radicalducati Chapter 89 First Entry
Chapter 89 First Entry
Chapter 89 First Entry (Seeking First Subscription)
The off-road vehicle's engine emitted a deep roar as Xu Mo drove the vehicle, following the vehicle in front, slowly entering Jiangcheng No. 6 Forward Base.
Passing through the shadows of the doorway felt like crossing a boundary; the worlds inside and outside were completely different.
A wave of sweltering heat hit us.
What Xu Mo saw was not the grim and orderly scene of military-style management he had imagined, but a bustling scene full of raw vitality. On both sides of the wide main road, there were all kinds of temporary sheds and tents, and even shops made from abandoned vehicles.
People came and went on both sides of the road, and the sounds of hawking, bargaining, tools clattering, and the occasional car horn mingled together, creating a peculiar "commonplace" sound that belonged to a post-apocalyptic gathering place.
"Compressed biscuits, official product, honest and reliable!"
"Water purification tablets, last pack!"
"Professionally modified weapon, ten bullets included!"
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The items being sold were varied, but all were closely related to survival. The only difference from markets in peacetime was that almost everyone here carried weapons. From rudimentary sharpened steel bars and machetes to well-maintained standard rifles, everything was available. People's eyes held a wariness, but also a thirst for supplies, and they unconsciously maintained a safe distance from others as they walked. The air was thick with the smell of sweat…
The smell was of dust, a faint smell of engine oil, and a barely perceptible odor of blood.
Xu Mo drove slowly through the noise. The tall SUV attracted a lot of attention—envy, scrutiny, and undisguised greed. He could feel those gazes sweeping over the car and finally settling on him in the driver's seat.
"That's too flashy," Xu Mo thought to himself.
Separating the vehicle from the driver is inevitable, but this car is currently his most important mobile asset and shelter besides the "door" space, so he can't just park it anywhere. It's easy to imagine that if it's left unattended, overnight, not only the supplies inside the car, but even the tires, seats, and windows will be completely removed.
Xu Mo slowed down and carefully searched for signs. After driving around for a while, he finally saw a prominent sign in a relatively quiet area near the edge of the base—"Official Vehicle Rest Area".
Xu Mo drove into the rest area and noticed that it was much more organized. Parking spaces were marked out with wire mesh, and surveillance cameras were set up all around. Occasionally, small teams of staff in uniform and carrying weapons would patrol by. In a simple guard post, a staff member who looked somewhat lazy sat.
Xu Mo got out of the car and asked, "Excuse me, how much does parking cost here?"
The staff member looked up at the sound of his voice. He was a man in his thirties with a thin face and a shrewd look in his eyes. He glanced at the SUV behind Xu Mo and said slowly, "Five contribution points a day, officially guaranteed. If the vehicle or items inside are lost, we will compensate you at the market price." He pointed to the surveillance cameras and patrol team next to him. "Of course, this only covers external factors. If you didn't lock the car properly or there are internal disputes, we won't be responsible."
Contribution points... Xu Mo touched the brand-new identity tag in his pocket [Jiangcheng: 802561, it's still an empty shell. "I just arrived at the base and don't have any contribution points yet. Can I use supplies to offset them?"
The staff, accustomed to this, nodded: "Sure, five standard rifle bullets, or a can of meat of equal value. Other supplies need to be assessed."
"Five bullets?"
Xu Mo didn't even flinch. The ammunition he had stockpiled in his storage space was enough to fight a small-scale battle. He didn't even think much about its value; he just felt the price was acceptable.
"Use bullets."
Xu Mo took out five bright yellow 7.62mm rifle bullets from the tactical backpack behind him and handed them over.
The staff member took the bullets, a barely perceptible look of surprise flashing in his eyes. He looked closely at Xu Mo, this unfamiliar young man, whose face looked travel-worn, but whose eyes were calm. The casual manner with which he took out five bullets was unlike that of ordinary survivors who would haggle over a single bullet.
He muttered to himself, "Wow, he's a big shot?" But his face remained impassive as he skillfully put the bullets into the drawer and handed over a simple paper receipt. "Stop for one day. Keep the receipt safe and show it when you leave."
Xu Mo took the voucher but didn't leave immediately. Instead, he returned to his car and began organizing his equipment. In this chaotic place, keeping a low profile wasn't always a good thing; a little intimidation could reduce a lot of unnecessary trouble.
Donning his combat uniform and military boots, Xu Mo tucked his TT33 pistol into its quick-draw holster at his waist, and slung his machete diagonally across his other side. Then, he slung his AK47 assault rifle across his chest, and finally, he strapped his long, dark AWM sniper rifle to his back. Completely armed, he instantly transformed into a mobile, menacing fortress.
When Xu Mo, clad in what could be described as luxurious and extremely powerful gear, stepped out of the parking space, the staff member in the guard booth who had just collected his ammunition nearly choked on his own saliva. His eyes widened as he stared at Xu Mo's outfit, especially the sniper rifle, which was extremely rare even in the apocalypse. Recalling how Xu Mo had casually pulled out five bullets without even flinching, a chill instantly ran from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
Looking into Xu Mo's calm, unwavering eyes, the staff member felt a chill run down his spine. This well-equipped and decisive individual was not someone a mere administrator could afford to offend; what if Xu Mo discovered he had betrayed him...?
Thinking of this, he couldn't sit still any longer. He hurriedly ran out of the guard post, a fawning smile plastered on his face, still clutching the three bullets he had just collected: "Hey! Brother, wait! Wait!"
Xu Mo stopped and turned around to look at him with some surprise.
The staff member rubbed his hands, somewhat embarrassed, and explained, "Brother, I'm so sorry! I didn't explain clearly earlier. These bullets are much more expensive in our private transactions than the official price. Usually, one bullet can be exchanged for two contribution points. I'll only charge you five bullets for five points, but—you can take these three back and use them to park your car for a day, is that alright?" He carefully handed over the three bullets.
Xu Mo was slightly taken aback, only then realizing that his perception of the value of bullets had been flawed. In the apocalypse, weapons and ammunition are hard currency, especially reliable standard ammunition, whose value far exceeds the official base exchange rate. He had almost been ripped off.
Xu Mo glanced at the staff's anxious expressions, then at the three bullets, but didn't take them. This loss was insignificant to him; rather, the incident allowed him to quickly understand an unspoken rule and price level within the base.
"No need," Xu Mo said. "The rest will be considered as tomorrow's parking fee, and the extra is your rightful information fee."
The staff member was taken aback, then his face lit up with surprise and gratitude. He quickly said, "Thank you, brother, thank you so much! Don't worry, your car is here, I'll keep an eye on it for you, nothing will go wrong. My name is Wang Qi, brother, if you ever need any errands or information gathering at Base Six, just come find me!"
Xu Mo nodded, said nothing more, and turned to leave the vehicle rest area, carrying his heavy equipment. Wang Qi stood there, watching Xu Mo's departing figure, wiping away non-existent cold sweat from his forehead, and letting out a long sigh of relief.
According to the simple map picked up at the entrance, Xu Mo first needs to go to the "Identity Activation Point" to activate his identity card. Only after activation can the identity card record and trade contribution points, which is equivalent to opening a bank account.
The activation point was located in a lobby converted from an old warehouse. There weren't many people queuing, and the process was very simple. Xu Mo inserted his ID card into a card reader, the staff verified his basic information, and then he set a simple password and had his fingerprints recorded. The whole process took less than five minutes.
"Alright, Mr. Xu Mo, your ID card has been activated. Contribution points can be transferred by completing tasks, submitting specific materials to the exchange point, or trading with others. Please keep it safe." The staff member handed the ID card back to him.
Xu Mo took the identity token. Here, contribution points are like blood, circulating throughout the entire base.
After activating his identity card, Xu Mo did not rush to accept tasks or exchange contribution points, but decided to first go to the nearby trading market.
Understanding prices and demand on the ground is more important than any theoretical discussion.
He strolled toward the largest trading area marked on the map, which was the noisy area he had just driven through.
The further you go in, the more bustling it becomes. The trading area is filled with stalls selling all sorts of strange and wonderful things. There are stalls selling parts of various mutated creatures—sharp claws, tough fur, and peculiar bones. It is said that some of these materials carry lingering "energy" that is useful to cultivators.
Xu Mo sensed the energy, but didn't detect anything like it, and had no idea how this cultivator cultivated. However, Xu Mo did know one thing: the fur and similar items from mutated creatures could be exchanged for contribution points.
In addition, there are vendors selling all kinds of modified weapons. Handcrafted cold weapons gleam with a cold light, while firearms that have been modified into strange shapes look powerful but are also full of uncertainty. There are vendors selling relics from the old world, from books and toys to electronic products, but most of these are ignored. Most vendors sell basic survival supplies, such as compressed food, filters, medicines, especially antibiotics, fuel, and cloth.
The cries of vendors were incessant.
"Take a look! Freshly forged mutated hyena canines—with a little polishing, they'll be the finest daggers!"
"Homemade Molotov cocktails are powerful and affordable!"
"Antibiotics! Only three strips left, buy now while supplies last!"
"Repair tool kit, exchange for 10 contribution points or equivalent ammunition!"
Xu Mo, dressed in luxurious attire, stood out conspicuously in the market. Many stall owners approached him, their voices becoming increasingly enthusiastic. Others cast wary glances, instinctively protecting their goods or silently making way for him.
After browsing around, Xu Mo stopped in front of a weapons stall. The stall owner, a burly man with a scar on his face, was enthusiastically introducing a machete with welded serrations. Upon seeing Xu Mo, and especially the AWM behind him, the stall owner's voice unconsciously lowered, and he forced a smile: "Brother, take a look? These are all good stuff."
Xu Mo's gaze swept across the stall, and he casually picked up a military water bottle that looked reasonably well-made, asking, "How much is this?"
"Uh, two contribution points, or a rifle bullet," the stall owner tentatively quoted a price.
Xu Mo remained noncommittal, put down the kettle, and walked to a food stall.
There were some cookies and candies with damaged packaging, as well as several cans of meat. Xu Mo picked up a can of luncheon meat, checked the production date, and realized it was from before the cataclysm.
"How much is the canned food?"
"Five contribution points for a box, or three bullets." The stall owner was a thin man, and he looked at Xu Mo with some fear in his eyes.
Xu Mo quickly calculated in his mind. According to the information Wang Qi had revealed, bullets cost about 2 contribution points on the black market, so the actual value of this can of food was between 4.5 and 6 contribution points. Meanwhile, the parking fee at the shelter was 5 contribution points per day, indicating a significant price difference and arbitrage opportunity between the shelter's exchange point and the black market.
Xu Mo then inquired about the prices of several other goods, gaining a preliminary understanding of the market's price levels. Here, weapons, food, medicine, and ammunition were absolute hard currency, possessing the highest value. Next were fuel, weapon parts, and tools. Some luxury items, such as tobacco, alcohol, and candy, were also ridiculously expensive.
As Xu Mo walked, he came to a relatively quiet corner where several stalls were selling not physical goods, but yellowed papers, notebooks, and even USB drives.
Xu Mo's heart stirred, and he walked over.
A bespectacled, somewhat refined-looking middle-aged man sat on a small stool, with a cloth spread out in front of him, on which were several handwritten books and USB drives. The cloth was labeled: "Information on Jiangcheng and surrounding areas, monster encyclopedia, and maps."
"Intelligence on Jiangcheng and the surrounding area?" Xu Mo crouched down. "How much is this?"
The bespectacled man adjusted his glasses, sized up Xu Mo as if assessing his purchasing power, and then said, "Twenty contribution points, or ten rifle bullets."
"It's expensive."
Xu Mo flipped through the pages; it contained information on recently emerged aquatic species, as well as some unspoken rules and factional introductions within Base Six. However, the bespectacled man closed the book after only a few pages.
"The package price is 20 contribution points, which is definitely great value for money. It will save you a lot of detours and trouble."
Xu Mo's heart stirred slightly; this package of information was exactly what he urgently needed. His understanding of the Jiangcheng Shelter was still limited to promotional videos; he knew nothing about its internal details, power structure, or potential dangers.
After some haggling, Xu Mo finally settled on a price of seven rifle bullets. He paid for the bullets on the spot and carefully put away the notebook containing intelligence on Jiangcheng and the surrounding area.
Next, Xu Mo used twenty bullets to exchange for a five-liter military fuel can from a fuel vendor, and filled it with diesel fuel for the off-road vehicle's occasional needs.
After a series of purchases, although there was no income yet, Xu Mo had already spent twenty-seven bullets.
Through transactions and inquiries, Xu Mo gained a deeper understanding of the base's material circulation methods. Here, contribution points are the official currency, but barter, especially hard currency transactions centered on ammunition, fuel, food, and medicine, is equally common and even more popular in private.
Xu Mo stood on the street as the hustle and bustle subsided, feeling the pulse of this vast human settlement. He then looked towards the core area deeper within the base, where the lights were relatively denser and the order was said to be better.
There are opportunities and order here, but it is also full of unknown dangers and the naked law of the jungle.
"But at least we've taken the first step." Xu Mo took a deep breath of the air, which had a complex smell, and his eyes became firm and sharp again.