4: The Art of Value

"Incoming communication request?" Chen Feng looked at the new prompt popping up on the system interface and chose "Accept" without hesitation.

He knew that text-based communication left too much time for the other party to analyze. Only a real-time dialogue could use momentum and rhythm to suppress a entity of pure logic.

[Constructing virtual negotiation room for you...]

The scene before Chen Feng's eyes changed instantly. The crude dormitory vanished, replaced by a minimalist space composed of pure white light.

At the other end of the space, a sphere of light composed of countless blue light codes, constantly aggregating and dispersing, floated quietly.

That was Sequence Zero.

"Prospector 734." A composite electronic voice devoid of any emotional fluctuation rang directly in Chen Feng's consciousness. "I am Sequence Zero."

"Hello, Sequence Zero," Chen Feng spoke. He was surprised to find his voice was terribly raspy, but he didn't clear his throat; instead, he allowed this quality of weakness to show through. "I'm glad my sample could pique your interest."

"Interest is based on data." Sequence Zero's light flickered for a moment, seemingly performing high-speed calculations. "But your sample data is not pure."

Here it comes.

Chen Feng's heart tightened, knowing the true confrontation had begun.

"Your sample is mixed with as much as 11.2% unstructured information and 1.3% Law Contamination. We call this 'noise'," Sequence Zero said bluntly. "Based on purity calculations, our offer is: 3 interstellar credit points. Enough to exchange for one standard nutritional paste."

3 credits!

This number was like a heavy hammer smashing into Chen Feng's heart. It was an insulting offer; the other party was using the most direct method to conduct a stress test, attempting to beat him back into the shape of a beggar.

If he were a real slave, he would probably have accepted it with gratitude by now.

But Chen Feng smiled.

A soft chuckle, raspy yet filled with unquestionable confidence.

"Sequence Zero," he said. "I think you may have a slight misunderstanding of our 'prospecting philosophy'."

Sequence Zero's sphere of light stopped shifting and hovered quietly, waiting for him to continue.

"The things you call 'impurities' and 'noise' are not defects." Chen Feng calmly threw out the core argument he had prepared long ago. "They are precisely the most precious parts of this sample—'chaotic information characteristics under the original environment'."

"What do you mean?" For the first time, a trace of a fluctuation similar to "doubt" appeared in Sequence Zero's electronic voice.

"What I mean is," Chen Feng's voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear, "you can simulate order, but you can absolutely never simulate true 'disorder' originating from the moment of a world's death. That 'noise' is exactly the key to ensuring this sample's 'high entropy' attribute; they themselves are raw data with immense research value."

"You are reshaping product defects into selling points." Sequence Zero instantly analyzed Chen Feng's behavior pattern.

"I'm not reshaping; I'm stating a 'value dimension' that you have yet to discover," Chen Feng said with a smile. "This is the significance of us independent prospectors."

The virtual negotiation room fell into a brief silence. Sequence Zero's light flickered at an alarming frequency; clearly, Chen Feng's set of "twisted logic" had impacted its core logic.

Chen Feng knew he had to strike while the iron was hot.

"I know you need 'origin environment data streams' for further evaluation," he spoke up proactively, like a generous giver. "How about this: as a gesture of sincerity for our first cooperation, I can provide you with a low-permission real-time access to the 'origin environment data stream' for free."

"Permission?"

"Yes, low permission. You can observe in real-time, but you cannot download or store it," Chen Feng added with a smile. "I define it as a 'value-added service' used to ensure the stability and quality traceability of subsequent supplies. This will also prove to you that I am not just an accidental discoverer of a single sample, but a professional with a stable information source."

Professional, long-term, stable. These three words precisely hit Sequence Zero's requirements.

"I accept your logical model," Sequence Zero's voice rang out again. "Please provide the data stream access."

With a thought, Chen Feng authorized a faint environmental data stream regarding the soul resonance fluctuations of Ashen Earth Star to the other party through the system.

Sequence Zero's light flickered at high speed again as massive amounts of data flashed before it.

Seconds later, it spoke: "Data stream received and analyzed. Environment is stable and meets long-term collection standards. Additionally... in the background spectrum of the data stream, we detected a 'harmonic noise' resonating with specific metallic ores, with a frequency stable at 17.4 Hz. This has been filtered out by us as redundant data."

Chen Feng's pupils contracted imperceptibly.

harmonic noise? Metallic ores?

These two terms were instantly locked into the depths of his memory. What was "redundant data" in Sequence Zero's eyes sounded like another undiscovered gold mine to him!

He remained calm on the surface, still maintaining his smile. "It seems your analytical capabilities are quite strong. So, regarding my sample, what do you think it is worth now?"

"Based on the 'value dimension' and 'value-added service' you provided," Sequence Zero replied, "we have re-evaluated. Final offer: one dose of low-grade gene repair fluid, and three A-grade high-purity energy blocks."

It worked!

Chen Feng's heart pounded wildly; this completely exceeded his expectations! Not only was there the life-saving repair fluid, but also energy blocks—the hardest currency in this world!

"A very good offer," Chen Feng nodded in praise, as if evaluating a subordinate's proposal. "Our side can accept. However, regarding subsequent cooperation, I have a suggestion."

"Please speak."

"Our side will not sign any form of 'exclusive supply agreement'," Chen Feng said. "My information source is free. But I can provide you with a 'tiered cooperation framework agreement'."

Just as he said this, a wave of intense dizziness suddenly hit him, and the scene before him began to go dark. His body was reaching its limit!

He bit the tip of his tongue hard, using the sharp pain to force himself to stay conscious.

"This framework agreement stipulates that within a cooperation cycle, if your purchase volume reaches a certain level, you will automatically obtain higher supply priority and price discounts in the next cycle." He used his last bit of strength to clearly articulate this business model common on Earth. "This is more beneficial for both of us than a simple exclusive agreement, isn't it?"

Sequence Zero's light stabilized, pulsing softly.

"Evaluation complete. This framework possesses superior 'dynamic incentive' and 'risk control' models. Our side accepts this proposal."

"Agreement generated, please confirm."

A virtual contract appeared before Chen Feng, clearly listing the transaction items and the terms of the cooperation framework.

Chen Feng scanned it quickly, and after confirming there were no errors, he chose "Accept" with his mind.

[Transaction concluded.]

[Calculating dimensional tax...]

[After tax deduction, you will receive: gene repair fluid (Low-grade) x1, High-purity energy block x3.]

It worked... it really worked!

Chen Feng's tense nerves finally relaxed, and he almost collapsed to the ground.

"Pleasure doing business with you, Prospector 734." Before cutting the communication, Sequence Zero sent one last message.

"Your information value model is very interesting. Looking forward to future cooperation."

The sphere of light vanished, and the virtual negotiation room dissolved.

Chen Feng's consciousness returned to his body, which was like a candle flickering in the wind. He knew he was no longer that slave who could only beg and wait.

From this moment on, he was an equal trading partner.

However, before he could catch his breath, the system's cold prompt sounded again, instantly plunging him into another abyss.

[Warning: Cross-dimensional item transmission will trigger slight spatial energy fluctuations. Please select an absolutely hidden location for reception within 30 minutes. Countdown starting...]

[Warning: If reception fails, this transaction will be judged as a breach of contract by the system, and your credit rating will be permanently cleared.]

Chen Feng abruptly looked up. Outside the dormitory door, the heavy, rhythmic sound of the night patrol Guard Team's metal boots treading on the ground was drawing closer, clearly audible.