Chapter 1528: Clearing Out Inventory (1)

Just at this moment, the empty high stool beside him was pulled out by someone.

Yingzhou's peripheral vision swept over the person's silhouette.

He was wearing a dark gray coat, the texture of which was not cheap goods like those of ordinary merchants.

The bartender placed a hot drink in front of him, and after he picked it up and took a sip, he struck up a conversation with Yingzhou.

"Friend, you've been sitting here for a long time, haven't you? I saw you when I came in; you've been sitting still and haven't said much."

Yingzhou looked at the person's face, and after confirming he did not know him, he spoke.

"It hasn't been that long. I'm just having a drink and resting. Did you just arrive?"

The man nodded and said with a smile.

"Just arrived not long ago. It's my first time at the Xiuluo Holy Star. The several passages at the Spaceport nearby had me going in circles twice before I found this storefront."

Seeing that Yingzhou had no intention of ending the conversation, the man continued.

"I came over from the Greer Union to do some small business. I've run this route a few times and discovered that the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance is quite different from what the outside world says; it's more orderly than I imagined."

Yingzhou's finger circled lightly on the rim of his cup.

The place name "Greer Union" made his focus sharpen a bit; it happened to be the one mentioned by the merchants at the table earlier, the place in the northern star sector where the Nagier Chamber of Commerce bypassed the border checkpoints.

The distance from the Greer Union to the Xiuluo Holy Star was not short; the shipping costs for running this route should not be cheap.

The man said with a smile.

"Oh, my friend, the shipping costs are indeed not cheap, but if one can buy the right things, the shipping cost is just part of the cost, which can be factored into the total price."

Following that, the man lowered his voice and said.

"I came to the Xiuluo Holy Star wanting to purchase a batch of ships and weapon equipment. I heard that the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance's military strength is very strong now, and they must have a lot of surplus equipment that needs to be cleared out. I happen to be lacking these things on my end, so I want to find a way to connect."

When Yingzhou heard the words "purchase ships and weapon equipment," he looked at the other party.

"You just arrived at the Xiuluo Holy Star, and you're already telling a stranger you just met that you want to buy weapons?"

The man leaned back in his chair and picked up his cup to take a sip of his hot drink.

"I'm a pretty good judge of character. From the moment I walked in until now, you haven't turned your head once, no matter what happened around you."

"People who drink in bars all year round don't sit like that. Someone like you is either in charge within the administrative system or someone with connections to the administrative system."

"Talking to you is much better than grabbing some random person on the street whose background I don't know."

The corners of Yingzhou's mouth twitched; he turned sideways and rested his arm on the bar counter.

"You tell me first, why do you want to buy the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance's weapon equipment? The Greer Union has its own military-industrial system. You ran such a long way to buy someone else's things; the price plus the shipping cost is more expensive than buying locally."

The man placed his cup on the counter, his hands loosely cupped near the rim.

"The Greer Union's own military-industrial system can indeed build things, but the things they build are designed according to the Union's military standards—unified models, unified interfaces—and can only be used on the Union's fleet."

"What I'm buying isn't for the Union to use; I'm using it myself. I have a few shipping routes that go through the no-man's-land routes in the Union's northern star sector, and along the way, I encounter some places that require firepower to get through."

"I can't take the Union's standard issue equipment privately; if I do, it's arms smuggling. But the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance's equipment is different. The things you build are of a higher specification than the Greer Union's, and I don't have the channels to get equipment from the Greer military, but if someone here is willing to sell, I don't need to go through Greer's approval system."

When Yingzhou heard the two sentences about "no-man's-land routes" and "places that require firepower to get through," he asked.

"No-man's-land routes. You take that path to avoid the Greer Union's border checkpoints?"

The man said with a smile.

"It's not just about avoiding checkpoints. There are a few shipping lanes in the no-man's-land that the Nagier Chamber of Commerce opened up, but they are too expensive. If I go myself, I can keep the costs to about 70 percent of theirs."

"However, there is some trouble on that route. Those ships with no fixed affiliation specialize in intercepting cargo ships passing through the no-man's-land lanes; they rob them and leave, never leaving any survivors. If I don't carry arms, going through there is just suicide."

Yingzhou just nodded slightly, and the man continued.

"I came this time mainly to see if the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance has any retired Light Frigates or Armed Transport Ships for sale, plus some matching Close-in Weapon Systems and Short-range Firepower Platforms."

"My budget isn't large, but if the ship condition is good, I can pay in full at once; no need for installments."

After hearing this, Yingzhou tapped his fingers on the bar counter twice.

"You have a good eye. The Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance does indeed have a batch of unused equipment backed up in the warehouse."

"Things left over after those Alien forces were wiped out—the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance's standard establishment doesn't use those models, but after some modifications, they are sufficient for civilian shipping routes."

"I heard someone mention this a few days ago, saying the inventory was taking up space and they were considering how to handle it."

When Yingzhou said this, the man's eyes lit up.

"You have a way to get in touch with that batch of inventory?"

Yingzhou picked up the hot drink that had already reached the bottom, drank the last sip, and said with a smile.

"My name is Li Feiyu. You have a good eye; you found the right person. I really do have a way to help you connect with that batch of goods."

The man had no extra facial reaction upon hearing the name Li Feiyu; he extended a hand.

"Kedi Zao, Greer Union, independent merchant ship owner. If you are willing to help, how does the follow-up process work? Should I leave you contact information, or do you have a dedicated window for handling these types of matters?"

Yingzhou did not shake the hand, only nodded slightly as a response.

"Leave a contact address. After I confirm the inventory list, I will have someone contact you. The first transaction requires an inspection process; you will inspect the goods yourself, and only after you are satisfied will we discuss the price."

Kedi Zao took a paper card from the inside pocket of his coat, placed it on the counter, and pushed it to Yingzhou's side.

"This code can reach me directly, at any time."

Yingzhou used his finger to slide the card from the edge of the counter to his side.

"Good, I will contact you when the time comes."