CHAPTER 79: CHAPTER 75: SPOILS

"Where did you hear this?" The store person was puzzled, "It’s normal for retail prices to be around 120 or 130."

Cindy quickly explained, "Maybe your purchasing channels are different. Zhou Three buys at those prices."

"It’s not just Zhou Three, the entire Zhou Character Residence Area is like this," the Energy Block Store manager replied succinctly.

He didn’t question the other party, just stated, "If you think it’s expensive, you can use your original channel."

"The price given to us above is just that, if I sell it cheaper, I’ll have to cover the loss myself."

Flower Scorpion’s eyes twinkled, "What if we buy more and sell it at a higher price outside?"

"That’s up to you," the manager replied indifferently, "Anyway, I’ll only give you a discount this once."

Qu Jianlei and Flower Scorpion exchanged glances, then spoke up, "Let’s discuss it further then."

After leaving the store, he couldn’t help but ask Cindy, "Why are the Energy Block prices this high?"

Cindy glanced at him, puzzled, "Is it expensive? Energy Blocks are really in demand; the official market price you’re talking about is impossible."

"How could this be?" Flower Scorpion frowned, "Are their Energy Blocks bigger?"

Cindy shook her head, "Can’t be bigger, laser guns consume a lot of Energy Blocks... You’re not from outside the Zhou character Gathering Area, are you?"

"No," Flower Scorpion answered bluntly, "It’s just that previously, when we bought Energy Blocks, the price was 100 silver coins."

Cindy didn’t doubt her; her late husband was a team leader, so she knew that outside Zhou character, there were other Gathering Areas too.

But that’s all she knew, as it was said that other titled Gathering Areas found it hard to come here.

So she retorted, "Since that’s the case, why not go back to that channel to buy?"

"That person is dead," Flower Scorpion calmly replied, "The others... we don’t trust."

"Well, there might be something to it," Cindy didn’t doubt that reasoning; deaths in the Wasteland are quite normal, right?

She didn’t pry further, simply advised pragmatically, "But you can take advantage of this discount to earn a bit."

Qu Jianlei furrowed his brow, thinking about auctioning another Wolf King tomorrow, perhaps he could gather more money.

The next moment, Flower Scorpion spoke up, "Let’s find a place to buy some books first."

They were on the same wavelength! Qu Jianlei nodded secretly upon hearing this; teaming up with Flower Scorpion indeed saved a lot of hassle.

Having Cindy lead the way made a difference, and since she once held some status, she knew more than the average resident.

Though, she couldn’t help but have some suspicion: prioritizing buying books about other things, their origins might be a bit unusual.

Yet during her years of downfall, she had mastered enough survival wisdom: don’t ask what shouldn’t be asked!

After all, no one ever offered her a hundred silver coins, just for this reward, she’d keep her mouth shut.

After bustling around for a while, they surprisingly bought more than 200 books, at very favorable prices.

What was especially rare was that they even got some technical manuals, including books on mechanical arm repair knowledge.

Qu Jianlei was immediately drawn in, and even started reading in the vehicle.

He was never satisfied with the modifications on the transportation Mecha, the sturdiness was okay, but the energy conversion rate was too low.

If they hadn’t chanced upon the geothermal cave, relying solely on those Energy Blocks, it was very likely that he and Flower Scorpion wouldn’t make it out of the mountains.

Seeing him flipping through repair knowledge books, Cindy raised an eyebrow in surprise: did he understand even this?

In the Zhou Character Residence Area, someone with such professional skills must have inherited them, and they absolutely wouldn’t be easily disclosed.

The saying "Teaching an apprentice may starve the master" is deeply rooted in the Wasteland culture.

If one could make a living through skills without taking risks and live decently... then why foster a competitor?

The next moment, she remembered what she needed to do, "Lord Yellow Scorpion, can I change my residency status out of Zhou Three?"

"Change the settlement status?" Flower Scorpion raised an eyebrow in surprise.

Unlike Qu Jianlei, she was familiar with these procedures, "That’s for you to consider, where are you planning to move to?"

A settlement identity is precious, though changing status between settlements under the same character is allowed.

The environments and conditions between different Gathering Areas can vary significantly.

Some people, for their own development or other reasons, need to change locations, which is understandable — talent mobility should be permitted!

It’s just that moving out is easy, but when moving in, a fee is usually required unless it’s a clear case of "downgrading."

"I don’t have a preferred place," Cindy answered straightforwardly, "Wherever the two lords suggest, I’ll go."

She just wanted to escape this city; with legitimate procedures, relocating elsewhere wasn’t too difficult.

"We don’t have any particular suggestions either," Flower Scorpion responded frankly, understanding that her words implied a show of loyalty.

Leaving her familiar area as a widow with a child, following two mysterious people wandering the world, and taking her identity with her.

That’s just betting that their actions wouldn’t be disappointing!

All she could say was, "It’s okay not to move out. You can wait a few years and come back with your daughter."

"I don’t want to stay in this disgusting place anymore," Cindy said blandly, "We want to change the environment and start fresh."

"Then we’ll talk about it when the time comes," Flower Scorpion thought that as an adult, her advice should be limited to that.

But in the end, she couldn’t help but add, "Following us, the risk is definitely high."