Transaction

Su Chen and Qiao Zheng ventured into the gas station, where a multitude of survivors and their vehicles were gathered, forming a bustling scene. People were engaged in material exchanges, sharing resources, and conducting transactions around the iron buckets.

Amidst the crowd, Su Chen and Qiao Zheng blended in seamlessly, their presence inconspicuous.

As Su Chen surveyed the surroundings, he noticed that the primary items being traded were food, medicine, and certain specialized daily necessities like cigarettes and gold. While cigarettes and gold held value elsewhere, in this desolate world, their worth diminished significantly. Few individuals were willing to exchange precious food and medicine for transient luxuries. The scarcity of such essential supplies made them a priority.

Su Chen, however, wasn't in search of food and provisions. He already had a stockpile of batteries and power banks, which were relatively common. Instead, he sought cold weapons as potential replacements, such as swords and the like. While there was no substitute for his treasured Miaodao knife, which would be lost forever if damaged, he hoped to find similar weapons among the survivors. To facilitate bartering, Su Chen intentionally packed his previous backpack from the Ring of Anowal with supplies and assigned Joe, the eager volunteer, to carry it on his back.

Unfortunately, there were scarce offerings of weapons for trade, and those available were mainly kitchen knives and the like.

Qiao Zheng, unable to contain his excitement, roamed the area, taking in the vibrant atmosphere. His lively disposition thrived in such surroundings.

Su Chen planned to navigate through the crowd and actively seek out a sizable group of survivors, hoping to purchase the items he needed.

However, before Su Chen could make his way into the throng, a surprised voice called out from the side, "Are you... Xiao Su?"

Turning his head, Su Chen spotted a well-dressed man staring at him, extending his hand to grasp Su Chen's arm as he examined him intently.

Su Chen furrowed his brow, the fragments of the original owner's memories flooding his mind once more. He recognized the person before him as his former superior, Lu Ren's family. It was unexpected to encounter him alive in this place.

In those fragmented memories, Lu Ren's family had always been kind to Su Chen, a supportive and caring leader. When Su Chen had gone through a period of turmoil and resigned, Lu Ren's family had made earnest efforts to persuade him. Yet, Su Chen had responded with reborn arrogance, dismissing his well-intentioned advice.

Qiao Zheng, who had been observing the exchange, looked up and asked, "Brother Su, do you know him?"

Su Chen nodded, acknowledging the connection to Lu Ren's family. He then contemplated for a moment before replying, "Are you...a survivor who escaped here?"

Lu Ren's family, perhaps due to the rarity of encountering a familiar face in these dire times, seemed particularly enthusiastic. "Yes, that's right! And you? Are you part of a motorcade? We encountered...I swear, the road out of the city was absolutely treacherous, a complete disaster..."

Su Chen was about to respond when Lu Ren's family interrupted him, realizing they were only two individuals. With zeal in his voice, he extended an invitation, "Well then, you and this young man can join my group. We have a small team, some people, and resources. If you come over, we can support each other."

Qiao Zheng appeared taken aback, glancing at Su Chen instinctively for guidance.

Lu Ren's family seemed to view Qiao Zheng and Su Chen as lone survivors and intended to bring them into their fold.

Feeling a touch of gratitude, Su Chen shook his head and declined, "That won't be necessary, leader. I have a few people with me, and I'm afraid we might become a burden to you..."

Lu Ren's family expressed some regret but didn't insist further. Instead, he asked, "Then... Xiao Su, can you help me with something?"

"I'm looking to purchase knives, swords, hammers, maces—anything of that sort. If there's any armor available, it would be even better." Su Chen's plan was to seek out Professor Chen after reaching Heihe City and exploring the possibilities of obtaining customized armor through military channels for magical modifications. However, the plan was not yet set in stone, and he needed to be prepared with alternatives.

Lu Ren's family furrowed his brow, intending to remind Su Chen that such weapons held little significance against the monsters and were not as practical as guns. However, firearms were still relatively scarce among survivors, not easily obtained. He couldn't casually sell his own gun to Su Chen. Adjusting his approach, he voiced his concern, "While I can help you find a solution, are you certain about these choices?"

Su Chen responded with conviction, "I'm sure."

Lu Ren's family clicked his tongue in contemplation. "I may know a few people who could help. Follow me."

With that, he took the lead, weaving through another group of survivors.

As they made their way, Lu Ren's family continued to inquire about Su Chen's situation. Su Chen, not keen on divulging the details, simply mentioned that he had been fortunate enough to escape with the military.

Lu Ren's family spoke with a tinge of sentiment, "It would have been great if we could have secured military connections. Despite the chaos with all sorts of thugs roaming around, the military is the only force truly capable and confident. Did you come here as a soldier? I heard they drove in with a fleet of vehicles, loaded with gasoline. Where can us survivors find such treatment? We can only watch as others plunder our belongings... As the days pass, the military's power only grows stronger, sigh..."

"Hmm," Su Chen remained silent.

Finally, they reached the location of the other survivors. Lu Ren's family instructed Su Chen to wait for a moment while he went to negotiate with them. After a while, he returned with news.

The other party was willing to offer Su Chen a longsword, a Miao knife, and a set of chain mail.

"And chain mail?" Qiao Zheng exclaimed in surprise.

Su Chen's eyes gleamed with anticipation. He hadn't expected such an unexpected gain.

However, Lu Ren's family shook his head and cautioned, "Among their team, a few pre-disaster individuals with wealth were fans of this kind of stuff. But I don't recommend purchasing their chain mail. Although it's exquisitely crafted, it was torn apart by monsters before and now it's no different from wearing nothing. Think about it, who would create such a life-saving item?"

Su Chen replied firmly, "It's fine, I want it."

Whether it was damaged or not didn't matter. With magical modifications, it could be repaired and transformed, requiring only a few additional energy units. The important thing was obtaining such an item.

Lu Ren's family fell silent, eventually stating, "While these items may not be crucial or highly useful, they may still require a substantial amount of food in exchange. You..."

"Don't worry," Su Chen pointed towards the backpack on Qiao Zheng's back, "I came prepared."

Seeing this, Lu Ren's family refrained from further comments and said, "Then let's go together. I will help you negotiate a better price. We have some acquaintance, which might earn me a little favor."

They proceeded together, heading towards the seller, with a sense of anticipation and tension in the air.