Ai might have noticed his disappearance — or she might not.
One thing was certain: pinning all your hopes on someone else was undeniably foolish.
John wasn't foolish. Far from it — he was sharp.
He knew exactly what he needed to do to get out of this.
Show his value.
Show something beyond his looks.
He hadn't wanted to go that route, but there were no better options.
John sighed."I have a batch of weapons," he said.
"You have… what? Wait, what did you say?" Boss Jia was about to dismiss the idea as nonsense, but he froze. Weapons? What did that mean?
"I have equipment that can arm eighty people.
You know what my family used to do — it's not unreasonable for us to have weapons," John repeated, his face serious.
Boss Jia's thoughts spun rapidly. Indeed, as John said, his parents had been escorts — it wasn't strange they'd collected arms.
He didn't know how they'd obtained them so quietly, but that didn't matter. What mattered was getting those weapons.
If the weapons were real and he could sell them then "offer" them up, his patron — the one protecting him — could solve the trouble bearing down on them right now.
He'd not only gain favor but could turn a crisis into opportunity.
He could rid himself of the unlucky reputation of Yanshang Tea House and, more importantly, avoid being the one crushed when the bomb finally went off.
"I need proof," Boss Jia said. Words without proof meant nothing.
A ruined noble's son with nothing — where would the weapons come from? John knew that by asking that, Jia already leaned toward believing him; all he needed now was a little evidence.
"You can come with me. The weapons are hidden outside Liyue City." John hadn't planned to leave the city, but seeing Jia's urgency, he realized staying calm might get him killed.
Jia looked like a cornered hyena — desperate people could do anything. John didn't want to gamble.
Boss Jia glanced at his men, then at John. After a moment he nodded. "Lead the way."
John didn't argue. He set off for the outskirts.
Jia and his crew followed at a distance, leaving the city in groups so as not to draw the attention of the Qianyan Guard.
They reached the mouth of a cave and stopped.
"Here."
"Go in and fetch the weapons," Boss Jia barked, not planning to enter the dark hole himself —
who knew what might lurk inside? What if a Cliffbreaker's enraged rock beast sprang out? No one wanted to be caught in that chaos.
John was eager for the chance. Even if Jia didn't want him to go in, he'd make it happen.
There was nothing in the cave — the "weapons" were all in his mall backpack and needed his hands to retrieve.
He stepped into the cave and returned quickly, holding a brand-new standard-issue weapon.
A long-missing smile spread across Boss Jia's face.
"Not bad, John — you really pulled this off. Impressive!" Jia didn't care where they'd come from.
Once the weapons were his, they were his to use.
"Will these cover my debt?" John asked.
"No problem. Of course not a problem." Jia answered without hesitation.
Normally, gear that could outfit eighty soldiers would be worth over eight million Mora to a common merchant.
But in his hands, Jia could squeeze even more value out of them.
He had already worked out their route; with the weapons, his position would be secure.
His gaze toward John softened — the aggression melted away.
"But…" Jia shifted.
"You'll need to do one more thing."
Another favor? John frowned. He'd thought handing over the weapons would end his troubles
— even if the Qianyan Guard caught wind later, he could claim ignorance and pay a fine.
He hadn't expected Jia to demand more. Still, he knew when the situation was stronger than he was, so he kept quiet and asked, "What is it?"
"I'll sell these weapons to the Treasure Hoarders. You'll come with me." Jia said bluntly.
"Debts wiped, yes — but we leave a leash. Can't have you turning on me later, can we?"
John had no desire to join that trade, but Jia left no room for refusal.
"Okay — but I want that contract," John countered.
"Of course." Jia signaled, and one of his men handed over the IOU.
Jia didn't fear John running — why would he? The debt would be cleared; Jia had survived this storm.
As long as John didn't return, Jia would have nothing to fear.
Dealing with a small-time nobody was hardly a burden.
John checked the document — it was the original.
He didn't tear it up; he tucked it into his pocket instead.
Seeing Jia's puzzled look, he explained, "I'll burn it at my parents' tomb."
Jia's face softened into a look of understanding. "You really are a filial son," he said, waving his men off and letting John go.
John gave Jia one long look, then left.
After he was gone, one of Jia's men leaned in. "Boss, you're really letting him off just like that?"
"Let him off?" Jia sneered. "We're just getting a scapegoat." He had no intention of truly forgiving John.
"Keep an eye on him. Don't let that kid ruin our plans."
To Jia, John was a ticking bomb — dangerous and unstable.
A bomb needed disposal before it went off. His men nodded but didn't worry much.
What harm could a penniless kid do? Better to grab a drink with the crew than sweat over him.