Chapter 49: Genuine Goods at Fair Prices, Honest to All

After listening to Zheng Tian’s explanation, Ren Zhong finally understood. There was only one situation in which semi-professional teams could profit from White Bone Valley—when the professional teams were mobilized.

The Spark Resource Recovery Company operated three professional teams. Every month or two, these teams would join forces, each taking a route through the valley and sweeping through it, harvesting large numbers of level four and level three Ruin Beasts. As for the level one and two Ruin Beasts along the way, the professional teams had no time for them.

That was when the semi-professional teams attached to the professional squads came into play.

Zheng Tian chuckled, “Ren, since we’re affiliated with Captain Lin Wang’s team, according to the rules, we can operate five hundred meters behind them. By then, all the higher-level Ruin Beasts will be dead, leaving behind a mass of level one and two beasts. In the past, our team wasn’t strong enough to compete with other semi-professional teams, so we only got the scraps. But now, things are different—we’re about to hit the jackpot!”

Ren Zhong nodded, “I see.”

This arrangement reminded him of childhood memories. In the intensive farming fields, massive soil tillers puffed white smoke as they rolled forward across endless cotton fields. Flocks of sparrows descended from the sky, following the tillers, excitedly pecking at the worms and insects unearthed by the machines.

The professional teams were the tillers; the semi-professional teams, the sparrows.

Zheng Tian was visibly excited, “We used to work all day and each earned twenty or thirty. Now, with you on board and everyone’s strength improved, we don’t have to stick together. We can spread out, regroup if we encounter a level two or overlooked level three beast. If all goes well, each of us could earn a hundred today. That’ll make up for the fees we paid to the professional teams, with extra to spare.”

Ren Zhong realized, “That’s how it works.”

Ou You Ning, eager to show off, pointed to the back of the vehicle, “Ren, this time we used your methods and prepared a lot of specialized gear. If we run into a level three Ruin Beast and our equipment counters it, we’ll take it down. If not, we run.”

Even Chen Han Yu, who rarely spoke, turned back from the passenger seat, “Mr. Ren, you might have to do double duty today. When the professional teams fight high-level beasts, they often accidentally kill clusters of level one and two Ruin Beasts, and don’t bother to extract chips. Whatever we find is profit. The two of us can work together to increase efficiency.”

Ren Zhong snapped his fingers, “No problem.”

At eight in the morning, the team’s two vehicles arrived punctually outside White Bone Valley, blending into the ranks of the semi-professional teams.

Three columns formed between two mountains.

At the front of each column stood the three professional teams.

Ren Zhong’s gaze lingered on Bei Lihui for less than a tenth of a second before quickly shifting away.

Zheng Tian, arms crossed, locked eyes defiantly with the other five semi-professional team captains affiliated with Lin Wang, competing in aura.

The others seemed intent on setting a rule: each semi-professional team could only advance along a fixed hundred-meter-wide corridor.

Zheng Tian protested, “That’s never been the rule—why enforce it now?”

“Because after you bought Thunder Cars, you’ve been sweeping up too much! Now your team’s got upgraded gear and a new powerhouse. Two vehicles! What are you planning? If we don’t mark out lanes, we’ll be left with nothing,” retorted a burly captain as tall as Wen Lei.

Zheng Tian rolled her eyes and spat disdainfully, “Get lost. In Spark Town, only strength counts, not rules. Today it’s first come, first served—whoever gets it, keeps it. If you want rules, make your own. Not satisfied? Want to settle it? Winner takes all, loser walks.”

With Zheng Tian’s challenge, the other five captains immediately backed down—they simply couldn’t win.

Zheng Tian returned to the team, hands on hips and head held high.

Ren Zhong asked, “No issues? Anything from the professional teams?”

Zheng Tian waved dismissively, “Doesn’t matter. They don’t care how we split the loot.”

Ren Zhong nodded, “True. This is a rare opportunity—I can’t slack off this morning, time to give it my all.”

Zheng Tian grinned, “Thanks, Ren.”

“Don’t mention it.”

…

By dusk, the Thunder Car and the box truck entered the Resource Recovery Company’s plaza gates, one after the other.

The Thunder Car was intact, but the box truck’s hover height had dropped from two meters to one, and the front was dented.

There was no choice—they had loaded too much.

Despite their exhaustion, every face in the team radiated the joy of a bountiful harvest.

Besides a mass of level one and two Ruin Beasts, they had also nabbed two level three escapees, lucky to slip away from the professional teams.

The battles posed little risk; Zheng Tian’s special equipment, inspired by Ren Zhong, proved invaluable.

A minor episode occurred when, after the team dispatched the second Ruin Beast, two semi-professional teams flanked them, accusing Zheng Tian’s group of hogging the loot and demanding a share, specifically the level three beast’s corpse.

Zheng Tian found their proposal pointless. When pressed for her stance, she simply replied, “That’s my stance—not happy? Settle it.”

The result was immediate—a scuffle broke out, nearly fatal, ending with Zheng Tian’s team victorious.

Watching the other teams slink away, Zheng Tian laughed heartily, “Thanks for your generosity. Sorry, but I’ll take it from here.”

She played the role perfectly: meek before the professional teams, fierce among the semi-professionals.

At the end of the day, after tallying up earnings, Ren Zhong received 140 points, a bit more than the others.

His savings now stood at 731.36.

Yes, he had saved up enough a day ahead of schedule, with surplus to spare.

At seven-thirty that evening, Ren Zhong, sporting dark circles deep enough to grind ink, finally returned to his prefab home.

He locked doors and windows, then secured the room with bell-strung ropes, and collapsed onto his mat.

He couldn’t hold out any longer—he was too tired.

This was natural sleep, the call of human biology, irresistible and inescapable.

The timing was unfortunate; he couldn’t use the communal sleep pod now.

To avoid attracting curiosity, he could only go home.

Besides, Ren Zhong wasn’t as afraid of the night as others.

He didn’t need to activate the forced sleep mode on his wristwatch; he could drift off naturally.

With the bell mechanism, if a Ruin Beast broke in at night, the noise would rouse him, and fully equipped, he’d have a fighting chance.

He’d also informed the others.

He wouldn’t join tomorrow’s daytime team action.

The rest, energized by newfound wealth, grew ever more ambitious.

Each eyed new gear and merchandise, and was close to affording them.

They would still go hunting tomorrow, making the most of the last day, preparing thoroughly for their level two certification.

Ren Zhong would start studying “Sid Meier’s Armor Insights” from now until midnight tomorrow, then register directly for the level two Mecha Warrior exam!

Though his current load capacity was “only” 41.7 kilowatts, his brain response index “only” 52.5, and his overall physical index “only” 41.8, he had already soloed several level two Ruin Beasts, and had built enough confidence in his ability to challenge above his rank.

He lay down, fell naturally into sleep, and entered the deep-sleep space.

He opened the internet feature, launched the Daily Headlines app, selected the video section’s paid tutorial board, searched for “Sid Meier,” and found the course.

“Sorry, esteemed user, this is a paid tutorial. You need a legitimate subscription to continue. Subscription fee: 688 contribution points. Subscribe?”

Yes!

The screen shifted, and Sid Meier’s aged face appeared once more.

Unlike the impassioned demeanor in the advertisements, he now looked like a schemer who had succeeded, wearing a sly merchant’s smile.

The old man gazed at the camera, smiling, snapped his fingers, and said with utter sincerity, “Ah, another fresh customer. Wise choice, my friend. Genuine goods here, no tricks, fair to all.”

Ren Zhong’s face turned green instantly.

Ah… that all-too-familiar tone.

Memories from ancient days surfaced—his college roommate, a slacker, playing WOW, every time he clicked on the greedy goblin NPC’s dialogue box, it sounded just like this.

A bad feeling crept in…

No way, no way!

Don’t mess with me!