"I know Mao Valley Town is struggling, but our company's product prices are already lower than the merchants in Chicken Head Town; we can't reduce them further."

The young man leaning on a cane looked helpless.

Cao Dayuan scratched his ear, at a loss for words.

The goods from Wasteland Development Company were indeed excellent quality for the price.

Nowadays, the townspeople of Mao Valley possessed rhombic stones, and their burrows could be lit for extended periods, thanks to the company driving down prices. Just ten Mao Valley worms could be exchanged for one stone.

Past meats—albeit only scraps near the bones—could be bartered with mushrooms. They weren't just dry, dirty bits of bone, but whole pieces with meat and marrow. Thrown into a pot with mushrooms and stewed with a pinch of salt, it made a beautiful broth.

But Mao Valley Town was still too poor.

"Ah, I understand."

Cao Dayuan still persisted resolutely, "But this winter came too suddenly; last night it snowed, and everyone was too afraid to go out, fearing they'd encounter a Winter Beast."

"Rodent problems are getting worse, too; sand rats stole a lot of hay and branches, and they're hard to catch. Although mushroom yield has been good and we have enough to eat, it doesn't solve the heating issue."

"Given the current situation, everyone's wood stock is simply not enough to last."

"Before, you bought quite a lot of wood and branches from the town; can you sell a bit back to us?"

"Those might just be decoration or flooring for you, but they could prevent people in the town from freezing to death. We're willing to trade more mushrooms for it; please, just trade some to us."

Gong Zheng fell into deep thought.

Cao Dayuan anxiously waited for his response.

He and Gong Zheng were old acquaintances.

Gong Zheng was knowledgeable, literate, could treat illnesses, and also understood monsters; he had been highly respected in Mao Valley Town. Cao Dayuan, with many years of experience in cultivating cave mushrooms, knew he was less experienced and often sought advice from Gong Zheng.

In the past, each excelled in their field; the gap between them wasn't huge.

Now, though, it was a vast difference.

Cao Dayuan was still in ragged clothing. These were made by sewing together clothes from his grandfather and father, thicker than most townsmen's garments.

His fingernails were filled with dirt, the hairy cloth wrappings on his feet bleached white by sand, his body emanating a sour stench of mushrooms mixed with manure.

The Gong Zheng before him, however, was dressed in a clean, smooth black coat, with straight trousers and well-made shoes.

He held a cane that seemed to be made of metal or stone, his face clean of any stains, and his posture markedly different from before.

Although his tone was still gentle, Gong Zheng no longer possessed the cautious demeanor of a foreigner, replacing it with a calm composure and confidence.

This seeded a doubt in Cao Dayuan's mind.

Was he wrong?

If he hadn't been stubborn and had joined the Wasteland Development Company with Ajin, working under the director, perhaps he too would have been transformed, just like Gong Zheng—no longer frazzled by food and heating issues.

The hesitation lasted only a moment.

Cao Dayuan regained his resolve.

No.

To change the face of Mao Valley Town, it must rely on its own people; otherwise, others will always see this place as a settlement of refugees and the disabled.

We are not beggars.

He must stand tall.

After a long silence, Gong Zheng told him, "I sympathize with and understand your situation, but I'm not in charge here. However, if the director agrees, then adjustments can be made. All I can do is bring you to meet the director, but he is busy with critical matters and has no time for minor issues; we need a reason."

"A reason..."

Cao Dayuan thought hard and finally came up with one: "I've cultivated a type of mushroom that can attract monsters. Does that count?"

"Oh? That is something you should definitely discuss."

Gong Zheng smiled, "The director is always interested in novel affairs."

...

Following behind Gong Zheng, Cao Dayuan carried a rhombic lamp and crossed through the Oasis Side.

From a distance, they could see on the beach near the Dead Sea, a hill-like monster stood.

Its body was filled with densely packed square holes, each emitting a dazzling light. It was said there were complex channels within that led to each hole via intestines or bones.

Aside from those who had joined the company, no one from Mao Valley Town had truly entered it.

The two stopped in front of an iron gate located at the center of a low wall.

The wall was only about as high as a person.

Cao Dayuan thought even a child could easily climb over it, wondering what its purpose was; however, the large iron gate was quite imposing. Chicken Head Town used a wooden gate, which seemed clumsy and stiffer in comparison.

Gong Zheng addressed the gate: "On my side is Cao Dayuan from Mao Valley Town, here to visit the director."

"Please open the gate."

Before long,

the iron gate slowly opened inward.

Cao Dayuan stared in astonishment, "The gate, can it understand what you're saying?"

"This is Jade City. It's my company's colleague and also our office building, typically referred to by outsiders as the Dead Sea Alien..."

Gong Zheng explained, "It can't understand what we say but due to the chairman's orders, people brought by company employees are considered legal visitors, outsiders cannot enter."

Cao Dayuan hesitated slightly and glanced again at the low walls.

Isn't this thing just for jumping over?

As if knowing his thoughts, Gong Zheng said seriously, "Never think about forcing your way in, this will directly trigger the gate control, and illegal visitors will be instantly blasted to bits."

Cao Dayuan involuntarily shuddered.

Before entering the main gate, he saw that there were actually two boats docked outside, and he couldn't help thinking that the Wasteland Development Company was developing the Dead Sea, no wonder they had such abundant resources.

Continuing inside, he entered a narrow box.

Silver doors closed from both sides.

Silver metallic walls began to flash bright lights.

Cao Dayuan felt as if his body had been lifted by something, he hastily braced himself against the wall, feeling an uncomfortable throb in his heart, "What, what is this?"

"An elevator; it can go from bottom to top, and soon you'll reach the CEO's place on the top floor."

Gong Zheng beside him cracked a smile, "It's essentially the intestines of Jade City."

"Were we... eaten?"

Cao Dayuan was baffled.

"We're just moving quickly up and down through these intestines, don't mind it."

Suddenly, Gong Zheng changed the subject, "Old Cao, what do you think is the way out for Mao Valley Town?"

"I don't know."

Cao Dayuan said, "Get through the winter first, not dying is priority."

The door opened with a ding sound to both sides.

Finally leaving the alien's long, straight intestinal tract, Cao Dayuan breathed a sigh of relief.

Behind a door on the top floor, he finally met the owner of the place, the chairman of the Wasteland Development Company, that rumored man.

"Please come in."

The other person was unpretentious, with black hair and white clothes, appearing clean and tidy. Judging from his appearance and living environment, he indeed seemed like a privileged figure.

Inside was a bright and warm cave, with a large flat structure and a huge transparent crystal on the wall, thick woven fabrics on the floor, leather chairs, shelves full of various metal containers, and exquisite strange devices whose names could not be identified...

These made Cao Dayuan feel a strong pressure.

Compared to the luxurious palace inside the alien, the bunkers of Mao Valley Town were like nests of insects.

Cao Dayuan silently said to himself.

Stand straight, we are not beggars.

This is a trade.

"I heard you have a kind of mushroom that can attract monsters? Can I see it?" the black-haired youth asked.

Cao Dayuan took out a bundle of slender clustered mushrooms from his pocket.

"This is it."

"They grew from normal cave mushrooms, are mutated, and are very scarce. I call them 'Monster Attraction Mushrooms.' If you encounter a monster attack, you can throw these out to attract the monsters and then use that opportunity to escape."

"But their numbers are too few; I haven't found a way to cultivate them artificially yet. I can give you all that I've found."

The youth took the Monster Attraction Mushroom, examining it closely.

Then, a very interested expression appeared on his face, "What do you want to trade these for with our company?"

Cao Dayuan said, "We want more branches and wood to keep warm and survive through the winter."

"No problem,"

the other party stated, "If it's not enough, I can also try to find some more fuel to help you through the winter."

Cao Dayuan was overjoyed, "Thank you, thank you!!"

"It's nothing."

The other party fiddled with the mushroom in his hand, "This is more important, now let's talk about this Monster Attraction Mushroom."

"Okay, okay."

The stone in Cao Dayuan's heart finally fell.