"You are bluffing!" Dao Se exclaimed.
"Try me, then! Do you think I’m that stupid to come in here without preparation?" Amon talked back.
Dao Se and Gao Lan looked at one another. They couldn’t tell if Amon was telling the truth, but they knew for sure Amon was not stupid. A stupid person wouldn’t find out about their secret objective simply by observation.
As for the explosions, Dao Se did not worry for his life, even if this entire building fell on him. His cultivation was high enough for him to survive. His underlings were another matter. He had quite a lot of people here. If he lost them all, his conflict with the Street Aristocrats would become tougher.
"Furthermore, I’ve already divulged what you intend to do to my trusted associates," Amon said. "If I don’t return in an hour, they will spread this information to the public. Even if no one believes it, it will make your attempts to achieve your objective much more difficult. Even if you occupy the Silk Street District, you won’t be able to keep your operation secret for long because everyone will remember this rumor. The kingdom will direct their attention on you."
Dao Se gritted his teeth. He couldn’t believe he got cornered by a teenager . His ego wanted to crush this pompous kid to a pulp, but his rationality stayed his hands.
"Perhaps... we should listen to his offer," Gao Lan said.
Dao Se took a deep breath. He returned to his position and folded his arms. "How do you propose we do this alliance?" He asked.
"I will continue to have my people harass the Street Aristocrats," Amon said. "We will focus on the area away from the Silk Street District. Once you see they lightened their security, you can strike."
"Hm... That’s all well and good, but I don’t see your benefit in all this."
"I want you to be my distributor," Amon said.
"Have you heard about the Thousand Dream Powder?"
"Thousand Dream Powder...? Hey, isn’t that the wonder drug the Street Aristocrats have been selling?" Dao Se asked Gao Lan.
"That powder doesn’t belong to the Street Aristocrats. They stole it from me," Amon said.
"I did hear a similar wonder drug in circulation before the Street Aristocrats started selling theirs. You were the one who sold it?" Gao Lan asked.
"I was," Amon said. "It is difficult to sell a product in a territory where others hold the power. The best way is by working together with the one with power."
"I see. Why choose us? Why not go to the Alley Advocates?" Dao Se asked.
"Because among the three overlords of this city’s underworld, you are the weakest."
Amon’s words drew a scowl from Dao Se.
"He is not wrong," Gao Lan said before Dao Se went into another fit of rage.
"Even if it is right, doesn’t mean he can just say it out like that to my face!" Dao Se grumbled.
"Everyone starts from being the weakest. There is no shame about it," Amon said. "The shameful part is if we stay weak! Even though you are the weakest among the three, you have the strongest passion to turn things around. We can see it by how you keep expanding your territory. I’m the same. I might be unknown now, but before I graduate from the academy, I will have my influence over this city. We can grow together."
"Academy?" Dao Se asked.
"You are a student of the Royal Academy?" Gao Lan also asked.
"I am," Amon answered.
"That explains your high cultivation for a fifteen-year-old," Dao Se said. He then asked again, "Are you truly just fifteen years old?"
Amon didn’t bother answering that. He said, "My people will send you a weekly batch of Thousand Dream Powder. If you can sell more, I will increase the weekly quantity. We split the profit fifty-fifty."
"Eighty-twenty," Dao Se said. "Eighty for me. Twenty for you."
"This is not a negotiation. If you are not interested, then forget this. I will die here with all your people. Your secret will be exposed."
"Tsk! This is why I hate kids," Dao Se said. "All right. It’s a deal. If your drug is as good as the rumor says, then perhaps it will help me tolerate you a little."
"One other thing. I want a share of the rare spirit beast materials you collect after you take over the Silk Street District," Amon said.
Dao Se’s face changed. "Kid, ever heard the expression don’t push your luck?"
"By share, I didn’t mean for you to give it to me for free. I meant for you to reserve a portion for me. I will buy them."
When Dao Se didn’t say anything, Amon added, "You are going to sell them anyway, aren’t you? What’s the difference with selling it to me? I will buy them at the market rate. You have nothing to lose."
"Hm... What do you plan to do with those materials?" Dao Se asked. "Only a high-level smith and pill master can make use of those materials."
"What I do with them is none of your business," Amon replied. "Do we have an agreement?"
"Hmph, very well then. As long as you are willing to buy them at the market rate, I don’t see a problem with that. I, of course, require you to be discreet about the matter."
"Naturally. We are in this together now," Amon said.
"Hmph! I still can’t believe I partnered up with a fifteen-year-old kid," Dao Se said while shaking his head.
"Since we are in this together, I suggest you prepare yourself."
"For what?" Dao Se asked.
"Lu Zu will most likely attack you with his full force soon. You better get ready."
"How do you know?" Dao Se asked.
"Hehe. Do you seriously have to ask?" Amon asked in return.
Gao Lan told Dao Se, "This is another matter I’ve been meaning to discuss with you. Considering our feud with the Street Aristocrats, and the Demon Gang targets only them, the talk of the street is the Demon Gang acts under our order."