Chapter 374: Lingering Panic

Just as many discerning people had thought, the latest earthquake triggered a global panic.

Yes, panic!

There had been a few earthquakes before, but at most, they had only caused a stir. Although doomsday theories were popular, they hadn’t yet disrupted the order of daily life.

The reason was that although previous earthquakes were also labeled as global, they had occurred at higher altitudes. Not too many cities were affected, or rather, the proportion of the affected population wasn’t very large.

The attitude of “if it doesn’t concern me, it’s not my problem” is universal, differing only in degree.

People might prepare for a rainy day due to escalating rumors, but they wouldn’t react too drastically or create deep-seated fear for themselves.

Even with the panic buying of supplies, a large portion of people were either worried they wouldn’t be able to buy anything after others had snatched it all up, or they were acting on a herd mentality—buying something simply because everyone else was.

But this time was different!

This earthquake was distinctly felt in most areas over one hundred meters above sea level, and countless cities were affected.

Anyone could learn about the widespread nature of the tremors from various news channels or from friends All Over the World.

The magnitude wasn’t strong. The slight shaking at most gave people a sense of the tremor, and it didn’t last long—only about twenty seconds. Overall, it didn’t cause any major damage.

But that was only on the material level. On a psychological level, even the most oblivious person could clearly feel that something was wrong.

Many people, with a strange, indescribable excitement, constantly questioned people from All Over the World—online, on their phones, in their offices… They inquired and discussed this earthquake that had erupted both across the globe and within the human heart.

For a time, theories like “The Continental Shelves Are About to Sink,” “The New Ice Age Is Coming,” “The Dinosaur Extinction Crisis Returns,” and “Geothermal Eruption”…

…a series of doomsday theories ran rampant. Even major portal websites were filled with similar discussion threads or links to minor news stories.

From Twitter, WeChat, Weibo, to QQ groups… all sorts of information exchange platforms were discussing this earthquake and connecting it to the previous ones.

On the lists of trending topics and hot searches, without exception, the top one hundred spots were all filled with such incidents.

Some people were even avidly tracking down every location where the earthquake occurred. Every time a new city or region was confirmed, they would add it. The more enthusiastic or meticulous among them even attached screenshots and notes, creating a world map of the event.

But discerning observers discovered something even more terrifying: the world’s mainstream media had all gone silent!

Or rather, major media outlets with official backgrounds or significant influence had almost all failed to make an official statement immediately.

They neither debunked the rumors nor confirmed them.

It wasn’t until later that day that the mainstream media began to report on the global seismic event during primetime news broadcasts.

They ambiguously stated that the government was fully investigating and researching the matter. They asked the public to remain calm and restrained, to not easily believe certain rumors, to manage their own money and supplies, to ensure their personal safety, to report any incidents to the police in a timely manner, and to refrain from inciting widespread panic.

The few who were paying close attention discovered that the mainstream media’s tune had begun to quietly change.

The terror and unease reached their peak a few days later.

Some people also organized various protests: some against the decline in public safety, some against inflation, and some demanding that the government disclose certain truths.

Compared to the chaotic mess in Europe and America, Hua Country, despite its large population, fared much better. This was due to its stress-resistant culture and character, as well as relevant policies—at the very least, protests couldn’t gain traction.

What was similar, however, was that the strictness of law enforcement in all countries rose sharply, as this was a point that could directly affect the public’s sense of unease.

Most people were law-abiding, honest citizens. At times like these, they detested disorderly elements even more, because it was easier for people to identify with the victim than the perpetrator.

From the end of November to the end of December, over the course of a month, public opinion was deliberately guided and soothed. With the arrival of Christmas and New Year’s, the widespread sense of panic gradually dissipated.

But the feeling of unease would not fade away so quickly.

Not unless a long time passed without another global earthquake—but was that even possible?

…

「Lobelica World, on the plains outside the Commerce Capital.」

The headquarters of the Dawn Merchant Group was located here, on the former site of the last Business Achievement Conference stage.

Thanks to outstanding slave artisans, help from the many Akenis Magic Controllers in the merchant group, and the miraculous seeds their Commerce Group Leader had obtained from a Tree Shepherd, a massive structure combining earth and wood shot up from the ground.

With a tower-like top and a palace-like base, the building had an octagonal layout, filled with the aesthetic beauty of different styles—rugged, delicate, artistic, and extravagant.

It was filled with greenery and flowers, without losing the magnificent decor characteristic of the Akenis.

It symbolized the vitality and youthful energy of the Dawn Merchant Group!

As practically the only Golden Crystal Level merchant group in the entire Akenis Clan that didn’t require an “initiation fee,” the Dawn Merchant Group had only one standard for admission: ideals and conviction!

The Dawn Merchant Group had over four hundred young, official Akenis Merchants, as well as over a thousand “Apprentice Members” still in school who would periodically contact them or visit to soak in the group’s atmosphere.

The *Business Association Information Guide*, a groundbreaking magazine, had reported on the Dawn Merchant Group’s style on multiple occasions, unstintingly praising it as “the place where the morning sun of the Akenis gathers.”

Finding the Water Magic Power Pearl was the merchant group’s core mission. In the process, they naturally had to engage in other commercial activities and gather information.

The merchant group’s first commercial expedition was a joint effort. Apart from the members who stayed behind to maintain their fixed assets in various locations, the other several hundred merchants, led by Commerce Group Leader Pipi, embarked on their first long-distance trade journey.

Although they didn’t travel to other worlds, they traversed many regions in eastern Lobelica, some desolate, some remote, and encountered all sorts of different creatures.

Many of them were recent graduates or had little business experience, and it was on this trip that they first truly understood the impression Akenis Merchants made on the outside world.

Although they had known what the general state of Akenis Merchants was like before, witnessing it firsthand made a much deeper impression.

To sum it up: shady, greedy, unscrupulous, dispensable, and annoying pests!

They witnessed the attitudes of other clans during negotiations and observed how other Akenis Merchants not from their group repeatedly hit new lows.

Within the Dawn Merchant Group, all the Akenis were friendly with one another, discussing techniques and values.

For many nights, everyone, including Commerce Group Leader Pipi, gathered around the stove to discuss the possible whereabouts of the Water Magic Power Pearl and how they could approach “Her” step by step.

The entire Dawn Merchant Group was an entity full of youthful energy, dreams, and the ability to execute. They even studied the pathetic examples featured in the *Business Opportunities Information Guide*.

In such a wholesome atmosphere, all the merchants of the Dawn Merchant Group found what they saw and heard in the outside world very difficult to accept.

And the Commerce Group Leader was also very resolute, leading the massive merchant group through their arduous journey, always demonstrating a bottom line that went beyond profit: dignity and reputation!

They carried many wondrous creations on this trade journey. They were just as eager to earn huge profits, but it had to be on the basis of mutual agreement between both parties of a transaction.

The wealth they gained this way, through all their trials on the road, gave these young merchants a great sense of accomplishment.

The last stop on the merchant group’s journey was Logan Lake.

It was a large, blue lake deep in the forests of eastern Lobelica, and it took the entire merchant group half a month to find it.

The beautiful Logan Lake was like a sapphire deep in the forest, offering different beautiful views at any time of day.

Many members of the Dawn Merchant Group shed tears upon seeing Logan Lake.

The special product created by the genius Commerce Group Leader, the “Magic Pattern Camera,” was naturally crude and simple compared to products from human society. But to the Akenis and other magical creatures, it was a wondrous creation.

Imprinting the lake onto a Magic Pattern Scroll was the work of the “Magic Pattern Camera.”

At this moment, the merchant group’s headquarters was celebrating the success of their trade journey.

People from the *Business Opportunities Information Guide* publishing house even came specially to record the information and received a copy of the *Logan Lake Scenic Spot*, which was like a high-definition GIF powered by Magic Power.

“Commerce Group Leader Pipi, Commerce Group Leader Pipi!! Are you in here?”

A young female Akenis burst into the merchant group’s hearth-hall, where the fireplace was burning brightly.

The fireplace design was also Commerce Group Leader Pipi’s idea. Magic Creatures weren’t particularly afraid of normal seasonal temperature changes, but this seemingly useless design brought a unique sense of warmth and coziness to the small space.

“Leader Pipi, everyone’s waiting for you to sing!!”

Many of Pipi’s songs were beautiful. The dry and materialistic Akenis Clan rarely produced notes as pleasant as the legendary songs of the Sea Sirens.

Pipi sat alone by the fireplace and slowly opened his eyes, a rare, solemn expression on his face.

“I’m not going. You all go have fun.”

“But your singing is as beautiful as the notes of a Sea Siren. Everyone wants to hear you sing…”

The female member tried again.

“Hehehe, if you’d really heard a Sea Siren sing, you wouldn’t say that!”

Pipi recalled the songs the Red Demoness occasionally hummed and spoke with a smile to his cordial subordinate.

“Leader, you’ve heard a Sea Siren sing?”

Pipi’s answer made the female member’s eyes light up. She had picked out that key piece of information from his words.

“Mm, there’s nothing to hide. I’ve heard it more than once. Alright, that’s enough. Go on and have fun. I’m a little tired. I’m going to rest for a bit.”

The female member was about to say something more when two other Akenis ran in from outside and whispered in her ear.

“Don’t disturb Lord Leader. He hasn’t had a proper night’s sleep in a long time.”

Only after they left and closed the partition door did Pipi close his eyes again. He didn’t re-enter his dream, however, but instead enjoyed the warmth from the hearth fire.

‘The Dark Tide is coming. This will be a new beginning!’

Despite his worries, Pipi was full of confidence in his Mentor and the Dawn Association. After all, Dawn and that other world were not as simple as most people thought.

The most important thing for him now was to deliver the new batch of goods to his Mentor.

…

Twenty-six small vests. They were all Akenis Chamber of Commerce vests acquired from the outside world, sourced from unlucky souls who had died in accidents or trade mishaps—like those who were devoured in the Horned Demon Beast’s Sweet-Ice Trade Trap.

Since they couldn’t obtain the Chamber of Commerce’s vest-making technique for the time being, collecting the vests of Akenis who had died and left them behind was the next best thing—a stopgap measure.

Although the Chamber of Commerce required every ownerless vest to be recovered and had left an imprint on them, you could tell how effective those imprints were just by looking at all the vests the Chamber had failed to reclaim from powerful monsters or other beings.

It was just that because of the imprints, a non-original owner couldn’t use them. But with the Red Demoness around, while restoring the technology might be difficult, breaking such an imprint shouldn’t be hard.

PS: Chapter one for Friday.