Chapter 443: Chapter 382: Pig
"Any more good stuff? Show it to me," Li Zheng said, tossing two U-disks in one hand while holding down Little Sakura with the other, staring arrogantly at the Wandering Merchant.
Li Zheng treated Little Sakura like a baby, so Little Sakura = baby, so Li Zheng was holding down the baby... Ugh, bad joke.
"Yes!"
Xiao moved swiftly, pulling out another U-disk from under his cloak with both hands.
Li Zheng merely glanced at the tier of the U-disk, his eyebrows furrowing like terraced fields, layer upon layer: "Are you kidding me?"
"No, you’re the one asking for good stuff, aren’t you?" Xiao shook the U-disk in his hand, "An Extraordinary level blueprint. Isn’t that good enough?"
"The tier doesn’t matter," Li Zheng rolled his eyes, pulling Little Sakura along to leave, "But have you even looked at what materials are needed? I get them and I still can’t make it!"
"So that’s what’s bothering you." Xiao quickly and continuously pulled out items from under his cloak, all of which were materials needed for the Extraordinary level blueprint.
"How about it? Is it enough?" Xiao was thrilled. Li Zheng truly lived up to the Butcher’s high regard, rich and generous!
"Price?"
"Hehe, it’s not expensive."
"Goodbye!" Li Zheng turned with Little Sakura to leave.
Damn it, you said the same about the first two U-disks and they were horribly overpriced.
This time it’s an Extraordinary level item plus a blueprint; it might drain both Little Sakura and me dry and still not be enough to buy a set.
Although it’s a long-range weapon blueprint, and an ultra-long-range flamethrower, which could be considered a Divine Artifact for Li Zheng.
But to drain both our Genetic Force for such equipment?
Don’t even think about it!
Seeing Li Zheng about to leave, Xiao hurriedly caught up, taking a few quick steps forward: "Although the price can’t be reduced, we could still check out a few Diamond level items..."
"Diamond level items?" Li Zheng looked at him playfully and suddenly asked, "Do you sell that Genetic Force Storage Device?"
"Storage Device?" Xiao was slightly surprised but quickly responded, "That’s a profession tool licensed by the Terminal. If you want to buy it, you’ll have to find a way after reaching the Outer City."
"Oh? Well then, this transaction is over. Goodbye!" Li Zheng decided to quit while ahead.
He figured it out; someone acquiring Genetic Force indicates that the number of Genetic Abilities an individual can develop is likely limited.
Otherwise, why not just keep developing new abilities? Why bother buying Genetic Force from others?
Seeing Li Zheng was determined to leave, Xiao didn’t push further and stopped.
As Li Zheng was about to leave the room and swipe his card, Xiao suddenly came over and whispered, "Wait a moment... about Genetic Abilities..."
He paused, possibly checking if the Terminal would stop him.
After a while, he continued, "In the future, try not to trade items with Genetic Force. It’s hard to recover. Also, don’t randomly develop Genetic Abilities. If you encounter unsuitable ones, try to wash them off!"
"Why?" Li Zheng paused; a message from Zhan Zhouzhou and the others had just arrived, indicating they could challenge the next mutant.
"Because there’s a limit! Each player, regardless of race, can’t add more than twelve Genetic Abilities to themselves!" Xiao quickly said, then shut his mouth and took a few steps back.
Indeed, there’s a limit to the number of Genetic Abilities players can develop!
Li Zheng’s idea was confirmed: "You’re a friend worth having!"
Xiao just smiled and waved goodbye: "I learned a saying from your language: ’Business doesn’t affect friendship.’ You’re a friend worth having too."
Li Zheng thought for a moment: "If you go to Channel 879, don’t rip them off too badly. I know those guys quite well."
"Friendship is friendship; business is business," Xiao said earnestly, "As a Wandering Merchant with professional ethics, I have my principles and won’t be swayed by external forces."
At this point, he shifted the conversation: "When you get to the Outer City, I could buy you a drink. I’ve collected quite a few good spirits; they’re quite enjoyable!"
"Though I don’t touch alcohol," Li Zheng shrugged, "I might consider having a drink with you, so you better prepare some non-alcoholic options."
Non-alcoholic drink?
Is that even a drink?
In the Matrix, it’s generally called ’fruit and vegetable juice,’ right?
Xiao was puzzled, contemplating whether Li Zheng’s words were intelligible or a cultural saying of theirs.
"Just a joke, no need to overthink it," Li Zheng chuckled, "See you later."
With that, he turned and walked through the light membrane.
"Friends... Friends like this, I’d welcome more of them!"
Just after Li Zheng left, Xiao pulled out two Genetic Force Storage Devices from his cloak, extracting thirty points of force from each, transforming them into two blue plumes that he inhaled.
"No wonder those guys are fighting to work here; the profits are indeed substantial!"
Just one transaction earned an equivalent to developing a Silver Ability in Original Force. By the end of this work cycle, how terrifying would the upgrade be?
Xiao still didn’t realize that there weren’t many people as wealthy as Li Zheng...
Moreover, the Butcher wasn’t wrong in his assessment of Li Zheng; from a certain angle, Li Zheng was indeed very generous.
Of course, we usually refer to this kind of generosity as ’lack of foresight.’
This is the advantage of information asymmetry. Li Zheng used to charge double or more in materials when selling things, using this same method.
...
Crossing the light membrane, Li Zheng calmly produced an event ticket and teleported into the event instance.
"Huh? Little Phoenix? Are you still not fully healed?" Li Zheng noticed Phoenix Mountain wrapped in bandages as he entered, holding the Mysterious Declaration.
"Hmm, it doesn’t matter," Phoenix Mountain nodded simply, his lack of interest in communication obvious.
Everyone has their off days, so Li Zheng didn’t say much more.
Soon, everyone arrived, with only a five-second gap between them.
Zhan Zhouzhou immediately scanned the surroundings for danger upon entering, only relaxing a bit after the Prel’s Eye provided exploration information in a certain direction.
[Pig, an ordinary livestock raised on Fudao Island, mutated into its current form due to nuclear radiation infection.
Sadly, humans think they’re smart, but they aren’t all that clever. Even after mutation, they’re still pigs; laziness and gluttony remain their core traits.
Be careful, it’s asleep; don’t wake it, let’s catch it off guard!]
"Now that we’re all here, let’s make this quick," Li Zheng said to Yan Guang, softly, "Same as last time, you throw the incendiary, and I’ll finish it."
"No problem!" Yan Guang nodded lightly, unsure why Li Zheng was so bold, yet cautious.
"In that direction, about forty meters away, indiscriminate bombardment," Li Zheng pointed, forty meters being the maximum range for his Explosion ability, and this time’s entry point was perfect, no need to move.
"Got it, watch this." Yan Guang lifted his left hand, beginning preparations for the ammunition.
Beside them, Phoenix Mountain suddenly frowned, looking at Li Zheng: "From this far away, and in complete darkness, you can see the target?"