Trafficking Business

Treasure Hunter Rat held onto the coin with both its tiny hands as it merrily rolled around on Lin Ke's palm, seemingly unwilling to part with it.

It naturally acted like this because Platinum Hotel's Eye of Providence Gold Coin was cast with gold of ultra-high purity, coupled with special craftsmanship to make sure that it would not corrode away as time passed. Every single gold coin ever made was maintained at 8.22 grams.

Lin Ke wasn't as pleased—Does this rat even know the meaning of this gold coin? How can it deem it as a treasure?

Lin Ke pulled the coin away from Treasure Hunter Rat, picked it up by its neck, and shook it gently. "Hey, Little Treasure, wake up! You said that treasures were hidden in Jack Gang's base. Bring me there at once."

Treasure Hunter Rat came to its senses and reluctantly pulled its eyes away from the gold coin. It jumped onto the floor and sped toward the door while it signaled for Lin Ke to follow.

"Forbes, search outside. I'll look inside."

Forbes did not even look up as he replied cheerfully, "Yes, Boss! Please carry on."

With close to 30 bodies for him to search, Forbes's eyes lit up. He placed his handheld searchlight on the stone table at the side and started rummaging as if he were at a feast.

Lin Ke followed Little Treasure and walked into the base.

The interior setup of the Jack Gang's base was not different from when Lin Ke last visited in his previous life.

There was a clear distinction between work and recreation areas.

The work area was mainly separated into two types. One type was office cubicles, just like for urban white-collar workers, while the other was an octagonal fighting arena with various fitness equipment.

It would seem rather peculiar at first glance—one would question how these two entirely different styles could be known as the work area.

Upon understanding the nature of the Jack Gang's business, the reason was clear.

The main business for the Jack Gang was collecting protection fees. Hatchet men used the cubicles to record the details of their monthly collections. On the other hand, the fighting arena was the place where they maintained their body fitness to maximize their advantage and exert dominance on the streets while they patrolled and collected fees.

The recreation area was more straightforward—a large television, some tables, and a few benches were perfect for having meals and watching matches.

Further in would be the office of Jack Gang's boss; it was a huge space for one person. It also had a whole picture window, so one could admire the prosperous uptown across the canal whenever they turned their head.

When the Venetian blinds were rolled down, the brightly lit scenery from across and the sparkling water could be seen through the gaps. There was also a door beside the picture window and a 20-meter-long balcony behind it.

The most striking feature of all would surely be the chair, which was completely different from the room's main style.

The elegant burl wood office table and the mahogany bookshelf that filled up the entire wall gave off a cultivated, well-educated vibe. Yet, in between was a wild tiger-skin chair, which destroyed any aesthetic conception created before, leaving behind a sense of the nouveau riche.

In a corner of the room stood an old metal safe that was the height of half a man.

Having scanned Jack's office, Lin Ke didn't know where to start since there was so much to comment about.

Treasure Hunter Rat leaped straight up the office table, squeaking non-stop as it pointed to the large bookshelf.

"So you mean there's a hidden space behind this bookshelf?"

Treasure Hunter Rat nodded. It could sense something behind the wall, though it didn't know how to enter.

Lin Ke blew a whistle to gather up the army ants. He then pointed at the old metal safe. "Here's your mission: open the safe."

Having experienced two tough battles, with the second one ending up being obliterated by John, the army ants were filled with pent-up rage.

Upon locating the safe, they completely swarmed and surrounded the safe as its metal surface disappeared at a visible speed.

Lin Ke did not idle around as he started looking for a way to open the secret room.

When he raided the Jack Gang in his past life, Lin Ke only blew open the safe and left after plundering the money and arms. He earned $300 000 in cash after selling the loot. He did not know of the hidden room in the boss's office.

Now that he thought about it, the safe outside had to be just the tip of the iceberg—the actual treasure lay within the hidden room.

Since it was a hidden room, there definitely had to be a switch somewhere that opened up the bookshelf.

"Little Treasure, locate any metallic object in this entire bookshelf." Lin Ke held the Treasure Hunter Rat in his hand and used it as a living metal detector.

Treasure Hunter Rat stood on its master's hand as it quivered its nose to sniff out anything metallic. Finally, it sniffed out something almost undetectable on the right-hand side.

"Squeak, squeak! Squeak, squeak!"

"Over here? Okay, got it."

Treasure Hunter Rat climbed up Lin Ke's shoulder automatically, freeing its master's hand. Due to the weakness of the signal, Treasure Hunter Rat could only give an approximate location.

The rest was up to Lin Ke.

Since the approximate location was confirmed, the rest only required his hands. Lin Ke started to pull out books from the shelf.

When he pulled out a red leather book, 'Animal Encyclopedia,' the bookshelf let out rattling sounds of moving gears.

"Found it!" Lin Ke immediately drew his tactical machine pistol and handgun once the bookshelf started to split into two outward.

This was a place he never discovered in his previous life, so he had to be extra cautious!

It was only natural for Lin Ke to be cautious after the events that transpired today—first encountering Level 10 Elite, Jack, then the Level 40—Legend 'King Of Assassins' John.

Experience was the mother of all wisdom, after all. How could he not be careful after it happened two times?

"Little Treasure, sense whether there's anyone inside."

Lin Ke carefully entered as he walked along the stairs.

Squeak, squeak!

Treasure Hunter Rat sniffed out a mixed, complex odor. The smell was very strange—rich and peculiar, completely different from humans.

It tried to extract and decipher each distinct smell before informing its master.

Lin Ke silently walked till the turn of the stairs. He decided to wait for Little Treasure's response before he determined his next move.

Just as it successfully extracted a distinct smell, Treasure Hunter Rat felt the terrifying majesty in the smell. It was so frightened that it froze instantly, falling straight into Lin Ke's palm as it passed out.

"Little Treasure?" Lin Ke saw his pet fall and poked it with his fingers.

Treasure Hunter Rat was stiff from top to bottom as if it were stuffed in a refrigerator for three days and three nights. Lin Ke could still feel its heartbeat; it was just as stiff as a board.

To fumble the ball at the crucial moment, you're even more unreliable than my Sand Condor, thought Lin Ke as he carefully placed Treasure Hunter Rat inside his gun holster.

With Treasure Hunter Rat out cold, Lin Ke was left on his own.

Lin Ke held the tactical machine pistol in one hand, while he held the torchlight that Forbes brought in with the other.

Although he was holding onto the torchlight, Lin Ke did not switch it on immediately.

Switching it on too early would give himself away to any enemies inside, so it would've done no good.

There was only one way down the stairs without any turnoff, so Lin Ke only needed to walk in one direction.

Lin Ke stopped only at the turn of the stairs. He caught an unsettling scent—a little like a mixed scent of carrion, seawater, and excrement.

Lin Ke took a deep breath and charged out with his tactical machine pistol.

The handheld searchlight flashed on, and the intense light lit up the hidden room in an instant!

Suddenly, an untamed savage being was awakened and stared at Lin Ke with its green pupils under the glaring light.

Roar!

A deafening roar echoed in the secret room. It seemed to have turned on a switch as the room came to life 'passionately.'

Screech screech screech!

Woof woof woof!

Owooooo!

Roar!

He, tui~

Mm? There was something weird in the mix…

Lin Ke was dumbfounded, and it took him a while to come back to his senses. He didn't understand why there was a small zoo in the Jack Gang's underground secret room.

The king of all animals—lions—and the rest: tigers, hound dogs, bald eagles, radioactive mutated wolves, and an alpaca.

These beasts were all locked up in cages. At the moment, they were all abruptly awoken by the glaring light. They rattled the cages, which contributed to even more noise.

The whole room still had one-third of its space left, with thick, rolling metal gates on both ends.

Lin Ke walked beside the railing and shone the light beneath. He then saw the glistening water surface.

There was also a small table at the side of the metal cages.

Lin Ke saw and picked up a notebook from the table. He then flipped through it.

"So that's why! The Jack Gang collects rent on the surface, but they were doing animal trafficking all along!"

Do not underestimate the animal trafficking business. As the saying goes: 'that which is rare is dear.'

Maybe back in peaceful times, most of these wildlife creatures were a common sight. One only required a little cash to see these creatures in the zoo. However, 80% of life on Wastelands Planet was affected by nuclear radiation after the Day of Reckoning.

Countless animals died under the nuclear clouds, while those that survived mutated because of the radiation.

To find the most primitive animal now would already be hard enough.

Only the truly rich and powerful could afford these animals to showcase their wealth and influence.

Of course, their hobby did not end there. Simply purchasing animals could not satisfy their vanity anymore. On this foundation, they started to enter an even wilder competition—animal fights.

Of course, it was not referring to man versus beast. It referred to battles among the animals instead.

The focus was not on the animal battles; it was on the hunger to win behind.

I have the money to buy animals unaffected by radiation. I can also afford the most brutal and awesome animals of all!

This was the message they wanted to send out.

Though the Jack Gang did not directly partake in capturing the wild animals, any animals entering Sand City would pass through this point and be sold across the city.

Upon seeing these, a bold idea popped into Lin Ke's head…

Squeak, squeak!

Just as Lin Ke was thinking, Treasure Hunter Rat woke up somehow and pulled Lin Ke's shirt as it warned anxiously.

Beyond the dark alleyway, a large force was approaching!