Free Web NovelChapter 74: Chapter 73: The Merchant’s Call for Help
The location Li Ziyu pointed to was a treasure site on the edge of the map. It wasn’t the usual terrain of the Wasteland, but a mountain range. The map indicated it was rich in wood, stone, and ore, and also had a question mark, suggesting the presence of other resources.
"Uh... Boss, maybe we should pick a different spot," Liu Xingxing said hesitantly.
"Why? Is it unsafe?" Li Ziyu asked, raising an eyebrow.
"It’s not that, exactly. How should I put it... We just haven’t scouted it that thoroughly," Liu Xingxing said, scratching his head in embarrassment.
By the time he reached the mountain range, he was already quite far from the Undead Fortress. Feeling nervous, he had just done a quick walk-around, found a few treasure spots, and rushed back. He had no idea what was on the other side of the mountains, or even what was deep within them. He didn’t even know if there might be Native Tribes in the area.
He didn’t understand. The other explored treasure sites were also great, so why did Li Ziyu have to pick the mountain range?
"It doesn’t matter if it’s not fully scouted. We’ll head over first and explore slowly. If it doesn’t work out, we’ll just find another place," Li Ziyu said, his mind made up.
Li Ziyu knew the other resource sites were safer, of course. But those sites were all separate—ore in one place, stone in another, wood in a third. Gathering from them individually would be too much trouble. It was better to get it all done in one place.
Judging by the map, the mountain range was quite large. As long as they were cautious, there shouldn’t be any major problems. freёwebnoѵel.com
Besides, they didn’t have to go all the way to the mountains. They could change their minds en route. There were other resource points along the way where they could stop to gather at any time. And it wasn’t far—a day’s journey at most.
Not a big problem.
Li Ziyu explained his reasoning to Liu Xingxing and the others, which finally put Liu Xingxing at ease. He had been afraid his boss would impulsively charge in. His experiences in the Otherworld over the past few days, combined with information from the chat channels, had helped Liu Xingxing mature. He was no longer the reckless youth who, just after arriving in the Otherworld, had dared to dig up an Undead Fortress.
No matter how good the treasure, you had to stay alive to enjoy it.
"Mumu, Tas Tuling, go inform your tribesmen. Tell them to pack their things. We’re moving out."
The two acknowledged the order and hurried back to the Tribe to inform the others.
The Skeleton Undead Fortress started up, following the route on the map and heading toward the mountain range.
Li Ziyu sat in the main tower, opened the system, and began to study the available buildings.
This trip was specifically for acquiring resources, so he planned to look into resource buildings. These were a type of Low Level building, but he hadn’t needed them before and thus hadn’t considered researching them.
[Resource Station: Lumber Camp]
[Introduction: Build this, and your Undead will be able to gather wood at a higher speed. How about it, tempted? Better start researching it quick.]
[Research Requirement: Skeleton x100 units]
In addition to the lumber camp, there was a stone quarry, an ore mine, a water well, a sand pit, and a whole series of other resource stations. The introductions were all more or less the same; in fact, they were so lazy they just swapped out the material’s name and called it a day.
The lumber camp increased the speed of wood gathering, the stone quarry increased the speed of stone gathering. The rest of the text in the introductions was almost identical—they hadn’t put in a shred of effort.
What’s more, the resource stations couldn’t even be built directly—they had to be researched first. Each material type required its own research, costing 100 units of Skeleton a pop. And after all that, building the station consumed even *more* materials. Li Ziyu couldn’t help but marvel, ’System, you’re really something else. You’ve truly perfected the art of the shakedown.’
As reluctant as he was, he had to do the research. He couldn’t just keep having the Skeleton Undead chop wood with their Bone Sabers. And what about stone and ore? You couldn’t mine those with a Bone Saber.
Completely at the system’s mercy, Li Ziyu gritted his teeth and researched the lumber camp, stone quarry, and ore mine, getting conned out of 300 units of Skeleton in the process.
’Damn it, that stings. That was enough for 300 Skeleton Undead, gone just like that.’
Once the research was complete, new building icons lit up.
[Resource Station: Lumber Camp]
[Introduction: Your Undead can now gather wood more quickly.]
[Tool Unlocked: Woodcutter’s Axe]
[Construction Requirement: Skeleton x10 units]
Huh, the introduction wasn’t cheeky anymore, but for some reason, it still felt off. That single, short sentence was enough to make one’s blood boil.
Li Ziyu clenched his fists and forced himself to calm down. He checked the entries for the stone quarry and the ore mine. Just as he’d expected, they had simply replaced the word "wood" with "stone" and "ore." It was a carbon copy of the research introductions—just as lazy.
’No wonder the introduction says they can gather resources faster,’ he thought sarcastically. ’Of course the gathering speed will increase once you unlock the proper tools.’
’Argh... This is so frustrating! I feel like punching someone. Why do I have this nagging feeling that I’ve been ripped off?!’
Li Ziyu ran his hands through his hair in frustration.
...
Moonlight bathed the Wasteland. The Skeleton Undead Mobile Fortress, emanating a grim Death Qi, moved slowly onward. In the shadows, figures who had been watching them began to reveal themselves.
"Someone’s following us?"
Not long after they had left the Swamp Graveyard, a Skeleton Undead appeared before Li Ziyu to report that life signatures had been detected nearby—and they were following the fortress.
When it came to detecting life signatures, the Undead were the experts. Li Ziyu had no reason to doubt that the Undead was telling him the truth.
’Well, well. Looks like today is just full of excitement. I kill off a group of Goblins in the daytime, and now someone else comes looking for trouble at night. I’ve really become a target.’
’Do I look that easy to pick on?’
A vein bulged on his forehead. He was already furious from being ripped off by the system, and now some suicidal fools had come to provoke him, fanning the flames of his anger even higher.
He’d like to see who was bold enough to start trouble. ’Fine by me,’ he thought. ’This is a perfect opportunity to test the strength of the Skeleton Ox Demons.’
Li Ziyu made his decision. He didn’t order the fortress to stop, but continued along their planned route. He simply ordered the Skeleton Undead to be vigilant and watch out for a surprise attack.
Just as he issued the command, a message came in from Conscience Merchant.
[Private Message]
Conscience Merchant: Bro, help! I think my cover’s been blown.
Don’t Want to Get a Driver’s License: You’ve been targeted?
Conscience Merchant: I think so. Bro, I’m out of options. Can I count on you or not? No games, just give me a straight answer!
Staring at the message on the system interface, Li Ziyu fell silent, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
He wasn’t keen on meeting other City Lords. Liu Xingxing had been unavoidable—the guy had literally dug himself up, so there was no choice but to meet. But Conscience Merchant, the Gopher City Lord?
Li Ziyu didn’t know him well. They had communicated, but that was the extent of it; they had never met. While he was grateful for the important intelligence Conscience Merchant had provided last time, that wasn’t reason enough for him to reveal his own position.
The Dark Jungle Law was always in effect. Li Ziyu couldn’t deny that while there were City Lords like Liu Xingxing, most were not like him. In this world where might makes right, too many City Lords had revealed the darker side of their nature.
The Gophers themselves, Li Ziyu wasn’t worried about; their combat strength was low. ’But what if Conscience Merchant has found a powerful backer, just like Liu Xingxing did? What if this is a trap to lure me out?’
’How should I answer?’
