Immortality Starts From Making Money.

Chapter 385 385: The Probe.

Compared to the hidden undercurrents running throughout the city, the middle class and the commoners were singing praises for the newly introduced artifacts.

Merchants scrambled to get their hands on them. Such powerful items promised enormous profit.

Outside the city, they could be sold at ten times their original price or even more.

Thus, every merchant was doing everything in their power to secure as many as possible.

To them, nothing mattered more than wealth. It was their source of influence, their shield, and their weapon.

In the outer city's middle district, hundreds of people had gathered in front of a three-story building.

The scene was lively.

People streamed in and out of the building with bright smiles on their faces, while others waited impatiently for their turn.

The demand for the artifacts was so high that many feared the current stock would be sold out before they even reached the counter.

The atmosphere was thick with anticipation.

On the third floor of the building, a middle-aged man stood by the window, quietly observing the crowd below.

A smile spread across his face.

Originally, he had been nothing more than the owner of a modest trade store. Only a handful of customers visited daily, and maintaining the shop had placed an enormous strain on his finances.

He had been on the brink of bankruptcy.

During his most desperate moments, he had reached out to so-called friends for help.

None came.

Instead, they watched from the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to swallow his business whole.

Just when he had begun to accept his impending downfall, an unknown figure had appeared.

That person offered to buy his store at three times its market value on the condition that he and his daughter would continue managing it.

It sounded too good to be true.

In a dog eat dog world, there was no such thing as a free lunch. Everything came with a price.

He had almost refused.

But his daughter had convinced him otherwise.

They were already at rock bottom what more could they possibly lose?

With that thought, they signed the contract.

To their shock, the mysterious figure kept his word.

He did not chase them. Instead, he allowed them to continue running the store as if nothing had changed.

To the outside world, it still appeared as though the shop belonged to them.

Those who had anticipated their downfall were left stunned and confused.

Some even approached them directly, asking what had happened.

But how could they explain?

Even now, the man himself did not fully understand the identity or intentions of the person who had saved them.

And just when he thought things could not get any better, the mysterious figure entrusted them with selling a rare artifact.

With every sale, they received a commission.

How could he not be happy?

Using his connections and the little influence he had left in the market, he had initially tried to promote the artifact with all his strength.

But he soon realized something.

The artifact did not need promotion.

It sold itself.

From the moment it was introduced, customers flooded the store without pause.

Day after day, the crowd only grew larger.

Now, no other shop on the entire street could compare to theirs.

"Father… aren't you worried about the gangs?" his daughter asked softly from the side.

Unlike her father, she could not fully relax.

She knew everything about their sudden rise in fortune—and it frightened her.

Rumors had begun circulating among the shop owners about movements from the three powerful gangs.

In the outer city, those gangs controlled everything.

They dictated the rules, and anyone who dared defy them paid a heavy price.

The middle-aged man turned to look at his daughter. His smile remained calm and steady.

"Why should we be afraid?" he asked.

He shifted his gaze back to the bustling street below.

"If the store still belonged to us, then yes I would be afraid," he continued. "But now… we have nothing to fear."

His tone was filled with quiet confidence.

His daughter frowned slightly, confusion evident on her face.

She did not understand.

Even if the store no longer belonged to them, they were still the ones managing it. If something happened, they would lose their livelihood.

Was that not reason enough to be afraid?

Before she could voice her thoughts, a knock sounded at the door.

"Come in," the man said calmly.

The door opened, and a young attendant hurried inside.

"Boss… Young Miss… people from the gangs are here," he reported, his voice tense. "They're demanding a protection fee."

"And how much do they want?" the young miss asked, her brows knitting together.

"One thousand high-grade spirit stones," the attendant replied.

"What?!" Her eyes widened in disbelief.

"This is outrageous!" she snapped.

How could they demand such an absurd amount?

Protection fee?

This was nothing but blatant extortion.

Unlike her, her father showed no change in expression.

He had already anticipated this.

The gangs were not truly interested in the shop.

Their real target was the force behind it, the mysterious figure who had supplied the artifacts.

"Chase them away," he said coldly. "We will not pay them a single stone."

Both the young miss and the attendant froze.

"F-Father…" she began, trying to persuade him.

"Enough," he interrupted firmly. "I've made my decision."

Seeing his unwavering stance, the attendant swallowed hard.

He could already foresee the trouble that would follow.

Still, he nodded and quickly left the room.

Silence fell once more.

Outside, the noise of the crowd continued, but inside the room, the atmosphere had grown tense.

Unbeknownst to them, they were not the only ones facing this situation.

Across the outer city, the three powerful gangs had acted simultaneously.

Their men spread out, visiting store after store, demanding exorbitant protection fees.

But those with sharper minds could see through the façade.

This was not about money.

It was a test.

A probe.

The gangs were trying to draw out the mysterious force operating behind the scenes, the one responsible for the sudden surge of powerful artifacts flooding the market.

And now that they had made their move, the entire city held its breath.

Everyone was watching.

Waiting.

How would the mysterious power respond?