CHAPTER 48: 48. GIVE ME PROOF, BROTHER CHEN! (NEW BOOK SEEKING FAVORITES AND READERS)

Originally, when the stray dog heard Chen Che agree to his conditions and even raise the 20% to 30% on his own, he was overjoyed.

But suddenly hearing what Chen Che said afterward, it was like a cold bucket of water was poured over him.

He instinctively thought that this was Chen Che bargaining.

After all, doing business in a safe zone relies on connections. The stray dog had the skills to catch people and acquire these goods, but he truly didn’t have the means to sell them off.

Only by finding an intermediary like Chen Che.

But that’s not an easy task.

After all, cooperating with strangers requires prior understanding.

The initial collaboration usually spans about half a year.

Meanwhile, the amount of goods wouldn’t be too large.

The stray dog didn’t want to bother finding a new intermediary. He had a lot of inventory, and this time was enough for him to incur significant losses.

Moreover, changing intermediaries is an extremely troublesome task.

If you’re fresh out of the gate, clean as a whistle, finding an intermediary for the first time isn’t that hard, but if an intermediary you’ve worked with cuts contact, finding another isn’t easy.

Especially if, like him, the break is due to raising prices.

It’s no exaggeration to say, that possibly no one in the Ninth Special Zone is willing to do business with him anymore.

Unless the prices plummet to a certain extreme.

But if he really let them drop to such an extreme, this market-disrupting behavior would surely be met with resistance from peers.

The stray dog curled his lips, assuming Chen Che was threatening him not to raise prices. But he didn’t expect such a tough approach from Chen Che, who laughed coldly, "Brother Chen, no need for this, right? Just wanted to raise the price a bit, and this is what it comes to, isn’t worth it.

Forget 30% or 20%, I’ll settle for 10%, just so my brothers can have a little more to eat, can we do that?"

Chen Che said with an indifferent calm, "Perhaps I didn’t make myself clear, let me rephrase - from today onwards, I don’t intend to carry on with this business. This is the last transaction, so consider this 30% as compensation, let’s part on good terms."

The stray dog was stunned and immediately asked, "Brother Chen, you’re joking, right? Such a lucrative business, you say you’re quitting? What did I do to offend you?"

"No..." Chen Che touched his neck, lost in thought, "Maybe because I feel like I’ve died once, and now want to accumulate some good karma. Money’s not that important. It’s not worth getting into unnecessary relationships over a bit of cash.

So I don’t plan to continue this business, I’m drawing the line, understand?"

Only Xia Na understood this statement.

She looked up in shock, at the back of Chen Che.

She knew An Nishang nearly choked Chen Che to death.

It seemed after that incident, Chen Che changed completely, like a different person.

At least, he could evoke a hint of goodwill from her, a goodwill completely different from before.

Though now it has fallen to rock bottom.

But Chen Che’s "prodigal son returns" act was somewhat puzzling.

It evoked strange feelings in Xia Na.

Stray dog simply didn’t buy it; someone with a soul from a civilized world like Chen Che possessed an entirely different worldview.

To hell with good karma and divine retribution.

For stray dog, in this damned world, having money to spend, meat to eat, wine to drink, and women to sleep with, that’s the only truth.

Who would forgo money in hand because of fear of retribution? Only fools believe that!

Even if there were ghosts coming after him, what harm could they do? Could they withstand the truth in his hands?

In stray dog’s view, it’s purely because Chen Che is threatening them.

Stray dog’s face was dark; his nature didn’t suit the business tug of war, he snorted coldly, "Brother Chen, let’s stop being so wishy-washy.

Fine, I’ll take the loss, I won’t raise the price.

No need to threaten me with this."

Chen Che shook his head silently, counted out a stack of money from his bag, put it in front of the stray dog, and said indifferently, "I’m not joking, nor do I have the mood to joke with you, I’m serious.

This business, I’m done playing with you."

"Take the money and go, I have other businesses to handle."

Xiong Da, Monkey, and others were even more shocked.

Their boss really had changed.

The boss they knew before would do anything for money.

They even suspected if given enough benefits, Chen Che wouldn’t hesitate to betray An Nishang.

Their current boss really felt unfamiliar.

They even wondered if their boss had been taken over...

The stray dog looked into Chen Che’s eyes, discovering that Chen Che didn’t seem to be kidding, suspicious yet uncertain.

The corner of the stray dog’s mouth moved, his tone turned cold, "Alright, Brother Chen, since you’re not willing to continue this business, let’s part ways amicably, but for the last deal, 30% is not enough, I need 50%!

You must understand, as long-time partners, this sudden betrayal means I suffer losses. This 50% is what you owe me as compensation."

Chen Che thought about it, nodded, "Okay."

Bobby raised his eyebrow at that moment.

He sensed something off in Chen Che’s tone.

The stray dog continued upon seeing this, "Not only that, but I’d also trouble Brother Chen to provide proof it wasn’t my fault the cooperation ended, but yours!

Otherwise, it’ll be hard for me, the stray dog, to find new partners to do business with in the Ninth Special Zone."

"Sorry, due to my identity, I can’t provide that kind of proof."

Chen Che said plainly.

He didn’t want to leave any traces.

A piece of proof might bring a fatal disaster upon himself.

Even with the smallest chance, he had to be cautious.

The stray dog frowned, "Brother Chen, that’s not fair, is it? You know the rules of doing business in the Ninth Special Zone. If you don’t give me proof, who the hell will do business with me, the stray dog, in the future?

Brother Chen, up to now, I still call you brother. Let’s not make this awkward, can’t we part on good terms?

If my brothers are well-fed, they’re good dogs.

I can’t guarantee what my brothers might become if they’re starving?"

The atmosphere suddenly became extremely tense.

The stray dog’s tone carried veiled threats.

People from the Wasteland are like that.

When it comes to their interests, if they’re not ruthless, they suffer, and suffering could mean losing their life.

No one wants to suffer in vain.

"Stray dog, it’s unnecessary, when I leave this trade, others will realize it’s because I chose to leave voluntarily.

No additional proof is necessary for you to find a new partner.

If you insist on proof, can you handle the consequences if I provide it?"

The stray dog couldn’t care less about this and didn’t fear Chen Che’s counter-threat, he only cared about his interests and handed his communicator to Chen Che.

"Trouble yourself to leave a video, Brother Chen, it’s the rule."

Chen Che smirked, "Just hope you can handle it."

Chen Che faced the camera and said a line, roughly meaning he was leaving the trade, unrelated to the stray dog and his group.

Then he tossed the communicator back to the stray dog.

In fact, most proof existed in paper form, as showing faces leaves direct trouble.

Paper proof could allow some level of denial.

But paper proof was more bothersome, requiring the other party to contact the writer for verification.

But the stray dog didn’t want a piece of waste paper, he wanted the most direct evidence.

Neither Bobby, Xia Na nor Xiong Da’s people could believe their eyes as they watched Chen Che’s back.

They couldn’t understand why Chen Che would leave a video as evidence.

Chen Che pulled out more money, handed it to the stray dog, "Before leaving, hand over the antidote."

The goods in the cages had been drugged, incapable of moving.

The stray dog snorted, handed over the antidote to Chen Che, and left with the money.

Leaving only Chen Che’s people behind.