68: Chapter 68 New Ways to Make Money

One billion nether talismans!

This number was like a massive mountain, weighing heavily on Lin Chen's heart. Even if he threw in all his current assets, including the Fortress, the Yin Soldiers, and that credit limit he hadn't even had time to warm up yet, it would still be far from enough.

Conventional ways of accumulation made it absolutely impossible to scrape together such an astronomical sum in just seven days.

The atmosphere inside the Fortress remained tense. Everyone knew that a great terror would descend in seven days. Under the supervision of Su Qingyu and Zhang Hao, the reinforcement of defenses and the training of personnel were proceeding at a breakneck pace. However, a haze of despair inevitably shrouded everyone. After all, it was an existence that even caused the soul suppressing pagoda to weep tears of blood.

Lin Chen locked himself in the core command room. On the massive virtual screen in front of him, countless data streams scrolled rapidly. He was frantically searching through everything in the system for any possible way to quickly obtain a massive amount of nether talismans.

[High-Risk Ghost Domain Cleansing (Limited Time)]: Estimated Profit: 1,000,000 nether talismans. Estimated Time: 3 days. Risk: Extremely High.

[Elimination of "Thousand Faces Cult" Remnant Strongholds]: Estimated Profit: 500,000 nether talismans. Estimated Time: 2 days. Risk: Medium.

[Hunting Specific Lord-Class Bizarre Monsters]: ...

The profits are too low! A drop in the bucket!

Lin Chen irritably closed these conventional task lists. These tasks were a fortune for individuals or even small factions, but for a goal of one billion, they didn't even count as pocket change.

His gaze fell on the icon for the soul ferry boat, then swept over the recently completed soul suppressing pagoda. A bold, almost insane idea flashed through his mind like lightning.

Others might not have a way to make money quickly, but he did!

He had the soul ferry boat and could safely travel back and forth between the mortal realm and the edge of the Netherworld!

He had the soul suppressing pagoda, which could suppress and purify most low-level Bizarre Monsters and the erosion of Nether Qi!

He had the Yin Soldier Legion, which could serve as guards and labor!

He also had... knowledge of "logistics" and "platforms" from another world!

In the apocalypse, what was most precious? Not weapons, not food, but... safety and circulation!

Because of the rampant Bizarre Monsters and dangerous roads, the various survivor bases were almost in a state of isolation, unable to circulate resources and information. But he could completely break this isolation!

A plan instantly formed in his mind.

He stood up abruptly, his eyes flashing with a sharp light called "capital."

"Su Qingyu! Zhang Hao! Come see me immediately!"

A few minutes later, the two of them rushed to the command room.

"Master, do you have new instructions?" Zhang Hao asked cautiously. Seeing Lin Chen's eyes, which were not calm as usual but instead filled with a sharp excitement, his heart pounded.

Su Qingyu also held her breath, waiting for Lin Chen's order.

Lin Chen pointed to a huge logo he had just drafted on the virtual screen—a powerful-looking emblem composed of a skull and lightning. Below it was a line of domineering words:

[Netherworld Express, Mission Must Be Delivered!]

"From today on, we are starting a new business," Lin Chen's voice carried an unquestionable decisiveness. "Netherworld Express!"

"???" Zhang Hao and Su Qingyu froze at the same time, their faces filled with confusion and disbelief. Ex... Express? In the apocalypse? Was the Master under too much pressure and starting to talk nonsense?

"Ma... Master, are you saying... delivery?" Zhang Hao stuttered in confirmation.

"That's right," Lin Chen said firmly. "Using the soul ferry boat, we can safely and quickly shuttle between various survivor bases, delivering resources, transmitting information, and even... providing armed escort services!"

He quickly pulled up a map and marked several known, large-scale survivor bases.

"They lack food; we can transport it from resource-rich bases! They lack weapons; we can provide them! They need to unite; we can transmit messages! And we will charge shipping fees!" Lin Chen spoke rapidly, his eyes burning. "Shipping fees will only be accepted in nether talismans, or equivalent rare materials and intelligence!"

Su Qingyu was the first to react, her breathing suddenly becoming rapid! This idea was insane, but... if it could really be realized, it would be a monopolistic, highly profitable industry! In the apocalypse, who could refuse a safe and fast channel for resources and information? Those bases trapped in a corner and on the brink of desperation would pay an unimaginable price to obtain outside resources and contact!

"But... Master, how can safety be guaranteed? The cost of the soul ferry boat..." Su Qingyu quickly cut to the key issue.

"Safety will be handled by the Yin Soldiers and... him." Lin Chen pointed to the rock-like phantom image of bai qi beside him. With the God of Slaughter, Bai Qi, stationed on the express boat, what short-sighted Bizarre Monster would dare to cause trouble? As for the cost of the soul ferry boat, compared to the potentially astronomical shipping fees, it was completely acceptable!

"Do it immediately!" Lin Chen ordered unquestioningly. "Su Qingyu, you are responsible for setting detailed shipping fee standards and business processes, contacting all the survivor bases we can reach, and posting advertisements! Zhang Hao, you pick the smartest and strongest Yin Soldiers to form an express vanguard for the first trial operation!"

"Yes!" Infected by Lin Chen's boldness and this crazy plan, the two responded in unison, their eyes also alight with fire. If this plan succeeded, they might really be able to create a miracle within seven days!

The plan for Netherworld Express began to move at an incredible speed.

Su Qingyu displayed another talent besides management—business planning. She quickly drafted an "astronomical" shipping fee table and, through the Fortress's communication methods and by sending out small Yin Soldier scouts, scattered flyers printed with the [Netherworld Express] logo and business introduction to all known survivor settlements within a radius of hundreds of miles.

The flyers used the most direct and tempting language:

[Are you still in despair due to the lack of resources?]

[Are you still isolated and helpless because of the cut-off of information?]

[Netherworld Express solves all your troubles!]

[Safe, Fast, Confidential!]

[As long as you can pay the price, everything can be delivered!]

[During the initial operation period, get a 20% discount on your first order!]

[Contact: [Attached is a special nether talisman communication frequency]]

This news was like a nuclear bomb dropped into the dead lake of the apocalypse, causing a massive uproar!

The first reaction of almost all survivor bases that received the flyer was disbelief and absurdity. Delivery in the apocalypse? What a joke! But when some brave base leaders tried to contact them through that communication frequency and received a clear, professional, and confidently powerful response from the Fortress side (handled by Su Qingyu), their doubt began to turn into shocked belief.

And the first person to "eat the crab" soon appeared.

On the second day after the Netherworld Express service went online.

Su Qingyu walked into the command room with a recently received order, her expression a bit strange, and reported to Lin Chen:

"Lin Chen, we've received our first formal order."

"The client is... the person in charge of the 'Steel Fortress' base, Director Zhao Yongfu."

"The order details: a request to transport a batch of emergency medical supplies and weapon components from our Fortress to his base. He is willing to pay... five hundred thousand nether talismans, or equivalent Energy Crystals."

Director Zhao Yongfu?

Hearing this name, a cold, sharp light flashed in Lin Chen's eyes.

It really is... a small world for enemies.

In his previous life, it was this Director Zhao Yongfu who, during his most difficult time, used information asymmetry and despicable means to swindle away the last batch of life-saving supplies left by his parents, indirectly leading to a series of subsequent tragedies.

In this life, this guy actually survived and even became the leader of a base? And he was the first to come to the door and place an order?

A cruel arc curled at the corner of Lin Chen's mouth.

"Tell him, payment in nether talismans, shipping fee..." Lin Chen paused and stated a figure,

"One million. No discount."