Dark Moon Era

Tony watched as Tang Ling dug out more stuff. Although he was on the verge of crying, he simply could not.

There were the fangs of a giant numbing spider, the beak and talons of a wolf-headed bird, and the worst of the loot would be the pelt of a hopping rabbit.

What’s with all these lousy items? Is he trying to sew a pair of gloves for his lover? Why would he keep all these as a New Moon Warrior?

After a quick check, the items that Tang Ling kept matched his identity as a New Moon Warrior, but it was still too few goods, and the most valuable giant numbing spider’s venom sac was missing.

However, when Tony looked at the mantis’s arms and wings, he also had a basic evaluation of Tang Ling’s strength, and it was a rather high one, to be honest.

Therefore, even though the lousy items were not even worth 10 Hope credits combined, based on his personal evaluation, Tony decided to take this deal despite being on the losing end.

If, and only if, he was fortunate enough to fuse the mantis materials with metal, he would earn instead of losing!

After struggling for almost two minutes, Tony said with grievance and rather bloodshot eyes, “Fine then. Let’s settle on this.”

He added out of unwillingness, “Dear Tang, I hope to win your friendship through this deal. Believe me, I really am losing a lot.”

As he spoke, he passed the brass knuckles and the Wolf Crunch to Tang Ling. He then took a stretchable tactical backpack out to keep all the materials that Tang Ling traded in.

An expandable tactical backpack?! And a higher grade than his own??! Tang Ling’s eyes gleamed all of a sudden. It was the backpack of his dreams!

One thing worth noting was that he always carefully selected the important spoils, and not all of them because his current backpack had limited space. If he had a higher grade backpack, he would not have to give up on the spoils.

Not all spoils were worth exposing by putting them on his back like the mantis’s arms and wings. Carrying them on his back like that would only limit his movements.

“Hey, Tony, your expandable tactical backpack…” Tang Ling could not help but ask.

When he heard Tang Ling start, Tony reacted like a frightened rabbit. Startled, he said loudly, “No, Tang! Don’t even think about the backpack with the things you have here!”

Tang Ling was rendered speechless by his reaction. Had he gone too far trying to milk this deal? He tried to be as gentle as possible and said, “I don’t mean that. Do I look like a greedy person?”

Tony’s eyes showed disdain. Aren’t you?

Tang Ling ignored Tony’s gaze as he scratched his head innocently and responded sincerely, “I’m just trying to say that you should bring another backpack like that the next time… or something better than that.”

“Next time? You mean the next trade?” Tony was delighted. He might have suffered a loss in this deal, but it seemed like he managed to earn Tang Ling’s friendship.

With that thought in mind, Tony asked uncertainly, “Since you’ve gotten an idea about the black market and us traders, will you trade with the others the next time if you bump into them? I’m just trying to warn you that there are many traders wandering around the left and right forests so that they can increase their chances of running into a higher rank warrior.”

“No, I’m saying that I just want to trade with you unless I drop by the black market! If I’m outside here, I’ll only deal with you.” Tang Ling sounded very serious as he raised the black badge in his hand. “This… this is a sign of our deal today. Since you gave it to me, I’ll remember this.”

“T-That’s great!” Tony never would have thought that a prestigious New Moon Warrior would take notice of him because of an insignificant black market badge.

As a matter of fact, with the identity of a New Moon Warrior, Tang Ling could get his hands on similar badges via many other ways in the near future.

So, the New Moon Warriors like Tang Ling would only choose traders with higher authority and now someone like Tony, whose best item was a grade B alloy dagger.

Even if Tang Ling did not know all that, he could simply make the decision after he asked around. He was not an idiot, and he should know that the black market deals were something even high-rank warriors could not neglect because it was considered another important source for the replenishment of items.

Tony was surprised that Tang Ling picked him so easily.

“Great then. Let’s make an appointment. Two days later, in this spot, we shall deal again. However, the items that you brought today might not be enough for the next deal, so you’d better get more higher quality items or meat. I need a lot of that and probably some defensive gears,” Tang Ling reminded Tony.

“Yes, yes, yes, my dear little Sir! I’ll try my very best to apply for the best quality goods to trade with you! On top of that, since you’ve recognized me as your trader, can we touch badges? It will…” Tony was being extra cautious when he made his ask. He had just gotten recognition from Tang Ling. If he requested even more things, would it be crossing the line?

However, if they did not exchange information via the badges, the recognition would be meaningless too.

Tang Ling waved his hand before Tony even finished. He removed the badge on his chest and gave it to Tony. It was very uncomfortable when Tony addressed him as ‘little Sir’.

Tony was overjoyed when he received Tang Ling’s badge. He carefully touched the badge to his own to exchange information within the granted authority. He then explained, “Don’t worry, Tang. This will only allow my badge to receive the signal from your badge. I can’t read anything from yours. So, whenever you want to trade with me, you don’t need to make an appointment anymore. All you have to do is display my sign, Tony Jacker, trader No. 57, on your badge and I’ll appear in less than 20 minutes. But, of course, given my strength, you’d better choose a nearby place. I can’t really go to dangerous places…”

“Fine, I’ll do that next time. I’m just thinking when should I meet you next.” Tang Ling took his badge and pinned it back on his chest.

Tony kept his traded goods and left with praises for Tang Ling.

After making sure Tony had left, Tang Ling hesitated for a while and ultimately decided to keep the crystal that he got from the mantis inside his secret base.

It was Monday. A few days later would be the Fierce Dragon Squad’s first group mission, and the reason why he decided to trade again in two days was exactly because of the group mission.

Tang Ling had to be prepared. Even though Brother Beard, the veteran warrior, viewed the group mission casually, Tang Ling experienced ripples of anxiety in his heart whenever he thought of the group mission.

Although he did not know whether it was his Precise Instinct in effect or not, his past experience told him that he had to be 120% cautious at all times.

As for giving up? It was not within Tang Ling’s consideration. He needed an excuse to earn Hope credits and this group mission would be the best cover.

Of course, he still had his own bottom line! If the danger in the upcoming group mission surpassed his expectations, he would surely pull everyone out immediately.

Tang Ling had somewhat of a measurement ruler in his heart, and he deemed himself as the strongest among everyone in the Fierce Dragon Squad. Not even Orston or Yu could defeat him with their lineage powers.

After all, Tang Ling also had powers of his own! Although his powers only showed up once in the past, they were utterly terrifying!