The Auction.
While it might seem much cheaper to buy blueprints and guides in bulk, there were indeed hidden mechanisms within.
Who would buy?
What would they do with them after buying?
Self-consumption?
No!
Those who could truly buy in large quantities were those with substantial funds, and their intentions were far from simply using them themselves.
They were aiming for profit!
Just now –
What the merchant referred to as acquiring goods from the black market was, more accurately, a situation where wealthy individuals snatched goods at auctions and then resold them in the black market to profit from the price difference.
Fifty percent!
This was a colossal profit.
Countless people were eyeing this pie, and it was even possible that these buyers had already colluded privately on the quantities they would procure.
If Chen Yu were to suddenly participate at this juncture.
He would be snatching.
Snatching the money from those who intended to profit from the price difference.
He would undoubtedly incur their resentment.
“Tsk, it seems that after spending time with Big Brother and being constantly influenced, you’ve grown,” Chen Yu said, reaching out to gently rub Hei Dou’s head. “To even think of such things, that’s not bad!”
“Boss, what are you planning to do then?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
Chen Yu shrugged with an air of self-evidence.
“If I can save a significant amount of money, why shouldn’t I participate? Auctions are public bidding, since when did they become the private property of those old fogeys?”
As he spoke, Chen Yu took a dark chestnut from his bracelet and sniffed it before his nose.
It smelled sweet.
The merchant hadn't lied; this chestnut was indeed stir-fried with sugar. As for what other ingredients were used, that would require a test subject.
If it truly had the effects the merchant claimed.
Then this chestnut –
Would have great utility.
Gently rubbing the chestnut and tossing it back into his bracelet, Chen Yu glanced at his fingers, lightly rubbed them on Hei Dou’s fur a couple of times, and then put his hands down.
Hei Dou, however, was stunned as if struck by lightning upon hearing Chen Yu’s words.
That’s right!
Since when did all of this become the private property of rich old men?
“Boss~”
Hei Dou’s eyes were filled with excitement and joy.
“You’re going to disrupt the game!”
“Heh, don’t put it like that, we’re entering the game!” Chen Yu smiled slightly and slowly moved, saying, “Many of the bad habits in the underground caves need to be corrected. Besides… they want to make money, and I want to make money too. If everyone wants to make money, then let’s compete based on our own abilities.”
“Let’s f**k them up!”
Hei Dou excitedly waved his little paws.
In response, Chen Yu merely raised his eyebrows slightly, a hint of a smile on his face.
A triumph is built upon a mountain of white bones.
Everyone’s success is achieved by stepping over the bleached bones of others. Chen Yu wasn’t necessarily intending to fight to the death with the indigenous people of the underground caves.
This would depend on their attitude.
The auction in two days would be his test. If they allowed Chen Yu’s presence, then there might be future cooperation between them.
After all –
Chen Yu had already set his sights on that black city.
If Chen Yu were to conquer the city, frequent contact with the indigenous people of the underground caves would be unavoidable in the future. Getting to know some wealthy merchants early on wouldn’t be a bad thing.
However, if these wealthy merchants refused Chen Yu’s participation, then Chen Yu would have no choice but to step over them to get ahead.
There was no other way!
If they refused coexistence, Chen Yu could only force them out.
Hei Dou, who was waving his little paws and shouting, leaned in and whispered.
“Boss, what are we doing now?”
“What are we doing? Do I need to say?!” Chen Yu pointed to his bracelet, “Of course, we’re going shopping. Did you forget our original purpose for coming here? Consumption!”
— — —
“Sir, here are your 5,000 units of Obsidian. Please take care.”
“Condenser Blueprint, 10 silver coins. How many do you need? What? As many as we have? Our shop has 50 copies of the advanced Condenser Blueprint. You want them all? Alright sir, please wait a moment!”
“Inferior Blood Pills, 40 silver coins. You’re taking them all? Got it!”
“Sir, I’m an architect, I can go back with you for construction. We can discuss wages!”
“Sir, I can do any kind of work~”
“Sir~”
When it came to consumption, Chen Yu was absolutely unhesitating.
From purchasing Obsidian from shops to buying blueprints, and then recruiting a group of orcs for construction at the talent recruitment plaza, Chen Yu now had over a dozen people following him.
Of course –
Chen Yu wasn’t spending recklessly; he was buying things needed for the camp.
Condenser Blueprint.
Increasing the daily yield of condensed water, and ample water supply represented substantial profits.
Currently, the underground cave survivors had not yet come into contact with city-states. They were unaware that blueprints for condensers were being sold here. If, later, more people entered the city-states,
And everyone had a condenser, then water would not be as valuable as it was now.
Chen Yu had to seize this early profit.
It was only 10 silver coins.
Equivalent to goods worth a little over 10,000 in the current trade channel, and with his Greed Critical Hit, Chen Yu could recoup his investment in a single day.
He didn’t need to worry about these initial investments at all.
In fact, he hoped for more Condenser Blueprints, as that would allow him to expand his production line.
Obsidian.
There was even less need to elaborate; furnaces, cold storage, cannons, and even the upgrade of other camp buildings in the later stages all required Obsidian.
No one would complain about having a surplus of Obsidian reserves.
Inferior Blood Pills, used to forge Blood Pill Warriors and enhance the overall strength of the camp.
Chen Yu walked through the city’s commercial street and cleared out almost all the Obsidian, Condenser Blueprints, and Blood Pills in the city, acquiring 17,000 units of Obsidian, 130 Condenser Blueprints, and 300 Inferior Blood Pills.
The cost in gold coins was 248.
Actually, Obsidian and Condenser Blueprints weren't expensive. It was the 300 Blood Pills that cost Chen Yu 150 gold coins, which stung a little.
The shops in this city-state were indeed exorbitant!
For some reason, Chen Yu felt a pang of nostalgia for his brother-in-law; that was a truly honest person.
It felt like he was selling them at cost price.
Of course, for Chen Yu now, it was almost negligible.
He felt nothing.
It wasn’t that the consumption in the city-state was low, but rather that Chen Yu was too wealthy at the moment. Even the richest person in this city-state, excluding their assets, might not be able to come up with over a hundred thousand gold coins in cash flow.
“Dou’er, think about what else we need to buy?”
“We don’t lack equipment, we don’t lack basic resources, and this city-state doesn’t sell elemental fragments,” Hei Dou muttered. “We’ve bought everything we needed.”
“That’s true. Then let’s buy some clothes for Nuoya, Kailin, and Su Bei to take back.”
Coincidentally, Chen Yu encountered a clothing store.
Although Chen Yu could produce many things himself, he couldn’t provide clothing. People like Kuka were rough men; anything they wore was fine.
However, the women in the camp needed more clothes, and little Su Bei was still wearing Nuoya’s clothes.
“So, do you know what sizes they wear?” Hei Dou mumbled. “If the clothes don’t fit, it’s better not to buy them. Why don’t we bring them here someday?”
“Ah, it’s fine, I know.”
Chen Yu waved his hand and walked into the clothing store. Hei Dou, who was squatting on Chen Yu’s shoulder, was suddenly stunned.
He knew?!
He couldn’t help but recall the righteous words Chen Yu had spoken to him, and then looked at Chen Yu’s confident expression.
As expected of my boss Hei Dou, so unfathomable!
—
Author’s notes:
Ah~