80,000 tons of coal.
Calculated at 100 resource points, this translates to a profit of 8 million.
This is definitely a significant boon for survival.
Not to mention, in the area where Chen Yu and the others are currently located, there likely aren't even a hundred people who can muster 8 million in resources.
"Uh..."
Yu Pu, with his honest smile, chuckled.
"Alright, Old Yu, over 80,000 tons of coal, you've struck it rich," Chen Yu said with a smile into his wristband. "No problem, I can take all of this coal."
8 million resource points.
To Chen Yu, it was merely a drop in the bucket.
Acquiring it was simple.
Coincidentally, his smelting area was undergoing expansion, and the hundreds of furnaces consumed a massive amount of coal. 80,000 tons of coal would likely be depleted by Chen Yu in just a few days.
"Tell me, what resources do you need? I'll sell them to you at a fair price."
"I need 1,000 units of each basic resource," Yu Pu's voice came through the wristband. He then pondered for a moment and tentatively asked, "Do you need coal long-term?"
"Yes!"
Chen Yu's smelting area was nearing completion, and future camp expansions might even include additional smelting facilities.
Coal was undoubtedly a resource he would need long-term.
"If you need it long-term, I might also need a batch of food. 2,000 portions of bread sets, do you think that's acceptable?"
"Of course."
Chen Yu's eyes gleamed with a smile as he said,
"Even these resources don't quite reach 8 million resource points. I'll provide you with 2,000 portions of bread sets, each worth 1,000 resource points. Do you need water?"
"Yes!"
"I can provide you with 500L now, which converts to 500,000 resource points. The 1,000 units of basic resources will be my payment for the golden shovel and gold mining pick. You still have 5.5 million resource points remaining, what would you like to exchange for?"
"This..."
Yu Pu, wearing the wristband, suddenly froze.
Being an honest person, he wasn't good at negotiations. The resources he needed were those he required. Now that his needs were mostly met, he didn't know what to do.
"Perhaps you can keep it?"
"Huh?!"
Chen Yu's eyebrows slightly rose.
Then, he was completely stunned.
"That's right," Chen Yu murmured. Yu Pu, who was listening through the wristband, asked, "Benefactor, what did you just say?"
"Ah..."
Hearing Yu Pu's voice, Chen Yu snapped back to reality.
"No, don't keep your resource points with me. I'll compensate you with currency. When you need resources, you can come to me and buy them with the currency."
"Okay."
As Yu Pu agreed, Chen Yu clicked open the gifting page.
2,000 portions of bread sets.
500L of water.
10,000 units each of iron ore, copper ore, silver ore, and gold ore.
550 gold coins.
Upon receiving the gifts, Yu Pu exclaimed.
"Gold coins?"
"This is the currency used by the cave dwellers. The ratio between gold, silver, and copper coins is 100:1. Based on my conversion of the value of goods within the city-states, 1 copper coin is approximately 10 resource points. So, I've given you 550 gold coins to offset 5.5 million resource points," Chen Yu explained.
"You've been to the cave city-states!" Yu Pu exclaimed in surprise.
"Yes, I have~"
"Are the city-states prosperous?" Yu Pu was very curious. Chen Yu shrugged and said, "They're alright, far from the big cities outside our caves. But you, why are you suddenly requesting 2,000 portions of food and so much water?"
"I, I want to set up camp here."
Yu Pu chuckled dryly and said, "Didn't you say you needed coal long-term? So, I figured I'd establish myself here and be a miner. I have two cave dweller villages nearby, and I was thinking of incorporating them."
"Oh?"
Chen Yu grinned when he heard this.
"Old Yu, you're really going to be a coal baron. That's great. It seems your business is quite substantial. Is the coal in your area very abundant?"
"Ah, very much so."
Yu Pu didn't hold back, speaking frankly.
"The four adjacent spaces to my location are all coal mining areas. I've checked specifically, and it seems like three coal mining veins have merged together."
"Whoa!"
Chen Yu was astonished.
Three coal mining veins, that would yield an incredible amount of coal!
Despite his amazement, Chen Yu felt no envy. Instead, he was genuinely happy for Yu Pu. He had always felt Yu Pu was a good person, and perhaps these three coal mining veins were a reward for his kindness.
Tsk!
Thinking about it, both Jiang Yaqing and Yu Pu had encountered mineral veins.
One an ice crystal mine.
One a coal mine.
Both of them had become mine owners!
"Old Yu, it seems you've truly struck it rich," Chen Yu said earnestly. "With three coal mining veins, it's indeed worth establishing a base there. But you absolutely must not tell anyone else about this."
"I know," Yu Pu replied with an honest smile.
Of course, he knew not to flaunt his wealth. Such a vast coal mine would surely make others covetous, and it might even lead to a fatal disaster.
However, in his eyes, Chen Yu was his savior.
He shouldn't hide anything from his benefactor.
"Alright, seeing you doing so well now, I can rest assured," Chen Yu sighed softly. "So, you can focus on mining there. Prioritize supplying me with coal. I'll buy whatever you can supply. Remember to give me a discount!"
Chen Yu grinned as he joked.
"70!"
Unexpectedly, Yu Pu took it seriously and said earnestly.
"If you need coal, benefactor, you can purchase it at 70 resource points per unit. Let me calculate, you bought it at 100 resource points earlier, so I should refund you..."
"Never mind the refund!" Chen Yu laughed. "Let's just settle for 70 next time!"
"Yes, as you say."
No matter when Yu Pu spoke, he always exuded honesty and sincerity.
"Benefactor, you must be busy, so I won't disturb you further."
The call ended.
Sitting in his chair, Chen Yu reflected on Yu Pu's demeanor, fearing that his personality might lead to him being taken advantage of in the caves in the future.
Survival in the caves was a dog-eat-dog world!
Being too honest would lead to being bullied.
"Ah, I almost forgot. If he's mining now, is he still using a pickaxe to dig?" Chen Yu muttered. "How many years would it take him to excavate such a large mine with that?"
At the same time—
Yu Pu, having decided to establish his base here, approached the mining vein.
[Cave Reminder: The current coal mining vein is an unclaimed mine. To claim this mine, you need to provide 2,000 All-Element Fragments and 500 Obsidian.]
"Coal Ball, claiming mines still requires resources."
Yu Pu, with his honest and dutiful appearance, looked down at the small, round, dark black ball resembling coal at his feet.
"Of course. Claiming a mine signifies that this mine belongs to you, and you gain the right to allocate its resources."
"Resource allocation?"
"It's like a shareholding system. How many shares you hold, how many they hold, and how many others hold. Many mines in the royal city are purchased through joint ventures."
"I see."
Yu Pu nodded slightly and opened Chen Yu's contact, sending a message.
"Benefactor, I'd like to buy some resources."
--
Author's Note:
Coal mining rights, here I come!