Fan Mao, "Excuse me, does anyone know how to craft tools? Or woodworking would do too."
Eric, "Fan Mao, dude, everyone has crossed over to this place. Even if they were carpenters before, there are no tools here."
Watermelon Man, "Exactly, how about you ask Jun Lin?"
Gou Dan, "Our company has a carpenter. What do you need to craft, Fan Mao?"
She remembered her own goals when she saw others' responses.
Woodworking isn't just knowledge, after all. Without support tools, even the most skilled carpenter can't make bricks without straw.
Gou Dan's response surprised Bai Yi, *This so-called company actually gathered some talents?*
Bai Yi immediately typed to inquire further.
Fan Mao, "I want to craft a hand-cranked threshing machine, can you do it?"
Gou Dan, "Of course, how about 200 units of fresh blood flesh for a threshing machine?"
Zero, "If Fan Mao is willing to join our company, we can even offer an internal discount. How does that sound? Any interest?"
Gou Dan, "The big sister's right!"
Zero, "Stop it, I'm not your big sister, don't call me that~"
Gou Dan, "Yes, Secretary Zero!"
Seeing Gou Dan's offer, Bai Yi couldn't help but curse them under her breath as profiteers.
Bai Yi could almost guarantee that a significant portion of this price was being swallowed by this so-called company.
But Bai Yi also knew that it was inevitable.
The Second Young Master Su organized such a large company surely to seek some advantages.
It couldn't be that he's genuinely so generous as to want to help poor lords, right?
But, did Zero, who ranked last, actually join this company?
And seemingly got involved with that Second Young Master Su?
In this game's limited conditions, where they couldn't even see each other face-to-face, even being in one place nominally meant nothing could be done?
Bai Yi didn't dwell on it. Although she didn't like people like Zero, Bai Yi respected everyone's way of living.
But respecting others didn't mean Bai Yi was willing to be a fool by spending 200 blood flesh on buying a threshing machine.
Fan Mao, "Still a bit expensive; let me think about it."
Zero, "Oh no, is Fan Mao unable to afford it? Should I ask Young Master Su to lower the price for you?"
Bai Yi was puzzled on the spot.
*What on earth is their problem? Do they actually think people don't have tempers?*
Fan Mao, "Crazy."
This channel option was blown. For now, the only one in the channel who might complete this transaction was Jun Lin.
Besides, Bai Yi originally intended to ask if she could buy a sickle from him. Jun Lin displayed quite a few simple tools at the market, suggesting he knew how to craft tools.
Ignoring Zero's ridicule in the main channel, Bai Yi searched for Jun Lin's name and found his private message.
Fan Mao, "Jun Lin, can you customize tools?"
Bai Yi originally thought she'd have to wait a while for a reply, but surprisingly, Jun Lin responded immediately.
Jun Lin, "Are you looking for a threshing machine, Fan Mao? I saw the messages in the channel earlier. I can make one, and the price is definitely fair."
Fan Mao, "Uh, I was actually planning to ask about a sickle, but can you really make a threshing machine? How much?"
Jun Lin, "If I'm not mistaken, are you planning to farm, Fan Mao? Does your talent relate to this?"
Seeing Jun Lin's message, Bai Yi felt a secret alarm.
*It seemed she had revealed too much information and promptly got deduced.*
*But it made sense. Requesting a sickle and a threshing machine specifically would let any perceptive person figure it out.*
As Bai Yi was pondering how to reply, Jun Lin sent another message.
Jun Lin, "Sorry for my impudence. How about this, I'll provide Fan Mao with a free set of basic tools like sickles and threshing machines, and in return, you share a part of your harvest, how about it?"
Seeing this message, Bai Yi contemplated.
*This business was undoubtedly a good deal.*
The recent events had proven that gathering farming tools in this world must be difficult.
If she could really provide a complete set of tools, her efficiency would certainly increase significantly.
Besides, unable to sleep last night, she calculated that based on the size of that field, at least 6,000 kilograms of rice could be harvested in the end.
Converting that, it equated to 12,000 units of rice!
*She had quite a bit of room to negotiate!*
After some friendly discussions, a deal was finally successfully reached with Jun Lin.
Jun Lin would provide Bai Yi with a set of not less than green-grade iron tools, including sickles, shovels, hammers, and a set of human-powered machines similar to a rice de-husker. Additionally, he threw in an iron pot and a spatula.
In return, Bai Yi needed to pay 4,000 units of rice and offer future priority when trading grain.
It took nearly an hour of discussion to finally conclude this transaction.
Before ending the private chat, Jun Lin even gifted Bai Yi a watermelon as a token of friendship.
Bai Yi wanted to return the favor but found herself lacking an appropriate gift, so she decided to remember this for future reciprocity.
Exiting the private chat, Bai Yi discovered that Zero was still in the channel.
At this moment, she was representing the company in acquiring food, and as Bai Yi anticipated, offering tremendously low prices.
But Bai Yi didn't intend to get involved; she had more critical things to attend to now.
The Killing Giant Bee hive had been built!
......
In the city center of White Poplar City, inside an underground parking lot
Su Family's Second Young Master's territory, usually quiet, rang out with repressed gasps.
Finally, after a long time, it settled down.
"Young Master Su, you're amazing, I almost couldn't take it~"
A woman jokingly reproached while snugging into the covers and continued browsing the channel.
She was Zero, the one ranked at the bottom of the territory. Before crossing over, she was used to having countless bootlickers, but here, she could hardly tolerate it.
Forget about fancy clothes or delicious food, she nearly starved in a shabby villa the day before!
Luckily, she connected with the somewhat capable Second Young Master Su, said to be a wealthy playboy before crossing, albeit not much to look at.
Discovering her proximity to him thrilled her beyond words.
She mustered her courage and made her way over, using her looks and a decent support ability related to a lord's talent, securing her spot with the Second Young Master Su.
"Your sweet talk is incredible. How's it going?"
"Don't worry about my tasks; no issues will arise."
Zero's voice softened as she added,
"Also, that Fan Mao you mentioned has surfaced."
"Oh?" The Second Young Master of the Su Family was immediately intrigued.
"They wanted our company's carpenter to craft a, threshing machine? But didn't accept our offer.
It seems, just as you'd speculated, they have already exhausted their 'inheritance.'
Lots of laughter echoed in response, sealing interest.
"Haha, good, contact all the lords who have either joined us or collaborated with us. Forbid trading with this Fan Mao until they're forced to yield!
It's all for that 2nd Rank Crystal Core they hold..."
So, the Second Young Master sought the 2nd Rank Crystal Core in Fan Mao's possession...
Zero secretly noted this information, changed the topic feigning curiosity, and asked,
"But really, Young Master Su, is buying all that food actually beneficial?
After someone posted a guide last night, just this morning, the price of 1 unit of ordinary food has dropped to the equivalent of stones.
Will food shortages really occur in the future?
It's not that I doubt your judgment, but I am genuinely curious..."
Her sweet voice made the Second Young Master of the Su Family's heart itch with desire. Still, he maintained his gentlemanly demeanor as he answered,
"The reason we need to acquire while the food is cheap is precisely this.
The current affordability in the market is because the game refreshes the wild monsters and resources as a bonus.
Once the lord protection ends and the monsters cease appearing, any attempt to hunt for a treasure box means confronting those dangerous zombies and mutant creatures.
Then, of course, dealing with unknown monster sieges. A significant demand for creating soldiers will arise. Manufacturing and maintaining them will require food.
Once income dwindles and consumption grows, after this outflow and inflow, the price..."
"...will be set by us, who control most of the food."
Zero appeared to suddenly understand, her face filled with admiration.
"Come here, darling, the intermission is over."
The Second Young Master of the Su Family could hold back no longer, chuckling lewdly as he climbed back into the sheets, and the sound of lust filled the territory again.
......
Abnormal Energy: A strange energy that emerged who knows when; some call it Spiritual Energy, some call it Magic Power, but it's the same thing. Many scientists believe that this Abnormal Energy is what started the Mutation. The first to learn how to utilize Abnormal Energy were the ubiquitous plants...