Chapter 42 - 38: Rich Madman

Chapter 42: Chapter 38: Rich Madman

’This meat has excessive levels of toxic substances, and the shop owner seems to know. But did the people who bought it before know?’

Considering the unreasonably low price, Ning He suspected the answer was yes.

’They’d eat it even if they knew it was toxic?’

Ning He put herself in their shoes and realized she would have made the same choice.

It wouldn’t kill you instantly, but you’d get to enjoy a delicious meal right away. Besides, it’s the apocalypse. A slightly higher death rate is like one more louse in a nest of fleas—it doesn’t really matter.

’But what did the owner mean when he said not just anyone could buy this meat?’

’Is there some special requirement?’

Ning He glanced around.

There weren’t many people on the street, but it had all kinds of shops, more than enough to cover one’s daily needs. It was also remote, so outsiders wouldn’t typically wander in. It felt like a self-contained community.

’What a strange place.’

’Could all these shops be shady?’

As the thought crossed her mind, Ning He took a few steps, drawing closer to the shop selling meat soup.

Just as she expected, the system reacted again.

"Mutated species detected, scanning—"

"Scan complete. Incompletely mutated avian species. Collection progress at 90%. Rewarding host with 550 experience points. High collection rate bonus triggered: 10 cubic meters of pollution-free planting soil. The host may view this in the system warehouse."

Ning He almost cheered out loud.

’This Seven Wolves Street is a treasure trove!’

Brimming with excitement, Ning He took a lap around Seven Wolves Street. She didn’t make any other discoveries but was satisfied nonetheless.

’Time to get down to business.’

The buildings here weren’t converted shipping containers like in most of the Fifth Ring. They were concrete houses, similar to those in the Fourth Ring—unpainted and without tile, just a vast expanse of drab gray.

In the center of the street, Ning He found the entrance to the Black Panther Security Company. Unlike its competitors, the Black Panther Company looked very plain. Apart from a fierce Black Panther statue by the door, there was nothing else special about it. The door was narrow, and the surrounding walls were pockmarked and uneven. If you weren’t looking carefully, you wouldn’t even notice a business was here.

Just as Ning He was about to push the door open, a figure rushed past her like a gust of wind and burst inside, shouting excitedly as he ran:

"Annie, I’ve saved up enough money!"

The receptionist was a young woman with a blonde ponytail, an oval face, and strikingly beautiful eyes. She frowned slightly when she saw who it was.

"Noah, why are you here again? Didn’t Johnny tell you no last time?"

The red-haired young man hastily replied, "I earned all this money myself. It has nothing to do with my parents, so they have no say in it. Please, tell Johnny to count me in for the next trip out of the city. I swear I won’t cause any trouble!"

The young woman named Annie looked troubled, but then her gaze landed on Ning He standing in the doorway, and her eyes lit up.

"I can’t make that call," she said. "Johnny and the others aren’t here right now. You can wait if you want, but I have another guest to help, so I can’t talk anymore."

With that, she walked toward Ning He.

"Hello, my name is Annie. How may I help you?"

It was a perfectly polite, sweet, and enthusiastic smile. Ning He mentally gave the pretty young woman a perfect score.

"I’m here to inquire about security services for leaving the city."

"Of course. Please, come this way to a private room, and I’ll walk you through our company’s services."

Ning He nodded and followed her toward the private room.

The red-haired young man scratched his head, then strode over to a chair on one side of the lobby and sat down, apparently intending to wait for real.

Ning He got a clear look. The geometric logo on his clothes was from Beiluo City’s most expensive clothing brand—a luxury label with its only store in the First Ring, renowned for being the sole brand that blended natural fibers into its fabrics.

’Why would someone like him come all the way out here instead of going to the security company in the First Ring?’

Ning He withdrew her gaze, puzzled, and entered the private room.

The so-called private room was just a small cubicle. Inside was a worn-out fabric sofa and a low coffee table. It was even more spartan than Ning He’s own home.

’It seems the people at this company don’t care about style or image at all.’

But the receptionist, Annie, was very welcoming. She brought her a fizzy drink that tasted a lot like Sprite, along with a small dish of potato chips.

"May I ask if you plan to leave the city alone, or if you need to join a group?"

"How much for a solo trip? And for a group tour?" Ning He asked.

’This place’s decor is so unpretentious. I wonder what their prices are like.’

"That depends on the purpose and scope of your trip. Are you leaving the city for sightseeing or for hunting? Our security coverage extends to a maximum distance of twenty kilometers. If you go beyond that, you’ll need to pay an extra fee per kilometer. Overnight stays are also charged separately."

’The staff at the last company hadn’t mentioned any of this. They probably figured I couldn’t afford it and that just quoting the base price would be enough to scare me off. No need for a detailed explanation.’

Ning He thought for a moment and said, "I just plan to look around, find a scenic spot for a picnic, and enjoy the breeze. I don’t need to go too far, and no overnight stay. I’m open to joining a group. How much would that be?"

’Since it’s my first time leaving the city, it’s safer to choose a low-difficulty, low-risk option.’

Annie revealed her white teeth. "Our casual one-day tour is three thousand per person. This covers your safety, round-trip transportation, and a basic meal. If you need a personal bodyguard, that’s an extra three hundred. We also have a three-kilometer off-road/hiking adventure service for five hundred, and a premium dining add-on for one thousand per person, which includes alcoholic beverages and other drinks."

’So many options?’

Ning He was secretly stunned, but she also breathed a sigh of relief.

’These prices were something she could actually afford.’

"If I choose to join a group, what’s the earliest I can depart?"

"That depends on the situation. Our minimum group size is eight people. As soon as we have enough, we’ll arrange it as quickly as possible."

’In other words, if they can’t get enough people, it’ll be delayed indefinitely?’

"I’d like to get out of the city soon. Do you have any tours I can join in the near future?"

Seeing her strong interest, Annie became even more enthusiastic. "Next week there’s a sightseeing and gourmet food tour. It includes the premium dining service, so it’s a bit more expensive—four thousand per person."

’What kind of premium dining is so expensive?’

Ning He thought of the mutated species in the barbecue joint and the meat soup shop, and something clicked.

"What’s included in this premium dining? It’s not the same stuff we eat in the city, is it? Wouldn’t that be a total rip-off?" she asked tentatively.

"Of course not. The ingredients we provide are things you absolutely can’t find in the city. A top-tier, third-level Chef will also be accompanying the tour to prepare and cook the meal on-site. We guarantee you’ll find it well worth the price."

’I knew it!’

’What kind of people join these tours?!’

’Is a single bite of food really worth all this?’

’Spending so much money and taking such a huge risk just for a delicious, toxic bite?’

’They have to be insane!’

"You already have enough people?" she asked, full of doubt.

"Currently, six people have signed up."

’So there are six lunatics!’

"Then with me, that’s only seven. Aren’t you still one short?"

Annie smiled and explained, "For this gourmet tour, a client has already prepaid all of our fees in full. It will depart on schedule whether anyone else joins or not."

She sucked in a sharp breath.

’What a rich lunatic!’

"Fine, count me in."

Ning He took a bank card from her pocket and handed it over.

’There was no other way. For the sake of her mission, she would just have to be a lunatic, too.’