CHAPTER 448: 249. THE WAR OF COAL

"Why is there no coal again?"

"Doesn’t our Ninth Special Zone produce coal? In previous years, we couldn’t even sell all of it, so why has it disappeared several times this year? I didn’t manage to stockpile a single piece of coal at home! Are you waiting for me to freeze to death in this cold wave?!"

"Release the coal, release the coal!"

The entrance to a large warehouse in the Ninth Special Zone was filled with an endless din of noise.

Over a hundred people gathered here, with noise, anger, and panic converging like a tidal wave.

This is the coal warehouse of the Tasting Commerce Association, the place where all the coal in the Ninth Special Zone is stored.

All the coal from other coal merchants would be stored in this area’s warehouses.

In the past, all citizens from the Ninth Special Zone would come here to purchase coal.

Before, coal was never lacking in the entire Ninth Special Zone, because there were several coal mines not far outside the Ninth Special Zone.

There had never been a situation where coal would sell out and be unavailable for purchase.

So when the coal crisis first appeared, not many people were concerned, after all, the Ninth Special Zone was rich in coal and various energy sources.

The inability to produce coal temporarily might just be a short-term issue.

Maybe it wouldn’t take long before a large amount of coal would be produced.

Anyway, there was still some time before the cold wave hit.

The official government can’t possibly watch so many ordinary people freeze to death, right?

Even though ordinary people are not worth much, the most vital component of a human colony is still people.

Coal is of utmost importance.

Heating, cooking, bathing — all aspects are inseparable from coal.

Why is "wood" placed first in "firewood, rice, oil, salt"?

If you time travel back to ancient times, and the area you are in is verdant and lush with green water and mountains, then for tens or even hundreds of miles around, there may be no sign of human life.

If you time travel to ancient times and find yourself in barren hills, a desolate area surrounded by mountains stripped of trees, don’t doubt it, within dozens of kilometers there is surely a human town.

In ancient times, burning fuel equaled electricity.

Being a woodcutter was a high-paying profession.

In colder places, in more populated towns, a bundle of firewood could be sold for millions.

Fire is the origin of human civilization, an indispensable element of human civilization.

Now, the cold wave is getting closer.

The price of coal continues to rise, but now it’s simply unavailable, causing a panic to begin to emerge.

No one wants to freeze to death in the cold wave.

Standing in a high place, Ubirus curved his lips into a smile and issued a notification to his subordinates: "Prepare to open the warehouse and release the coal."

The dealers below, upon receiving the notification from Ubirus, immediately called out loudly to calm the agitated crowd, saying: "Folks, you don’t know what’s happening outside the safe zone, several coal mining areas have been hit by tidal surges, and these mutated creatures have severely affected coal production.

Moreover, the coal mines don’t have as much coal as we thought; many coal mines have already shown a reduction in output.

We still have to supply a lot of coal to the Night Empire Headquarters.

Excluding these coal supplies, our entire Ninth Special Zone really doesn’t have much coal this year! It’s not like the previous years!"

"Damn it, what are we supposed to do? You keep raising the coal prices and now you’re not even selling it? Are you going to let my whole family freeze to death in the cold wave? I’m telling you if I die, I’m taking you rich bastards with me to the grave, after all, if we’re all going to die, how does it matter how?!"

"Yeah, damn it! If we’re all going to die, how does it matter how?"

Seeing the situation deteriorating, with an uncontrollable trend, the dealer was startled and hurriedly said: "Everyone, please calm down, please don’t worry, things haven’t gotten that bad!"

"All major commerce associations have coordinated to bring in a batch of coal from other places, this batch is enough to ensure everyone has coal to use this year.

At most, in two more days, everyone will be able to buy coal!"

Hearing this, the wildly agitated crowd calmed down slightly, but someone from the crowd still asked: "Will the price of this batch of coal be very high?"

The dealer coughed twice and said, "Folks, you must know that this batch of coal was brought in with great difficulty from other places by the commerce association, excluding labor costs, the transportation fees will definitely increase the price.

Of course, if you don’t want to buy it, that’s okay too.

The commerce association will clearly mark the price!"

Some people had already guessed that the commerce association wanted to make a huge profit from this, and they were gnashing their teeth with hatred, yet had no other choice.

After all, they are just ordinary people, while the commerce association is a true giant.

Even if they risk their lives and clash with the commerce association, they can’t compete with the association’s armed forces.

They can only accept their fate.

This is the sorrow of people born in the lower class during this era.

But fortunately, the Commerce Association promised that at least everyone would have coal to use during this cold wave.

With this assurance, the crowd gradually dispersed, and indeed, after two days, a batch of coal was delivered to the Ninth Special Zone.

However, the price was more than double what it was before.

Some coal prices even tripled.

In such circumstances, a lot of residents in the Ninth Special Zone were naturally resentful, but felt helpless because the Commerce Association was a behemoth.

The capitalists of the major Commerce Associations went mad, reaping massive wealth as if with a sickle.

...

"Damn it, Master Chen, these dogs are so black-hearted! Dammit, with so much coal, they couldn’t burn it all in a lifetime. They are deliberately engaging in hunger marketing, jacking up the price to three times.

They’re trying to fleece the whole city."

Chen Che curled his lips into a cold smile and said, "Let’s make a move, release our coal, and play a game of price war with them."

Hearing this, Bobby chuckled.

...

Ubirus saw the recent skyrocketing revenue from coal, and couldn’t help but curl his lips into a smile. With all the Commerce Associations in the Ninth Special Zone conspiring together, the sketched out income was enough to cover the losses from the mess Chen Che made at the Horus Grand Casino last time.

Enough to cover some of the deficits caused by this year’s Ninth Special Zone branch.

That damned Chen Che, if it weren’t for her, the entire Ninth Special Zone summit could have earned a full bowl of money this year.

Without having to resort to these means to balance the accounts.

At the coal-selling site, countless people lined up to grab coal, the lines stretching for several kilometers.

This scenario really was making a fortune, enough to earn a lifetime income.

But just then, someone suddenly shouted nearby, "Hey! Go to the Lighthouse on Ant Street, they’re selling coal at the warehouse on Ant Street! The price is only half of what’s here!"

Hearing this, countless eyes turned their way, and the crowd suddenly became restless.

No one knew who led the way, but many decided that there was no harm in checking it out and headed to Ant Street.

Sure enough, upon arriving at Ant Street, the Lighthouse was really selling coal!

The price was only half of what the Commerce Association charged.

Although it was still much more expensive than the usual price, it was clearly much cheaper than the Commerce Association.

The entire crowd instantly became restless, with countless people holding money wanting to buy coal.

Bobby immediately grabbed a megaphone and shouted loudly, "Take it easy, take it easy, don’t worry, we guarantee that everyone in the Ninth Special Zone will have access to coal!"

The commotion quickly reached Ubirus’s ears, and he widened his eyes and cursed, "Where the hell did Chen Che get his coal? All the coal is in our hands! How does he have coal?!"

The subordinate was also completely puzzled, while Ubirus exhaled and thought for a moment before saying, "I know, Chen Che must have gotten coal from Lower City through Deer Kamon. His coal definitely isn’t enough to meet the needs of the whole city... it wouldn’t even cover 1/10!

Let him sell it all, let’s see how long he can keep it up!"

Ubirus said this with confidence, but the subsequent events were somewhat beyond his expectations. Over there, coal sales were unusually brisk, continuously selling for two whole days and nights without stopping, as if there was an unending supply of coal!

This resulted in his prices being too high, and almost everyone flocked to Chen Che’s side to buy coal. Not a single piece of coal was sold on his side in two days and nights!

Ubirus suddenly felt his scalp go numb.

Luo Qingtian also arrived shortly after, and berated Ubirus, "What the hell is your Commerce Association doing? Are you with me, or are you collaborating with Chen Che? You let Chen Che make a big profit! Do you know how much money he’s made in these past few days? Damn it, I hijacked so many of his smuggling routes, intending to collapse his economy, but your coal market has given him a huge financial boost!

This money is more than enough to support his entire gang!

Is your Commerce Association full of crap? What are you doing?"

Ubirus was scolded until his head was full of black blood, and he couldn’t find a word to retort.

"Damn, where the hell did he get so much coal?"

Luo Qingtian exhaled, when an intelligence woman under Luo Qingtian, Song Xuejian, came up from behind him and said charmingly, "Manager Ubirus, let me give you a friendly reminder, you should quickly sell your coal, don’t keep pushing the price so high. If prices keep rising, you’ll only make him richer!

The latest intelligence I intercepted shows that Chen Che and Deer Kamon have reached a deal. They’ve already established a cooperative relationship with the nearby Eighth Special Zone, and have laid out a secret transportation route, storing a large amount of coal in the Lower City.

This coal... is enough to supply at least two-thirds of the Ninth Special Zone!

You are currently helping him raise the price!

If this continues, he will get richer and richer, and we are all making wedding clothes for him!"

"Damn it!" Swore Ubirus, looking up at Song Xuejian, "Who are you?"

"Miss Song is one of my intelligence personnel. A lot of the intel I have is provided by Miss Song. The reason I could cut off so many of Chen Che’s smuggling routes is all thanks to Miss Song’s help!"

"This intel is very reliable, if you don’t believe me then go and see for yourself, tonight over 100 tons of coal is going to be transported into the warehouse on Ant Street!"