Chapter 68 (2/2)

Porter inspected the three electronic components. “Hmm… There don’t seem to be any problems. Send these to my spaceship, no. 1022 landing pad.”

The middle-aged man hastily nodded, hurrying the two strongmen to transport the three crates to the mentioned spaceship, all the while instructing them to be careful.

“Brother Porter, see if I’ve got the final sum right on this bill. These things are all valuable, boasting high liquidity.” The middle-aged man cautiously gesticulated.

Porter nodded, then faced Xia Fei. “It comes up to thirty million. Transfer that sum to him.”

The man was startled. “Brother Porter, it’s twelve million a piece—the total should amount to thirty-six million star coins.”

Porter coldly snorted, completely unfazed. “Hmph! Everyone knows that you got hold of those goods through Old K. It’s just that I didn’t wish to have dealings with him. Otherwise, it wouldn’t even cost me twenty million if I went to see him myself about these components. You shouldn’t be too greedy.”

Xia Fei could see the middle-aged man’s eyes spinning before he helplessly agreed. “Since you’ve put it that way, then I’ll absorb the losses of this transaction this time. I wouldn’t agree to this if you were someone else.”

Xia Fei transferred the thirty million to the middle-aged man’s account and returned to the plaza with Porter. The two of them proceeded to an open-air bar and ordered two bottles of beer, sitting at a table and slowly imbibing their drinks.

“Uncle Porter, those items aren’t really expensive. I did a cursory search on the interplanetary internet last night, and the same equipment is officially sold at about fifteen million star coins each. We’ve essentially saved a whole fifteen million star coins by buying those three components back there.” Xia Fei was laughing as he told Porter this.

Porter laughed aloud as well. “This wouldn’t be called the black market if the goods weren’t cheap. These things are either stolen or illegally seized; why would they not be cheap?”

“But those aren’t the reason why we’re here today. We’re waiting here for someone who’ll be bringing along something you can’t guess even in a million years. Boy, you just wait to fork out the money. I can’t wait to see your pained expression later,” mysteriously remarked Porter.

Xia Fei sipped his beer. “As long as it’s good stuff, I’ll be very willing to pay.”

The two chatted for a while until a youngster with bushy brows paced anxiously over, his face showing his frustration and exasperation.

This youngster sat down right beside Porter, grabbed a bottle from the table, twisted the cap off, and downed it at one go.

Porter’s eyebrows knitted together but did not say a word. An uneasy atmosphere began to take hold.

*Bang!*

That youngster let go of the bottle and said in a huff, “Old K came looking for me and took away the item you wanted.”

Porter slammed the table with his hand and expressed his concern to the lad. “Are you alright?”

The youngster shook his head, his expression bitter. “I’m fine; he told me to pass along a message.”

“What is it?”

“The graveyard is still mine.” The youngster looked elsewhere on purpose as he spoke about this. It was as if he was feeling somewhat guilty for failing to bring over the item that Porter requested.

Porter patted the youngster’s shoulder and gravely remarked, “Xiao Tian, we can always find the item again. It’s more important that you’re fine.”

This youngster by the name of Xiao Tian was quite touched and flashed him a forceful smile. “Master, even though I failed to make a good showing as your apprentice, you should know how I’m like. I’ll always be able to hold something back. Old K only made off with the engine, and he didn’t find the neutron cannons or the missile launchers.”

Weapons system needed an ample power source and spaceship capacity. The Navy-issue Eagle-class frigate had a total of four power source ports, which could install weapons, and Xia Fei had decided to fit his Hookbill with two of both the small neutron cannons and small missile launchers.

A neutron cannon was presently one of the strongest cannons available on the market. It did not have a quick rate of fire, shooting roughly a hundred twenty shots per minute, but it had an exceptionally high penetrative strength, able to puncture an enemy spacecraft’s thick armor, and its power consumption was much lower than that of thermal weapons.

A frigate could not fit a huge power source, so it was important to strictly control power consumption.

The advantages of a missile system were evident in this; it could actively track the more agile enemies with decent firepower. More importantly, a missile system would not need to tap into the power source as its power was dependent on its inbuilt jet system.

Neutron cannon and missiles complemented each other. Not only did they provide a high damage output, they could also handle all sorts of enemies.

Saving so much power meant they could devote all the resources toward strengthening the spaceship’s maneuverability and defense capabilities. Plus, top-grade electronic equipment often had a heavy power consumption.

“Master, I suspect that Old K has your phones tapped, and that’s how he learned of what you’re looking for this time. I have a military-grade encrypted phone with me; it’s best if you use that next time.”

With that, Xiao Tian shoved a satellite phone, which was about the size of a matchbox, into Porter’s hands.

Both pairs of neutron cannons and missile launchers cost Xia Fei a total of twenty-four million star coins. Xia Fei made the transfer, and Xiao Tian nodded to the two of them before striding off like a gust of wind.

Taking several drags of his lit cigarette, Xia Fei could not help but ask, “Xiao Tian is your apprentice?”

“Yes, he’s the youngest among my apprentices and also the most talented. He’s in urgent need of money for his younger sister’s eye treatment, so he left my factory to become an arms dealer.”

“I only learned of this after the fact. To think I even gave him a severe scolding that day. Recalling it now, I truly regret doing so. That twerp’s too stubborn. If he had only told me about it earlier, I could’ve helped him raise funds, even if I had to break pots and sell scraps, but he had entirely kept me in the dark about it.”

Old Porter said that while rubbing his temples; the wrinkles on his face became more pronounced as a result. Xia Fei wanted to say a few words of consolation, but he had no idea how to go about it.

“Who’s Old K?” asked Xia Fei, instead.

Porter took out a Hongtaishan cigarette from Xia Fei’s cigarette case and lit it up like him.

*Cough cough!*

“Just what in the world is this thing?! Why’s it so hard to smoke?” Porter coughed twice as his face contorted bitterly, tears forming in his eyes.

Xia Fei smiled and did not comment. None of the extraterrestrials Xia Fei had come across smoked; tobacco seemed to be unique to Earth.

Porter took a swig of his beer and said, “Old K was a pirate in his prime, washing his hands off the business once he gained on in years. Instead of robbing others, he started to assemble spaceships.

“Recently, he’s been hoping to buy something from me, which I refused to sell to him. As such, we aren’t too happy with each other. Actually, I’m fine, though it’s a real pity about that Black Mamba engine I ordered for you.”

Xia Fei was momentarily stunned as he urgently asked, “What engine did you say it was?”

“Black Mamba engine—the 130 model.” Porter sighed.