The Wicked System: Path of the Devourer Chapter 44 A New Lair

If you were to ask which road in Coastal City had the most expensive real estate, it was undoubtedly Gulf Avenue. On one side of the road were sandy beaches and various ocean-related entertainment facilities.

On this side of the road stood a variety of high-rise buildings and upscale residential communities. It was a prime location, offering tranquility amidst the bustling city. Residential properties here were scarce; calling it an area where an inch of land was worth an ounce of gold was no exaggeration.

As the Mercedes Benz came to a stop, a middle-aged man at the entrance of the real estate agency came forward, greeting them warmly, "Director Yang is here! Please, come inside. The tea is already brewed—top-grade Oolong just waiting for you to taste."

Yang Qiang stepped out of the car but shot him a glare. He personally opened the rear door, forcing a smile as he said, "Young Master, we've arrived."

This was a request Yang Qiang had cautiously brought up. It wasn't because this guy was afraid of death and wanted to save face; he just felt that calling him "Master" in front of others was too weird. Being subservient was one thing, but there was something inappropriately perverse about it that would leave people baffled.

Well, Zhang Wenbin didn't particularly want a foul-smelling man calling him Master so affectionately either; it was indeed a bit shocking. "Young Master" sounded more modern and less conspicuous.

Only then did Zhang Wenbin step out of the car. He was still wearing loose sportswear—a very ordinary outfit with no designer labels. However, because of his excellent physique, he exuded a strong presence.

Yang Qiang put on a stern face and said, "My Young Master wants to pick out a house. Bring out the best you have. If you dare try to fool us with any random garbage, watch me smash your shop."

"Yes, yes, rest assured, everything is prepared," the agency boss said, startled, before hurriedly leading the way.

Gulf Avenue mostly consisted of high-rise luxury apartments. Even the oldest and cheapest ones were priced beyond what Zhang Wenbin could have dreamed of in his past life. The area had a vulgar nickname: the "Poor Man's Forbidden Zone."

Zhang Wenbin took a single glance and said with disinterest, "Are there no villas here?"

Along the stretching Gulf Avenue, there were indeed some villas. Naturally, villas were higher class than high-rise apartments, and those who lived in them were either incredibly wealthy or highly powerful. Owning a villa here was a symbol of power and status.

The agency boss wiped his cold sweat and said, "Young Master, villas on Gulf Avenue are extremely rare. Ordinary people couldn't buy one even with money. In all my years in this business, the last time a villa was listed for sale was three years ago, and back then, many people with cash fought tooth and nail for it."

Although he didn't know this teenager's background, the fact that Yang Qiang respectfully called him "Young Master" meant he definitely had a formidable background and could not be offended.

Yang Qiang also chimed in, "Young Master, villas on Gulf Avenue are indeed scarce. There are plenty of high-rise luxury apartments, but villas are something you can only come across by chance, not seek out. I've also wanted to get one here for my retirement, but haven't found a single lead yet."

Zhang Wenbin felt a bit frustrated. Fearing he might lose the deal, the agency boss hastily added, "Young Master, actually, a villa is more of an obsession for the older generation, just wanting a yard to plant this and that. In reality, living in one isn't as comfortable as a high-rise luxury apartment. Take a look at this 'King of Buildings' property in Gulf No.1. That is the fashionable lifestyle young people should pursue."

Zhang Wenbin thought about it and realized it made sense. The thousands of resentful souls inside him were all stubborn old fogeys, and his thinking had been deeply influenced by them.

Buying a house and insisting on having a yard, fields, trees, beams, a wide door, a high threshold, and paying attention to Feng Shui... Damn it, that didn't fit a modern person's concept of enjoyment. Why act so old-fashioned?

Seeing Zhang Wenbin nod, the agency boss hurriedly brought out the documents and said, "Director Yang should know that when it comes to luxury apartments in our city, if Gulf No.1 claims to be second, no one dares claim to be first. The residents here are all wealthy and respectable, including many celebrities. The environment is no worse than any so-called villa."

The Gulf No.1 community had a total of three buildings. Building One was the tallest, with twenty-six floors. What the agent was pitching was the top floor of Building One—a 200-square-meter duplex luxury apartment.

"5.8 million? That's robbery!"

Looking at the price, Yang Qiang immediately jumped up. "The average price at Gulf No.1 is only 20,000 per square meter. I was wondering why the 'King of Buildings' hadn't sold yet; it turns out you were waiting for a sucker!"

"That's the average price. The price for the King of Buildings is naturally higher. Not to mention it's a duplex on the very top floor with the best view, the main reason is that the homeowner poured a lot of money into it. They spent around three million on renovations and custom-made furniture and appliances alone. Just the waterproofing cost over a hundred thousand. Selling it at this price is actually taking a loss."

"Let's go take a look!" Zhang Wenbin was tempted upon hearing this.

"Alright. If it were anyone else looking at the house, I'd definitely have to ask for a deposit, but since you are a distinguished guest brought by Director Yang, there's no need. I'll contact property management right away to have them open the door."

Yang Qiang didn't dare say another word, obediently following behind. He seemed a bit distracted, as if calculating whether he had that much cash on hand.

The security measures at Gulf No.1 were very strict. Non-residents had to register to enter or exit. Building One had four elevators. Upon reaching the top floor, the property manager was already waiting at the door. After a brief exchange, the door was opened.

"The first floor is 130 square meters, consisting of the living room, dining room, kitchen, and two guest bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms." "The second floor is 76 square meters, featuring a master bedroom with a walk-in closet."

The first-floor renovation was magnificent—all high-end materials. The furniture and appliances were carefully covered with white cloth, all brand new and obviously unused. This level of luxury opened Zhang Wenbin's eyes.

The 70-square-meter master bedroom was absolutely exaggerated. In the center of the master bedroom was a ridiculously large bed, three meters in both width and length. Even the large 'kang' beds in the Northeast wouldn't dare to be this extravagant.

The bathroom occupies 20 square meters, featuring a luxurious jacuzzi and a water bed only seen in adult videos. The details in every corner were handled exceptionally well, instantly giving off a very comfortable vibe.

After viewing the house, the agent asked eagerly, "Young Master, what do you think of this place?"

Regardless of the renovations or the furniture and appliances, everything in this apartment was high-end. Saying three million was spent on renovations was no exaggeration. Yang Qiang began to smile bitterly. Forget Zhang Wenbin, even he had the urge to move in after seeing this decor. His original plan was to buy an ordinary house or apartment for Zhang Wenbin. After all, he was just one person and didn't need much space. Who would have thought he'd immediately set his sights on this top-tier luxury mansion?

Zhang Wenbin nodded in satisfaction. "This is the place!"

Yang Qiang was a man of action. Once it was decided, he stopped worrying about the cost. He turned to the agent and asked, "What's the homeowner's background?" "Uh, I'm not too clear on that." The agent immediately understood his implication and said, "If the Young Master has taken a liking to it, the price can be negotiated."

He was thrilled. If this deal went through, it would be a massive transaction. The agency fee alone would be enough to feed him for half a year. Zhang Wenbin stood up, stretched lazily, and said, "Director Yang, you follow up on this. Just let me know when it's time to sign the contract and transfer the title. And don't drag it out, understand?"

"Yes, please rest assured, Young Master!"

Yang Qiang respectfully escorted Zhang Wenbin to the door. Suddenly struck by a thought, Zhang Wenbin turned around and asked, "By the way, they all call you Director Yang. What bureau are you the director of?"

This question shocked the agency boss quite a bit. Yang Qiang also felt a bit awkward and hurriedly said, "Young Master, I am from the Health Bureau."

"Oh, got it. Go handle your business, be quick about it. I'm leaving first."

Buying a house wasn't something that could be done in moments. There were minor details that needed to be handled properly. Zhang Wenbin didn't understand any of it, so he simply threw it all to Yang Qiang to worry about.

The top priority right now was to help Yang Leguo nurture that Gu, so the little loli could advance into a Five-Yin female and help him pop his cherry.

From his memories, Zhang Wenbin only knew of one shop that secretly sold wild snakes, and that was where he had bought the banded krait. Afraid of trouble, the shop mostly sold non-venomous snakes. Today, Zhang Wenbin had instructed them to help procure a batch of venomous snakes. Price wasn't an issue, but he needed them today.

To his frustration, they called him back in the evening: "Little brother, can you wait a couple of days? I contacted my people, and the forestry police are cracking down tight recently. A master I know is also busy with family matters. We really don't have any right now."

"I need them urgently. If you don't have them, forget it."

After hanging up, Zhang Wenbin felt a headache coming on. Having lived in Coastal City for so long, he really didn't know where else sold venomous snakes. The locals didn't have a habit of eating them, and furthermore, they were quite expensive. In the past, he couldn't access that level of the market.

Just as Zhang Wenbin was wondering where to ask around, his phone suddenly rang. Lin Guoxiong from the Tianlong Hotel asked enthusiastically on the other end, "Is Senior still in Guang City?"

"Speak your mind." Zhang Wenbin couldn't be bothered with pleasantries.

"It's like this. I have a perplexity that I'd like to ask Senior for advice on. I wonder if Senior has the time to provide some guidance. Junior would also like to treat you to a casual meal."

He wouldn't have mentioned it otherwise, but upon hearing this, his stomach felt a bit hungry. His appetite was currently too shockingly large, and Zhang Wenbin never got to eat his fill. This was a perfect opportunity to find a private environment to gorge himself.

Since this guy had delivered himself to his doorstep, he could just order him to find the venomous snakes. Emboldened by this thought, Zhang Wenbin agreed.