Chapter 13

Chu Guang was very lucky; he didn't encounter any insurmountable dangers along the way.

Not only that.

When he reached near Bet Street, he just happened to see a caravan from Boulder City unloading goods at the entrance of Bet Street.

Old man Walter, with a hunting rifle on his back, stood aside, smoking his homemade tobacco. Old Charlie was having a pleasant conversation with the leader of the caravan, while the scavengers were unloading the goods under the watchful eyes of the gunmen.

The caravan leader was called Mr. Li, but his real name was unknown. Chu Guang only knew that he came from Boulder City, had eight gunmen under his command, and about twenty mutated yaks.

Every so often, he would bring his men and animals to Bet Street to sell some supplies and collect the "specialties" from here.

In the wasteland, especially in the city, animals were more reliable than vehicles.

The roads were littered with broken-down cars and collapsed ruins, and due to the lack of maintenance, the surfaces were severely cracked, with plant roots even growing through them. Most wheeled vehicles couldn't move at all.

In comparison, donkeys, cows, and horses were good options. Although they weren't fast, there were almost no roads they couldn't traverse.

The most crucial point was their low cost and simple maintenance, requiring only thirty pounds of grass per hundred kilometers.

Technology wasn't always reliable, at least not here.

Of course, for long-distance travel across provinces, it was a different story.

Chu Guang had once seen a semi-truck with half-wheels and half-tracks, equipped with a cannon as thick as a chimney, which had a punk art vibe.

However, such bulky trucks generally wouldn't enter the city. They usually unloaded their goods outside the city and traded with smaller caravans active in the nearby areas, then left.

Chu Guang noticed that among the supplies being transported to Bet Street, there was a woman wrapped in a long robe.

Her hands and feet were shackled, and her ankles bore barcode marks. Her delicate and fair skin didn't resemble that of a survivor in the wasteland but rather a fairy from a movie.

Or perhaps, a "product" cultivated in a petri dish.

"Clone?"

Chu Guang had only heard that Boulder City had a slave trade, but this was the first time he had seen it with his own eyes. However, such "luxuries" could only be afforded by the mayor.

Chu Guang didn't immediately approach but waited quietly in the shadow of the ruins until the transaction was complete.

The "cowboys" were busy and didn't linger.

After loading the goods, Mr. Li reached into his coat, pulled out a few white chips, and tossed them to the scavengers as if they were beggars.

Then, amid a chorus of grateful flattery, he and his gunmen herded the heavily loaded mutated yaks and set off.

Chu Guang followed from a distance, walking down two streets.

However, at this moment, the man beside Mr. Li suddenly stopped and looked straight at him.

Chu Guang was slightly startled to be discovered.

There was at least a hundred meters between them. How did this guy spot him?

But since he was discovered, there was no point in following from behind.

Chu Guang emerged from the ruins, raised his hands to show he meant no harm, and then walked over with a black plastic bag.

He stopped ten meters away, under a tilted café sign.

For both parties, this was the safest distance.

If a conflict arose, the carbon nanotube bulletproof vest he wore under his clothes would give him at least five seconds to escape.

As long as he wasn't shot in the head...

"I have no ill intentions; I just want to do a deal with you."

The man called Mr. Li narrowed his eyes and shouldered his shotgun.

"Are you a scavenger from Bet Street?"

"Chu Guang."

"I don't care what you're called, and we don't do small trades," the man said, eyeing the plastic bag in Chu Guang's hand, "You'd better give that to the old man called Charlie."

Chu Guang didn't speak, but opened the plastic bag to reveal the goods inside.

The man clearly knew his stuff. His expression changed, clearly surprised that the plastic bag contained something valuable rather than scrap parts and batteries.

Chu Guang noticed a glint of greed in his eyes.

"Where did you get this?" the man asked.

Chu Guang looked at him and said calmly, "From the sewers, near the mutated leech den. But even if I tell you where it is, would you go there?"

"Just a casual question, don't take it to heart."

The greedy look in his eyes diminished. The man handed his shotgun to his subordinate and walked up to Chu Guang.

"How do you plan to sell it?"

The recovery price in Bet Street was one chip for every 50 grams, but the real value of this stuff was far more than that!

Chu Guang remained silent for two seconds, deciding to take a risk and quote five times the recovery price.

"There are 2000 grams here; I want 200 chips!"

"Deal."

Seeing the man agree without much hesitation, Chu Guang immediately realized he had underpriced it.

Indeed, the damn mayor must have sold these merchants for much more!

These bloodsucking leeches!

Chu Guang silently cursed the mayor and his family, wishing him a hard night.

"Let's be friends; my name is List."

The man extended his right hand, his previous arrogance gone, and a smile on his face, "I rarely do business directly with scavengers, but you're an exception... I'm very interested in you."

Chu Guang shook his hand firmly.

"Thank you, my name is Chu Guang."

"I know, you just said."

Letting go, List stared at Chu Guang and continued, "First, I hope today's transaction won't be known by the old man called Charlie."

Chu Guang replied, "Of course not; I don't want any trouble."

"Ha, you're a smart man."

Satisfied with Chu Guang's answer, List smiled and nodded, "I can pay you 200 chips now, but... since you'll use these chips to buy things anyway, why not buy directly from me? It'll save you from the middleman's markup. I have some leftover supplies and can give you a 20% discount. What do you think?"

Chu Guang didn't believe his so-called 20% discount. He had no way of knowing how much these goods cost in Boulder City.

However, as long as it was cheaper than in Bet Street, he had no reason to refuse.

"I need weapons. Do you have any?"

"Of course. What kind do you want?"

"Guns."

"Guns, huh?" List stroked his chin, "How about a 9mm bolt-action iron-barrel rifle? It costs 200 chips, and I can give you 30 rounds of ammunition. Additional rounds cost 1 chip each, a very fair price."

"20% off?"

"This is already 20% off. If you think it's too expensive, I have cheaper options, like a 5mm iron-barrel pistol for 100 chips. It's good for dealing with raiders but not recommended for mutants."

Already 20% off, huh?

I don't believe you for a second!

Chu Guang stared at him and said, "A 9mm bolt-action iron-barrel rifle with 60 rounds of ammunition. Additionally, I need 20... no, 25 chips to buy food and other supplies."

Seeing List shrug indifferently, Chu Guang continued seriously, "The mutated leech den has more than 2 kilograms of mushrooms, but I can only collect those near the entrance... you understand what I mean?"

"Do you want me to invest in you?" List looked at Chu Guang with interest, "Interesting."

"Why not? I bet, even at this price, you'll still make a good profit. And if you agree, the goods I bring next time will be ten times as much! Aren't you tempted?"

List was tempted.

To be honest, it was a good proposal.

Transporting 2 kilograms of blue mushrooms to Boulder City would buy more than just a bolt-action rifle; it could buy ten.

These people living in the outskirts had no idea what anti-radiation and decontamination agents meant to those in the city.

The good stuff was all hidden near those nuclear craters!

"Few people can take chips from me."

List signaled his assistant to take a bolt-action rifle and 60 rounds of ammunition from one of the mutated yaks.

"You're an exception."

Counting out 25 white chips, List handed them and the goods to Chu Guang.

"20 kilograms of blue mushrooms, right? Consider it an investment. I'll wait for your news."

"I'll be back here at the end of the month, and it should be my last visit this year."

"I hope to see you then."

Mutated leeches.

No one wanted to mess with them.

Only God knew how many disgusting bugs were in their den, and the worst part was that ordinary penetrating firepower was useless against them.

Their terrifying regenerative and survival abilities allowed them to split into two new individuals even after being cut in half, let alone a few small holes.

As for setting fire...

Even if it could be lit, it would burn valuable items as well.

Totally not worth it.

"By the way, for 20 kilograms of blue mushrooms, I'll give you 2000 chips. You can order from me; there's no need to pick up what others have left behind."

Seeing Chu Guang fiddling with his new weapon, List reminded him.

"How do I know what you have?"

List snapped his fingers.

His assistant understood and handed him a square tablet.

"There are photos. Swipe left and right to choose... I won't teach you if you know how. I guarantee the quality of the goods, but not that they will look exactly like the photos."

Chu Guang glanced at the tablet and found quite a few good items.

Especially the ones he needed most.

"Done?" List asked, seeing Chu Guang selecting.

"Done," Chu Guang returned the tablet and said, "A 10KW wood-powered generator and a KV-1 power exoskeleton."

"You have good taste. The KV-1 is the most durable model, but why do you need a generator? If you're worried about running out of power, you should buy more batteries. I offer a trade-in service, very cheap."

A generator wasn't cheap, costing 1200 chips.

In comparison, the KV-1 power exoskeleton only cost 800 chips, and a chemical battery cost 150 chips.

Even if he bought a new battery, it wouldn't cost more than a thousand.

And where would he put it?

The exoskeleton could be worn under clothes, but a generator was not something an ordinary scavenger could afford.

Seeing through List's concern, Chu Guang said, "Don't worry; I won't bring it back to Bet Street."

"I was just asking. How you handle it is none of my business. Even if you say I sold it to you, I won't admit it, and you'll be the one to suffer." List shrugged and glanced at the sky, "It's getting late. Until next time."

Chu Guang called out to him.

"Wait, are the items I just ordered 20% off?"

List laughed and waved his hand without turning back.

"The price you saw is already discounted."

Chu Guang: "……%￥#￥%"

You damn it!

Wait until I get you, you scoundrels!

Watching the caravan leave, Chu Guang turned and left with a dark face.