William arrived at the battlefield—oh no, the designated meeting spot, "Rusty Cafe"—forty-five minutes early.
He pushed open the wooden door, which looked like it would fall apart any second, and the creaking of its hinges sounded like the opening of a ritual in the almost dead-silent cafe.
Behind the counter, a disheveled owner, wearing a faded old T-shirt, was leisurely wiping a scratched glass with a rag whose original color was indiscernible.
He didn't even bother to lift his eyelids, merely emitting a vague sound somewhere between "hmm" and "get lost" from his throat, as a form of welcome.
William's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly, thinking, this place truly lives up to its reputation; even the owner comes with a built-in "sense of story," or rather, a "sense of resentment."
He chose a strategic spot in the darkest corner by the wall, ensuring both privacy for their conversation and a full view of the cafe's entrance, allowing him to detect any anomalies immediately.
From his gleaming briefcase, which starkly contrasted with the surrounding dilapidated environment, he carefully took out a beautifully printed proposal.
The cover was made of specially selected matte black material with silver subtle patterns, cool to the touch, and the title was printed in a minimalist artistic font: "Hero Advancement Protection Plan."
The overall design exuded a low-key professionalism and mystery.
William cleared his throat and called out to the counter, "A black coffee, please."
The owner's movements were still as slow as a slow-motion replay in a movie.
After a full five minutes, he finally brought over a liquid so dark it seemed to swallow light, placing it heavily in front of William with a dull thud as the cup hit the table.
William took a small sip, and the intense impact of burnt and bitter flavors shot straight to his head, almost making him perform an "out-of-body experience" on the spot.
"Excellent, robust, refreshing, perfect for tonight's in-depth business discussion," he evaluated, feigning composure, striving to maintain the demeanor of a professional insurance consultant.
The trembling hands of the old wall clock pointed to exactly nine o'clock.
Almost at the instant the hands aligned, the cafe's weathered door silently opened a crack.
A Shadow, like the densest night, slipped in, landing soundlessly, as if weightless.
By the time William's retina caught him, the figure was already standing silently opposite his table.
William: "..."
He swore he had been staring at the door the entire time, barely blinking, yet he still couldn't see how this Anxiang Duxingzhe (Dark Alley Walker) had entered!
This stealth skill must have been the "Ghostly ProMax" version from the top of the talent tree.
"Good evening, Mr. Duxingzhe."
William quickly adjusted his facial muscles, revealing a standard eight-tooth smile.
Although in the dim light, this smile had a touch of "Gotham Phantom" about it, "Your punctuality is admirable."
Anxiang Duxingzhe (Dark Alley Walker) was still dressed in his usual attire, completely enveloped in Shadow, and upon hearing this, he merely gave a barely perceptible nod as a response.
He pulled out a chair and sat down, his movements crisp and efficient, without any unnecessary flourish.
"How was your experience with the 'Free Communication Device Damage Insurance' last time?"
William got straight to the point; he knew that efficiency was paramount when dealing with people like this.
"...Not bad."
After several seconds, the other party finally squeezed out two words from under his hood, his voice hoarse, as if he hadn't spoken in a long time.
"Not bad" is good! He was afraid he would say "trash"!
This represented the first step of approval.
"That's great!"
William immediately followed up, his tone conveying just the right amount of enthusiasm, "Mr. Duxingzhe, the free trial is just a small step in showing our sincerity.
To provide more comprehensive and lasting protection for heroes like you who fight in the city's shadows, silently guarding its peace...
I have specially prepared a brand new paid upgrade package for high-risk, high-contribution clients like you!"
He gently pushed the matte black "Plan" in front of the other party.
Anxiang Duxingzhe (Dark Alley Walker)'s gaze lingered on the Plan for a few seconds, still not reaching for it.
William wasn't embarrassed and continued his enthusiastic introduction:
"First, I proudly present our flagship product—the 'Combat Field Equipment Comprehensive Loss Insurance'!
Whether it's your grappling gun, smoke bombs, or your cool but seemingly not-so-durable battle suit, as long as it's damaged while performing justice, just take a photo and upload it, and it will be approved and compensated instantly, no ambiguity whatsoever!"
"Secondly, the 'Minor Injury Rapid Compensation Channel and Medical Allowance'! I know tough guys like you might not care about minor scrapes and pains, but accumulated over time, they are a burden on your body.
With this, minor scratches, sprains, or even a tooth accidentally knocked out by a thug, can all receive our medical allowance, ensuring you face every challenge in optimal condition!"
Anxiang Duxingzhe (Dark Alley Walker) finally reacted a little; he lifted his head slightly, seemingly interested in the phrase "medical allowance."
William thought to himself: There's a chance! Which street hero doesn't have old injuries and new pains?
"Of course," William changed the subject, lowering his voice with a hint of mystery, "
If you choose our luxury package, it will also include an 'Emergency Rapid Extraction Assistance Service'... This, well, is highly confidential, and only VIP clients can learn the details."
He deliberately created suspense, deeply understanding the essence of teasing curiosity.
He saw a faint glimmer in Anxiang Duxingzhe (Dark Alley Walker)'s eyes, hidden in the Shadow.
After a moment of silence, the hoarse voice spoke again, with two more words than before: "...How much."
Here it comes!
The key question!
William's spirits lifted; he wasn't afraid of being asked for the price, only of a lack of interest!
He straightened his back slightly, a confident smile on his face:
"Mr. Duxingzhe, considering you are one of our first important clients during this expansion phase, and your immense, silent contributions to this city, we have specially applied for an internal founder client exclusive discount for you!"
William's finger lightly tapped on the Plan, "The basic package, including equipment loss insurance and minor injury and disability insurance, is originally 99 U.S. dollars per month. For your first upgrade, we'll give you a 10% discount, so it's only 89.1 U.S. dollars!
If you choose the luxury package that includes 'Emergency Extraction Assistance,' it's only 199 U.S. dollars per month, also with a 10% discount!"
The price he quoted referenced the monthly fees of regular insurance in New York City, with a slight increase, as the target audience was superheroes, after all; the risk factor was high, and a premium was necessary.
Anxiang Duxingzhe (Dark Alley Walker) fell silent again, this time for longer than before.
He lowered his head, seemingly weighing his options carefully.
Inside the cafe, there was only the monotonous "tick-tock" of the old wall clock.
William's heart also tightened, but his face remained composed.
He knew that in such moments, it was a test of patience and confidence.
Finally, Anxiang Duxingzhe (Dark Alley Walker) looked up, the Shadow under his hood shifted, as if he wanted to say something.
Just then, William decisively threw out the "sweet bomb" he had prepared.
"And,"
His tone was sincere, his eyes earnest.
"To thank you for your trust and support, as long as you successfully upgrade to become our official paid client today, you will also receive an additional 'Mystery Hero Support Gift Pack' personally prepared by me!"
As he spoke, he took out a exquisitely packaged small box from his briefcase and gently placed it on the table.
Anxiang Duxingzhe (Dark Alley Walker)'s gaze finally shifted from the Plan to the small box.
William struck while the iron was hot, opening the box to reveal its contents: "Ta-da! A 'High-Efficiency Wound Rapid Healing Spray (Trial Size).'
It can quickly treat wounds at critical moments, prevent infection, and accelerate healing! And this," he picked up a card shimmering with metallic luster, "'hero compensation system VIP Client Emergency Contact Card'! It has my encrypted communication methods, and a... well, a special marker that might be of small help at a critical moment."
The card was a system product, of unknown material, but cool to the touch. Besides a unique LOGO and a string of meaningless codes, it was blank.
William also didn't know what the "special marker" was for, but if the system said it had a use, then it must!
Bragging, it's a basic skill for an insurance salesperson.
Anxiang Duxingzhe (Dark Alley Walker) extended his hand, clad in a tactical glove, and picked up the spray, then looked at the metal card.
William held his breath. Success or failure hinged on this! This was his first "paid business" since coming to the Marvel Universe!
It determined whether he could eat hotdogs every day... no, whether he could quickly become stronger!
"...Basic version." After a long pause, Anxiang Duxingzhe (Dark Alley Walker) put away the card and the spray, his voice still hoarse and low.
"Deal!" William almost couldn't resist snapping his fingers on the spot, but thankfully, he managed to control his excited heart and trembling hands in time.
"Mr. Duxingzhe, a wise choice! Please confirm this electronic contract."
He pulled out a tablet from his briefcase, which he had bought at a flea market this afternoon, as his phone was sometimes inconvenient.
Anxiang Duxingzhe (Dark Alley Walker) took the tablet, swiped his finger across it a few times, and signed his codename.
"As for payment method..."
Anxiang Duxingzhe (Dark Alley Walker) pulled out a small, USB-drive-like object from his chest and plugged it into a hidden port on the tablet.
A prompt popped up on the tablet screen: [Received anonymous cryptocurrency transfer, amount 89.1 U.S. dollars.]
William: "..."
Good heavens! This guy's methods are wild enough! Even his payment method is so cyberpunk!
[Ding! Client "Anxiang Duxingzhe (Dark Alley Walker)" has successfully signed the "Basic Hero Protection Insurance (Monthly Payment Version)," and the policy is effective immediately. First-time paid client conversion successful, reward compensation points +20.]
The crisp system notification sound in his mind was like heavenly music!
"Pleasure doing business, Mr. Duxingzhe." William stood up and extended his hand.
Anxiang Duxingzhe (Dark Alley Walker) looked at his outstretched hand, hesitated for a moment, then symbolically shook it.
Then he turned and, like a Shadow, merged back into the night outside the cafe, as if he had never appeared.
William happily put the old tablet and empty gift box back into his briefcase, and punched the air: "First pot of gold in hand! My friend Anxiang Duxingzhe (Dark Alley Walker), every injury you sustain, every piece of equipment you damage from now on, will be a stepping stone for me to become stronger!"