fair was held in a converted warehouse at the bottom of the ship. Compared to the spacious upper decks, the environment here was more cramped and the air staler.
But no one minded such minor flaws.
Holding the electronic tablet provided by the organizers, Yin Beichen walked and read, using his hidden devices to record everything inside.
These star pirates really had some skill. The originally wide venue was divided by large shelves and simple stalls, with various goods placed in categories. Since today was the medical specialty, besides colorful medicines, there were also many biological organs—even live ones. Any single item would be enough to land someone in jail for years.
Entering the scientific research area, Yin Beichen soon spotted a sign for synthetic agents, but the electronic sales display showed zero. The fewer buyers, the higher the chance of finding the target. However, besides on-site buyers, some regular customers might opt for remote purchases.
Marking the stall and sending the info back to base, Yin Beichen wandered around while waiting for data to return.
Passing a certain stall, he suddenly stopped.
A palm-sized glass bottle contained a transparent, viscous liquid. It looked ordinary but was placed right in the center among various medicines. He checked the name and found it was a special research-grade agent.
It was also the hardest ingredient to source from the list of antidote materials provided earlier by Qu Yan.
With half-lidded eyes, Yin Beichen stood in front of the stall for a long time, until the AI salesperson approached, then he withdrew his gaze.
“I want to place an order,” he said.
“Please enter your identity information.” The AI immediately pulled up a list.
He scanned it. The list detailed all the purchase information for the required item, including quantity, concentration, container material, delivery location, and even the handover method each time.
Cautious.
Yin Beichen pondered for a moment. Just as he was about to write the delivery address, a burly waiter suddenly walked in.
“Hey, are you Mr. Lu?” the waiter chuckled in a rough voice, sporting a look of amusement.
“What is it?” Yin Beichen’s voice was flat.
“Your guard says your wife’s about to run off with someone else.”
“…?”
**
“Flush,” Mr. Silver said as he laid down his final hidden card. Ning Feng froze.
“You have a spade, don’t you? Too bad—you’re still one short of a straight flush.” Toying with the card in his hand, Mr. Silver gave an inscrutable smile. “It’s over, Sixteen.”
Ning Feng looked at his own hidden card—it was indeed a spade. Combined with the open cards on the table, he could at most make a flush. The other side had won.
Games like Texas Hold’em required a mix of luck, skill, and memory. He thought that as a robot, he could easily win with his visual recording advantage, but he still lost.
“Oh my god, Sixteen lost!”
“So does that mean he’s going on a date with Mr. Silver?”
“I don’t know who to envy…”
…
The crowd buzzed with reactions—some shocked, some envious.
Ning Feng brushed his bangs, then remembered it was a wig and gently swept it twice. “Ah well, Mr. Silver is really skilled. I lose.”
“And tonight’s dinner?”
“Entirely up to you.” Ning Feng shrugged nonchalantly.
It was a shame he couldn’t directly get the list, but there was still a chance. He could try to get some useful information during the meal.
Seemingly surprised by the robot’s easy concession, Mr. Silver raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing him with a bold look. Then a sly smile curled at the corner of his lips. “Sixteen, I like you more and more.”
“Oh? Just don’t fall in love with me.”
“Then tonight—”
“Hold on.”
Suddenly, a familiar voice came from outside the crowd.
Ning Feng turned to see Yin Beichen striding toward him, cutting directly between him and Mr. Silver as he stepped in front of Ning Feng.
Startled, Ning Feng frowned. He was wondering how this guy had gotten out when he caught sight of the panting Qiu Zhen following behind.
Ning Feng… felt that Qiu Zhen would make a good intelligence agent.
“Mr.—” Before the last word could leave his mouth, Yin Beichen’s glare silenced him.
Seeing the newcomer, Mr. Silver leaned back lazily, a flicker in his eyes. “Mr. Lu, I asked first this time. You’re not thinking of cutting in line, are you?”
“Of course not.” Yin Beichen’s gaze was unreadable, his voice flat. “But I suddenly felt like playing a round with you tonight.”
“Betting on what?”
“Sixteen.”
“Oh? First you snatched someone yesterday, now you’re snatching again today. Have you taken a liking to Sixteen? Or…” Mr. Silver’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Or are you here to pick a fight?”
The surroundings suddenly went silent. No one dared to speak.
But Yin Beichen remained impassive, showing no emotion. “Mr. Silver has so many people under you. Losing one won’t matter.”
“Sixteen is different from them.”
“How so?”
Fiddling with his hair, Mr. Silver wore a sinister smile. “Shouldn’t you know best, Mr. Lu?”
A cold smile flickered across Yin Beichen’s thin lips as he lifted his chin slightly. “Saying all that—are you afraid of losing?”
Ning Feng: …
He had to admit, Yin Beichen really knew how to get under someone’s skin.
He glanced at the other side and, sure enough, saw a crimson gleam gathering in the man’s eyes.
Staring straight for a long moment, Mr. Silver gave a chilling smirk. A low, eerie laugh rumbled from his throat.
“Since Mr. Lu is so enthusiastic, it would be rude of me to spoil the fun.” He glanced at Ning Feng and licked his lips. “After all, the more obstacles, the sweeter the final fruit.”
A piercing light flashed in his eyes, and Yin Beichen sat down immediately. He tapped the table lightly with his fingertip and coldly spat out a few words through gritted teeth.
“Sixteen, deal the cards.”