17: The financial queen surrendered voluntarily.

Captains Quarters.

Gu Pingsheng sat on the leather sofa, his brows slightly furrowed, holding a glass of red wine but not taking a sip for a long time.

It was not that the wine tasted bad.

It was because he felt annoyed.

He opened the virtual panel in front of him and looked at the [Storage] tab.

Red exclamation marks were flashing wildly.

"Warning: Storage capacity has reached 95%! Please clean up in time!"

"Warning: Supplies are heavily backlogged, which may cause the spaceship to lose stability!"

In these past few days, with the spaceship upgraded to Silver grade, plus Su Ruan, that crazy girl, taking her rabbits to sweep everywhere, and Lin Qinghan taking the guard team out hunting every day...

The loot was terrifyingly abundant.

If it were good stuff, that would be fine.

The problem was that most of it was low-grade materials and duplicate equipment.

[Rusty Iron Sheet x5000]

[Damaged Mechanical Parts x3000]

[Inferior Fur x2000]

[Ordinary Iron Sword x50]

...

Throwing these things away would be a pity. After all, even mosquito legs are meat, and some basic materials might be needed for future spaceship upgrades.

Keeping them, however, took up space.

Moreover, prices in the trading market were currently fluctuating wildly.

Two days ago, refined iron was still hard currency, but today the price had dropped by 30%.

Yesterday, someone was buying fur at a high price, but today, no one wanted it.

Although Gu Pingsheng had the [Hand of God], he was only one person with limited energy.

He could not stare at the trading market every day, haggling with profiteers, or analyzing which material would rise and which would fall.

He was the Captain, the leader, responsible for steering and combat.

Such trivial matters were too much of a waste of time.

"Alice."

Gu Pingsheng rubbed his temples.

"Can you set up automatic trading? Can we sell all this trash?"

"Sorry, Master."

Alice's figure appeared, her face bearing a perfect professional smile.

"The system's built-in trading function can only perform simple listings and cannot conduct complex market analysis or arbitrage operations."

"If you want to maximize your returns, I suggest manual operation."

Gu Pingsheng sighed.

Manual?

He might as well go kill two BOSSes; that would be more satisfying.

Just then.

"Ding-dong."

The doorbell rang.

Gu Pingsheng took a look at the monitor.

A girl was standing outside the door.

It was not Lin Qinghan, nor was it Su Ruan.

It was a girl who usually had very little presence.

She was wearing a washed-out school uniform, a pair of thick black-rimmed glasses perched on the bridge of her nose, and she was holding a thick stack of papers in her hands.

Gu Nian.

The top student who always scored first in class, but was antisocial and rarely spoke.

"Why is she here?"

Gu Pingsheng was a bit surprised.

In these past few days, there had been quite a few girls wanting to "try their luck" at the Captains Quarters.

There were those like Liu Ruyan who wanted to rely on their looks to climb up.

There were also those like Tang Xiaoxiao who got up there through connections (Chen Chuxia).

But this Gu Nian...

She usually looked quite aloof; had she figured things out too?

"Let her in."

Gu Pingsheng put down his wine glass and adjusted his sitting posture.

The door opened.

Gu Nian walked in.

She did not look around like the other girls the moment she entered, revealing that shocked expression of someone who had never seen the world.

Although her gaze lingered for a second on the temperature-controlled pool and the fruit on the table, she quickly retracted it.

Calm.

Rational.

This was Gu Pingsheng's first impression of her.

"Captain."

Gu Nian walked up to Gu Pingsheng and bowed slightly.

Her movements were standard, neither servile nor overbearing.

"Something up?"

Gu Pingsheng looked at her.

"If you want to ask for supplies, or if you want to move up here..."

He pointed to the task board on the side.

"Go find Zhao Min downstairs and do things according to the rules."

"No."

Gu Nian pushed up the glasses on the bridge of her nose, and a flash of white light reflected off the lenses.

"I am not here to beg for charity."

"I am here to discuss cooperation."

Cooperation?

Gu Pingsheng raised an eyebrow.

This was fresh.

A lower-tier commoner who could not even get enough to eat, talking about cooperation with an overlord who owned a Silver-grade spaceship?

"On what grounds?"

Gu Pingsheng laughed, his smile somewhat playful.

"On this."

Gu Nian took a step forward and placed the thick stack of papers in her hand on the coffee table.

Gu Pingsheng glanced at it.

On the cover was a line of neat, small text:

"Analysis Report on Solutions to spaceship Supply Backlog and Regional Market Arbitrage"

Gu Pingsheng was stunned for a moment.

He picked up the report and opened the first page.

Dense data.

Various K-line charts, bar charts, and pie charts.

[Analysis of Current Storage Supply Turnover Rate]

[Refined Iron Price Fluctuation Curve and Forecast for the Next Three Days]

[Comparison of Dismantling Benefits vs. Direct Sale Benefits for Low-Level Equipment]

[Feasibility Study on Cross-Regional Arbitrage Using Information Gaps]

...

Professional.

Too professional.

Although Gu Pingsheng did not understand finance, he could see the value of this report.

This was definitely not something that could be written casually.

This was the result of a large amount of observation, calculation, and analysis.

"You wrote this?"

Gu Pingsheng raised his head and re-examined the frail girl in front of him.

"Yes."

Gu Nian nodded.

"I have observed the trading market for these past few days and discovered many patterns."

"For example, from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM every day is the peak price for food and water because everyone has just woken up and urgently needs to replenish energy."

"And after 10:00 PM is the low point for basic material prices because many people are in a hurry to clear their inventory in exchange for survival points."

"And also..."

She paused, a glimmer of confidence flashing in her eyes.

"I have awakened an A-grade talent — [Queen of Finance]."

As she spoke, she displayed her panel.

[Talent: Queen of Finance (A-grade)]

[Effect 1: Actuary. You can see the real-time price fluctuation curve of all commodities and predict the rise and fall trend within the next 1 hour (80% accuracy).]

[Effect 2: Tax Exemption. For all transactions you conduct in the trading market, the handling fee is reduced by 30%.]

[Effect 3: Mysterious Black Market (Not yet opened). You are qualified to enter hidden black market channels to purchase rare items.]

Gu Pingsheng looked at that talent description, and his eyes gradually began to light up.

A talent!

This was simply tailor-made to solve his current predicament!

Especially that [Tax Exemption].

You have to know that the system's trading fee is a black-hearted 10%.

A 30% reduction would mean a huge profit margin.

Plus that [Actuary] who can see through price fluctuations...

This is a human-shaped money-printing machine!

"A bit interesting."

Gu Pingsheng closed the report, and his fingers tapped lightly on the cover.

"How do you want to cooperate?"

"I want to be the Chief Financial Officer of the spaceship."

Gu Nian looked directly into Gu Pingsheng's eyes and stated her ambition.

"I will be responsible for helping you manage the storage, process the backlogged materials, and conduct market investments."

"I want to live on the upper deck and enjoy the same treatment as Lin Qinghan."

"In addition..."

She extended a finger.

"I want 5% of all trading profits as my commission."

A lion's share.

A lower-tier commoner, opening her mouth to ask for core treatment, and even wanting a commission.

If it were anyone else, Gu Pingsheng would have shot her or thrown her out directly.

But looking at Gu Nian's eyes, which were filled with wisdom and ambition.

Gu Pingsheng was not angry.

On the contrary, he admired her.

Having ambition is a good thing.

Only with ambition is there motivation.

As long as you have enough ability to match your ambition.

"5% is too much."

Gu Pingsheng said indifferently.

"Right now, you are not qualified to negotiate terms with me."

He waved his hand casually.

"Clatter—"

A large pile of metal ingots appeared out of thin air, filling half of the Captains Quarters.

That was 1000 units of [Refined Iron].

"This is the principal."

Gu Pingsheng pointed at the pile of refined iron.

"I will give you half a day."

"I want to see a 20% profit."

"If you succeed, you will be the Chief Financial Officer. The treatment will be as you said, and I will give you a 2% commission."

"If you fail..."

Gu Pingsheng sneered.

"Then eat this refined iron, and get back to the lower deck."

Gu Nian looked at the pile of refined iron without the slightest fear.

She pushed up her glasses, and the corners of her mouth curled into a confident arc.

"Deal."

...

Half a day.

For other people on the spaceship, it might just be spacing out, chatting, or fighting tooth and nail over a moldy piece of bread.

But for Gu Nian.

This was a war.

A war without gunpowder, but equally thrilling.

She did not leave the Captains Quarters.

Gu Pingsheng specially had someone move a table for her, right in front of the floor-to-ceiling window.

Gu Nian sat there, with more than a dozen virtual light screens floating in front of her.

They were all filled with dense, jumping data.

Her fingers danced rapidly in the void, so fast that only afterimages could be seen.

"Buy! Someone in District 9528 is dumping refined iron at a low price, buy it all!"

"Sell! District 9530 urgently needs refined iron to repair their spaceship, the price has a 15% premium, ship out 300 units!"

"List! Exchange refined iron for [Energy Blocks], ratio 1:5, wait ten minutes for the price to fall back, then perform a reverse operation!"

...

She was like a general commanding thousands of troops.

Calm, decisive, precise.

Every transaction was within her calculations.

Gu Pingsheng sat on the sofa, drinking red wine while watching her with great interest.

He could see the backend data.

That pile of refined iron, which originally only had 1000 units, was increasing at a terrifying speed.

1100... 1300... 1500...

It was not just the quantity that was increasing.

The types were also changing.

Refined iron turned into energy blocks, energy blocks turned into rare metals, and rare metals were exchanged for blueprints...

Gu Nian used the information gaps between various regions, used time differences, and used human greed and panic.

In just a few hours, she completed one perfect arbitrage after another.

This was the terrifying aspect of the [Queen of Finance].

A market that was chaotic and disorderly in the eyes of others was a clear treasure map in her eyes.

...

5:00 PM.

Gu Nian stopped the movements in her hands.

She let out a long breath and rubbed her slightly sore wrists.

Then, she turned off all the light screens.

She stood up and walked to Gu Pingsheng.

"Mission accomplished."

She handed a list to Gu Pingsheng.

Gu Pingsheng took it and looked.

His pupils shrank slightly.

[Initial Principal: Refined Iron x1000]

[Current Assets:]

[Refined Iron x1500 (50% increase)]

[Energy Blocks x50]

[Rare Metal · Mithril x10]

[Blueprint: Automatic Defense Turret (purple · rare)]

20%?

This is more than doubling!

Especially that purple blueprint.

[Automatic Defense Turret]!

This is the most lacking defense facility on the spaceship right now!

With this thing, the spaceship's safety factor will be raised by at least one grade!

"How did you do it?"

Gu Pingsheng couldn't help but ask.

That blueprint was something priceless on the market; how could it be exchanged back with a pile of scrap iron?

"Luck."

Gu Nian smiled faintly.

"Someone was in a rush to upgrade their spaceship core and was crazy for refined iron, so I used refined iron at 30% above market price to trade for the blueprint in his hand."

"To him, although the blueprint is precious, it cannot be eaten, nor can it be used to repair the spaceship."

"This is demand mismatch."

Gu Pingsheng looked at her.

This woman was not only smart but also ruthless enough.

She was even more proficient at robbery than he was.

"Very good."

Gu Pingsheng stood up and extended his hand.

"Welcome aboard."

"My Chief Financial Officer."

Gu Nian looked at that hand, and a flash of excitement crossed her eyes.

She had won the bet.

She reached out and held Gu Pingsheng's hand.

It was a bit cool, but very strong.

"My honor, Captain."

...

That night.

Gu Nian moved into the upper deck area.

It was right in the suite next to Gu Pingsheng's, which was originally intended for guests, but now it became her exclusive office and bedroom.

The girls on the lower deck exploded again.

"Another one?!"

"Gu Nian? That nerd? Why her!"

"I heard she helped the Captain earn a lot of money..."

"What is the use of earning money? Can she fight? Can she heal?"

"You know nothing! How important are supplies right now! She has a good brain!"

Liu Ruyan watched the back of Gu Nian carrying her luggage up the stairs, her teeth almost grinding to pieces.

First Lin Qinghan, then Su Ruan, then Chen Chuxia and Tang Xiaoxiao.

Now even Gu Nian, that antisocial nerd who usually couldn't even be bothered to say a word, had climbed above her!

"I don't accept this... I don't accept this..."

She screamed crazily in her heart.

But no one paid attention to her impotent rage.

...

Captains Quarters.

Gu Pingsheng was in a great mood.

With Gu Nian, he wouldn't have to worry about those trivial matters in the future.

He only needed to be responsible for the big-picture decisions, and leave the rest to the professionals.

This is the joy of being a boss.

"Captain."

Gu Nian pushed the door and entered.

She had changed out of that old school uniform and put on a set of professional OL attire that Alice had prepared for her.

White shirt, pencil skirt, black stockings, high heels.

Matched with those black-rimmed glasses, it was the definition of an abstinence-style office lady.

It must be said that clothes make the person.

With this outfit, Gu Nian's intellectual temperament was instantly maxed out.

"Something else?"

Gu Pingsheng admired the beautiful scene in front of him, and his mood became even better.

"There is a situation that I think I need to report to you."

Gu Nian walked to the table and pulled up a light screen.

Her expression became serious.

"When I was analyzing the market data, I discovered an anomaly."

She pointed to a red curve on the screen.

"Look at this."

"The price of [Energy Crystal]."

"Since yesterday, it has been rising slowly but steadily."

"Although the increase is not large, only 5%, this is very abnormal."

"Because at this stage, most people's spaceships are still at the Black Iron grade, so the demand for energy crystals is not high."

"Moreover, I have tracked several large buy orders."

"Although they used anonymity, their trading habits and listing methods are very similar."

Gu Nian pushed up her glasses, and a flash of sharp light crossed her eyes.

"I suspect that someone is maliciously acquiring them."

"Someone is hoarding goods."

"Or rather..."

She looked at Gu Pingsheng, her voice lowering a few degrees.

"Someone is preparing for some kind of major event that is about to come and will require the consumption of a large amount of energy."

Gu Pingsheng narrowed his eyes.

Major event?

Hoarding energy crystals?

This is indeed a bit abnormal.

In this survival game, every resource is a life.

Who would have nothing better to do than hoard this kind of thing that isn't temporarily useful?

Unless...

He knows some information that others don't.

"Can you find out who it is?"

Gu Pingsheng asked.

"It is difficult."

Gu Nian shook her head.

"The other party is very cautious and used multi-layer jump trades."

"However..."

The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, revealing a cunning smile.

"Since he is buying, we can also intervene."

"We can..."

She leaned close to Gu Pingsheng's ear and whispered a few words.

Gu Pingsheng listened, and his eyes became brighter and brighter.

Finally, he couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Hahahaha! Good! Let's do it like that!"

"Gu Nian, you really are a profiteer!"

"Thanks for the compliment, Captain."

Gu Nian smiled faintly.

"In this world, only profiteers can live long."