I revived the Demonic Sect in North America

Chapter 160 Receiving Stolen Goods

The brass bell on the door of the Tribeca Recycling Shop jingled.

The sound echoed through the slightly crowded shop.

Salia, who was bending over to check the ledgers, looked up when she heard the sound.

Her dark chestnut-colored hair bun swayed gently with her movements.

Upon recognizing Li Ang, her brown eyes instantly lit up.

A smile curved his lips: "Mr. Li Ang! Welcome."

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She put down her pen.

She was completely unaware that the pen tip had left a tiny ink dot on the ledger.

She rose nimbly from the bar stool.

I walked briskly past the edge of the counter piled with a few old silver items and stepped forward to greet you: "It's so nice to see you again so soon. You look great today."

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She was still wearing that light pink cotton shirt today.

It turned a bit whitish from washing, but it was ironed extremely smooth.

Her long, dark chestnut hair was loosely tied back.

A few stray hairs fell beside her ears.

"Miss Saaria."

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Li Ang nodded.

He walked to the familiar glass counter.

The rather heavy shoulder bag swayed slightly with his movements, but he didn't put it down immediately: "Business is good?"

"Thanks to you, it's not bad."

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Salia leaned against the counter, her arms crossed.

Her gaze slid from his face to the bulging satchel: "What's up? Judging by your posture, it's another big deal today."

;

Li Ang did not respond.

He took the bag off his shoulder and placed it steadily on the glass counter.

The zipper was pulled open halfway, making a slight hissing sound.

But he didn't rush to take the contents out.

He looked up at Salia and asked, "Miss Salia, what exactly do you accept in your shop? I mean, anything that can be exchanged for money."

Salia's crossed arms twitched slightly.

His eyebrows rose almost imperceptibly.

She did not answer immediately.

He straightened up, and the familiar smile on his face faded slightly.

Then he turned and walked towards the store entrance.

The high heels clicked and clacked on the old wooden floor.

Reaching out, I flipped the "Open for Business" sign hanging inside the doorknob to the "Closed" side.

Half of the old metal roller shutter door was pulled down.

After the creaking sound of friction, the light in the store dimmed a bit.

It also became much quieter instantly, isolated from the hustle and bustle of the street outside.

After doing all that, she slowly walked back behind the counter.

I took out the thin white cotton gloves from the drawer.

As he slowly put on his gloves, he looked up at Li Ang.

He lowered his voice slightly: "Mr. Li, my shop sign says 'recycling.' Theoretically, any valuable item that's in demand on the market is within my business scope."

She paused. Her fingertips gently smoothed out the last remaining wrinkles on the glove.

His brown eyes shone brightly in the dim light: "Of course, you understand, some things require special handling channels, and the price naturally includes additional risks and grease money. Ultimately, it depends on the nature of the goods themselves, and—the specific circumstances of the owner."

She deliberately emphasized the words "item" and "situation".

His gaze was calm yet sharp as he watched Li Ang, awaiting his reaction.

These words were perfectly watertight, neither making any definitive statements nor failing to subtly imply that he had the ability to handle certain special goods.

At the same time, they were also carefully assessing the young cargo owner in front of them, whose actions were becoming increasingly sophisticated.

Li Ang understood her unspoken meaning.

He didn't beat around the bush anymore.

He took out a package wrapped in several layers of yellowed old newspaper from his handbag.

Gently place it on the black velvet tray in the center of the counter.

He looked up at Salia and said, "This mainly contains chemical products, and maybe some metal parts. Can you handle it?"

'

Salia's breath hitched for a beat.

Her brown eyes locked onto Li Ang's face.

A few seconds of silence.

The only sound in the shop was the monotonous ticking of an old clock.

He spoke slowly, his voice more steady and cautious than before: "That depends on—what the specific ingredients are, what the model is, and, most importantly, how it is stored."

If the ingredients are too mixed, the model is too old, or it is not stored properly, it will be very troublesome to handle, and its value will naturally be reduced.

She didn't finish her sentence.

It just dragged out the last syllable.

But the warnings and boundaries are clearly stated.

"Simple ingredients, common model, well-preserved, untouched."

Li Ang's answer was concise and to the point.

He was also observing Salia's reaction.

Salia nodded slightly.

The last trace of a professional smile on his face vanished completely, replaced by a utterly serious expression.

She didn't immediately touch the package that mentioned sensitive items.

With his white-gloved fingertips, he gently tapped the edge of the black velvet tray.

His gaze shifted to Li Ang's still bulging satchel: "Chemicals and metal parts—we can discuss that later. Mr. Li, your bag doesn't seem to contain only that one special package. Perhaps we should take a look at some other, more—traditional—goods first? That way, I'll have a better idea of ​​what to expect."

Li Ang understood what she meant.

This is the rule in the gray area: first establish initial trust using relatively clean hard currency.

He did not object.

He reached his hand back into the depths of his handbag.

This time, what was brought out was a large bag carefully wrapped in thick canvas.

It's square and looks quite substantial.

He carefully placed the package in the empty spot on the tray.

Skillfully untie the leather buckle attached to it.

The canvas was lifted layer by layer.

Inside, several gold bars of varying sizes were neatly stacked.

Under the dim light of the overhead lamp, it emitted a dark golden luster.

There were also some gold rings, a snake bone chain as thick as a thumb, and a few gold teeth inlaid with cheap gemstones scattered around.

They come in all sorts of varieties, and it's easy to tell at a glance that they have mixed origins.

However, the texture and weight of gold itself cannot be faked.

These items made a low, muffled sound as soon as they were placed on the velvet tray.

Salia's eyes lit up almost instantly.

She didn't touch the loose pieces of jewelry first.

He picked up a standard gold bar directly.

The fingertips, clad in white gloves, carefully caressed the surface of the gold bar.

The places where casting marks should have been are mostly worn away and blurred.

Salia deftly pulled a miniature electronic scale from under the counter.

Turn on the switch, and the bright blue backlight illuminates.

She gently placed the gold bars in the center of the scale: "Standard one-ounce gold bars, three in total. The markings are badly worn, but the purity and feel are correct, and they feel heavy."

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He muttered to himself, his voice filled with satisfaction.

With the same focus, I quickly checked the other small gold bars.

Then there are the gold coins.

Salia picked up a coin, squinting to discern the almost worn-down edges and the blurred pattern.

Finally, there were the pieces of jewelry.

She glanced at the design and clasp, and mentally estimated the approximate gold content and melting losses.

The movements are fast, accurate, and steady.

He muttered to himself, "Good purity."

As she muttered to herself, she deftly sorted all the gold items.

Gold bars are gold bars, gold coins are gold coins, and miscellaneous items are piled up to the side.

She picked up the calculator, her fingers flying across the keys: "Three standard gold bars, converted per ounce according to this morning's international exchange rate—these loose gold coins, of average purity, are calculated at 90% of their weight—these miscellaneous items, there will be losses from melting them down, and the labor costs must also be factored in—"

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The calculator made a rattling sound.

Finally, she pressed the equals sign key heavily with her fingertip.

He raised his eyes and looked at Li Ang, who had been waiting quietly: "Mr. Li, the gold portion totals $12,800. Do you think this price is reasonable?"

'

"OK."

Li Ang's answer was concise and to the point.

This price was within his estimated range.

A hint of relief crossed Salia's face.

She quickly moved the gold items on the tray to one side.

But it wasn't put into the safe immediately.

His expression turned serious again.

His gaze returned to the original old newspaper bundle: "Alright, now let's free up our hands and talk about these—guests who need special attention."

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As he spoke, he put the gloves he had taken off halfway during the gold inspection back on.

He began to unwrap the old newspaper package with extreme care.

When the white powder and colored pills sealed in small, clear bags were fully exposed, her breathing slowed.

She first picked up a bag containing white crystalline powder.

Without opening it, I simply held it up to the spotlight through the sealed bag.

The light shone through the plastic bag, and she squinted, carefully observing the shape and color of the crystals.

I gently rubbed the edge of the bag through my thumbnail.

Feel the fineness of the particles.

I held the bag about an inch from my nose and quickly sniffed it.

Immediately remove it, turn to one side, and gently exhale.

They also carefully checked whether the heat-pressing marks on the seal were intact.

She also examined the colors, the embossed logo, and the edges of the colorful pills: "This batch of white ones is of medium to high purity, and it's the kind of product that's currently popular on the market. The seals are very tight, so it's clear that they've been well-preserved and haven't gotten damp."

Salia put the bag back in its place.

Then he picked up another, smaller newspaper bundle next to him.

This time, her inspection was much faster. She simply checked the color and the condition of the particles, and then squeezed the bag to feel the moisture: "This batch—is much inferior. The color is poor, and it seems to have some signs of dampness. If the two batches are mixed together, the overall evaluation and price will be lowered."

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She rewrapped the two packages in the original newspaper.

Place it on the opposite side of the tray, away from the gold bar.

He raised his head and looked calmly at Li Ang.

Waiting for him to show that last thing.

Li Ang reached into his bag again.

What was taken out this time was a long strip made of dark velvet, with some oil stains on it.

He placed the roll on the tray.

It wasn't fully unfolded; only one end of the velvet roll was untied.

The grip and part of the slide of the Glock 19 pistol, made of black polymer, are exposed inside.

And next to it, the cold barrel of an old-fashioned revolver.

Salia's gaze froze instantly.

She didn't touch it with her hands, nor did she get too close.

He leaned down slightly and took a closer look at the exposed part of the gun.

Especially in the area where the serial number is usually engraved, there are obvious signs of polishing.

Ziguang quickly scanned the surface of the gun, examining its condition, wear, and maintenance marks: "A Glock 19, the most common model on the street. It doesn't look like it's been used too badly; its condition is alright. But it's lost its identity, which is the biggest problem and will scare away many potential buyers. The revolver next to it—it's an outdated model; it's barely good enough to be an add-on."

She finished speaking and remained silent for a few seconds.

My gaze wandered between the chemicals and metal parts on the tray.

Her lips were slightly pursed.

Pick up the calculator again and type in a number that is far less than the price of gold.

Then he added the drug and gun prices to the gold price he had just mentioned: "Mr. Li, for the chemicals, I'll offer $2,500 for both batches. Those two iron weapons, bundled together, are $700. Add the gold, $12,800, for a total of $16,000. That's all. I'm offering these last two items at a clearance price, practically cost price. They're a hot potato for me, not wealth. Cash payment is fine, mainly for $100 bills, not consecutive numbers; I can prepare them today."

She finished her statement.

No further questions were asked regarding the origin of the goods.

This is the basic rule of this industry.

She simply stood quietly behind the counter, her hands folded in front of her.

Awaiting Li Ang's decision.

"Can.

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Li Ang's answer remained brief.

Salia's tense shoulders relaxed by a millimeter.

This risky but also highly profitable deal has finally been finalized.

She took immediate action.

With even faster and more discreet movements than before, they placed the two packets of chemicals and the rolled-up velvet package into two different locked compartments under the counter.

Only then were the gold bars and jewelry securely locked into the heavy main safe.

He turned and walked towards the small cubicle at the back of the shop, separated by a dark curtain.

The curtain was lifted and then fell back down.

Inside, the click-clatter of an old-fashioned mechanical safe turning its knobs and opening its doors could be heard.

After a while, she came out carrying a thick brown paper envelope.

He placed the envelope on the glass counter in front of Li Ang: "Sixteen thousand, please count it."

As she spoke, she took out sixteen stacks of hundred-dollar bills sealed with white bank seals from the envelope.

Each stack should contain one hundred bills, totaling ten thousand US dollars.

However, several of the stacks were noticeably thinner than the standard ones, indicating that they had been disassembled and then remixed and bound together.

The purpose is to avoid consecutively numbered banknotes.

He skillfully removed two or three of the seals.

He showed Li Ang the banknotes inside, some new and some old, and some facing different directions.

Then push them all in front of him.

Li Ang stretched out his hand and began to count.

He was fast, but his movements were steady.

With focused attention, his fingers made a continuous rustling sound as he flipped through the banknotes.

A moment later, he finished counting.

The number is accurate.

He put the thick wad of cash into the satchel he had brought with him.

The handbag immediately became heavy and bulging.

Then, just as Salia was about to say some polite words, Leon did something she didn't expect.

He then pulled out a thin stack of cash from the pile he had just collected.

It was about ten hundred-dollar bills.

He held the stack of banknotes between his index and middle fingers and casually pushed it lightly into the empty space on the counter in front of Salia.

"This is----?"

Salia was stunned.

His gaze shifted back and forth between the stack of crisp new banknotes and Li Ang's calm face.

She didn't reach out to take it.

"Just a small token of my appreciation. Please take it."

Li Ang's tone was casual, but brooked no refusal.

Salia's face flushed red instantly.

The blush wasn't one of joy or shyness, but rather a mixture of surprise, embarrassment, and awkwardness: "Mr. Li, what do you mean by this? The price we agreed on, my profit, I've already included in the purchase price. Our shop values ​​long-term reputation and rules; we don't accept extra tips from customers."

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