At Abyss House.
"I have a big business proposition," Xena Xiao said, her voice transformed into a deep, raspy tone through a voice changer.
Using voice modulators was common in the black market, where many customers preferred to obscure their identities, and the shopkeeper didn't bat an eye at Xena's disguised voice.
"Follow me," he said, signaling his employees to watch the shop as he led Xena to a private room on the second floor, a soundproof space perfect for confidential discussions.
Once they were seated, the shopkeeper eagerly asked, "So, what's the business?"
"C78 Essence Purification Elixir. Ever heard of it?" Xena asked.
The shopkeeper's eyes lit up with interest. "Of course! The Milanar Corporation's C78 Essence Purification Elixir is in high demand here. Unfortunately, it's produced in limited quantities and isn't officially available on Earth. Some merchants have managed to smuggle it from other planets, and it's gone in a flash once it hits the black market. Our black market here in Feilan has only seen it once, and that was a year ago."
"I have a vial of C78 Essence Purification Elixir. What price can you offer?" Xena asked in a low voice.
The shopkeeper nearly jumped from his seat in surprise. C78 Essence Purification Elixir wasn't just any Purification Elixir; it was a premium product known to significantly boost the odds of a ninth-level Flesh Refinement warrior reaching the Purification Stage. Even Purification Stage awakeners could benefit from it, making it a coveted item.
"Really? If the price is fair, I'm willing to sell it to you," Xena said, gauging his reaction.
"Seventy thousand!" he finally offered after a moment's consideration.
Xena was taken aback by the high price. Just as she was about to accept, Ethan's voice echoed in her mind from the Guardian Spirit space, "Xena, ask for ninety thousand!"
Though unfamiliar with the market value, Ethan guessed that the shopkeeper might be lowballing her, so a counteroffer wouldn't hurt.
Following his suggestion, Xena said, "Seventy thousand is too low. If you offer ninety thousand, it's yours."
"Ninety thousand?" The shopkeeper frowned. "That's steep. I'd still have to find the right buyers and handle the transaction fees. Eighty thousand, final offer."
After a bit of haggling, they settled at eighty-two thousand.
"Now, if you'll bring out the elixir, I'll need to verify its authenticity," he said, extending his hand.
"Understood," Xena replied, pulling the vial from her bag and setting it on the table.
The shopkeeper took out a small device to analyze the elixir's composition scientifically—visual inspection alone wasn't enough for a valuable item like this. After about a minute, he beamed with satisfaction.
"It's genuine. How would you like your payment—cash or transfer?"
"Transfer. Here's my anonymous funds card," Xena replied, handing over the card.
The anonymous card offered solid privacy since ownership couldn't be traced. The drawback, however, was that if the card were lost, anyone could use it.
"A cautious customer, I see," the shopkeeper thought, observing her choice.
A short while later, he transferred the eighty-two thousand and pocketed the elixir. Xena left the shop quickly, weaving through various pathways to cover her tracks before exiting the black market.
…
Upon her return home, Xena slumped into a chair, finally able to relax. "I was so tense! If the voice changer hadn't kept my tone steady, that shopkeeper might have sensed my nervousness!"
"Let's move forward with the plan," Ethan prompted.
"Alright." Xena nodded, opening her computer and logging onto the Blood Hand Syndicate's dark web platform to post a bounty.
"Bounty: Eliminate Liana Xiao of the Xiao family. Reward: Fifty thousand."
The Blood Hand Syndicate accepted the task almost instantly, with minimal deliberation.
…
Three days later.
With her spirits somewhat restored, Liana Xiao went out shopping. As she walked around a street corner, a bullet pierced the back of her head, exiting through a nearby wall. She collapsed instantly, her blood pooling on the pavement.
On a distant rooftop, a man dressed in black lowered his rifle and spoke into his communicator, "Target eliminated."
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