Chapter 17 Are You Really Human? <TOC> Chapter 19 With Money Comes Capriciousness
Translator: SumTLMan
Cui Mao was tall and robust, with deep-set, contemplative eyes. Over a black robe, he wore leather armor underneath. At his waist hung a flintlock pistol and a short knife, and on his back, he carried a hand crossbow.
His face was dark-skinned, and he wore a felt hat. A sizable burn scar marked his neck, which he clearly didn’t mind displaying.
Zhou Yi estimated that the man was under thirty years old, and his vigor and spirit were entirely different from the people of Grub Grain Town.
“Only with sufficient nutrition can one develop such a good physique.”
“It is an honor to be granted an audience with you, the master of this place.”
Cui Mao revealed a humble smile: “Originally, I was in Chicken Head Town to the west. I heard that people from Grub Grain Town are adept at digging things everywhere, so I came to see if I could find some rare trinkets.”
“Never did I expect to find a hero like you here, not only possessing a monster guard but also having built a sound and unique camp. Truly, this trip was not in vain; it has broadened my horizons…”
Zhou Yi interrupted the merchant’s courteous monologue: “Let’s trade first.”
The other party was momentarily stunned, then nodded.
Cui Mao was leading a Bactrian camel that carried two boxes. He placed the boxes on the ground, lifted them upwards, and pulled out a small shelf.
Under the prism lamp, Zhou Yi examined the goods displayed.
On the left shelf were mostly tools: sickles, scissors, and knives of various models, iron needles and iron hooks. Below were several stacks of linen in different colors, and two white hoods sewn from multiple layers of cloth, exposing only eye holes.
On the right shelf were some cloth pouches and small bags, emitting the scent of spices.
Under the shelf were two books; the top one was the thickest, with a wooden cover bearing no words but depicting a small person inside a bottle. This represented the emblem of the Alchemist Association; most likely, it was —Dead Sea Atlas—.
Meanwhile, Zhou Yi heard the merchant’s inner thoughts, read by Red Falcon’s [Bird’s-Eye View].
——My right hand is already itching with anticipation, eager for a fight… Even when facing the captain, the reaction wasn’t this strong. What level of Enhancer is this person?
——The intelligence discrepancy is too great; I cannot subdue him alone.
——But… if even I retreat, then these over a hundred people in Grub Grain Town are completely abandoned. I must test him and gather more information.
Zhou Yi was somewhat surprised.
He had originally thought that this Cui Mao was a member of the bandit gang, but from the other’s thoughts, it seemed they were not in the same group.
Red Falcon also provided further scan results: “This person’s right arm has been enhanced, possessing special strength. Based on his exhibited features and behavior, I suspect he may be a knight.”
A knight among Enhancers?
Zhou Yi asked in his mind: “How was the enhancement done?”
The drone replied: “The vast majority of knights perform localized body enhancements, some enhance arms and legs, others the heart and bones. This is to grant them greater defensive capabilities and destructive power, enabling them to confront other Light Absorber species head-on.”
“The technical methods vary widely; unable to determine.”
Communicating on the same frequency with Red Falcon was highly efficient; vast amounts of information could be exchanged in an instant.
Zhou Yi pulled himself back, focusing his attention on Cui Mao: “May I ask, what are these two books about?”
Cui Mao took the books from the bottom of the box and introduced: “The top one is a hand-copied version of last year’s revised —Dead Sea Atlas— by the Alchemist Association. However, it has many alterations and stains; it’s a defective product, so it was able to circulate out.”
“This book is priced at 10 jin of copper, which is 100,000 mushrooms, but I can’t carry that amount of dried mushrooms, so I can only ask for other equivalent items in exchange. If exchanged for gold, silver, or other precious metals, that would be best, as they are lighter.”
Zhou Yi had learned this from Gong Zheng.
Copper is a higher-level currency unit than mushrooms, but in Grub Grain Town, it’s seldom used.
Although exchange rates vary slightly across regions, generally, 100 mushrooms = 1 copper (about 5g) is the standard rate. Converted, 1 jin of copper equals 10,000 mushrooms.
Because cave mushrooms have poor satiety and nutrition, residents of Grub Grain Town need to eat 70 to 100 mushrooms a day. The price of this defective —Dead Sea Atlas— would take one person three years of not eating or drinking to afford.
Books are quite expensive.
Cui Mao took out the thin book at the bottom and promoted: “There’s also this one, —Simple Tool Making— produced by the Craftsman Association. It explains methods and detailed diagrams for making various simple tools. If you have the materials, you can follow the steps and diagrams to make tools like axes, chisels, pickaxes, shovels, scissors, etc.”
“This one is cheap, only 3 copper.”
Zhou Yi took the book and flipped through it.
On the cover was a symbol of a hammer and a wrench crossed, representing the Craftsman Association.
Inside, the manufacturing processes were depicted in comic strips, understandable even to those who couldn’t read.
This book genuinely intended to teach people to make tools, but unfortunately, the prerequisites were a problem.
The required wood and stone could be processed by oneself, but forging the related iron parts was almost impossible for an ordinary person.
Zhou Yi opened his bag and took out two storybooks he had read.
“How about trading with these?”
Cui Mao carefully flipped through them, his face showing astonishment: “These… are Dead Sea manuscripts!”
“Did you obtain them from the Dead Sea? Preserved so intact, truly rare. However, this is not an equivalent exchange; the value of Dead Sea manuscripts is immeasurable, but even the simplest manuscript costs at least 1 gold…”
He hurriedly rummaged through his pockets, took out two pieces of gold, then used a portable scale to weigh them, gesturing for Zhou Yi to look at the numbers.
“Look, this is 2 gold, that is, 10 grams of gold. I only have this much on me. I’ll give you the books, plus this gold; do you think we can trade this way?”
Red Falcon read the knight’s thoughts.
——This person just directly took out Dead Sea manuscripts… He must be testing me.
——Which organization is he a member of?
——In my memory, there’s never been such a figure: using Warrior Crabs as guards, acting alone, spending lavishly, and the two mechanical lifeforms on the oasis also seem to be hired by him. Strange, too strange. I need to observe more.
“Deal.”
Zhou Yi nodded, and with a glance, Gong Zheng beside him took the gold from Cui Mao and picked up the two books.
“Goodbye, I won’t see you off.”
Seeing Zhou Yi turning to enter the house, Cui Mao was dumbfounded. He hurriedly said: “Sir, please wait.”
Zhou Yi turned slightly: “Anything else?”
Cui Mao took a deep breath and said solemnly: “Pardon the interruption; to be honest, I am a knight of the third squadron of the Tianjin Knights, currently stationed with the third squadron at Sand Port, responsible for local defense duties.”
“I came here in disguise because I received news that an outsider in Grub Grain Town had built a camp, with an army composed of Light Absorber species monsters under his command. So I came to conduct a covert visit to assess any dangers.”
“But judging by your speech and displayed wealth, you are clearly not one of those who traffic in people or experiment on live humans with alchemy. May I ask your honorable name?”
Zhou Yi said: “Zhou Yi, Chairman of the Wasteland Development Company.”
He couldn’t help but mutter inwardly.
Tianjin Knights? I wonder if they’ll perform comic skits with clappers.
“You are…?”
“Previously, I was an individual scavenger,” Zhou Yi brushed over with one sentence. “I worked alone for many years and didn’t want to drift around anymore, so I decided to find a place to start a business and chose here.”
Cui Mao’s smile froze.
The Tianjin knight continued: “Your strength is unfathomable; I can’t help but itch to test myself. I wonder if you would honor me with a spar?”
Zhou Yi nodded: “Sure.”
Cui Mao’s eyes lit up with excitement.
“But there’s one condition.”
Zhou Yi raised his right index finger: “After the fight, I have something to ask you.”
The other party nodded: “I will tell all I know.”
Chapter 17 Are You Really Human? <TOC> Chapter 19 With Money Comes Capriciousness