"How much?"
The Nepalese black marketeer replied flatly:
"2000."
---
Li Qinwu clicked his tongue.
"So expensive?!"
---
The black marketeer casually drew a pistol, hooking a finger through the trigger guard and spinning it with practiced ease.
"This one's cheap. 200. Want it?"
---
"Profiteer…" Li Qinwu muttered under his breath, but still took out 2,000 and paid.
---
The Nepalese black marketeer accepted the money and counted each bill slowly, his expression filled with satisfaction. Watching currency flow back from a scavenger's hands was always a pleasant sight.
---
After putting away the medicine, Li Qinwu paused, then asked:
"Hey, if I wanted to start a gang, what would I need to do?"
---
The black marketeer stopped counting.
"You want to start a gang?"
---
Li Qinwu nodded.
"I need people to handle miscellaneous work."
---
The Nepalese black marketeer studied him for a moment, confirming he was serious. Then he stroked his chin.
"Come with me."
---
He led Li Qinwu into a private room deep within the shop. After sitting down, he began:
"Gangs can be divided into two types."
---
"The first type—nomadic gangs. Small, unstable groups that attach themselves to larger factions. No fixed personnel, no territory, no production. Just desperate rats banding together. No future."
---
"The second type—structured gangs."
"Like our fertilizer gang."
---
"We have a fixed core, a leader, territory, and—most importantly—legitimate production."
---
"My boss, Electric Eye, is a Nestling affiliated with the Planetary Governor. The fertilizer we produce is submitted as tithe."
---
"Someone like him, who can climb that high, relies on one thing—legitimate work."
---
"You should understand how important that is down here."
---
Li Qinwu nodded.
The underhive was merciless. Without stability, survival was temporary.
---
"But with a job—any job—you gain a degree of security. You're already above ninety percent of the people at the bottom."
---
"In the lower hive, only large gangs can provide that."
"Like the Fertilizer Gang."
---
"They recruit families. The families work in production. The men fight."
---
"The Chemical Cult is similar. Their main output is chemical substances used as tithe. Poison needles are just a byproduct."
---
"In short—you can build a small gang, or a large one."
---
"If it's small, you can quickly gather a few people and attach yourself to a larger force."
"But you won't have stability. No loyalty. People come and go."
---
"If it's large, you need Nestling status, registration under the Governor, and legitimate production."
---
"Secure territory. Provide work. People will come to you on their own."
---
He paused.
"But that path isn't open to you yet."
---
The black marketeer concluded:
"For now, you can only build a rat gang. With your ability, maintaining ten to twenty people is realistic."
---
"If you're willing to work under Boss Electric Eye, I can support you."
---
Li Qinwu shook his head without hesitation.
"I'd rather be a big fish in a small pond."
"I'm not interested in being anyone's lackey."
---
The black marketeer smiled faintly and said nothing more.
But his opinion of Li Qinwu rose significantly.
Ambitious. Capable. Unwilling to submit.
Such people either died quickly… or rose rapidly.
---
He called out:
"Xiao Dao. Come in."
---
The door opened, and Xiao Dao stepped inside.
"Nepalese boss. Mr. Scavenger."
---
The black marketeer gestured toward Li Qinwu.
"If you need manpower, Xiao Dao will work for you."
---
Li Qinwu glanced at Xiao Dao, who looked completely stunned.
---
After a brief pause, Li Qinwu asked:
"Xiao Dao, are you willing to work for me?"
---
Xiao Dao hesitated.
He already had a stable position within the Fertilizer Gang. His future, while limited, was at least predictable.
---
But then—
He recalled the duel.
The calm, decisive way this man had killed.
---
In the depths of the underhive, very few people controlled their own fate.
This man was one of them.
---
"I'm willing! Boss Scavenger!"
---
Xiao Dao dropped to one knee immediately.
---
Li Qinwu said calmly:
"Relax. I won't send you to your death. Just errands."
"You can continue living here. Act as a liaison between me and your Nepalese boss."
---
He turned to the merchant.
"That works, right?"
---
The black marketeer nodded.
"That's even better."
---
Li Qinwu nodded, then took out 1,000 fertilizer coupons and pressed them into Xiao Dao's hand.
"Here. Settlement bonus."
"I can't promise riches, but a stable life is achievable."
---
Xiao Dao stared at the money, nearly losing control of his expression.
---
As a low-level thug, his monthly income was only 50 fertilizer coupons.
1,000 at once—
That was a fortune.
---
He almost kowtowed again, but Li Qinwu interrupted:
"If you take my money, you work."
---
"Find 10 steel pipes, 20 wooden planks, plus screws and nuts."
"Deliver them to the compartment near the pipeline."
---
Li Qinwu was already treating him like a scav—efficient resource acquisition with minimal cost.
---
---
How High Can One Rise Before It Ends?
---
After leaving the black marketeer, Li Qinwu headed to the end of the pipeline.
The deployment interface appeared.
Northern trench.
Time: 10 PM.
---
He opened the map, confirmed his direction, and ran toward Lieutenant Rudolph's camp.
---
Five kilometers.
With a high-energy drink, he covered the distance in fifteen minutes.
---
As usual, he waited outside the defensive perimeter.
Soon, a Chimera troop carrier arrived to pick him up.
---
The hatch opened. Li Qinwu boarded.
The vehicle moved.
---
Lieutenant Rudolph asked immediately:
"Did you investigate the water ripple monitoring station?"
---
Li Qinwu nodded.
"Yes. The situation is complicated. Let's talk somewhere quiet."
---
The driver parked in the center of camp, turned off the engine, and stepped out for a smoke—closing the hatch behind him.
---
Silence.
---
"Can you speak now?" Rudolph asked.
---
Li Qinwu nodded, lit a cigarette, took a drag, then said:
"Do you know about psykers?"
---
Rudolph's body stiffened instantly. Sweat formed on his forehead.
"There's a psyker there?"
---
Li Qinwu nodded.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
---
"We've known each other for a while."
"I'm offering you an opportunity."
---
"Whether you dare take it—that's up to you."
---
Rudolph's expression hardened.
"You're not suggesting I hunt a psyker, are you? Those things are monsters. I won't take that risk."
"I'll report it and let specialists handle it."
---
Li Qinwu suddenly grabbed his collar and pulled him closer.
"What's the rush? I'm not finished."
---
"I'm handing you credit—and you're afraid to take it?"
"Planning to stay a company commander forever?"
---
Rudolph frowned.
"What are you getting at?"
---
Li Qinwu chuckled softly.
"That psyker has already clashed with the rebels."
"He's killed hundreds. Their corpses are lying around the monitoring station."
---
"You take your troops there."
"Fire a few shots. Drop a few shells."
---
"Then report: rebels eliminated, station secured."
---
"Wouldn't that be your achievement?"
---
Rudolph swallowed.
He was tempted.
---
He had made no significant contributions since his promotion.
But now, a battalion command position might soon open.
---
With this achievement…
Promotion would be justified.
---
He hesitated.
"The psyker… will he leave? That station is strategic. If I claim it, command will deploy there."
---
Li Qinwu smiled.
"I'll make him leave."
"Don't worry about how."
"You just take the credit."
---
Rudolph scratched his head, conflicted.
The risk was enormous.
False reporting. Psykers. Military consequences.
One mistake—and everything would collapse.
---
Seeing his hesitation, Li Qinwu spoke slowly:
"Little Lu… how far do you intend to climb?"
---
"Life here is like walking on thin ice."
"Do you really believe you'll reach the other side safely?"
---
"You're satisfied being a mere company commander?"
---
"A real man stands just below the Emperor himself."
---
"If you don't aim higher… what's the point?"