11: Chapter 11 Shipment, Huangshan Black Market

Under the cover of night, Huangshan Base City didn't have much in the way of lighting.

Except for some main urban areas and major thoroughfares, residential areas like the old apartment buildings near Chu Hong's home basically had no lights.

However, it was precisely this situation...

that created a mutually tacit existence between the upper and lower classes of Huangshan Base City.

The Huangshan Black Market!

The black market wasn't underground; speaking of which, calling it a ghost market would be much more fitting.

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Whenever it reached eleven or twelve at night and the sky completely darkened, in an abandoned cement factory area not far from Chu Hong's home, people would appear with desk lamps or headlamps selling various items.

There were ordinary people.

But, at the same time, there were also quite a few Pioneers.

Chu Hong carried a mountaineering backpack from Cliffside Epidemic Hospital, wore a hood, and had a black mask covering his face; such an outfit wasn't abrupt or strange in this area.

By the time Chu Hong arrived here, quite a few ordinary people had already set up stalls.

People selling canned goods, clothes, second-hand items, or stolen goods—no one cared about the origin of these things; everyone only cared about the price and the quality of the goods.

"Halt! This is the Pioneers business area!"

Chu Hong walked up to the main entrance of the factory building and was stopped by a stout man in black.

Without saying much, the man extended a hand, and the next moment, a clear flow of energy surged over his palm.

It was Source Energy!

Seeing this, the stout man nodded and stepped aside.

"If it's your first time here, take this. Whether you want to sell something or buy something, the prices at the stalls listed on it are quite fair. It's free, just a recommendation."

A booklet was handed over to Chu Hong by the other party.

"Thank you."

Nodding in gratitude, Chu Hong's voice, which carried a distinct hint of youthful immaturity, noticeably stunned the stout man for a moment.

However, Chu Hong had already stepped into the factory building by then.

Unlike the stalls of ordinary people outside, which required their own lighting,

inside the factory building, there was independent power supply and lighting. This also showed from the side that the so-called black market was merely a place tacitly understood by both the authorities and the folks.

It was Chu Hong's first time coming in here, but there was no trace of nervousness in his eyes as he silently surveyed the layout inside.

A huge open space was divided into rows of counters.

Aside from a few scattered collectible items displayed just to make a show, which weren't very precious, each counter featured massive metal boxes.

There were at least three people at each stall.

One person was responsible for negotiating prices, while the other two watched over the area to protect their goods.

Surrounding the interior of the factory, there was also a circle of separate rooms on the second floor. Unlike the banners of the affiliated Pioneer Squads hanging on the counters below,

the second floor featured clearly permanent store plaques.

Chu Hong wasn't in a rush to sell his things; instead, he slowly scanned past each counter, listening to the discussions and bargaining of the surrounding Pioneers.

"If you want Source Energy points, then I can only give you this number: 20k. Although your skull is a magic-side prop, it is only blue-tier after all, not particularly precious. However, if you accept universal currency for settlement, I can offer 100k."

"Universal currency is fine too, but 100k is too little. Final offer, 150k!"

"Hey, have you guys heard? Forty miles west of the base city, a new mystic realm has truly appeared. I heard our base city is going to dispatch a Pioneer Squad to conduct an Investigation there soon."

"Heh, who doesn't know? Isn't it Cliffside Epidemic Hospital? This matter has spread like wildfire in the magazines, but I heard this mystic realm isn't simple..."

Chu Hong's steps paused slightly.

Hearing the intelligence about the real-world mystic realm Cliffside Epidemic Hospital, he couldn't help but listen a bit more.

"Not simple? No matter how complicated it is, can it be more complicated than Crossing River Dragon Team? That's a team certified by the Pioneers Guild, ranked in the top ten in our Huangshan Base City. Every single member has at least the strength of the Energy Gathering Realm, and the captain Jiang Long is even the youngest Energy Gathering Realm expert in our Huangshan Base City."

"Sigh, that's true. As long as an all-Energy Gathering Realm team isn't courting death, ordinary mystic realms really might not be able to trap them... But how come I heard that Crossing River Dragon Team recently expelled someone?"

Chu Hong listened intently. At this moment, the woman in charge of counter management clearly noticed Chu Hong with his backpack.

She stepped forward with a smile.

"Little brother, do you have something to sell? Or are you looking to buy something? The reputation of our Beetle Squad is well-known throughout the entire market."

The woman greeted him warmly. Seeing that the two guards who had been chatting animatedly stopped talking,

Chu Hong didn't mind.

Looking at the stall in front of him and thinking of the booklet he had briefly skimmed through earlier, it seemed there really was a description of the Beetle Squad's operating counter on it.

Their reputation seemed pretty good.

He nodded, stepped forward, and took off the backpack from his back.

"Some simple collectible items, you guys should be able to take them in..."

As he spoke, he began pulling out items one by one from the backpack.

"Precious jewelry of blue quality, two rings, one necklace."

The woman's eyes lit up. She immediately took the items from Chu Hong's hands, began inspecting them on the spot, and soon a satisfied smile appeared on her face.

She nodded: "That's right, these are blue-quality collectibles, and they're hardly damaged. If prop craftsmen need blue-quality jewelry as materials to make targeted accessories or props, these few pieces of yours can all fetch a pretty good price."

Chu Hong nodded and continued pulling things out of his backpack.

"Purple-quality 4K camera, purple-quality permanent ink, purple-quality white porcelain teacup."

Another three items.

But this time they directly went up a tier, reaching the purple level.

As soon as the items were brought out, they immediately drew shocked and curious gazes from people at several surrounding counter squads.

Behind the woman from the Beetle Squad, the two members who had been chatting earlier instantly became alert, looking around vigilantly with guarded expressions.

They looked like they were warning everyone around them.

The woman obviously hadn't expected that Chu Hong, who looked to be just a young man judging by his build, would directly pull out three purple-quality collectibles.

Purple quality!

In this cataclysmic era of material scarcity and scarce high-grade collectibles, anyone who could pull out three purple-tier items all at once was definitely not simple.

After all, these things could only be scavenged from mystic realms.

And in places like mystic realms, one careless move could cost you your life right inside.

"Th-This gentleman, why don't we go to the VIP area to talk in detail?"

The woman pointed towards a few privately set-up rooms on one side of the second floor, a clear look of caution on her face.

Chu Hong nodded.

These items he took out had all been screened by him.

They wouldn't expose that they originated from Cliffside Epidemic Hospital, and their prices were relatively higher, making it convenient for him to accumulate funds and prepare for things he would need next.

Under the careful protection of several members of the Beetle Squad, Chu Hong was soon seated in a reception room on the second floor.

A spacious sofa, plus a steaming cup of fragrant coffee.

Coffee was extremely precious nowadays.

Ordinary people could only drink synthetic powder; a single cup of coffee translated into universal currency would cost at least around one thousand yuan.

Chu Hong didn't drink it, instead looking at the woman in front of him.

"You can appraise the price now. If you guys can't take it all, I can find someone else."

"No no no, sir, although our Beetle Squad isn't very strong, we've managed to operate here for several years after all. These items are still no problem..."

The woman hurriedly waved her hands while looking at the items in front of Chu Hong.

Quickly giving a price in her mind.

"I can offer 400k in Source Energy points, or 3 million if you accept universal currency settlement!"

The woman quoted a very good price. In fact, the proportion given in universal currency was obviously much higher, at least an extra one million.

"Heh, sir, if you are willing, we can transfer the funds right now."

The woman smiled, her attitude exceedingly enthusiastic.

Chu Hong, however, gently shook his head.

"No rush..."

He fished out a list from his inner jacket pocket and handed it over to the woman.

"Take a look at these things as well. Which of the items on here can you provide the fastest?"

"I need them urgently..."