?Chapter 67:

Maia gave a rxed wave, signaling him to proceed.

He dialed quickly. “Sir. I have something urgent… Understood. Will do.” Ending the call, he grabbed the briefcase resting nearby and faced the shop assistant. “We’ll bring this vintage to Annie Crystal for verification. If it’s authentic, you’ll receive full payment.”

“Excuse me?!” the shop assistant barked, leaping upright. “Policy’s firm — full cash upfront before anything leaves! No exceptions!”

“Then the deal’s off,” the man said coolly, sliding the bottle across the counter. He gave Maia a deliberate nod and headed for the exit.

“Wait!” the shop assistant bellowed, chasing him. But the man had already vanished into the murky alleys of the ck market.

Furious, the shop assistant stormed back, his expression dark with rage.

Thatmission would’ve bought him prime real estate beyond the city limits. One reckless girl had sabotaged it in seconds.

He couldn’t let it slide.

Grinding his mrs, he shot Maia a venomous re before sprinting outside, shouting into the night, “Rulebreaker! Someone’s wrecking the code!”

Here, those words triggered chaos.

The ck market thrived under a silent pact, stronger than any boss’s iron fist — solidarity among vendors kept the system intact.

“Who’s insane enough to vite the market code? Must have a death wish!” Instantly, merchants, hustlers, and all manner of shady characters surged toward the liquor shop, their movements sharp and dangerous.

Survival here demanded ruthlessness. The atmosphere thickened with imminent violence.

Over time, gangs, crooks, and even cops had stormed the market — few escaped without wounds. Some never got the chance to flee.

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“Denny, what’s going on? Who’s foolish enough to mess with you?”

“It’s her!” the shop assistant, Denny Portnoy, roared, pointing inside.

The mob turned toward where his finger jabbed, their gazes narrowing when they spotted a slender young woman in her early twenties.

“Barely out of school and already causing trouble?” someone snorted.

Denny seethed. “She used us of selling counterfeit tequ — ruined a major transaction! Everyone knows The Underbarrel’s reputation! We never peddle fake goods!”

The crowd murmured their agreement.

“Come on, Denny. Even in this business, we trust your stock is genuine.”

“Where’s her proof? Empty words mean nothing!”

“Maybe she’s working for thepetition, trying to stir the pot.”

“She thinks she can stir up this ce and walk away? Not happening.”

While tensions soared, a few burly figures in dark clothes tensed up. They recognized Maia. They’d been trailing her since she entered but lost her in the twisting maze of booths and tents.

Desperation set in when they noticed a crowd forming nearby. On a whim, they joined the gathering, never imagining they’d find the woman standing in in sight.

Their leader tilted his head almost imperceptibly. “Move.”

Initially, making a move in the ck market was inconvenient. However, this woman dared to cause a scene here. Now, even if the men in ck took her away in front of everyone, others would apud them.

As soon as their leader gave themand, they lunged toward Maia without hesitation.

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