Chapter 143: First Transaction

An endless expanse of emerald-green fields!

Golden wheat stalks swayed in the breeze, plump corn ears poked out, and neat rows of vegetable greenhouses glistened in the sunlight.

In the distance, herds of cattle and sheep grazed leisurely, and several neatly planned two-story buildings curled with thin cooking smoke.

The air was filled with the fragrance of earth and the fresh scent of plants, not the eternal rot and dust of the wasteland world.

What kind of refuge is this?

This is clearly a utopia!

"Glug."

Someone gulped hard.

"Captain… are… are those all food?"

The young soldier's voice trembled.

The captain did not answer; he too was completely stunned by the sight.

He suddenly understood why Commander Luo Tiancheng was willing to wager a hundred thousand energy crystals on this trade.

Dai Xing took in everyone's shock, his smile unchanged, yet his heart swelled with pride.

This, was their Xuanwu City.

"Everyone, the Finance Department has arrived."

Dai Xing's voice woke them from their immense shock.

They looked up and saw a massive building appear before them.

"Finance Department? Department Head Dai, what place is this?"

Actually, Lin Hai had wanted to ask just now; although he had only been to Xuanwu City once, he knew the way to the Xuanwu Supermarket, but since it was someone else's territory, he didn't press further.

Dai Xing's smile remained as warm and approachable as ever,

"Captain Lin, all goods in Xuanwu City can be purchased with Xuanwu currency. And Xuanwu currency must be exchanged for energy crystals at the Finance Department."

"After the exchange is complete, you can freely shop for goods in the Xuanwu Supermarket."

"Good… good! Then… then thank you, Department Head Dai!" shouted a team member still reeling from shock:

"What the hell are you still standing there for?! Hurry up and unload the stuff for me!"

"Yes, sir!"

The soldiers jolted, snapped back to attention, and then each charged toward their own trucks as if injected with adrenaline.

"Click! Click! Click!"

One by one, heavy alloy boxes were lifted off the trucks.

Dai Xing merely glanced at them, then summoned Sun Hao, who had been waiting nearby.

"Section Chief Sun, the upcoming inventory work is up to you."

"No problem! No problem!"

Sun Hao protruded his round belly, his face full of sincere smiles, he pulled out a solar-powered calculator from his pocket and, with practiced ease, began the inventory.

"Standard-grade energy crystals, thirty thousand pieces, quality full, no problem."

In less than ten minutes, the inventory was finished.

A Finance Department staff member carried a box containing thirty thousand Xuanwu coins to Lin Hai.

"Captain Lin, this box holds thirty thousand Xuanwu coins. You may now shop freely."

Lin Hai felt a bit dazed, is that it?

The entire transaction went so smoothly that it felt unreal to him.

He took a deep breath and reached out to open the box before him.

Neatly stacked rows of ancient copper-colored coins reflected a steady sheen in the sunlight.

Lin Hai picked up one; it felt slightly heavy in hand, with a fine texture.

The obverse of the coin bore a lifelike Black Tortoise shell pattern, while the reverse bore a seal‑etched 'One' character.

This… is Xuanwu currency?

Seeing Lin Hai's curious expression, Dai Xing asked:

"Captain Lin, do you have any questions?"

Lin Hai shook his head, returned the Xuanwu coin to the box, and said with a feeling hard to put into words:

"No, there's no problem; I just didn't expect Xuanwu City to have its own monetary system."

This is not merely a piece of metal; it represents a complete economic system.

From this alone, one can see how ambitious Xuanwu City is!

Dai Xing merely smiled and did not elaborate further,

"All right, Captain Lin, please follow me; the Xuanwu Supermarket is just ahead, and its goods will surely satisfy you."

Following Dai Xing's steps, Lin Hai's group quickly arrived before an even larger building.

"Xuanwu Supermarket" in large characters, neatly painted in black lacquer on the wall, two armed guards stood at the entrance, their expressions relaxed, and they even saluted Dai Xing.

When the supermarket's automatic glass doors whooshed open to either side, a warm breeze mixed with food aromas and industrial product scents blew in.

Bright! Clean! Neat!

Rows of metal shelves rose high, densely packed with all kinds of goods.

Most conspicuous was the food section.

Bags of rice and flour piled up like mountains, stacked as if they were small hills.

On the shelves were uniformly labeled dried meat, canned meat, and wind‑dried sausages.

On the other side were freshly picked vegetables, leaves still glistening with crystal‑clear droplets, and tomatoes red as rubies.

Even…… they also saw a huge refrigerator, inside which were neatly cut blocks of fresh meat!

What…… what are you still standing there for?!

Lin Hai looked at the group of members behind him still in a dazed state, and scolded them, both angry and amused,

Hurry up! Load all the supplies we need onto the truck! Grains and oils, prioritize those! Canned meat, take as much as you have! And those vegetables…… bring them all too!

Yes!

At the command, dozens of soldiers instantly became the most diligent movers, pushing the large shopping carts in the supermarket like a locust swarm sweeping through, they charged toward those shelves full of goods!

Three hours later.

When Lin Hai saw the thirty heavy trucks stuffed full of various supplies, he felt somewhat unreal.

Thirty thousand first‑grade Energy Crystals.

They were exchanged for…… a full thirty truckloads of food!

Of these, just the rice and flour filled twenty heavy trucks!

The remaining ten trucks were filled to the brim with various canned meats, compressed biscuits, and the fresh vegetables they had dreamed of eating!

This deal, how could it be merely profitable?

This damn thing is practically being given away for free!

"Department Head Dai, Department Head Sun, this time…… thank you!"

Lin Hai walked up to Dai Xing and Sun Hao, and solemnly performed a standard military salute toward the two of them.

This gratitude came from the depths of his heart.

"Captain Lin, you're being polite."

Dai Xing still had that smiling, squinty-eyed look,

"Our City Lord said, friends come with good wine. I hope Xuanwu City and the Southern City Refuge will have more opportunities to cooperate in the future."

On the return journey, the atmosphere was completely different from the outward trip.

Everyone inside the transport vehicle could not restrain their excited discussion.

"Good heavens, did you see that? The supermarket actually still sells cola!"

"What's cola? I damn well saw ice cream! It's ice cream!"

"What kind of divine place is Xuanwu City? How…… how did they manage this?"

Lin Hai quietly listened to the members' discussion, without speaking to stop them.

He knew that this trip to Xuanwu City had brought them an impact that was truly too great.

Through the window, Lin Hai gazed at the gradually receding Xuanwu City, his heart filled with complex emotions.

PS: New book, please urge for updates, please collect!