Chapter 34: Information Trade

Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Information Trade

’Does the drop rate of a Supply Box depend on how hard the monster was to kill?’

’In that case, the system is pretty stingy.’

’It won’t let you get away with anything, huh?’

Seraphina Sinclair grumbled to herself as she casually opened the last F-level Supply Box.

As expected, it was full of basic materials.

She shook her head, grabbed her new clothes, and went to take a shower.

Feeling refreshed after changing into her new clothes, Seraphina Sinclair sat in the only clean corner of the mobile cabin. She gripped the Green Jade Pen Holder and continued drawing Fire Runes.

’If it weren’t for this rune, she would have been a goner this time.’

’I’d better draw a few more. Better safe than sorry.’

The night passed quickly, and the fifth day in The Black Mist World officially arrived.

Seraphina Sinclair was up bright and early again, but today was different. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw a system panel.

[Mobile Cabin Upgrade Function Unlocked!]

[Current Mobile Cabin Level: Level 1 (Max Level for current tier is Level 3!)]

[Current Mobile Cabin Quality: Bronze]

[Current Black Mist incursions per 100-sunshine distance: Three! (Next Level Black Mist incursions per 100-sunshine distance: Three!)]

Seraphina Sinclair rubbed her sleepy eyes and looked again.

’Right now, it’s... three. After the upgrade, it’s...’

’Still three?’

’Is the system messing with me?’

The corner of Seraphina Sinclair’s mouth twitched as she continued to read.

[Current Cabin Configuration: 10 square meters! Small wooden bed x1! Glass window x1! Wooden door x1! (Next Level Cabin Configuration: 15 square meters! Two-meter wooden bed x1! Table and chair set x1! Sturdy wooden door x1! Reinforced window x1!)]

’An extra five square meters, plus a table and chair set...’

’The bed gets bigger, and the door and window are reinforced.’

’Acceptable.’

Seraphina Sinclair wasn’t a picky person.

[Mobile Cabin Upgrade Conditions Not Met!]

[Materials Required for Next Mobile Cabin Upgrade: wood x40, Stone x10, Expansion Crystal x15!]

’The first two are straightforward enough, but what is this last one?’

Seraphina Sinclair opened the trade channel and tentatively searched for the item.

Great. It was empty.

Seraphina Sinclair then opened the regional channel to see if anyone had mentioned it.

A few results popped up, but they were completely unrelated.

Suddenly, Seraphina Sinclair was wide awake. She teleported to the bathroom, splashed some water on her face, teleported back, and examined the panel carefully.

’The max level for the current tier is the Third Level. Does that mean after reaching the Third Level, I can... I can upgrade the tier?’

’This Bronze-tier cabin already came with a bathroom. An upgrade will surely bring something new.’

’And why did this feature unlock today, specifically?’

Seraphina Sinclair opened the regional channel to check. The chatter was the same as always; no one mentioned a new feature being unlocked.

In that case, Seraphina Sinclair was likely the only one who had unlocked it.

’But why?’

Seraphina Sinclair lowered her gaze as an idea suddenly sparked in her mind.

’The Sunflower evolved yesterday!’

’That’s it!’

’It’s because the Sunflower evolved! That’s why the mobile cabin can be upgraded!’

’So there’s a delay. The notification only comes the next day.’

’Oh well, at least it sent a notification.’

Seraphina Sinclair had very low expectations for the system. Of course, the occasional bout of cursing was unavoidable.

While cooking instant noodles in her small pot, she opened the regional channel to read what other players were saying.

Someone was asking in the regional channel how exactly to evolve the Sunflower and had received a fair number of replies.

"How the hell do you evolve the Sunflower? We’ve been stuck in this godforsaken place for days, how can there still be no clues!"

"What’s the point of asking that in the regional channel? You really expect someone to answer you? For something nobody knows, anyone who *does* find out will keep it a closely guarded secret!"

"So, does the poster above know?"

"Nope."

"Then what are you talking for! Some expert might have been about to share, and you just scared them off with your comment! You’re more of a hindrance than a help!"

"Does anyone actually know how to evolve the Sunflower?"

"If you know, why not share it? We’re all human, we should be helping each other out! What kind of person hides secrets like that?"

"Here we go again! Here we go again! Do you people think you’re entitled to everything? Shamelessly begging for this and that. If I knew, I wouldn’t tell you either!"

"Exactly. I get so mad seeing people like that. I block every single one I come across!"

"I dub thee the Righteous Blocker!"

Reading the messages, Seraphina Sinclair fell into deep thought.

’This... I actually know this!’

’Crafting for others is low-profit and a hassle, but selling information is a business with no overhead and pure profit!’

Seraphina Sinclair stood before the stone platform and took stock of her current supplies. She wasn’t short on food or drink.

But yesterday, she had drawn a total of twenty Fire Drawing Runes. That was twenty successful runes, but she’d lost count of how much rune paper she’d wasted in the process.

She had used all her basic materials to trade for blank Yellow Runes.

Thinking about it, what she lacked most right now were, in fact, basic materials.

Seraphina Sinclair stroked her chin, thinking. If that was the case, she might as well have others pay her in basic materials.

’Three sets of materials for a vital piece of information. That’s about what you’d get from an F-level Supply Box.’

’She could get the materials she needed and earn a good reputation at the same time.’

Having made up her mind, Seraphina Sinclair composed a message and posted it in the regional channel.

[Blacktiger Ford]: Regarding the Sunflower evolution method. Three sets of basic materials—wood/Stone/Metal Fragments/cloth/Earth, any three—in exchange for the complete method! PM me directly to trade if you’re interested. First come, first served.

Before the regional channel could react, she added another message.

[Blacktiger Ford]: Everyone has three sets of materials. I’m only asking for them to set a threshold. If you want information, you have to give something in return. Nothing in this world is free. I hope everyone understands that.

At that moment, Seraphina Sinclair had no idea that her actions would establish a new, unspoken rule.

A trade asking for only three sets of materials was no longer considered a trade, but a form of "charity."

Right then, the founder of this new rule was still watching the reactions in the regional channel.

"What? Am I reading that right? You can really get it for just three sets of materials?"

"I’ve already sent the materials to Master Blacktiger. No reply yet, she’s probably busy."

"Honestly, who cares if it’s real or fake? It’s only three sets of materials. A single F-level Supply Box gives you five!"

"That’s so cheap! I don’t care, I’m going for it!"

"This has to be a scam! Such important information for only three sets of materials? Wait... this is from Blacktiger Ford?! Master, you’re basically doing charity work!"

"Master Blacktiger is a good person, FYI!"

"@Blacktiger Ford, you should release it for free! Humanity is on the brink of extinction, how can you be so petty about a few materials?!"