At dawn, the entrance of the small Curio Trash Can shop was packed with people, yet not a single one dared to step inside. They only crowded at the door to peek in.
The reason was simple—the customer inside carried an aura far too terrifying. A black-and-purple robe covered nearly his entire body. Even indoors, he kept his hood neatly in place, and the long blade at his side radiated waves of murderous intent. Combined with his frigid keep-away presence, it was enough to make ordinary folk shrink back in fear.
Sylvester and Moze sat across from each other at the counter, staring each other down.
"This customer, even if you stare at me until I break apart, this [Military Ration Pill] still won't turn into a top-grade elixir."
Sylvester looked helplessly at the General Feixiao's bodyguard before him.
The man had relied on skipping sleep through the night to rush in first thing this morning. He bought a Trash Can and drew out a single [Military Ration Pill].
The effect of this item was far too weak—it only kept someone from feeling hungry for a day after eating.
Moze said nothing upon receiving this result, but anyone could tell he wasn't satisfied.
Otherwise, who would sit here staring blankly for ten whole minutes? And staring so hard at Sylvester without even blinking once?
If it were any of the ordinary people outside, they would have already bolted in terror.
Sylvester rubbed his forehead, a little at a loss, and sighed. "Sir, you must be the type to kill without blinking, right?"
At these words, Moze's expression shifted ever so slightly.
So, the carefully laid test is finally bearing fruit?
Indeed, Moze hadn't come to open a Trash Can. He came to test Sylvester.
He only did two very simple things: release killing intent—both to test Sylvester's strength and to drive away customers. And second, to confront Sylvester directly so he couldn't do business.
These two tactics, combined, would force Sylvester into making some kind of reaction. In that way, information could naturally be gleaned.
And even better, this method wouldn't create a deep grudge. If the other really was strong, at worst he would just throw Moze out and blacklist him.
That was why, the moment Sylvester uttered the word 'kill', Moze sharpened his senses to the fullest.
Clearly, the other was about to lay his cards on the table.
"And what of it?"
A deliberately vague answer, baiting the opponent to say more. Perfect.
With his years of battlefield experience, Moze judged the other was about to unleash their aura to suppress him.
"Because after staring this long, your eyes aren't dry at all." Sylvester spoke lightly.
"...Cough."
Moze froze, the gathered Path force nearly surging backwards in his meridians.
Kill without blinking? Dry eyes? You stared me down for all this time just to crack a lame joke?
Hey, I'm wrecking your business here! Aren't you going to respond at all?
To be honest, Moze really wanted to smash Sylvester with a great memory-restoration art and beat him until he confessed everything.
But the fact Sylvester could move around so casually within his aura already proved this man was no ordinary hand.
Yet if the other wasn't incompetent, why face off this long without revealing an ounce of strength?
From his battlefield instincts, Moze's mind settled on a conclusion that made him furious.
Mockery! Just like a cat catching prey—not killing or eating it right away, but toying with it.
In reality, when facing weak enemies, some people would deliberately toy with them.
In this regard, the nobles of the Borisin were especially infamous.
Moze's expression grew more twisted and frightening, while Sylvester grew more confused.
Wait, bro…
You're squatting in my shop refusing to leave. I'm not even swearing at you—I even told you a joke. And you're still angry?
Okay, fine, it was a bad joke. But do you really need to glare like that?
What, telling lame jokes is your reverse scale? Because nobody in the army told you jokes, that's why you enlisted?
I need to tell Feixiao that her subordinate here has some serious cognitive issues. He might need a therapist.
The more Moze thought about it, the angrier he became. All these years, following the General through countless campaigns, never once had someone treated him with such arrogance.
A warrior could be killed, but never humiliated!
Moze slammed the table and rose.
Whoa—seriously going berserk?
Sylvester gripped the Jade Abacus tightly, ready to call Fu Xuan at any moment.
You dare fight, I dare scream for help.
"Hmph!"
Without another word, Moze swept his sleeves and stormed out.
Though the man was most likely far stronger, this absolutely wasn't cowardice—it was a strategic retreat.
And more importantly, he wouldn't create trouble for the General.
"Mm…" Watching Moze leave, Sylvester was left speechless.
He was certain this man really needed a therapist.
At a nearby tea stall, Jiaoqiu smiled as he saw the General's bodyguard stride back. He used a voice transmission technique: "Nothing gained?"
Moze nodded. He was about to sit down, but Jiaoqiu stopped him.
"You've already been exposed. If you talk with me, I'll be exposed as well."
Moze straightforwardly moved to another table.
Jiaoqiu, however, was a little annoyed at his longtime partner. Today's approach had been reckless. "I told you before not to act like this. Even the General couldn't discern anything—do you think your extra pair of eyes would see more? Doing this requires patience. Timing. You have to wait for changes to appear. It's like a medicinal stew—you need the right ingredients at the right time for the effect to emerge."
"I… know." Moze gave only a short reply, then fell silent.
"Know? Then why—" Jiaoqiu was about to scold him again when he suddenly realized something. "Don't tell me you just wanted to charge in recklessly—if it worked, you'd hand in the results right away, and if it failed, you'd just use 'I was exposed' as an excuse to go home and sleep early?"
Moze stayed silent. He downed a cup of tea, left some money, and got up to leave. "I'm going to catch up on sleep."
"Hey! Never thought you, the quiet type, would have tricks like that."
For a moment, Jiaoqiu felt nothing but frustration. I actually got played by this guy?
If this spread around the adviser circles, his reputation would be ruined.
"...Sigh." He let out a long breath, continued to watch the shop from the corner of his eye, and pondered which soldier from their group could take over the task.
But only moments later, Jiaoqiu's brow furrowed again.
"Hm? That man? Shouldn't he be trading verbal blows with the Six Charioteers of Luofu right now? Why would he show up here?"
"Oh? That customer finally left?"
From the crowd, a blond man strode toward the shop entrance.
"Hello, boss. I heard you have Trash Cans that can produce Curios? I've come from a distant star system, drawn by your reputation."
His face was handsome enough to be called striking, and his attire glittered with golden trim and fine jade. His every movement carried refined grace. Anyone looking would assume he was just a pampered noble young master, here to throw money around for fun.
But Sylvester knew better. This was no easy opponent. To rise from slavery, earn Diamond's favor with only words, be brought into the company under Jade's guidance, and now sit firmly among the Ten Stonehearts—deciding the fate of countless star systems with a gesture…
Such a lowly beginning, such towering achievements. Even across the entire universe, his was a story at the pinnacle of inspiration.
"Aventurine of the Interastral Peace Corporation. I've heard of you. In Penacony, your boldness was admirable."
Sylvester didn't plan on humoring him, instead giving him a sharp reminder.
"Oh? Boss Sylvester truly is well-informed. Then I'll be frank. The Interastral Peace Corporation values you greatly and was very surprised by Skott's previous presumptuous behavior. The Talent Motivation Department has already punished him."
Aventurine spoke smoothly, but both men knew the opening lines were just fluff. The real matter came next: "Therefore, the Interastral Peace Corporation hopes to sign a long-term contract with you. We'd purchase a fixed number of Trash Cans daily. As for the price, we can negotiate."
"What? How could that be!"
The ordinary folk listening nearby immediately protested.
Wouldn't that block off all their chances?