Intelligence Gathering and Analysis
Lin Li and Yexiao began throwing all their efforts into gathering intelligence on the "Dark Rise" project. Tapping into all their connections and resources, they finally managed to unearth some fragmented clues.
According to these leads, the Shadow Council was operating like a ghost, secretly gathering a special kind of ore in the shadows. This ore was like a slumbering dragon, teeming with unfathomable energy that was perhaps inextricably linked to their shady scheme. Acting like detectives, Lin Li and Yexiao meticulously combed through the clues, organizing and analyzing them in an attempt to piece together the full, enigmatic picture of the entire operation.
"This ore is like a mysterious treasure the likes of which I have never seen. It seems we'll have to find a way to lift its veil of mystery and figure out where it comes from and what it's used for," Lin Li muttered, staring down at the clues spread across the table.
Yexiao frowned. "I've heard that someone in the black market might have information about this ore. We could try our luck there."
A cunning smile tugged at the corner of Lin Li's mouth. "The black market? Perfect. I've been meaning to go rub shoulders with those shady characters anyway. Who knows, maybe we can rake in a little profit while we're at it."
Disguising themselves, the two vanished into the night like wraiths and headed toward Jiangcheng's largest black market. The black market was packed shoulder to shoulder with a ceaseless stream of people, its stalls dazzling with all sorts of bizarre and eccentric wares. Darting around like headless flies, Lin Li and Yexiao scoured the black market and made inquiries everywhere until they finally tracked down someone rumored to hold the secrets of the ore.
The person Lin Li and Yexiao found was a scrawny old man with the crafty eyes of a fox, clearly no ordinary citizen. Cutting straight to the point, Lin Li asked, "We hear you know about a special mineral. Tell us everything you know, and a hefty reward awaits you."
The old man let out a sly chuckle. "A hefty reward? What kind of reward could you possibly give me? That ore is a rare treasure of the world, something ordinary people never get a chance to lay eyes on."
Though fury boiled within him, Lin Li forced a smile onto his face. "Just name your price. As long as what you tell us is true, money is no object."
Extending five fingers like a greedy, starved wolf, the old man sneered, "Fifty thousand. Not a penny less."
A cold smile crossed Lin Li's lips. "Fifty thousand? You certainly have the nerve to extort people. Whether your information is actually worth fifty thousand is still anyone's guess."
The old man gave a proud, haughty snort. "Take it or leave it. You won't find another shop like this once you pass it by."
Lin Li feigned turning to leave. Seeing this, the old man immediately panicked and cried out, "Hey, hey, don't go! Let's talk about this."
Slowly turning back, Lin Li flashed a crafty smile. "Ten thousand at most. Not a cent more."
Frowning, the old man gritted his teeth. "Fine, ten thousand it is then. That ore is called the 'Dark Star Stone'. Word has it that it comes from some mysterious place and can release powerful dark energy. The Shadow Council is definitely up to no good collecting it."
Lin Li's heart skipped a beat. In his mind, this "Dark Star Stone" was clearly no ordinary object. Right at that moment, a sudden commotion erupted from elsewhere in the black market. Exchanging a glance, Lin Li and Yexiao decided to go check out what was happening. Pressing through the crowd, they discovered a group of Shadow Council members seizing items from a vendor's stall—and upon closer inspection, it was none other than a piece of the "Dark Star Stone."
A cunning smile curved Lin Li's lips. "Talk about perfect timing. I'm taking that 'Dark Star Stone'."