"If the esteemed guests like this shape-shifting material, I do have some to offer." The Collector spoke at this moment, even as his gaze still fixated on those pages.
Anonymous as he was, the confidence in his tone was practically overflowing.
"Ten tons!" Another guest slowly spoke.
Suddenly, the Collector's movements froze.
Shen Shi's eyes lit up.
Ten tons of simulated shape-shifting material?
This simulated shape-shifting material can transform into various elements, even simulating life forms, akin to the Seventy-Two Transformations in mythical legends.
However, there is one thing that cannot be changed.
—Mass.
In other words, one kilogram of simulated shape-shifting material cannot transform into two kilograms of gold.
If it's just one kilogram, Shen Shi might only be able to transform something like a handgun.
But ten tons?
From tanks, airplanes, even prides of lions, elephants! Even Alien Beings!
Objects from three thousand years later, when brought to the modern world, are no less miraculous and powerful than myth! Just any small thing, never mind the base desire for wealth, could even allow world domination!
However...
Shen Shi suddenly remembered the image of the alien war three years later, like a bucket of cold water poured over him, his agitated heart immediately cooled down.
What good is world domination? Humanity has only a mere three years left of good days.
As for defeating the invaders...thinking of those warships that obscure the sky, Shen Shi's heart grew even colder.
"Eleven tons!" The Collector's voice brought Shen Shi back from his trance.
The bidding began.
The smile had vanished from the Collector's face, as the glow within the collective flowed continuously, seemingly hinting at a sense of mystery.
Yet the other guest was not intimidated.
"Twelve tons!"
Though the Collector had a special status, even the Collector could not bypass the platform to know the guest's true identity!
"Thirteen tons!"
"Fourteen tons!"
Since this is a transaction for simulated shape-shifting material, this guest is determined to win.
"Recently, a Type &-3 merchant ship from the Adelaide civilization was plundered by interstellar pirates, carrying twenty-five tons of the latest simulated shape-shifting material." The Collector kept a sharp eye on the other guest, his lips curved slightly, "I offer twenty-four tons, if you continue to increase, I will give up."
Shen Shi's heart rate quickened slightly.
Interstellar pirates?
The world three thousand years later is probably even more complex than I imagined!
Nonetheless, compared to this point, the number twenty-four tons is the main reason his heart pounded further!
No matter how the world will be three thousand years later, these people certainly cannot travel back three thousand years to find him.
He is merely a ruthless antique dealer, the other matters have nothing to do with him!
After a long silence.
At the moments when Shen Shi himself felt tense.
"Twenty-five tons!"
These words with simultaneous translation reached his ears.
"Congratulations." The Collector seemed to sigh, and the curve of his lips also retrained.
"You never had twenty-four tons!" The anger in the other guest's words was perceptible, even under anonymous mode translation.
"Trying to snatch things from me always has its costs, guest." The Collector said calmly.
His sight fell again on those pages, fingers lovingly caressing.
It seemed that even though he had tricked the competitor, there was not much pleasure in it.
This is a person who truly loves antiques.
Shen Shi's mind affirmed this point.
Even if it's just a facade, being able to pretend to this level means it wouldn't change easily.
"Sir." The other guest turned to Shen Shi, "Can we make a deal?"
Shen Shi didn't understand his spoken words, but from the translation, he could already feel the respect in the other's language.
This is the seller's market.
"Yes." He said succinctly.
Twenty-five tons!
Calculating according to a sixty-three-kilogram adult male, twenty-five tons is enough to transform into four hundred humans!
Moreover, the value of this shape-shifting material is far beyond just transforming into life forms or elements.
Shen Shi, after all, is a student from a prestigious university, so he's not stupid.
A material that can change into any element—what does it mean?
It means a "universal experimental apparatus"!
If Edison had this thing back then, when inventing the light bulb, he wouldn't have needed more than seven thousand experiments.
No wonder it's future creation...even just as an auxiliary role, it's enough to alter the technological progress of humanity.
Too bad...
Shen Shi recalled the alien invasion again, his excited mood was subdued once more.
However, there is some benefit, having this matter weighing upon the heart means there is no worry of losing balance after sudden wealth, because he couldn't flippantly delight even if he wanted to.
Shen Shi found amusement in hardships.
The transaction process was very smooth, everything assigned to the platform, and the "Black Market Trading Terminal" accompanied by the "Time Crystal" was also a very magical treasure, each terminal seemingly includes an independent and colossal space, all trading items were directly conducted within the space, even scanning and projecting trading items onto virtual marketplaces happened through this independent space.
Three thousand years after technology, it's already unrivaled as myth.
In short, a mass of hovering, writhing black liquid appeared inside Shen Shi's space.
And after adding Shen Shi as a friend, the guest hurriedly left.
Though he acquired what he wanted in the deal, the price he paid was also somewhat costly.
"Does the esteemed guest have any other matters?" The Collector looked at Shen Shi, his tone affectionate.
Shen Shi was unsure if there's something like personal relations three thousand years later, but it seemed to him the recent transaction was effectively indebted to the Collector's favor; without him, The Art of War couldn't have been traded to such a high price level.
Yes, he already guessed the approximate price.
The first price called out by the guest in front of the Collector—ten tons—was probably just the fair price, perhaps even slightly higher.
Having a point of reference undoubtedly provides greater advantages for Shen Shi's subsequent dealings.
So he said directly: "I want a Cosmic Battleship that can survive for a long time in the cosmos!"
Yes, a Cosmic Battleship!
This is what Shen Shi truly desires, and must have!
If the alien invasion three years later is inevitable, then there are only two choices left, defeat the invader or flee from Blue Star. Clearly, Shen Shi has no confidence in the former, and the latter is about prioritizing the safety of himself and his family.
He's already prepared to flee.
This decision was made after watching that doomsday imagery.
Regardless of whether there's a chance to change history or whatever human's future will be, retreat is the primary security!