Chapter twenty-seven: The Black Market

Fang Xing sat at a rundown barbecue stand, raising his soda cup lightly. "I toast to you."

His gaze lingered on Liu Wei, who sat across from him. There was a mix of complicated emotions in his eyes. "For us bio-enhanced humans, life is tough, like weeds growing in cracks, fighting for the smallest bit of sunlight and water. After today, I'm going all in on preparing for the college entrance exam. From now on, we're not friends anymore, but competitors."

Liu Wei's expression remained indifferent. He silently raised his cup. "To rivals."

Fang Xing was a bit taken aback, feeling a twinge of sadness in his heart. Over the years, they had faced countless challenges together, building a strong bond. But now, he sensed a cold distance deliberately placed by Liu Wei.

He couldn't help but reflect, **"Friendships between men…"**

The weak light from the barbecue stand flickered, the air filled with the smell of charcoal. Liu Wei left shortly after, as if this gathering was only meant to mark a final farewell.

Fang Xing stayed behind alone, finishing off all the skewers on the table. "Too expensive to waste."

On the way home, a gentle night breeze blew, but Fang Xing's mood was heavy. He thought about Liu Wei's departure, feeling that there might be some unknown secrets behind it. Though Liu Wei distanced himself, Fang Xing knew this wasn't just about competing for the college exam. It felt more like cutting ties with some dangerous force.

"If I had the ability, I'd still help him… Unfortunately, right now, I can barely take care of myself."

...

The next morning, Fang Xing put on a simple jacket, slung a single-strap bag over his shoulder, and boarded the maglev train headed for Maple City. Outside the window, the scenery of Hawk Star blurred past quickly, while his thoughts wandered.

Hawk Star was a vast planet, with 99.99% of its areas covered by the transportation network. Only a few regions, due to chaotic magnetic fields, had become desolate corners untouched by civilization. Some places were barren wastelands, while others were filled with dangerous radiation and pollution. It was in the ruins of these places that the black market thrived.

"The ruins outside Maple City used to be a bustling urban area, but after a devastating attack by an Eldritch God's cult, it was half-destroyed. The radiation and pollution made it incredibly dangerous. The federal government decided it was too costly to clean up, so they abandoned the land and built New Maple City. The old district became a haven for scavengers and those without identities, where the black market took root and flourished."

Fang Xing reviewed the information in his mind. He knew today's target was in the dangerous ruins. Soon, the train reached its destination. He stepped off, standing at the edge of New Maple City.

He quickly moved through the bustling crowd, dodging surveillance cameras, and entered a dimly lit alley. There, he paused, a slight smile on his face, as he gently placed his hands on his cheeks. With a pulse of his veins, his appearance swiftly transformed. He donned a black mask, disguising himself as an ordinary, unremarkable stranger, before crossing into the border between the new and old districts.

The rundown old district was filled with swirling dust, and the wind swept through broken walls, kicking up strands of ash. Once a thriving commercial street, it now lay empty and desolate. Abandoned signs creaked in the wind.

Suddenly, Fang Xing stopped in his tracks. He noticed a few mutated hyenas lurking in the shadows ahead. These creatures were not like ordinary dogs; some had two heads, others four eyes. Their bodies had been twisted by radiation, turning them into terrifying monstrosities.

The three hyenas growled lowly, as if assessing whether Fang Xing was easy prey. Finally, they backed off, disappearing into the shadows of the ruins.

"Mutated beasts..." Fang Xing muttered. He knew that countless dangers lurked in these ruins—not only these mutated animals but also the criminal forces hidden within the black market.

Pressing forward, he passed through the remains of a residential area and arrived at what appeared to be a still-functioning convenience store.

**Beep!**

The scanner at the entrance emitted a soft sound as a green light swept over Fang Xing's body.

The shopkeeper, a round-faced young man sitting behind the counter with an old comic book in hand, looked up with a smile. "You're clean. No tracking devices. Welcome to 'The Worry-Free Shop.' What can I get for you?"

"A burner comm."

The shopkeeper put down his comic book, smiling as he took out a row of communication devices from under the counter. "No problem. 10,000 Star Yuan, cash or equivalent."

Fang Xing nodded, opened his bag, and took out a fist-sized nugget of gold. "Estimate the value. Deposit the remainder into a new account."

The shopkeeper took the gold, briefly scanning it. "Low purity, net weight 2,340 grams. Market price puts it at 411,840 Star Yuan. After fees, your account will have 319,472 Star Yuan."

Fang Xing took the burner, nodded, and said, "Thanks."

Leaving the convenience store, he continued deeper into the black market. The area was overgrown with weeds, and the streets were strewn with debris. Occasionally, a few scruffy scavengers could be seen roaming the ruins, their eyes gleaming with a fierce and unapproachable light.

Finally, Fang Xing arrived at a half-collapsed building and pushed the door open. Inside, a woman with a black headscarf sat, her hands covered in blue tattoos.

"Welcome," the woman's voice was hoarse and cold.

Fang Xing pulled out a chair and sat down. "I need to launder some money."

A hint of surprise flashed in the woman's eyes, followed by a smile. "How much are we talking?"

"A few hundred thousand."

She smiled wider, waving her hand. "Small change. Turn left at the entrance, head to the casino. Fee's 30%."

Fang Xing frowned. "No way, I'm underage."

The woman's smile deepened. "For small customers like you... head to the betting house. We can arrange for you to win a small prize. The laundered money will be perfectly clean, completely legal. The Federation won't suspect a thing."

Fang Xing nodded as his plan became clearer in his mind. There were too many gray areas in this world, and now, he stood on the edge of darkness.