Chapter 116: An Unconventional Gang Leader
“Let me introduce myself. I’m Titus, the… well… boss of the Black Hats Gang in this fine city of Lavoisier,” the burly man said, trying to appear serious, the spoon still dangling from his mouth. But his casual demeanor betrayed his inherent nonchalance. “That fellow Winkler had no authority to negotiate with you. I, on the other hand, do.”
“My name is Veronica. I’m here to purchase your goods,” Givia said, her gaze steady, addressing Titus. Although Abyss’s sudden display of power had surprised her, she was too experienced to show any weakness. Her focus remained on the man who might sell her the military-grade potions she desperately needed. “As you can see, my companions are quite capable, but we intend to acquire these potions through civilized means. Rest assured.”
“Miss Veronica, what is your offer?” Titus asked, slipping into the role of a businessman. “As you know, the recent destruction of the Goat Eyes Gang’s warehouses has doubled the price of potions in the area.”
“I’m willing to offer one million imperial coins for this batch of potions, almost double the original price. I believe this is a fair offer,” Givia said, her eyes locked on Titus. The incense burner, its mood-altering fumes now extinguished, no longer influenced their negotiations.
“Ah… You’ve discussed this with Winkler, haven’t you? You must have proposed this price to him as well,” Titus said, nodding, the spoon in his mouth bobbing up and down. “This price… Well, it’s difficult to say if it’s acceptable… I’d like to know your identities first.”
His gaze sharpened, boring into Givia’s eyes, as if trying to see through her.
Titus appeared to be in his early thirties, young for a gang leader. His face was clean-shaven, his features sharp and handsome. If not for the burn scar on his nose, he might even be considered “pretty.” But his eyes held a piercing intensity that made Givia instinctively want to avert her gaze. She suppressed the urge, reminding herself to maintain her composure during the negotiation.
“I can’t reveal our identities. We contacted Winkler specifically because he promised not to inquire about our backgrounds. Even though you’ve taken him away, our requirement remains the same,” Givia said, shaking her head firmly. “If you insist on knowing our identities, I can only tell you: No comment. We’ll leave and abandon this transaction.”
“First of all, if you were wise, you wouldn’t abandon this deal,” Titus said with a faint smile. “In Lavoisier City, only three gangs control the potion market: the Goat Eyes Gang, the Black Hats Gang, and the Pike Gang. We all know about the Goat Eyes Gang’s current predicament. They have no goods to sell. And the Pike Gang can’t help you. They don’t deal in combat potions. Their factories produce mostly luxury potions with hallucinogenic properties. The good stuff goes to the upper class for their entertainment, the low-grade stuff to the commoners for escapism. If you intend to use these potions for your army… Hehe, that’s simply not possible.”
“We can acquire them elsewhere,” Givia said.
Titus shook his head. “Other places only sell these military-grade potions in small quantities. Imperial law dictates that any purchase of combat potions must be registered. If you try to acquire a large quantity from various sources, you’ll attract the attention of the city guards within a day. You’ll be in deep trouble, and your identities will be exposed.”
“You’re that determined to know our identities?” Givia said, her voice tinged with annoyance. “This large-scale potion transaction is already illegal. Do you really need to know so much? I thought your goal was to make money, not to satisfy your curiosity.”
Titus chuckled, raising his hands to appease her. “Miss Veronica… Or whatever your real name is, you might not be aware of the Black Hats Gang’s principles. Although we engage in illegal activities, when it comes to large-scale purchases of military-grade combat potions, we must know where they’re going, who will use them, and against whom they will be used. Otherwise, we refuse to sell.”
Abyss, who had been listening quietly, raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Titus’s unexpected declaration. He glanced at Leona and Flora, who were sitting beside him, their expressions suggesting they were also curious about this unconventional gang leader.
“You can mock me for being an unconventional gang leader, but I have my principles. I will not allow these potions to be used against innocent people. I was the one who hired an alchemist to destroy the Goat Eyes Gang’s warehouses. My informants told me they were planning to sell a batch of military-grade potions to the Iron Lilies… I couldn’t allow that transaction to proceed.” Titus spread his arms, his gaze distant. “You should have seen the explosions. Multiple warehouses going up in flames simultaneously, plumes of colorful smoke rising into the sky, like a rainbow… It was beautiful.”
“The Iron Lilies…” Givia frowned, clearly familiar with the organization. “You mean those elf-hating fanatics?”
Abyss had also heard of them. The Iron Lilies, founded over a century ago, were a militant group composed entirely of pure-blooded humans. They were extreme racists, harboring a deep hatred for elves. They operated near the Elven Kingdoms, frequently raiding elven caravans and villages. They had even attempted to conquer an elven town once. Any elf captured by them was brutally murdered. The Elven Kingdoms had repeatedly protested to neighboring countries, but since the Iron Lilies weren’t affiliated with any nation, they were treated as ordinary bandits, or, to use a term introduced by a transmigrator, terror*sts.
“Yes. I have no personal connection to elves, but I can imagine the consequences if a large quantity of military-grade potions fell into the hands of the Iron Lilies. Countless innocent elves would die because of their ridiculous ‘prejudice’,” Titus said, spreading his hands. “Now you understand why I need to know your true identities.”
“This…” Givia hesitated. This Titus, despite being a gang leader, a criminal operating in the shadows, seemed to have a moral compass.
“If you’re unwilling to tell me, perhaps you’ll allow me to guess? Men, leave us. I need to speak with this lady privately,” Titus said suddenly.
The gang members, although hesitant, filed out of the basement. One of them, a short man, picked up the corpse with the broken neck and carried it out.
Once they were alone, Titus said, “You don’t need to confirm or deny my guesses. Just allow me to indulge in some speculation. I’m guessing… Your name isn’t Veronica. Perhaps it’s Givia.”
Givia remained composed, but her mind raced. How did he know?
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