Chapter 102: Checking the Harvest and Unexpected Events!

The frenzied trading boom lasted a full month.

During that month, the abandoned industrial park outside Xuanwu City hardly ever quieted down.

Each day, convoys arrived from all sides, bringing crate after crate of Energy Crystals, then departed loaded with carts of supplies, satisfied.

All survivors in the Suchen region fell into an unprecedented frenzy because of the appearance of Xuanwu City.

As the architect of all this, Lin Yue spent this month in unprecedented fulfillment.

"City Lord, this is the monthly financial summary report."

In the City Lord's mansion, inside the command room, Sun Hao, his belly growing ever rounder, respectfully handed a thick report to Lin Yue.

On his honest face, he now smiled like a blooming chrysanthemum, his fat squeezing his eyes almost shut.

"As of today, we have established stable trade relations with forty‑seven small and medium shelters in the Suchen region, earning a total of 15,600 first‑grade Energy Crystals, 130 second‑grade, and 2 third‑grade."

"Hiss—"

Even though Lin Yue had been prepared, hearing that number he still couldn't help sucking in a breath of cold air.

He roughly calculated that these Energy Crystals could bring him 170,000 energy points.

He never imagined acquiring energy points could be this easy.

Know that this is only the turnover for one month.

Adding his existing energy points, after Black Tortoise evolves to level 5 he will still have nearly 200,000 points left.

According to the previous pattern, Black Tortoise needs 1,000,000 energy points to evolve from level 5 to 6, and he has already gathered one‑fifth of that.

"This damn… it's faster than robbing a bank!"

He forcibly suppressed his joy, took the report, and flipped through it casually.

In the report, every transaction and every expenditure is recorded clearly and plainly.

"Well done, Minister Sun."

Lin Yue closed the report, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.

"Hehe, this is all thanks to your excellent leadership, City Lord!"

Sun Hao scratched his head embarrassedly, his smile growing more obsequious.

He now feels genuine admiration and awe for Lin Yue from the bottom of his heart.

Thinking back, he used to worry about his daily rations, but now he controls a vast fortune that could drive the whole Suchen region mad.

All of this was brought to him by the young City Lord before him.

"By the way, City Lord,"

Sun Hao seemed to recall something, pulling another document from his pocket,

"This is the latest intelligence sent from the Three Major Shelters. They say that recently, in the area north of Suchen, they have detected some… unusual activity."

"Oh?"

Lin Yue raised his eyebrows and took the document.

"According to the report from the joint reconnaissance team of the Three Major Shelters, over recent days, mutant creature activity north of Suchen, near the coastal zone, has become unusually frequent. Moreover, they have observed several massive beast tides, seemingly converging toward the same direction."

At the end of the intelligence, a blurry photo taken by a high‑altitude drone was attached.

The photo shows an endless black beast tide, and… dozens of huge beasts.

"This is…"

Lin Yue's pupils suddenly contracted.

Each of these beasts is the size of a small hill.

Just from this photo, Lin Yue could tell that the strength of these beasts is absolutely not to be underestimated.

If there were only one, given Black Tortoise's current size and defense, perhaps it could still hold its own for a moment or two.

But now, the photo shows as many as dozens of them!

Facing such a terrifying lineup, even a level‑4 Black Tortoise would likely only be able to temporarily avoid the brunt.

"Now we're in trouble…"

Lin Yue's brows knotted tightly.

But soon he noticed something odd in the photo.

"Wait… these beasts seem to have no legs?"

He brought the photo closer, narrowed his eyes, trying to see more clearly.

Although the photo was taken from high altitude with extremely low resolution, one can still barely make out the lower‑body outlines of those beasts.

They lack the limbs or other support structures of land creatures; instead they resemble a gigantic marine organism, with a smooth underside that seems to have only fins and a tail.

Moreover, the direction they are gathering is precisely the coastal area!

"A bold guess arose in Lin Yue's mind—could these be mutant sea beasts?"

"If so, then they would hardly be able to come ashore."

This discovery let Lin Yue relax a little.

If these beasts cannot go ashore, then no matter how much disturbance they cause in the sea, the threat to inland Xuanwu City would be greatly reduced.

"But is it really that simple?"

Lin Yue dared not be careless.

In the wasteland world, any common sense could be overturned.

"Who can guarantee that these oceanic beasts have no means of landing?"

"Or perhaps first absorb all the Energy Crystals harvested during this period, then talk."

"Notify Han Ya, put the guard squad on level‑3 alert, ready to respond to any sudden situation at any time."

Lin Yue said in a deep voice to Sun Hao, his tone unprecedentedly solemn,

Also, tell Han Ya to closely monitor the movements of these giant beasts; as soon as she notices any signs of them landing, inform me immediately!

Yes! City Lord, if there's nothing else, I'll go inform Han Ya first!

Sun Hao also understood the seriousness of this matter.

Hmm, go!

After Sun Hao left, Lin Yue immediately went to the warehouse storing the Energy Crystals, intending to absorb all the Energy Crystals harvested during this period.

【Ding! Absorbing a Tier-1 Energy Crystal, Energy Points +10!】

【Ding! Absorbing a Tier-1 Energy Crystal, Energy Points +10!】

【Ding! Absorbing a Tier-2 Energy Crystal, Energy Points +100!】

【Ding! Absorbing a Tier-3 Energy Crystal, Energy Points +1000!】

【Ding! Total Energy Points absorbed this time: points!】

【Current total Energy Points: /!】

280,000!

Looking at the numbers on the system panel, even though Lin Yue already knew, he was still shocked!

That's a full 280,000 points of energy!

"System, how long does it take to evolve to level 5?"

Lin Yue silently asked in his mind.

【Reply to host, estimated time needed: two hours.】

"Two hours..."

Lin Yue pondered for a moment.

Evolving now would allow Black Tortoise's strength to undergo another qualitative leap, but the commotion would be huge, likely causing unnecessary trouble.

Moreover, the 'wool' of Suchen has basically been sheared clean by him.

Over the past month, with the frantic trading, the Energy Crystal reserves of those small and medium shelters have basically run dry.

Now, the daily transaction volume has plummeted from the initial several thousand to less than fifty.

"Perhaps... it's time to leave."

This is not only because the Energy Crystals of Suchen have been almost harvested by him, but more importantly, there are dozens of giant beasts comparable to a level-4 Black Tortoise.

This made him feel a vague sense of unease.